A Look Ahead to Summer Reading!

Today’s blog will be taking a look ahead at some of the books I am planning to read for the Summer. It’s only two months away, even though this morning and tomorrow suggest otherwise. I have some good world culture and music-themed reads coming up, as well as a romance novel for late summer. For now, let’s look at what I’m finishing up this month. 

This week wraps up “On Air”, which is a look at the comprehensive history of National Public Radio (NPR)  and all of its triumphs and tumult. I bought this book at Barnes and Noble during my summer vacation last year (along with Matriarch). This is my third read centered around NPR, after “This is NPR” and another book from Terri Gross about her show Fresh Air. The latter was about some of the interviews the host conducted over the years. “On Air” came out in March 2025. 

The final chapter goes into detail on “This American Life” host Ira Glass. I’ll complete the book Friday morning. 

Currently, I’m in “Where We Keep The Light”, which is the new memoir from Governor Josh Shapiro. I’m not too far into the book, having devoted more time to On Air. I’ll be picking up on this one next week as I complete the current book I’m reading. “Where We Keep The Light” talks about the governor’s years in public service, as well as his faith and family (just to name a few). The first chapter highlights the arson attack on his home. I look forward to reading about his time as attorney general. 

At work, I don’t usually bring books centered on politics out of respect for people’s opinions. . I will be doing some inspirational reading overnight when I’m not writing or playing Switch. 

Briefly changing the subject, Bible Study is back at Cutie’s on May 4. It will run every other week afterwards, weather permitting. I’m looking forward to getting together once again. I eventually want to get back to church and, spoiler alert, it’s not my job or Toastmasters that keep me from going. 

It’s going to be an active next few weeks leading up to the Spring Conference in the middle of May. New reading will begin after the conference is done. As I read through the governor’s memoir and prepare speeches, I’ll be starting “The Jazzmen” by Larry Tye. It’s a biography that explores the lives and impact of jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie.  The book focuses on how they overcame racial barriers to become global superstars and write the soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement. 

I’ll wrap up season one of The Pitt on April 30 and begin season two on May 21. I think that’s a good starting point for reading “The Jazzmen”. I’m not a binge-watcher, and for the second season I will watch one episode a week to carry myself through Summer. Thus, I’ll wrap up the show around the end of August/early September. 

Other summer reading projects include “Three Shades of Blue” by James Kaplan, and “Jane Austen’s Bookshelf” by Rebecca Romney. I was interested in the latter book after viewing the Gilmore book club Instagram page. That’s how I got interested in reading “Meet Me at Luke’s” last Fall and in the early days of Winter. 

“Three Shades of Blue” explores the lives of jazz legends Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans. It uses their collaboration on the iconic album Kind of Blue as a central theme to examine the peak of jazz in 1959. A couple of things discussed in the book are:  the evolution of jazz from bebop to fusion, and the “lost empire of cool” that emerged from this era. 

“Jane Austen’s Bookshelf” is a non-fiction book that follows Romney, a rare book dealer (she was also on Pawn Stars). She seeks to find and collect the works of the female writers who influenced Jane Austen. Thus, making a case that they were unjustly erased from the literary canon. 

Perhaps a trip to Settlers Ridge post-conference is in the works. That and breakfast at the Central Diner to mark the end of an era in Toastmasters. n

Late this Summer marks the release of “Love Never Felt Like This” by author Julie Olivia. I loved her Fall romance novel “If It Makes You Happy” last year. Therefore, I’m looking forward to this new read coming out just in time for the leaves to change.