Every summer I try to read a few classics.  This summer I read "Tale of two Cities" by Charles Dickens. Despite it's age this is still a great story. It follows several characters as they move between France and England during the beginning of the French Revolution.  There is the beautiful Lucie Manette, her father and two men who love her, Charles Darney and Sydney Carton. We also meet the revolutionaries Mr. and Mrs. Defarge who are very scary people. The story is very fast paced because it was written as a weekly serial. It is still a bit of a difficult book for todays readers. But it is well worth spending the time to read it. 

     I also became obsessed with "Kristin Lavransdatter" by Sigrid Undst. This book is a classic in Scandinavia and I see why. It is a beautifully written story about a young girl living in medieval Norway. She defies everyone to be with the man she loves. The reader truly cares about  and understands Kristen because the book is so well written. The descriptions of Norway and everyday life there are also wonderful. I highly recommend this one.

Julie and Julia

Everyone is abuzz over Julie Powell's book "Julie and Julia."  It is a good book. It is light and funny, a good summer read. The book flip-flops between Julies adventures as she cooks her way through the entire "Mastering the art of French Cooking" and Julia Child's life in France. I enjoyed both aspects of the book. In fact it got me so interested in Julia Child that I next read "My Life in France" by Julia Child.  This was also an enjoyable easy book. Julia Child had a wonderful life. She married Paul when she was in her late thirties and he in his forties. His job sent them to Paris shortly after WWII. Paul spoke French and was already familiar with the country. Julia plunged into life there and never looked back. I would recommend both of these books.