Monday, August 22, 2011

Surviving the End of Summer

Have you read any novels by Nantucket author Elin Hilderbrand? After reading many great reviews (most recently from Linda at Beachside Cottage) it was about time. I bought and finished The Island early last week, so much for saving it to read at the beach. LOVED it, I am hooked on her storytelling. Here's a glimpse...



"We all know what it feels like at the end of the summer when you feel sort of heartsick about going back to school, going back to work, going back to the city...so my novels give people an opportunity to take a little bit of summertime home."

So true, I'm going through that stage now. From East Beach on Chappy to Times Square in 24 hours...talk about extremes! I'm going to pick up her latest book Silver Girl to carry me through. Here's some advice from the author on surviving the end of summer.


10. Hit the farm market.  I buy corn on the cob from Bartlett Farm here on Nantucket every night that we’re home for dinner, and I always get a few extra ears, cut the corn off the cob, and freeze it for the winter.  And I buy pounds and pounds of Roma tomatoes and turn them into sauce.  Yum!

9. Get out on the water.  Pond, river, lake, swimming pool…or here, ocean.  I will go to the beach every day until the middle of October, but these last days of August and first of September, are the very finest beach days.  On the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, we do a lobster bake, complete with a beach bonfire and s’mores, and we turn our cars’ headlights on the ocean and the kids swim in the dark.

8. Baseball game. I suffered through a very long Little League All-Star season with my older son (last game on July 27th) but now I find I miss it.  I’m getting tickets to the Red Sox!

7. Get out on the water, part 2.  But go in a boat: rowboat, canoe, kayak, sailboat, power boat.  We always do a sunset cocktail cruise on Labor Day weekend with sushi and lobster rolls, and my dear friend Margie’s birthday is on September 2 and the way we celebrate is to take the launch up harbor to the Wauwinet Inn for an al fresco lunch.

6. Move it, move it!  There were days this summer when it was too hot to leave my bedroom where the a/c was on full blast.  However, now is the time to run ten miles, bike the long loop around town, golf nine, play an extra set of tennis, stick the croquet wickets in the fragrant grass.  Nothing says summer like croquet!

5. Spend the day with a book.  You were waiting for this one, weren’t you?  My favorite summer novels are…my own.  But assuming you gobbled down The Island on July 7th the way you were supposed to, you are now free to move on to other of my favorites from this summer: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan and Every Last One by Anna Quindlen.

4. Catch fireflies.  Remember to punch holes in the top of the jar.

3. Stargaze.  My favorite childhood memory is one where my father would wake us all up in the middle of the night (say, 11pm) and take us outside to look at the stars.  This was followed by a game of “midnight UNO,” played by candlelight at the dining room table.

2. Go barefoot, put your hair in a ponytail, sprinkle sand in your shoes, raise your face to the sun (with sunscreen, of course!)  Hold on to that feeling for as long as you can.

1. Don’t despair.  There are good things about fall, too:  apple picking, pumpkins, cider, brilliant foliage, good movies, good TV, new theater, and the NFL!  And remember…there’s always next summer.
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13 comments

  1. you're right…there's things to look forward to (even though I hate to see summer go!) But I went shopping yesterday and I'm ready for fall!!! Have a great day!

    Lauren
    http://sweetandtreats.blogspot.com/

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  2. I love all of Elin's books. I've read all of them and The Island, Blue Bistro and Summer People are my favs! I'm sure you'll love all of them as well!

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  3. I love her list! It is definitely a great one to get you out and involved while enjoying the last few days of summer!

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  4. I'm going to get this when I finish the Hunger Games- thanks for the rec! xo Lisa

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  5. Love her books! Summer Affair and Barefoot are my FAVES of hers! They are absolutely the perfect beach read.

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  6. I'm obsessed with her books (and Nantucket!) I anxiously wait for each new one to come out. I finished silver girl at the end of July and was SO sad when it was over, just like I am with all of her books! Enjoy!

    ~KAH
    http://cocktailsandfriendship.blogspot.com/

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  7. wish i lived by the water so i could do this!

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  8. I've heard of her before, but now I really wanna read one of her books! This list is perfect for summer. I've been wanting to read the book Barefoot...maybe I'll go check it out :)

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  9. I want to read her books. Which one should I read first? Do they need to be read in any order? Loving your blog.

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  10. @Lynn - I've only read The Island... no need to read in any particular order. I would check out the descriptions on Amazon to see which book appeals to you most. They are all popular!

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  11. I want to do all of that in one weekend if I can next summer! I have to get there!

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  12. The Island is fantastic, isn't it?! That sunflower is crazy! Looks like you are having a great time :)

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  13. I've read a lot of her books!!! I love them!!

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