What We’re Reading This Summer

August 1, 2018 JMORE Staff

The Jmore staff is reading everything from local authors to novels of political intrigue for the summer of 2018. (Jmore photos)

They don’t call us the “People of the Book” for nothing! Jmore’s staff is made up of a happy crew of avid readers. Some of us prefer historical tomes, some of us cozy up to contemporary literature and some of us get our healthy dose of escapism in a juicy beach read.

Here’s what some Jmore staff members are reading right now.

“Trouble Boys: The True Story of The Replacements,” by Bob Mehr

Sure, I enjoy reading about politics, history, faith and other substantive matters. But occasionally, being a musical wannabe, I indulge myself with a good rock bio. My latest guilty pleasure is “Trouble Boys: The True Story of The Replacements.” This book may be the definitive treatise on one of alternative rock’s most seminal bands, a highly influential ‘80s quartet that never quite happened. Led by their brilliant yet erratic front man, Paul Westerberg, The Replacements were a hot mess from the word go, wallowing in substance abuse, anti-authoritarian angst, record industry quagmires and internecine squabbles before self-imploding. “Trouble Boys” is well-written and compelling, capturing The ‘Mats in all their post-punk glory. Still, only an absolute diehard fan will likely be ravenous for all the seemingly endless minutiae about the personal and professional relationships that led these Minneapolis misfits to such soaring heights and unfathomable lows. — Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief

“Noah’s Compass,” by Anne Tyler

This Baltimore transplant is always up for a homegrown author like Anne Tyler. So when I found her 2015 novel “Noah’s Compass” at the Wesleyan University book fair on parents’ weekend last fall, I was pleased. This book tells the story of 61-year-old Liam Pennywell, a former prep school teacher starting a new life after he’s been dismissed from his job. After Pennywell suffers a brief memory lapse, his life takes some unexpected turns. — Simone Ellin, Associate Editor

“The Night Circus,” by Erin Morgenstern

This is a book that evokes every sense. With flashes of color, you can smell the air, taste the food, hear the crowds and whispers, and feel the fabrics of their clothes. This book about two magicians who wager on the backs of others is a fantastical tale of triumph and heartbreak. It has quickly become one of my favorite books, and I tell anyone who will listen that they should read it. —Molly Blosse, Design and Layout Manager

“The Company: A Novel of the CIA,” by Robert Littell

Normally, I prefer breezy contemporary fiction for my summer reading — like “Where’d You Go, Bernadette,” by Maria Semple — but lately I’ve been craving something dense and hefty that could get me through the remaining dog days. Enter this fictionalized account of the early days of the CIA. It’s a decades-spanning, deep dive into the Cold War, Washington politics, double agents, espionage and plenty of back-stabbing. In other words, the perfect book for a weekend getaway. –Amanda Krotki, Digital Manager

“Inside Camp David: The Private World of the Presidential Retreat,” by Real Admiral Michael Giorgione, CEC, USN (Ret.)

Presidential history fascinates me and the fact that Camp David, the world-famous presidential retreat, is only about an hour away in Thurmont, Md., makes it all the more interesting. Rear Admiral Giorgione, who was the commanding officer at Camp David and served under President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush, does a wonderful job of telling the reader about the history of the camp in the wooded hills of the Catoctin Mountain Park, and he interjects a number of personal anecdotes from the three years he lived at Camp David with his wife and two young daughters. A thoroughly enjoyable summer read. —Jonathan Oleisky, Managing Partner