Goodreads
Goodreads asked Kate Vogt:

What books are on your summer reading list this year?

Kate Vogt I'm looking for recommendations for summer reading. I've started a list with Richard Power's "Overstory." It seems that during these weeks of staying in place, that's what I've done - stayed in place. Rather than anticipating or planning what's ahead, I've enjoyed practicing what I wrote about in my introduction to "Our Inherited Wisdom," which is to live with a little more reverence for the everyday, every day.

I'm appreciating anew the gift of being alive, having a loving husband Jay, running water, fresh food, a comfy apartment, and wise ancestors. Daily, I recall some of the common sense wisdom from my father, who was a wheat farmer in Kansas and lived until he was 93. He would regularly remind himself and my four siblings to know the difference between your wants and real needs, and to learn to be grateful (and responsible) for what you have, even your breath and body. My artistic mother had different, but similar advice, e.g., to see the beauty in you and around you. They aren't the first humans to share these simple sentiments, but like many people in their generation and earlier, they actually used them as guidelines for navigating the easy and difficult times.

Staying in place has given me an opportunity to notice the subtle shifts in the woods and hills around me. A meadow on a nearby ridge has become greener, the bees have moved from one flowering plant to another, and an owl has returned to our neighborhood. I feel more intimate with my surroundings and pace of life.

For reading during this quiet time, I've returned to reading and reflecting on the poetry in the two anthologies that I co-edited with Ravi Nathwani. Now, as the restrictions on staying at home are lightened, I'm beginning to notice the reappearance of signs of summer. This area where I live is Coastal Miwok land and now called Marin County has had a couple typical summer days where there is a foggy chill in the area. Perfect reading weather is ahead. Thank you for this question to spark my pondering.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more