On Reading Even More

And an ask for recommendations!

Welcome to another update from my bookshelves! Before we dive in to what I’ve been reading and loving, as a reminder to those of you who are new around here (hi!), this newsletter was born of what was once a food and book pairing blog called Page (the books) & Plate (the food). That’s why we’re doin’ this.

A few months ago, I heard myself say “I’ve been in a reading slump,” to a well-read friend. What I really meant, though, was: “I’ve been reading books that are either very niche or very beach read-y and I’m too embarrassed to list them for you”. Ew, right? Boo to that attitude. Any book I read is a good book to read because it makes my mind work in a different way and gets me out of my world, if only for a few moments before my head hits the pillow—so there.

In the prime of summer, there is truly nothing like posting up at the beach or under a tree in a park and reading until the sun gets too low in the sky. Of course, with the weather being what it was over the last week, I also spent time with a book sitting inside with the blinds pulled shut, directly in the firing line of the fan. Anyway, anyhow, the point is that reading is a positive force, no matter where it’s done or what you’re reading. Books are magic!

I’m on the lookout for “easy reading” books for the fall. This doesn’t just mean rom-com fiction, either. If there’s a book that pulled you through, page by page, with almost no effort on your part, I want to hear about it—leave a comment or reply to let me know!

Here’s what I’ve been reading since my last reading-focused missive.

Con/Artist: The Life and Crimes of the World's Greatest Art Forger by Tony Tetro

I’m curious where we stand on finishing a book we’re not loving. Up until recently, I thought that I was pretty chill about abandoning ship, but then Colin pointed out that, actually, what I do is slog through and complain the entire time. This month, I did exactly that with Con/Artist, which details the rise and fall of an art forger in the 1980s. I have never guffawed (yes, guffawed!) aloud so many times while reading a book. I can only describe it as larger than life in the most Threat Level Midnight way I never realized was possible. Tetro’s … antics are sort of fun to read at first, but they quickly get old, as do his outdated attitudes and beliefs. If you’re looking for a book about art forgery (one of my favorite niche topics!), read Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art or The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century instead.

Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin

Abigail at

This Needs Hot Sauce

recommended Laurie Colwin to me back when we met at Cherry Bombe’s Jubilee conference in New York. I’m so glad I finally got around to reading Colwin, who wrote in a voice so casual, it feels like reading someone’s diary. Home Cooking is a series of essays on, umm, cooking at home, sprinkled with a few recipes, but I’d confidently recommend it to anyone who appreciates thoughtful observations of the world. It’s the kind of book you can read in an afternoon but that you might choose to read slowly, over a few weeks, as a treat.

An American in Provence: Art, Life and Photography by Jamie Beck

I checked this book out from the library twice. The first time, I must admit, I flipped through the (beautiful) photos and wistfully sighed a lot, then returned it. A few weeks ago, when I was wandering the shelves on a self-indulgent afternoon, I picked it up again and read it cover-to-cover and loved it. It’s full of gorgeous photography, of course, but also features good tips for portraiture, post-production, and finding inspiration in what’s around you.

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

I picked this up at RoscoeBooks one day last week and then read it in less than 24 hours. I’m a sucker for a quick, adventurous, witty little book, and this one was IT. After a weekend of watching Indiana Jones and National Treasure while working on some Photoshop, it was pitch-perfect. Highly recommend!

That about wraps up my month of reading. Now it’s your turn—tell me what books you’ve loved. What you’ve hated! Whether or not you finish books you don’t love. On Friday, paid subscribers are getting a recipe for the ultimate summer salad. Next week, we’re diving into chilled red wines. As a reminder, the links included here are affiliate links, which cost nothing to you but get me a few cents here and there. Thanks for supporting Page & Plate 2.0!