What I’m reading
Book on the left: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
…. I love the writing style of this book, but it is written in the early 90’s based in Savannah, Ga, so the language of the characters in the book can be “insensitive.” The book is written documentary style, covering a real murder that took place in the white collar parts of Savannah. The way the characters are introduced and the backgrounds of each character are what interests me the most. This book also features a lot of history surrounding the development of the Savannah, Ga that we know of today.
Book on the right: Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen.
…To be honest, I have started and stopped reading this book several times throughout the last 2 years. Not because it is boring or uninteresting, but because of how much information is in this book. This book is not only retelling American history from a truly honest standpoint, but also calls out and mentions many history books (I’m sure are still in rotation today) by name and quotes where the history book got it wrong. I love this honest approach and typically stop reading to further research on something that is mentioned. This book makes me more excited to learn and is one that intend to finish before the summer has ended.
Laptop: further research.
Journal: just something I keep handy to take notes while I read.
Coffee: of course!!
#books #summerreads #coffeelover #Lemon8Diary #shareyourthoughts
Reading these two books has been an eye-opening journey that deeply enriched my understanding of history and storytelling. 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' offers a gripping documentary-style view into the complexities of Savannah, Georgia, combining crime, culture, and local history in a way that feels almost cinematic. Although some of the language might feel outdated or insensitive, it reflects the era and adds authenticity to the characters’ voices. I found myself fascinated especially by the detailed backgrounds of the individuals, which paint a vivid picture of the social dynamics in the white-collar community during the early 1990s. On the other hand, 'Lies My Teacher Told Me' challenges the traditional American history narrative by highlighting inaccuracies and omissions in popular textbooks. The author’s candid approach inspired me to pause frequently and dive deeper through additional research on my laptop. This process not only expanded my knowledge but also encouraged critical thinking about the versions of history we often accept at face value. This book, dense with information, requires patience but rewards the reader with a more truthful and complex understanding of America's past. To enhance my reading experience and retain important insights, I keep a journal nearby for note-taking, which helps me organize my thoughts and questions during the reading process. Plus, the ritual of drinking coffee makes this learning time cozy and energizing. This combination of engaging literature and personal study tools has truly transformed my summer reading experience into a meaningful educational pursuit. If you love exploring history through engaging stories and enjoy uncovering hidden truths, these books offer rewarding perspectives. Pairing reading with active note-taking and further research can dramatically deepen your comprehension and appreciation of the subject matter. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking for captivating summer reads, this approach makes the journey both enjoyable and intellectually satisfying.