This week, we feature a young readers’ set about a silly maid; a pillar of Western civilization; and a magical novel about mother-daughter love.
Fiction Queen of My Heart
‘One Italian Summer: A Novel’
By Rebecca Serle
Thirty-year-old Katy Silver has lost her mother, who was also her best friend. They had planned a trip to Positano, Italy, together to retrace her mother’s visit when she was Katy’s age. Striking out on her own, Katy discovers an unexpected path to healing.
Atria Books, 2022, 272 pages Building Beauty
‘The Lilies of the Field’
By William Barrett
Published in 1962, this novella features Homer Smith, a black itinerant skilled craftsman and ex-G.I. who stops to help some nuns in the West with some minor repairs and is persuaded to stay on and help them build a church. Smith’s efforts on behalf of the sisters soon bring help from others in the nearby town. This best-seller was soon made into a movie starring Sydney Portier as “Schmidt,” who won an Academy Award for his performance. A beloved tale that continues to attract readers today….