August was a feast or famine reading month. I was traveling a lot, which is great for dedicated plane reading but not so much for regular reading time. I still enjoyed my reading month, especially as school started and a routine fell into place.
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Favorite Historical Fiction
The President’s Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood
With my First Ladies project, I love to read any book about their lives. I found this new novel about Virginia’s own Edith Bolling Wilson fascinating. Read my review here.
Destinations from book:
Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum, Wytheville, VA
You can visit Edith’s actual birthplace in this lovely mountain town and see memorabilia from her life. While the book doesn’t deal with her early years, this is a great place to learn more about this amazing woman.
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, Staunton, VA
This presidential museum has President Wilson’s car and a really atmospheric WWI trench exhibit. It also has some of the wool from the sheep Edith installed on the White House lawn! A review of this museum is coming soon to the blog.
Woodrow Wilson House, Washington, DC
After President Wilson left office, he and Edith moved to this house that is now a museum. It’s also where he passed away and where Edith spent the rest of her days. I can’t wait to visit on my next trip to DC!
All the Ways we Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White
This novel links timelines from WWI, WWII, and the 1960s to talk about the history of a fascinating place, the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Read my review here.
Destination from book:
Like I said last month with the book, Mistress of the Ritz, there is nothing like actually visiting this luxury hotel where so much history actually happened!
The Bookbinder by Pip Williams
I loved this book about a female bookbinder at the Oxford University Press during WWI. It is such a compelling story! Read my review (and see pictures from our trip to Oxford) here.
Destination from book:
Walk in Peggy’s footsteps as she strolls along the riverbank or through the intimidating doors of Oxford College. It’s a fun place to go! My review of Oxford is coming tomorrow to the blog!
What was your favorite book read in August?
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