We arrived at the trail for our four-mile walk just after sunrise, and since returning home, we’ve knocked out the few outdoor chores on our list. The calendar may read September, but the weather indicates mid-July: Highs today and tomorrow may hit ninety or more. That sounds like my cue to lower the blinds and the thermostat and settle in with a stack of books after my music practice.

This weekend, I’m reading Marisel Vera’s The Taste of Sugar (2020) for an upcoming Chicago Humanities Festival event, and Laura Lippman’s most recent bestseller, Dream Girl, which is my “Farewell, summer!” selection.