Summer reading is often thought of as light and breezy. The nonfiction book I am recommending is definitely easy to read, but it also takes a deeper, more philosophical, turn as the story unfolds. Building a Home with My Husband: A Journey Through the Renovation of Love by Rachel Simon is a memoir of the time Rachel and Hal renovated their very old home in Delaware. After a burglar enters their home, Rachel decides they should move to a different neighborhood. Once they review their finances, they understand that renovation is all that they can afford. Hal is an architect, so he designs the renovation and hires the general contractor. The renovation begins, but soon there are many expensive difficulties to face and many time delays.
Rachel and Hal’s tale would be interesting enough on its own, but Rachel layers in
compelling memories of her family and a heartrending breakup with Hal thirteen years earlier. The author deftly shows how everyday lives can be luminous with meaning as she explores the intricacies of human relationships. Even if you have no interest in home renovation, you will be captivated by Rachel’s memoir because, underneath the travails of renovation, it is a love story through and through.
~Rosemary~
Read it or Weep 