Author’s Note: One of the simplest joys of summer is none other than reading outside in the warm sunshine. Whether stretched out on a comfy chaise lounge with the newspaper, siting at the waters edge digging your feet in the sand while burying oneself in a book, or swaying gently in a hammock flipping through the pages of a magazine, relaxing by way of reading outdoors is a common summer activity. Truth be told, I look forward to reading an actual newspaper on the patio on a lazy weekend morning. “Push notification” news can wait. I find that reading outside slows down the day, a big plus in the summer. The quieter the space, the better, though I’ll gladly attempt to read among the chaos of a mid-summer day at the beach. I love getting lost in a story. Fact or fiction, reading is informative, can be transformative, and possibly both.
In preparation for an upcoming trip to Bermuda, I’ve packed three paper back books, along with three crossword puzzles from a few newspapers, and a book of codewords (think crosswords without clues). The only time I plan to look at my phone is to take pictures, listen to music (the Bob Marley, Jimmy Buffett, Beach Boys, kind) or capture a thought (note) if a pen and paper are hard to come by.
While there are no shortage of “summer reading lists” for kids on summer break, those of us beyond the years of reading The Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye, and Adventures of Tom and Huck, there are plenty of books about Cape Cod to add to your reading queue. Some books are heavy and historical, focusing on the turn of the twentieth century, lifestyles that describe a very different Cape Cod than any of us know. Others are quick reads that leave a grin on our faces. A few stories stay with us long after they’ve been put back on the shelf. I hope you enjoy my top picks to learn more about Cape Cod this summer.
Baseball by the Beach: A History of America’s National Pastime on Cape Cod (1998), Christopher Price. Like a high tide, excitement around America’s pastime first washed over the 339 square miles of Cape Cod’s peninsula over almost two centuries ago. Author Christopher Price takes us back in time to the origins of the “Massachusetts game” (1840s) as well as when the first organized (documented) baseball game occurred on Cape Cod (1866) by The Nichols Baseball Club of Sandwich. Like anything, baseball on Cape Cod evolved from those early, loosely organized teams with rosters consisting of mostly of local players, to the modern day NCAA-sanctioned league it is today. With many future major leagues breaking out – or more accurately, standing out in front of countless scouts in the stands – it’s hard not to get excited about catching a look at the “future stars of tomorrow today.” After long hours on the sand, watching a game from a beach chair on a crisp summer evening is a great way to relax at the end the day. Go A’s!
Cottage for Sale, Must be Moved: A Woman Moves a House to Make a Home (2005), Kate Whouley. The title is not misleading, author and mover extraordinaire, Kate Whouley, bought an abandoned cottage and had it moved across four Cape Cod towns to attach it to her three bedroom house! When thinking about the landscape of Cape Cod, its hard not to think of seaside cottages dotting the coast, a product of a bygone era now replaced with second home, “McMansions” by mostly “off-Capers.”. Not only are cottages authentic, charming, and affordable, they are small enough to actually get lifted off the ground and re-located. That’s exactly what Kate Whouloy did, along with the help of an army of professional contractors, movers, tradesman, friends, family and her trusted cat, Egypt. It’s a delightful read.
Historic Restaurants of Cape Cod (2017), Christopher Setterlund. While Cape Cod is known for breathtaking scenery and some of the best beaches on the eastern seaboard, many visitors come for the food. Fresh seafood is the main attraction given the Cape’s long maritime history. Mr. Setterlund identifies some of the most historic and iconic restaurants on Cape Cod, though sadly, some of them are long gone as original owners retired and preferences changed. However, this quick read features interviews with past owners and general managers that tell trivia worthy tales, like when the late former Senator Ted Kennedy held a fund-raiser at the Cleaver Restaurant, the free raw bar at the Christopher Ryder House, or the time Jay Leno appeared at Tuesday comedy night at Christine’s. And those are just a few stories from restaurants that begin with the letter “C.” Just wait until you get to The Beacon Restaurant, Mildred’s Restaurant, and Thompson’s Clam Bar. You’ll want to drive east for a fresh lobster roll or fried fisherman’s platter after turning a few pages of this book.
Journey to Outermost House (1991), Nan Turner Walden. Without argument, the first thing people picture when hearing the words “Cape Cod,” are the beaches. People spend precious vacation days to sit on the sun-baked sand and bask in the water, not to mention pay exorbitant parking fees and pack an entire house worth of stuff to set-up their spot on the beach. Well, imagine living on that beach. Strike that, imagine living on that beach, located two miles from the nearest town and the nearest person. That is the context for this next read. Despite having not yet read the book author Nat Turner Waldren’s book is based on, it was impossible not to follow her along the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean toward the two-room cottage by the sea. (Don’t worry, Henry Beston’s classic is on my reading list.) Nan Turner Walden essentially replicated Henry Beston’s life-changing experience of living in isolation on the “Great Beach” of Cape Cod, two miles from the mainland (Eastham). As the author re-discovered the natural world by detaching from the modern world, she spent so much time at the house she eventually “bested” Henry Beston’s one year of living on the beach to her seven years. Years later the Outermost House was gifted to the Massachusetts Audubon Society and can be rented by anyone seeking a similar experience, albeit, shorter than that of Henry and Nan.
Voyages from Chatham: A Memoir (2016), Captain Bob Ryder. There is something captivating about life on the sea. Perhaps it’s simply the adventure, the unknown of what lurks beneath, or the wonder of what could be discovered in the distance. Whales breach, birds dive, seals pop up and have a look around, herring “run,” waves form, wind blows, tides change. The constant churn is what makes us respect the ocean and have a ton of respect for those that spend their lives on it Indeed, the ocean is the workplace of old-time (and I suppose some present day) pirates, but more importantly, modern day fishermen who make their living from their daily catch. Captain Ryder, whose family has a cove named after them in Chatham, describes a career at sea, encountering almost any and every situation you could possibly think of – and more. After reading some of his adventures and mis-adventures, it’s hard not to look at the seafood on our plates with a different perspective. If you see a fisherman, thank them.
What other books about Cape Cod would you recommend reading?
