Summer reading lists: From Stephen King novels to Barbra Streisand autobiography

Photo / Renee Cordes Mainebiz asked some well-known business leaders what they're reading this summer. Shown here is Blue Hill Books, one of many independent bookstores across the state.

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By Renee Cordes

For Maine business leaders, summer reading in 2024 has been as varied as the many independent bookstores found all over the state. We asked several movers and shakers about the pages they're turning this season.

A newcomer to the sport of running, Susan Ruhlin, director of Dirigo Labs in Waterville, recently picked up “Born to Run,” by Christopher McDougall.

“The book dives into how running shaped human evolution, the psychology behind it, what we eat, and even the business side of running," said Ruhlin, a Mainebiz Woman to Watch in 2023.

"Despite all the innovation in running shoes and advancements in sports medicine, we're getting worse at running, not better — which made for a great read," she added.

As if the world of real estate wasn't dramatic enough, Justin Lamontagne of the Dunham Group, a Portland-based commercial real estate firm, is immersed in a book by Maine's own King of Horror.

"It's taken me all summer but I’m 800 pages into Stephen King’s '11/22/63,' a wild spin on the JFK assassination that only King could come up with," Lamontagne said. "I’m always amazed at his storytelling ability and creativity."

Thrillers aren’t the usual genre for Maine Center for Enterpreneurs' Executive Director Tom Rainey. But was drawn to “Deception Downeast,” a debut novel by Bob Feldman, who happens to be a member of the center’s Maine Mentor Network.

“It’s an intelligent, fast-paced, cleverly written tale of suspense set in a small town in coastal Maine but with ties to more global intrigue,” Rainey said. “I haven't finished reading it, but so far, it’s a great story, with interesting and complex characters and a plot that entertains and keeps you wanting more.”

The coastal Maine theme is also popular with Diane Sturgeon, Maine district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration, who mentioned “Downeast,” by Gigi Georges.

“This book really paints the picture of the life and experiences of the small group of young women featured as they grow up in Washington County,” Sturgeon said. “It helps the reader see why people choose to live in Downeast Maine despite the many challenges of the region, and it's made me question what we can do to not only preserve the area, but help it prosper.”

Business and fiction

At the recommendation of a New York-based venture capitalist, Chris Wolfel of Northeastern University’s Roux Institute is just finishing “Unreasonable Hospitality," by New York restaurateur Will Guidara.

“It's a fascinating inside look at the rise of Eleven Madison Park but also has incredible lessons in customer experience and leadership that I think carry much beyond the hospitality industry," said Wolfel, the institute's associate vice president for entrepreneurship and venture creation.

"Anyone that has customers, hospitality or not, I think should give this a read."

Wolfel was honored on the inaugural Mainebiz 40 Under 40 list in 2022, along with Rupee Beer founders Van and Sumit Sharma.

While Van just wrapped up "The Lean Startup," by Eric Ries, his brother Sumit is re-reading "Quench Your Own Thirst," by Samual Adams beer creator Jim Koch.

"Both are super-applicable to what we are building with Rupee," Van Sharma said.

Krystal Williams, a Portland-based lawyer and entrepreneur honored as a Mainebiz Woman to Watch in 2021, also reads a lot of books on business and efficiency.

However, she recently started “James," a novel by Percival Everett suggested by a friend.

“The story is about an enslaved man who overhears that he will soon be sold and the steps he takes after to avoid being separated from his wife and daughter,” said Williams, while noting that that she is not far enough into the story to offer specific thoughts or a plot summary.

“Honestly, it feels decadent to read a book simply for the pleasure of it, so I am savoring every moment,” she said.

Yellow Light Breen, CEO of the Maine Development Foundation, is also sinking his teeth into fiction. He just finished “The Intuitionist,” by Colson “Chip” Whitehead, Breen’s college friend and an award-winning novelist.

“The writing is extraordinarily expressive and evocative, and the novel creates a fascinating world … that provocatively explores deep issues of race, self-awareness (and self-delusion), corruption and power,” Breen noted.

“Embarrassingly it’s the first one of his novels I’ve read and am looking forward to reading the rest,” he added.

Musical notes

Although she admits to being the "slowest reader on the planet," Thomas College President Laurie Lachance said her reading time has grown exponentially since she started listening to books on Audible, thanks to a gift from her son.

“While there are way too many [books] to discuss, my favorite has been ‘My Name is Barbra,” by Barbra Streisand,’” said Lachance, who was honored as a Mainebiz Woman to Watch in 2022 and is due to retire from her leadership role at the college by next June.

"It was a commitment of 48 hours and 17 minutes of extraordinary listening and was worth every second. I grew up in a very musical family, and she has always been one of my very favorite singers and actresses," Lachance added.

"The combination of hearing her story, with every imaginable challenge and setback she endured, with background information on her movies, shows and co-stars, and with clips of her music, made every drive to work and camp pure joy."

Lachance said the book "brought back such beautiful memories, making me laugh, cry, learn, ponder ... and sing. What more could you possibly want from a great 'read’?”