It's that time of year, when we serve up the Summer Reading. Flip-flop, popsicle, back-porch stories to while away an afternoon in the shade of a tree, or a day at the beach, maybe a morning coffee break on the deck.The fare is lite in the summer months, like so much of life during these warm, sunny days. So let's share the books we're reading and build an easy, carefree list of books to consider for our summer totes ...
What are you reading this summer?
~Joanne
57 comments:
I'm looking forward to reading Elizabeth Strout's new book, Olive Kitteridge. It's a family drama tracing Kitteridge's life through 3 decades. I've read that it's emotionally powerful, and it won the Pulitzer Prize. Has anyone read this one yet?
My reading choices are not lofty. My s-i-l sends boxes of books down to us and I sift through those, just plain popular fiction.
I have been reading, and just got her next one in paperback, Janet Evanovich who writes a series about a woman named Stephanie Plum and she's a bounty hunter in New Jersey. They are numbered, the first is One For The Money (I think - didn't actually read this one). These books are so funny, I've read 12 of them and every one has made me laugh out loud. It's best to start with the first and work your way through because the characters build.
The other thing I am reading, now that he has finished it, is Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I'm on 3 of 7.
I've also started on two other long books that are slow to grab so I won't mention them.
My summer reading is nice and light - Cosmo & Glamour :)
I just started the new series by Sherryl Woods
I'm currently reading The Nanny Diaries (though I haven't seen the movie). It's sarcastic and snarky, perfect for those snatches of reading so prevalent during busy summer months.
Ellen - I've never read Evanovich, but have heard so much about her books. Will have to add her to my beach tote.
Jen - Gotta love those fashion do's & don'ts!
Char - I'm off to Google Sherryl Woods right now.
Wish I had time for more fiction...I read TONS of non fiction in my continuous research. Right now am exploring color, art and how it relates to autism as well as art therapy as a feng shui tool. Studying eastern culture, neuroscience subjects etc. Makes my head spin. I think I'll take a break and read something fun and light! Any suggestions?
I'm trying to finish up The Te of Piglet, so I can read some books before the start of the school year.
I'm trying to catch up on some of the newest releases in my genre: historical romance. So far, so good!
Nice to meet you Joanne.
I'm starting Unaccustomed Earth as soon as I can pick it up from the library!
I'm reading Sebastian Barry's novel, The Sacred Scripture. Very interesting so far and well written. Next on my list is The German Bride. I can't recall the author right now, but I'm looking forward to diving right into this immigrant story.
Janna - My daughter read The Nanny Diaries last year and loved it. She's a nanny in the summer, so she can relate to a lot of the family drama!
Diantha - How about Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard? It's definitely light and beachy and keeps you turning the page!
Madame Lefty - Now's the time to catch up on your reading!
Jody - Seems like it's good to be in the know! Can't wait for yours ...
Meg - Ditto!
Mama Zen - I haven't heard of that one. Is it fiction?
I just finished Stephenie Meyer's Twilight--not really sure what all the buzz was about. Now onto Alice Hoffman's The River King and I'm completely drawn into her writing. Next in my queue? Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle. Gotta love summer vacation :)
Love "flip-flop, popsicle, back-porch stories"! Here's my list so far...
Janet Frame's "Towards Another Summer", Patrick Tracey's "Stalking Irish Madness", Michael Ondaatje's "The English Patient" and David McMahon's "Vegemite Vindaloo".
Olive Kitteridge is next on my list! I just finished the Twilight series because I wanted to be able to discuss them with my daughters and their friends. Before that I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - very light. I'm currently reading Memory Keepers Daughter - not light.
I just started the Janet Evanovich books. And Tammy Hoag. Other than that, Pema Chodron.
Let us know about the Strout book, haven't read it yet.
I was in Michigan a few weeks ago--stopped at Ann Arbor--and picked up the Spring issue of the Michigan Quarterly Review. There were a couple of essays I particulary enjoyed--Susannah B. Mintz's, The Dirty Little Secret of Sabattical, and Jane Gillette's, The Ring and the Box it Came In. I love to seek out local journals whenever I travel--makes for good reading. :)
Septembermom - Don't you love that sense of anticipation that comes with certain books?
Mare - Interesting about Twilight, I've heard mixed reviews. I'd love to compare notes with your input and Karen's below.
Willow - Sounds like some intense reading there, might need something sturdier than flip-flops ;)
Right now I am just getting ready to start Oliver Twist. I read it probably a decade ago but I always love to read the classics every couple of years.
Karen - I'd love to hear your take on the Twilight Series. I've heard such conflicting reviews on it, and Mare's comment before yours seems to think it was lackluster.
Nancy - Another vote for Evanovich! I've heard good things about the Strout book, am anxious to get at it.
Linda - Definitely a diversion from the mainstream. And gives a literary flavor of the local area of the publication as well.
I'm in a non-fiction mode - The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra, A Pace of Grace by Linda Popov, Evolve Your Brain by Joe Dispenza. My night table, porch, and end table by the couch all have piles of books. I wish I had more time (like giving up sleep?) to read more because I'm a voracious reader yet always have so much more I want to get to - well, it's always good - lots to look forward to!
I read the "Big Read" this summer.
"The Thief and the Dogs" by Naguib Mahfouz may have been a very radical book in the early 60s, however, the fact that it didn't seem so radical to me shows something of the change that has taken place since Mahfouz won the pulitzer.
Three main books I'm reading:
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl
Scared
~ Wendy
Moxymama - Me, too. Jane Eyre, Rebecca, are a couple of mine. Enjoy!
Suzen - Oh so true, there's always another good book waiting in the wings!
Larry - Interesting thought, what was radical then is no longer so. A different way to track a sense of history.
Boy, those last three books look interesting. I'm reading Father Loss by Neil Chetnik. It has helped since my husband's father just passed away. I'm ready for some light fare. Also have read a fellow writer's book draft. Very, very thrilling stuff!
I'm giving a presentation in September on tuning in to intuition, so I'm researching through books I've already read, like "A New Earth," "Finding Your Own North Star," "Anatomy of the Spirit" and others like these.
Karen
Recently I read Jugglers at the Border by Robert Fate. I've just finished Shotgun Wedding by Susan Rogers Cooper. Next, I'll start Dark Blue Death by Jan Grape. I'm catching up with "old friends" since these are all series books.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Wendy - I've heard so much good about Edgar Sawtelle, will def put it on my list!
Hazardgal - I must say, there's some pretty intense reading going on here for "summer fare!" I like the sound of the book draft, must be intriguing!
Karen - Sounds like lots of good reading to inform your presentation, bringing your own experiences to the research.
Lots of great suggestions here. I'll need more than one summer to work through this list!
I'm on a dream weaving journey, so I just finished reading Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher. It's a non-fiction book about how to identify your way of operating in the world and going after the things you want. I had lots of "aha" moments that helped to explain a lot of things I've been struggling with.
Half way through Robert B. Parker's Spare Change. Next on the list is Jodi Piccoult's Change of Heart.
Awesome clock!!! I just finished Garth Nix's "Lady Friday" and will be moving on to "the Artist's Handbook".
Joanne, Olive Kitteridge is also on my list!
I'm planning to read Marilynne Robinson's "Home" -- saving it for vacation.
Helen - Isn't it nice revisiting old friends in books? Makes for a cozy read.
Carolynn - A dream weaving journey ... sounds intriguing. Nice for books to be part of the journey.
Donna - Haven't read that Picoult. My favorite of hers was My Sister's Keeper. Have you seen the movie?
In preparation of my November vacation in Egypt I finished reading City of the Dead by T. L. Higley this past weekend. It is an interesting read that is a mystery involving Pharoah Khufu and his Grand Vizier Hemiunu.
I'm currently reading the French Gardener by Santa Montefiore. The cover tells me the book will be "spellbinding by it's sheer charm".
MME - The clock is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, glad you like it!
JGH - Robinson's Home sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out. I have high hopes for the Strout book too.
Dakota Bear - Wow, what a great journey you'll be taking this fall. Books are a nice way to prepare, most definitely.
It's all about the writing this holiday.
1. Time to Write by Kelly Stone
2. Room to Write by Bonni Goldberg
3. Write like Hemingway by R. Andrew Wilson
I'm looking to strengthen my writing muscles and re-work my writing schedule for greater productivity and better writing.
Well, I've banned myself from getting a library card until these rewrites are done. So right now I'm reading a lot of my old books.
)Mostly action/adventure, since I'm trying to up the pace of my novel.)
Can't wait to break into something new though!
I'm reading one of my favorite modern author's book, "The Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I'm not that far into it, but it's good. :)
Cheryl - Kudos to you for always staying at the top of your game!
Miriam - Well it'll be a nice reward for finishing your rewrite to go and get that new library card. Just think, a whole library is patiently waiting for you ...
Bea - I love it when you know right from the beginning it'll be good.
I'm reading "The Age of Wonder, How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science" by Richard Holmes.
Not really beach reading, but it's fascinating. The dude writes like a romantic poet, but about science and scientists. It's a real coming together of all the worlds.
Joanne,
Ironically, I am reading hardly anything. I find myself journaling a lot and gazing into space quite often. Very pensive, enjoying Nature to the max, warm days, and a lighter schedule... the joy of being...I take a bag full of books to the beach with me and they usually remain unopened. Sigh... Life is good this way.
I am currently reading, Sweetsmoke by David Fuller; a historical novel about slavery in the Civil War era, in Virginia. Also, Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy, by Frances Mayes, and Black Cherry Blues by James Lee Burke. And just finished Why Mars and Venus Collide by John Gray.
Reya - Sounds good, the romantic generation and science, what a combination!
Jan - I can totally get what you're saying. I'm not there yet, but I expect that at some point in the summer, looking out at the sea will top all else.
Marguerite - Wow, you've gone not only international, but into the universe as well!
I'm reading this incredibly long book, and it is taking forever. I can't seem to get into it. I've never not finished a book, though, so I'll keep reading. Maybe I'll be finished with it by Christmas!
Just finished Drowning Ruth. Very good. And now I'm at a loss at what to read next.
Out Stealing Horses (Per Patterson), Three Day Road (Joseph Boyden), Soul of Dog (Jon Katz)- August release....and lots of Photoshop and Photography books!!! :) Love looking through this list in the comments...thanks Joanne! :)
Lazy Writer - One page at a time! Maybe the story will pick up a bit?
Margaret - There are a few suggestions here in the comments, maybe something for you!
Andrea - Glad you enjoyed the list!
Just finished up with The Alchemist, and really liked it.
Love having lots of good reading time!
Heather - Me too, and summer seems the perfect time to have that time! Read on ...
My reading is a bit scattered shot this summer. I usually read only when I either need a mental break from writing or a simple stress reducer at work.
For now, I'm reading the last novel in a book series by Charles Gramlich, and I have a western by Jack Martin on deck for future reading.
G - At least you are immersed in one, and one on deck. Life's good with the books lined up ahead of you!
I am reading...I see You Everywhere, The Last Cuckoo, People of the Book, and Firefly Lane. They are ordered in how much I am enjoying them. I have Olive Kitteridge ready to go when one of these is done; looking forward to it!
Patti - Sounds like a nice list of summer books going on there. Can't wait to get to Olive Kitteridge!
I am enjoying Secret Keepers by Mindy Friddle. I started Poisonwood Bible and Empire Falls, but neither one is really a summer reading book.
Sharon - Yay! I'm so glad you're enjoying Mindy's book :)
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