#20 Books of Summer
In 2017, I dismally failed the #20BooksofSummer challenge hosted by Cathy at 746 Books, but who cares? So I’m going to have another bash this year. This time, I’m just going to go with the flow and see how far I get – no stress, no sweat, just a fun, three month long, kaftan-wearing, tea-drinking read-in. Hours will be spent propped up on pillows, a plate of crumpets at the ready. What could possibly distract me from such a fabulous task, you may ask? Well, admittedly, there is the World Cup, so I’ll just have to try and get as much as I can read before that kicks off.
So, without further ado, here’s my stack.
And here they all are laid out in a lovely mosaic.
I’m quite pleased with my selection, as I’ve got a nice mix of novels, letters and autobiography along with a smattering of non-fiction. There’s comedy, misery, sport, a re-read (Oh, The Enchanted April how I’ve missed you), something local (Welsh), murder, sci-fi, even something fan-girl (my daughter and I are huge Gilmore Girls devotees). I’ve even got a book on container ships – I bet Deep Sea and Foreign Going doesn’t feature in that many people’s #20BooksofSummer lists!
The eagle-eyed among you will notice that top right, there’s a book missing. This is because at the time of cobbling together this selection, my book group had yet to choose a title. I now know that’ll be The Words in My Hand by Guinevere Glasfurd, but don’t yet have a copy.
I’ve also got a pile of swapsies in the wings, just in case I’m not in the right mood for the ones I’ve picked, or my football viewing has eaten too far into my reading time, (hence the slim volumes). They’re here.
Looking at my list, I think I might be in with a chance of doing it this year. Here goes!
Lucy
Sarah
A Suspension of Mercy is a real treat (if a little implausible from a plot perspective). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy reading. 🙂
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I love Patricia Highsmith, so I knew my summer’s reading wouldn’t be complete without a spot of gratuitous murder!
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What a great selection. You’re going to have a fabulous time, regardless of how many you get through 🙂
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Exactly. Who knows if I’m manage it, but I’ll have a blast trying!
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An excellent metaphor for life! 🙂
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Great picks! I really liked After The Quake 🙂
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I do love Murakami so I’m really looking forward to this!
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Some wonderful reading ahead of you. Station Eleven was one I didn’t expect to enjoy because its dystopian fiction but it was an eye-opener. Brat Farrar didn’t hold my attention unfortunately but I think I’m in a minority…
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Do you know, I really wasn’t looking forward to Station Eleven, but it’s this month’s book group read and it’s nothing like I expected. Unputdownable!
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Well, that’s a jolly interesting pile! Good luck!
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Thanks Karen! I doubt I’ll manage them all, but I’ll have a fab time trying.
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I strongly recommend that you move Three Men in a Boat to the top of the pile — one of my all-time favorites! Also wonderful on audio. It is the perfect summer read.
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Do you know, I might just do that. I’ve been meaning to read it for so long now, why put such a treat off any longer?
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It’s a really quick read and I did the very rare shoulder shaking like a pneumatic drill type of laughter which was good.
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I’ve read Enchanged April and got part way through Oscar Wao but didn’t get on with it (I THINK my husband finished it). I have Born to Run on my own pile, and I would definitely read the container ships one and eagerly await your review. A good idea to have a swapsies pile – I’ve swapped out something each year I’ve done this so far!
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I knew I’d need a swapsie pile for some (if not all) of my picks. I find it hard enough to pick my next book let alone a whole summer’s worth!
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I’ve only read Station Eleven out of those there. I admire you for having another bash, I still have a pile on a sideboard of collated books from some challenge that I can’t actually remember deciding to do, but I do know they were there before Christmas (2016!). I should put them back on the shelves, or add a few more and call them my 20 of Summer 😉
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On current form (2.5 books read in two weeks) I’ll fail as dramatically as I did last year. This year though, I’ve resigned myself to not giving a damn! 🙂
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The first half of Three Men in a Boat really made me laugh and I get shouted at by the missus for not smiling enough, The diary of a Nobody has its moments as well. Apart from the Orwell, I haven’t read any of the other books. I like your use of slim volumes to help you complete the task as well, especially with all that extra time there will no doubt be in any matches involving the Swiss.
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Slim volumes are going to replace every other book now the footy has started, and I still doubt I’ll manage the challenge. Still, I’ve some great titles to console myself with once the inevitable misery sets in!
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I think you’ve got it well-though-out… you’ve got good variety and some books to swap in for mood reading. And some slim volumes. It’s been fun seeing how the strategies have evolved over the past few years!
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Slim volumes is my absolute go-to strategy, especially now the World Cup has kicked off. Football (Soccer) *sigh* I just can’t resist!
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Like you, I’m going to jump into this but I’m going to give myself a break if I miss the mark. We’ll see how it all plays out. Cheers.
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Yep, all the fun but none of the pressure! 🙂
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