This summer, I have a lot of travel planned, which means long flights and a lot of reading time. I want to make the most of my reading but still keep it fun.
746 Books is hosting a challenge called 20 Books of Summer. I’m pretty sure I can read 20 books over three months (June to September), and I’ve already gotten started on a few. There are 23 books below. Some are new releases, some are classics. Some are already on my Kindle, and some are on my wait list at the library. Three are Bailey’s Prize nominees (which will bring me to 8 from the longlist). Some are from favorite series (the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik) and some are new-to-me authors (Ann Leckie, Elizabeth Bonesteel, Kelly Link).
I’m particularly excited to read the new books by Jenni Fagan, Helen Phillips, and Monica Byrne. I loved The Panopticon, The Beautiful Bureaucrat, and The Girl in the Road, and I can’t wait to see what they write next.
Advanced review copies (I’ve committed to reading these):
- League of Dragons by Naomi Novik
- The Big Sheep by Robert Kroese
- The Sunlight Pilgrims by Jenni Fagan
- The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney
Books on my Kindle:
- My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
- Eventide by Kent Haruf
- Whom the Gods Love by Kate Ross
- The Cold Between by Elizabeth Bonesteel
- Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
- Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
- The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Books on hold at the library:
- LaRose by Louise Erdrich
- Some Possible Solutions by Helen Phillips
- Get in Trouble by Kelly Link
- A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding by Jackie Copleton
New Releases:
- Traumphysik by Monica Byrne (June 29)
- This Must be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell (July 19)
- Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal (August 16)
Challenge books (at least two):
- Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
- Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
- Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck
That’s my summer reading list! What’s on this list that you recommend? And what’s on your summer reading list?
The Book Stop 
Good luck with the challenge! It looks like an interesting set of books. The only one of these books I’ve read is To Kill a Mockingbird, which I’ve re-read more times than I can count (and I’ve blogged about it several times–it even got a mention in my post yesterday!). I’ve been highly disappointed by the Lee estate in recent months, but I’m trying not to let that interfere with my love of Lee’s novel. I hope you like it!
Thanks for the comment! I’ve decided not to read the new book by Harper Lee because I don’t think it should have been released. I’ll check out your posts and look forward to rereading To Kill a Mockingbird.
I wish I could say I’d read 20 books this summer, but really I’ll be lucky to read 10. Currently I’m listening to the audio version of To Kill a Mockingbird while I walk, reading Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, and have plans to read more from Steinbeck. Sounds like you have some great reading planned for the summer. Enjoy!
Hemingway and Steinbeck sound like good summer reads! I read East of Eden last year and loved it.
I read East of Eden last summer too, along with The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, and Travels with Charley. I loved them all, but East of Eden was definitely my favorite. I have been tempted to re-read it this summer, but..so many books!
The Sunlight Pilgrims was enjoyable when I read it, and The Glorious Heresies is glorious (as the title would suggest; also just won the Baileys Prize, another reason to be impressed!) Ancillary Justice is wonderful. LaRose felt rather too long for what I got out of it, but it might be your cup of tea. Mrs. Dalloway, Mockingbird, and Miss Jean Brodie, I can all heartily endorse!
I’m really excited about Sunlight Pilgrims because Panopticon really blew me away. But trying not to set my expectations too high! Same with Glorious Heresies. Thanks for the other recommendations!
What a great list! Enjoy Mrs Dalloway, it’s a great one x
Thanks Cathy,and thanks for hosting the challenge!
League of Dragons!!! I haven’t scored an advance copy, so I’d better place a hold at the library. I’m interested in Ghost Talkers too.
I love the Temeraire books! I do find the series getting a bit repetitive, but that doesnt bother me much when they are so much fun to read. I believe this is the last one in the series. So far I’m really enjoying it.
I’ve got The Testament of Youth on my 20 Books of Summer too 😊
I’ve heard great things about Testament of Youth. I hope you enjoy your summer reads!
Great list! I’m looking forward to reading LaRose this summer too – hearing great things about it! And The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a favourite that I hope to re-read soon. Have a great summer of reading! 🙂
Thanks, I hope you enjoy Larose and your other summer reads! Prime of Miss Jean Brodie has been on my classics list for a long time, glad to hear you recommend it.
Strout AND O’Fareel AND Haruf – you certainly have some superb reading ahead of you
Thanks! I just finished Eventide and now I’m starting Elizabeth Strout’s book. I’m looking forward to that one, I’ve heard so many good things.
I like this challenge…if only I hadn’t already signed up for the Summer Big Book challenge as I think the two are incompatible. I’m also reading Eventide this year, though probably not this summer. I also hope to read Testament of Youth–it’s been on my TBR shelf for far too long!
Happy reading!
I hope you enjoy your summer reading and the Big Book challenge. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Testament of Youth.
I read My Name is Lucy Barton twice (for a book group) and really appreciated it on the 2nd reading, but not as good as Olive Kittredge. I’d definitely put Mockingbird and Mrs. Dalloway on your to read list, but then I’m a big Virginia Woof fan.
You might like to check out my blog, Jots & Jaunts at http://www.JauntingJean.com where I comment on books, culture, and travel.
Wow! This sounds like an awesome challenge! Good luck!
Great list! If I was going to read a challenge book by Virginia Woolf, I’d do Orlando instead of Mrs. Dalloway…. much easier to get through. And the Ann Leckie and the N.K Jemisin are both AMAZING. I’ve been recommending them far and wide:
https://ananthologyofclouds.com/2016/01/17/4-5-6-ancillary-justice-trilogy-ann-leckie/
https://ananthologyofclouds.com/2014/08/06/the-broken-kingdoms-by-n-k-jemisin/
Really enjoyed My Name is Lucy Barton / Strout. You get a lot of story for not a lot of time investment.