I hope everyone had a good week. Last week most of the leaves on the trees and flowers came out here. We have Canadian long weekend now and usually we are away, but not this year. We are still waiting on authorities to lift Covid restrictions. So not much is new, but I listened to an enjoyable virtual book chat this week through the History Book Festival with author Lisa Scottoline. She usually writes thrillers but came out with her first historical novel called “Eternal” in March. It appears to involve a love triangle between three childhood friends who come of age in Italy during WWII. I haven’t read it yet but will add it to my ever-growing pile. Scottoline was a hoot during the talk and also quite informative about her writing of the book. She seems to have done a lot of research for it and it looks good, which is awesome since I’ve been hooked on historical fiction lately.
Also you might remember it was announced in December that the trade show BookExpo would be discontinued … but luckily this week Publishers Weekly is putting on a new virtual U.S. Book Show (May 25, 26, 27), so I plan to check it out. I’m a reviewer for PW so I’m getting access, though I think you can still sign up for a fee if you want to attend. It should have numerous virtual publisher “booths” and “rooms” to listen to panels and author events. Some of the panels will discuss aspects of the publishing industry, while others will be geared towards libraries and librarians, and others towards bookselling. I think it will also highlight books coming out in the fall. So there should be a lot to hear about. I will try to report back about it next week.
And for this week, while I don’t have any reviews to post, I thought instead I would post my Summer Book List. I know Cathy over at the blog 746 Books is hosting this summer challenge, which will basically go from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, so I thought I’d join in the fun. I guess to me an iconic “summer read” is something one can read at the beach or on their back deck. A beach read to me shouldn’t be too angst-filled, depressing, violent, dense, heart-breaking, preachy, or overly serious. It should instead be more: riveting, suspenseful, fun, well-paced, readable, easily accessible, escape-filled, and something you can totally sink into. You know what I’m talking about. So with that in mind: below are my 12 summer reads (all from 2021!) that I hope to get to by Labor Day weekend. I purposefully made it 12 Books because it fit my graphic ha … and because I will likely get distracted and read others along the way. In the fall, I can return to more serious, deeper reads, right?
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood (February)
Who Is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews (March)
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (March)
Northern Spy by Flynn Berry (April)
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (May)
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (June)
When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (April)
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead (May)
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (May)
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris (June)
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy (August)
The Guide by Peter Heller (August)
What do you think of my summer list? Much to enjoy I hope. And of course making the list is half the fun. Do you have a summer list? That’s all for now. Have a great week and I’ll chat with you next time.
I love these summer lists and think you will enjoy The Plot and The Last Thing He Told Me (both were good). I also have Northern Spy, When the Stars Go Dark and Malibu Rising on my summer list. Enjoy – always fun to see how closely we stick to out lists.
Yeah Diane: it seems we enjoy many of the same books, which is fun. There’s also plenty of good summer reading this year. Hope you have a great summer with your List.
I’ve also got Bad Muslim Discount on my summer list and seeing Northern Spy on your reminds me that it’s on my shelves, but I didn’t put it down for summer reading. Oh, who are we kidding, I’ll probably not stick to my list completely. 🙂
Ha Helen, I know it’s hard to stick to these summer lists. I never do but perhaps I will try more this year. Have fun with it.
I love your list! I haven’t made an official list but I do want to read several of those books. One of my book clubs is reading Malibu Rising in July. The book I want to read the most that’s on your list is Klara and the Sun. I’ve heard so many good things about it.
I’m looking forward to your report from the book show!
Thanks Rachel. You might get to some of these before me, which will be great to your take on them. I’m always interested to read Ishiguro. I’ll let you know about the book show. Enjoy your week.
That’s a great list! I’m very keen to read Malibu Rising, The Plot and Great Circle. Hope you enjoy and thanks for taking part.
Hey thanks Cathy. I’m glad you’re doing this challenge. It gives me something to shoot for. I hope you enjoy your summer list as well. It should be fun. Cheers.
I’m doing the summer reading challenge, but I plan to focus on reading children’s books from my 1001 Children’s Books List. It is very difficult for me to find most of the books I have left on my list, but I’ve put in requests with some nearby libraries. Hopefully I will get enough of these in for me to read twenty. Klara and the Sun is perfect for summer, I think, with a compelling main character and an intriguing setting. Great Circle, When the Stars Go Dark, and Malibu Rising are all books I am considering reading, too.
I have been to BookExpo three times, and it was an unbelievably amazing experience each time. Books and authors felt as glamorous as movies and actors at BookExpo. I’ll never forget getting an invitation to a picnic at a nearby park with an author along with a dozen other bloggers. And billboards for new books…wow. I have thought a lot about buying a ticket to the U. S. Book Show, but I haven’t yet.
Hi Deb, it’s interesting to hear about your BookExpo experiences. I agree: I only went once (in Chicago) but it was amazing. It’s a bit sad to miss it in person but I will check out the new virtual conference. I’m glad they are trying to make it similar to what it was.
Your Children’s Books list sounds good. I imagine it would be difficult to find all of the books. I have trouble just getting the 12 on my list. Good luck on finding them. And have a great week.
I’ve read and enjoyed several of the books on your list and I have The Other Black Girl on my radar now. I’m hoping to read it in the next several weeks. I don’t actually plan my reading far in advance. I read whatever catches my fancy at the moment from the long queue in my Kindle. And sometimes, if I read a review that particularly catches my attention, I’ll pluck another one from out of the ether. It makes for adventurous reading!
Hi Dorothy, I usually don’t plan what I read in advance either. But I’d been seeing a lot of these lists around – and I thought what the heck. It looked fun just to come up with one. I’m keen on these 12. And I’m glad you have liked a few among these already. It bodes well for me. Enjoy your week.
You have three on your list that I’ve read, Klara, Northern Spy, When the Stars Go Dark. You have a few I want to read like Malibu Rising and the one I should be reading next The Last Thing He Told Me. I also just requested the Heller book. I wasn’t aware he had a new one coming until I saw your list so thanks for that. Sounds very interesting.
Great Ti. We are tracking many of the same ones. And it’s good you’ve already read three of these. I hope I will like them. I think I should credit you for getting me to do a List this year … I saw your list and then others … and it looked like fun. So I decided to do it. many thanks! Have a great week.
Great list! I have about half of yours on my WTR list. There’s a few others I’ll look into as well. I am currently listening to Great Circle and am liking the narration and the story very much. It’s a good one for summer. I’m going to read Obama’s The Promised Land, too, now that I’ll have a bit more time and (maybe) the stomach for American politics. You’re inspiring me to actually make a summer list and see what I can accomplish. Thanks!
Oh good. I’m glad Great Circle is off to a good start. It’s a long one for audio! I tried to make it a lighter List for fun reads … and then get back in the fall to other slower ones. We’ll see. I often get distracted … and then fall off the wagon with the list. I don’t plan to do them in any order. Just whatever I can get from the library. I don’t always make a summer list — but I thought for fun I’d do it. You should too. Ha. The Obama book will likely take me forever so it’s waiting still… and I guess I’m still burned me out on politics. Need a breather. Cheers.
How did I not know you’re a PW reviewer? That’s amazing! I’m going to look into this event.
You have some great reading ahead this summer! We have some overlap, but yo uhave things I haven’t heard of, so you’re giving me ideas!
On the personal front, I got to shop at Costco today without wearing a mask and it was bizarre. It was about 50/50 mask to no-mask. Welcome to America!
Hey Catherine, oh my gosh the Costco experience, crazy! Not sure I could handle that right now. We are still in mask-land here.
I’m glad we have some reading overlap. I always enjoy reading your takes. You’ll probably get to many of these before me. I know you’ve already read Klara.
The PW gig is relatively new. I’ve done 6 reviews so far. But they have to remain anonymously reviewed, crazy eh? I will keep doing it for awhile. I still need to check out the PW event. Oprah spoke!
Seems like everyone is joining this challenge and, list maker that I am, I’m very tempted! Most of your books are on my wish list. Good luck!
Thanks JoAnn: I better get cracking on these books. I need to finish others I’m reading at the moment, ugh behind before I begin. I’d love to see your list if you make one! We always seem to like many of the same titles. Have a great week.
You’ve got some good books on your summer reading list. I’m eager to get to Paula McLain’s new one, as well as Laura Dave’s (whom I’ve never read). I didn’t know that Peter Heller had a new book out! I really enjoyed The River and The Dog Stars. The Guide sounds good, but I’m beginning to think that all his books have similar themes. Not that that’s a bad thing…
Sure hope you guys get out from under your lockdown restrictions pretty soon!
Hi Lesley, they are making an Announcement later today to ease some of the Covid restrictions here. Oh thank goodness. I just have to see what it’ll be. So burnt out by it here.
When I was making this list: at the last moment I saw the Peter Heller book coming out in August. So I threw it on. I have read 3 of his others. You know it just reminds me of a summer suspense read — even though it’ll likely be just like the others. Ha. We keep going back. Have fun with your list.
Like others here, we have a lot of overlap on our to-read lists, but you have some that was unaware of, so thank you! I loved Northern Spy, but what is not to like: Ireland, spies, female protagonist. . . enjoy! Based on my mom’s recommendation, you might want to try While Justice Sleeps, Stacey Abram’s thriller. It is next on my list. I hope you get some good weather and more freedom soon.
Ha. So glad you stopped by. You influenced this List after last week’s chat. I probably added Malibu Rising because of you talking about it. And now I’ll add my name to the Library wait list for Abram’s thriller too. Thx for that. We need our summer kinds of books! Keep me posted on life & your reads. So glad you liked Northern Spy — that’s excellent news. Have a fun spring & summer!
I love your summer list! It’s getting colder every day here with us, so I just love the word summer at the moment as well!
Hope you had a good week so far!
Elza Reads
Thanks Mareli. How cold does it get in S.A. during the winter? We have just had our snow outside of town melt here … after a long winter. So we are so ready for summer! We deserve it. ha. Have a great week.
Oh I didn’t know there was a new Peter Heller, I’ll have to look out for that. I’m also interested in The Other Black Girl. Hope you enjoy your summer reading!
Thanks Ellie, great to have a UK visitor. Yep I noticed the new Peter Heller right at the last minute of putting the List together. I have read his other novels & think it will be perfect for an end of summer read. Perhaps his Dog Stars is still my favorite of his novels. I need to start on my List ASAP. I plan to check out your summer list. Have a great week.