Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Summer Reading List 2015

Medicine for the soul. 
Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes




Since I've "retired" I haven't been able to get back on track with my writing, but I've certainly enjoyed the attack on my To Be Read Shelf. In the past five and a half months, I only purchased a few new books and have diligently read from those old piles. My stacks are now down to one packed shelf, a basket, and a few books on top of another basket.

I've vicariously traveled to World War II France --  twice, New Guinea,  a Virginia farm,  Baltimore, Armenia,  the English countryside, Islamabad and Lahore, southern Illinois, India, South America and through a looking glass.

I've eaten the best food with great chefs, visited seedy, intense and scary places as well as the most lovely of sites. I've followed along with the most interesting of people -- many of whom I liked and some I didn't.  Fine writing.

'Tis time to list my summer reading wish list.  Here's what I'm attempting for the summer. Those who know me are aware that I'll switch maps here and there with a trip to the library or will walk out of Book Club with a few new treasures in my arms. Alas my intentioned route gets mucked up.  I'm always surprised by the avenues I take.  Or those I veer onto. Or the dirt roads I just plain try because I normally wouldn't and I felt like it that day.

Here's the proposed map for this summer. (I've provided a link to Amazon for information purposes, but please, please support your local bookstore.)

Honeydew - Edith Pearlman

Euphoria - Lily King

The Children's Crusade - Ann Packer

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah

Dubliners - James Joyce

The Tao of Travel - Paul Theroux


The Painted Girls - Cathy Marie Buchanan

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll


Zealot - Reza Aslan

An Unnecessary Woman - Rabin Almeddine

My Time - Making the Most of the Bonus Decades After Fifty - Abigail Trafford

A Fighting Chance - Elizabeth Warren


The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz

Comes the Watchman Harper Lee


Second Nature - Michael Pollan


The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

And a Re-Read
for the third time.

Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon

Last, but most certainly not least, are a few from friends of mine that have published books this year.

Take My Husband Please - Kimberly Jayne


All The Innuendo -- Half the Fact  Kimberly Jayne

Oveta Culp Hobby - Debra Winegarten

Matchbook - Desiree Prosapio

What's on your summer reading list?

Support Your Local Bookstore


32 comments:

  1. Gad, I wish we lived in the same town, so we could share books! You have some of my favorites listed here, some that are on my to-read list, and some I'm about to add to my to-read list. When I was in Albuquerque last week for a conference thingie, the best session I attended was presented by Reza Aslan. He's a charming, intelligent, accomplished speaker, and it was a DELIGHT to listen to him.

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    1. Yes, I'm very interested in reading his book. I've heard much about it.

      And, no, I don't need another friend in town with books to add to my piles!

      Okay. Truth? I would love it.

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  2. I am a travel book fan so obviously the Theroux book leapt out at me. Haven't read it so am now hot on its trail.

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    1. He was the editor of an anthology I read earlier this year that was extremely good. The Best American Travel Writing 2014. Essays from all over the world and I found it most fascinating. Thought I would give one of his books a try.

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  3. I like this wishlist, and may just add some of those title to mine. Nice of you to share, thank you!

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  4. Wow you have a very ambitious book list. I haven't heard of many of these titles but will refer back to it when I'm off to the library. I do love the Diana Gabaldon series. I'm not usually into time travel but "JAMIE" hooked me. I didn't like the tv mini series though. I read a good book when I was off after my surgery called the Blue Zones. It was research done on centenarians. There are five pockets of high percentages of centenarians in the world so the author visited these places to find the commonalities..interesting. Happy Reading lass.....cheers, Beckie

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    1. Thanks, Beckie. Reading seems to be what I do best these days. I did like the Outlander series on TV. And, yes, Jamie is quite the hook. Ha!

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  5. Look at you being all productive and such and challenging us all. Haha.

    I did knock out 4 books at the beach, but none of them wowed me. Three were criminal justice books and not something that most people would have any interest in reading. I do have a history book by attorney and Civil War writer Gordon Rhea that I am looking forward to--he has the unique talent of simplifying complex issues without sacrificing depth of discussion.

    I'll look forward to a reading update to see how things are going.

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    1. I'm moving along on the list. Have already added to it. I had given my husband David McCulllough's book on the Wright Brothers. He enjoyed it so being a fan of McCullough, I will add that one as well.

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  6. You have a varied selection of reading material there! I'm looking forward to hearing some reviews. I tend to get books from my local library and charity shops. They both need the support. Our local libraries would close if we didn't take books out on loan.
    Happy summer reading!

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    1. I'm going to venture to the library also even though I said I wouldn't add any more books. Have received so many new titles just from this post, both here and on Facebook. So, a trip to the neighborhood library is necessary. Necessary indeed.

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  7. I laughed at Lewis Carrol. I still come up with phrases of his.

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    1. Truly enjoyed Alice in Wonderland. Still thinking about Through the Looking Glass. Ha!

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  8. Excellent list!! Good luck getting through it. I've only read two: An Unnecessary Woman (excellent) and Euphoria (good, but don't think I connected the way most readers have). Quite a few others are on my wish list. That hammock looks so inviting!

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    1. Glad to hear your assessments. Haven't read the An Unnecessary Woman yet, but absolutely adored Euphoria. Onward to the next on the list.

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  9. That is quite the list! I hope you let me know which ones you really enjoyed. I've got two books on hold at the library, waiting for them to come back from other readers. I've only read a couple but none that jump out as favorites. :-)

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    1. I truly enjoyed Euphoria. Had never read Alice so now have. Nightengale -- didn't like that one as much. Very dark, not that I can't do dark, but I felt a bit manipulated. All the Light You Cannot See? Hope that one is on your list.

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  10. Interesting list! Euphoria was one of my favorite books from last year and The Brief Wondrous is one of my son's favorite books. I reread Alice and Wonderland as an adult and appreciated it on a different level. I'm also planning to read Go Set a Watchman. My summer read list, posted today, is here: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2015/06/good-summer-books-for-teens-tweens-and.html

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    1. Enjoyed your lists and thank for the mention. I agree with your assessment of Euphoria. Thinking I will like The Brief Wondrous. Very interested to read Go Set A Watchman. Can't imagine.

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  11. I've read and enjoyed many of those books. I've been reluctant to buy "Go Set a Watchman" since I am really skeptical that Harper Lee intended for it to be published. Perhaps I'll change my mind.

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    1. Yes, should be most interesting to see what the book holds. I've been curious as to the desires of the writer as I saw where many of her letters were sold recently as well. With her sister's passing, one has to wonder if the sister held the strings too tightly or indeed held true to her wishes. Guess we won't ever know that.

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  12. Thank you for the list. I am always looking for new reads. I'm bookmarking this page so that I can refer back when my list dwindles. :)

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    1. Happy Reading. Bet you make quite a few trips to the library with your kids in the summers.

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  13. Okay, I'm trying Outlander 2, on the strength of your reading it for the third time. Just now finishing up the first season of the TV series. It's good, but not like the first book. Thanks for the mention of mine. We must get together soon.

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    1. Yes, we do need to get together. As I recall, the second book is not as good as the first. The third very good. But need to recall so I'm ready for next season. Great escape those books.

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  14. Fascinating list. I liked Euphoria. I'm a catch as catch can reader without any lists though I have favorite genres & authors. Still I'm willing to try anything at least once....:)

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    1. I tend to bounce around as well. Keeps it interesting that way. I really liked Euphoria. Rarely give a 5 star review, but I did on that one.

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  15. Your book-loving post made me grin. I've got Nothing Daunted, Escape from Baghdad, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, Stone Harbor Bound, The Storyteller, The Long Way Home, One SUmmer, Hush Hush and The River of Doubt...that's the top layer, anyway!

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    1. Geesh, getting out my Book Crawler. More to add to the list now. Have already added The Storied Life of AJFikry based on another friend's recommendation. The list goes on...

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  16. I'm surprised that I'm not familiar with the books on your list; aside from Alice in Wonderland and the Harper Lee book. I've had major distractions this year... maybe that's why... though I'll bet that most of those books have been around awhile.

    I'm hoping to get back to reading at least a couple books a month. You're inspiring me!

    Right now, I'm reading my book club's selection - All the Light We Cannot See. After that, I'll finish The Last of the Mohicans which I started months ago.

    Happy Reading and Happy Summer!

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    1. All the Light We Cannot See was an excellent book. I so enjoyed it.
      Yes, I hope you get a chance to do some reading time. And, might I add what a pleasure it is to have you comment. Hope all is well with you and yours.

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Let me know what you think. Every word you write, I appreciate.

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