NPR this week posted a their list of the "summer's biggest, juiciest nonfiction adventures." I never quite think of nonfiction as "juicy" (Henry Kissinger's On China being an example of why I don't). It turns out, though, that just as this list comes out, I'm actually reading one of the books on the list.
I've been doing a terrible job of getting books read this summer, and an even worse one of blogging, which has been a disappointment. I do always think that I'll get more reading done in the summer than I ever do. Every June arrives with me envisioning myself doing a lot of sitting on the patio with a good book. Somehow I never also envision that my chatty husband might also be sitting out there or that my daughter will want to hang out just as I sit down to read (and when you have a 16-year-old who wants to spend time with you, you take it!). Somewhere about this time of year, I begin to think that at least when winter arrives, and I'm more housebound, then I'll get more reading time. Are you starting to see where this cycle is going?!
I'm going to have to pick it up a bit in the coming weeks. I've got reviews of John Burnham's Northwest Corners and Paul Seesequasis' Tobacco Wars coming up this month as well as my book club selection for July which is Persepolis. Also hoping to find time for Theresa Fowler's Exposure and The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky. So I'm off to read now; what are your reading plans for July?
I think I enjoy memoirs so much because some of them are juicy! You're lucky to have a 16 year old who wants to hang out with you. Enjoy it while you can!
ReplyDeleteWe are reading Exposure for the MMBC, I can't wait! I might bring it with me on vacation this week.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you enjoyed the Rockefeller book, hopefully you learned/discovered something more than what we heard in news.
Reading.... I have actually been reading quite a bit recently but haven't been on/near my laptop much so it's hard to write reviews in a timely manner (ugh). Enjoy every momemt with H!
July has been filled with days of reading for me!! I've found some non-fiction to be totally fascinating and I'm glad that you enjoyed the last one you just read!! Here's to having a few of the evenings you so desire with the hubby and daughter!
ReplyDeleteSO many books to read, so little time! A few on this list really piqued my interest, particularly "Nothing Daunted". I've been reading quite a bit lately, but seem to need to have at least 5 books going at a time... Guidebooks for an upcoming trip to DC, biography of Edward Gorey, a steampunk novel Dreadnought, and House Buying for Dummies- you know just for fun! :-) I've been wanting to get my hands on Swamplandia! for some time now and after years of vowing never to go near them- I've somhow decided The Twilight series would make a great mindless summer read...
ReplyDeleteHope you are well! Happy summer!
I agree, non fiction is generally not "juicy", but when you find non fiction that IS juicy, you know you've got a winner!
ReplyDeleteOh well! Non-fiction can never be juicy for me lol!
ReplyDeleteSome non-ficiton is juicy for me, but only if it's about science or nature. Most of the other stuff I find bland and boring.
ReplyDeleteI also know what you mean about finding summer a slow reading time. I always think I will have more time and get more done, but alas, I do not!
This looks fabulous! Just added this one. I always enjoy me some juicy non-fiction!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely planning on picking some of the books from this list. I find some nonfiction juicy, definitely narrative nonfiction more than historical. Although I guess I can think of some historical nonfiction that is pretty juicy.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same for me. My vision of "summer reading" is never what I imagined it to be. In my head, it's me on the patio with a Pimm's cup in one hand and a juicy book in the other, while the birds chirp and the wind chimes chime softly in the background.
ReplyDeleteReality though, is me hiding in my room trying to get a page read. The Boy, who turns 13 next week has been coming in to recap his day. Like you said, I take the communication when I can but it means that I get no reading done. Most of it has to be done here, at work and that doesn't always work out either.
I have been AWFUL with reading this summer. I am only at maybe 30 books read this year. I've read some good ones over the last few months but just not volumes of them! I am stepping away from blog tours for awhile. I only have 2 in the next four months, I think. I was really scheduled with that in June and July and that took away some of my fun. Not that they weren't good books but I was having a hard time with sticking to my schedule. :(
ReplyDeleteI have a good 5 books that I want to read before summer is over. I hope it happens.