Monday, June 24, 2013

Lit: Summer Reading

I'm seeing a lot of summer reading posts and articles lately. I'm never quite sure what to make of these lists. What makes a book a summer read? Does the list maker intend that we should read every book on the list? Still, they're always fun to read.

O Magazine has compiled a list of 47 books for their Summer Reading Guide. While they're all fairly recent books, they are not necessarily just coming out and I always appreciate that. I have just added both The Light Between Oceans and Where'd You Go, Bernadette? to the Omaha Bookworms schedule so those two were already on my summer reading "plan."

NPR has a list that their critics are updating with new categories regularly. People, I haven't even heard of most of these books! As if I didn't already have a long enough list of books to read!

Reader's Digest has a surprisingly interesting list they recommend for summer reading, including Jess Walter's Beautiful Ruins which shows up on a lot of lists. You don't suppose it has something to do with the cover, do you? Is it wrong that thinking of Reader's Digest reminded me that AARP also has a remarkable good list of books for summer 2013.

Over at the TED blog, they've compiled a list of 200 books on their summer reading list, with contributions from more than a dozen diverse TED speakers or participants including Rainn Wilson (of The Office - his list will definitely surprise you) and Chris Kluwe (punter for the Oakland Raiders). Their lists are heavy on non-fiction if you're looking for books to sink your teeth into over the summer but radio veteran Guy Raz has included Taro Gomi's Everyone Poops on his list. So it's not all high brow stuff!

Last but not least, The Huffington Post has a Teen Summer Reading List actually created by teens. I'm pretty excited to see that these teens are reading, that they are reading young adult books that bloggers I respect rave about, and that they are reading and recommending classics such as The Great Gatsby and "anything by Jane Austen." One of the contributors has recommended Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park, which I've been wanting to pick up (if for no other reason than that she has already sent her fourth book to the publisher - I need to get caught up!).

What about you - do you make a summer reading list? Do you reading habits change in the summer?

12 comments:

  1. I have a reading list which gets ticked off very slowly because of the lack of reading material in my part of the world but it does get done eventually. Sometimes I end up with the very latest and then I am quite excited but no specific lists as such.

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  2. I'm checking out the NPR list you mentioned. As for the O magazine lists - I didn't really care for a lot of the books they mentioned - in fact, I found the lists to be rather disappointing. Oh well, I have plenty new tomes lying around that I plan on getting to. And truthfully, during the summer I tend to read lighter books - I want quick and easy reads and a few heavy ones thrown in for good measure. Enjoy your summer reads!!

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  3. I definitely try to read more. There are so many good opportunities to read during the summer, I feel. I usually make a list, but I don't always stick with it.

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  4. I don't have summer lists because I have enough on my plate just to read all the books on my non-seasonal lists! However, I will comment that a book is a good summer read and it's usually a bit on the frothy side, light, bright, and airy. Something that will keep me distracted on an airplane, or airport. But then, I intersperse my reading life with those kinds of books year round anyway :)

    I personally think most summer reading lists are simply to promote current books, which is fine. Teens lists are more legit, I think, as kids conceivably do have more time to read in the summer than when school is in session. I don't, however--there's gardening, summer festivals, outdoor cooking, and a host of other things that cut into my reading time in the summer.

    This is a long response but one more thing...I find I don't read nearly as much on vacation as at home. Nothing like a break in routine to cut into my reading plan!

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  5. Oh how I loooove book lists! Thanks for the links :)

    I hope you enjoy Bernadette. It's a delight!

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  6. I find my lists don't change. Maybe if I could take a lone vacation one summer for three weeks, I'd bring along a pile of beach and mai tai books along. But alas I don't see that happening any time soon ;) But I like looking at reading lists. Helps me see what's out there that I need to get to! Thanks for providing these :) Good luck and have fun on your summer reading, Lisa!

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  7. Beautiful Ruins has more to offer then the cover. A great story plus a look at the foibles of Hollywood and movie making.

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  8. I cannot wait to make my summer reading list! I do think that the Bernadette book is ideal for the summer. It is so awesome!

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  9. When I think of summer I think of lighter beach reads, but I don't think my reading changes with the seasons. Maybe creepier for the fall but really only in theory. I will be reading a couple of Kings this summer...but I also read him last winter and spring so who knows.

    Beautiful Ruins really does have a gorgeous cover, huh? And I think I'm going to listen to Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

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  10. I'm excited. We have a window of opportunity to go to Italy soon, so apart from being in the Italian house and doing some work there, I hope to be doing more reading in the sun! I've forgotten what unread books I have in the library/study area. Making a choice will be an event in itself! Happy Summer reading Lisa, whether it's one chosen from a list or one from your planned pile!

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  11. I have Beautiful Ruins for audio! I love looking at these lists and finding a gem out of all of the possibilities!

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  12. I don't make a reading list for the summer. I think those lists are compiled for people who actually take a vacation or slow down over the summer. Not me. I'm still raging on! I definitely steer towards mysteries a bit more in the summer because they are quicker. That's about it.

    And yes you SHOULD read Eleanor and Park. I loved it!!

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