Summer reading for mom: What’s on your list?
Generally for summer reading you want something light like “Death Comes to Pemberley” by P.D. James. If you loved “Pride and Prejudice,” you’ll enjoy revisiting with all your favorite characters while they sort out a murder at Pemberley. It’s fun and truly captures the feeling of Austin. My only complaint is that James feels the need to have “Pride” characters interact with Austin characters from other books.
Earlier in the summer, I tried to read “Civilization: The West and the Rest by Niall Ferguson.” We had seen part of the documentary of the book on TV but the book proved too academic to wade through. So I gave up.
I found a medium-ground by visiting classics that I should have read in high school or college but never did. (Not meaning they were assigned and didn’t read them, just meaning as an educated person I should have read them.)
By my bed right now:
“A Farewell to Arms” – I just finished
“For Whom the Bell Tolls”
“Old Man and the Sea” – I read this in Freshmen English in high school.
Also “Mockingjay” that I started but didn’t finish and “Prince William: The Man Who will be King.”
I also checked out some cookbooks from the library. I am loving “America’s Test Kitchen: Slow Cooker Revolution,” but I feel like it’s the wrong season for it. (I’m all about the grill right now.) I’ll have to re-check it out in fall. I also have been perusing “Giada at Home” and “Summer Gatherings: Casual Food to Enjoy with Family and Friends.”
We are also listening to the Harry Potter books on CD as I do housework.
So what are you working on this summer? Do you like to keep it light? Are there any classics you want to revisit, books you feel guilty about not reading previously?
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33 comments Add your comment
Penguinmom
July 17th, 2012
2:12 am
So far this summer, I’ve read
Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius (surprisingly not as hard as I expected from a 500AD author)
A Hero’s Guide to Saving the Kingdom by Healy (funny YA book – new take on the various Prince Charming characters from well-known fairy-tales)
Sorcery and Cecilia: The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Wrede (billed as a YA book but I think would be enjoyed by most adults who enjoy the Pride and Prejudice time period – mixed with a bit of magic)
The Divide by Kay (boy magically transported into an alternate universe – really enjoyable YA read)
Physics of the Impossible by Kaku (about 1/2 way through this one)
TroubleTwisters – YA book about twins discovering their magical powers.
In addition I’ve been perusing various Calculus texts as I’m preparing lesson plans for my first foray into teaching HS Calculus this year. My favorite so far is the Cartoon Guide to Calculus by Gonick.
I like to know what my kids are reading so I do read a lot of YA (Young adult/teen) books. It gives me a chance to discuss the plot/characters with them and I actually find the YA books enjoyable because they often have really interesting characters but are fairly quick reads. We tend to avoid the overly-romantic/angst-ridden series so I don’t have to read about whiny or infatuated teens very often. (no Twilight-ish books so far)
TWG – I found Mockingjay the hardest of the series to read. It was very dark and people kept dying after I had really gotten interested in them. It was realistic as far as a war novel goes but it was a bit too depressing for my taste.
FCM on my cell
July 17th, 2012
5:53 am
Earlier this summer I read the Hunger Games trilogy. I read a YA fiction on the ghost of Titanic. the 2nd Boonsboro Inn book. Currently working on The Lost.Years of Jesus. Bedtime I dont like anything but lite fair. Started working through the Bride Quartet series. I think there was an In Death book this summer too.
I am actually looking for my next big read. I may revisit Tolkein as nothing in stores lately has grbbed my attention.
I was never fond of Hemingway, but glad your enjoying him.
FCM on my cell
July 17th, 2012
5:56 am
Oh the 2nd book of the Hunger Games series was by far yhe best. the whole series is written as a 3act play. do people ever like the 3rd act really?
Augusta
July 17th, 2012
8:02 am
On my 3rd Michael Connelly Book right now, The Narrows. I just finished Harlan Corbin’s No Second Chance.
I like crime/drama books…..
Young@heart
July 17th, 2012
8:05 am
I had taken my teen to the library and he recommended “The Angel Experiment” by James Patterson. Some reason I find Young Adult fun and interesting. Loved the Twilight Series, Loved the Hunger Games, now Loving this series…5 books in all and a movie supposedly next year. No sex, no drugs…just a girl trying to save the world. I also love that once I read these I have something to talk about when the neighborhood teens visit.
Young@heart
July 17th, 2012
8:14 am
I may be incorrect about the number of books, I was just looking them up and it looks like there’s 8…Yay!
Figment
July 17th, 2012
8:26 am
I don’t have a lot of free time to read but we’re going on vacation next Friday so I might bring a book with me then. I usually prefer to read science fiction or horror. I really want to start reading H. P. Lovecraft books but I don’t have the books yet. And I’d like to re-read Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.
Leigh
July 17th, 2012
8:45 am
I am reading Game of Thrones, for the second time, when I get spare moments.
motherjanegoose
July 17th, 2012
8:58 am
Right now I am reading:
THE READING PROMISE
POSTCARD KILLERS having a hard time getting into this one even though I like James Patterson
If you like dogs, I recommend:
A DOGS PURPOSE
A PRINCE AMONG DOGS
INSIDE OF A DOG
All light reads and fun!
MatthewH
July 17th, 2012
9:06 am
A minor point-shouldn’t it be Austen instead of Austin in the first paragraph?
Anyway, good suggestions from all.
puntthemarxist
July 17th, 2012
9:09 am
50 shades of gray & magic mike…cause my husband ignores me.
A
July 17th, 2012
9:42 am
@Leigh, I’m with you on Game of Thrones, but I’m reading the books for the first time. I’m on book 3, Storm of Swords, and I don’t know how but the books just get better…as does the TV series!
JOD
July 17th, 2012
9:51 am
I’m planning to re-read The Hunger Games trilogy as I zoomed through it in a weekend. It was really good, so I will take my time the 2nd time around.
@Leigh – Game of Thrones looks interesting – we’ve thought about watching it, but maybe I should read it first?
I re-read ‘Heaven is for Real’, ‘Red Mist’, and am re-reading some classics from HS English. Right now I’m on ‘Heart of Darkness’ and will move on to ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’
Denise
July 17th, 2012
10:33 am
MJG – stick with The Postcard Killers. It is SOOOOOO good! The end was a surprise. I listened to it on CD as I drove to see my mom in Mississippi and I was so enthralled that I didn’t answer the phone because I didn’t want to miss a word. Or if it was somebody “important” I turned my whole radio off so I didn’t miss a word of the story.
Working Mom
July 17th, 2012
11:55 am
We just found out we are expecting again, so I guess I’ll be reading all the baby books again:)
FCM
July 17th, 2012
12:19 pm
@Working Mom…. WOOOT! Good news for you folks. Many prayers for a happy heathy baby & Mama!
DB
July 17th, 2012
12:28 pm
Rereading “Through A Glass Darkly” and “Now, Face to Face”. Re-read “The Bronze Horseman” (LOVE, love, love this series), enjoyed “The Scottish Prisoner”, re-read “Daughter of the Empire” series, re-read “Arrows of the Queen” trilogy . . . Lots of rereads this summer, too busy at work to concentrate on something i don’t know :-)
On another note, my husband and I cleared out 87 books from our bookshelves – leaving god only knows how many thousands left. But 87 was a good start!
Leigh
July 17th, 2012
12:47 pm
@JOD…I would read the books first. The series follows the books fairly closely, but the books are lengthy and much more detailed. They are fabulous! Although, I have to admit, the first season is what got me reading the books.
@A – Isn’t Martin fabulous?! Just when you really like someone, wham! Bad stuff happens! I was so mad at him throught the series, lol!
Class of 2000
July 17th, 2012
1:25 pm
I just finished The Fault in our Stars about a teenager with cancer. I have finished the first two books of the Boonsboro Inn trilogy and the first two of the Brides Quartet (I am on a Nora Roberts kick for some reason) I have to finish the second book of Game of Thrones for some reason I just can’t get into it. I read the latest Sookie Stackhouse book and Insurgent, which is the second book in a YA trilogy. I have Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants on my nightstand but I need to finish Game of Thrones first
April
July 17th, 2012
1:30 pm
I too read a lot of YA books. I am starting a re-reading of the Eragon series so that I can read the 4th book for the first time. It has so many details I need a refresher.
A
July 17th, 2012
2:21 pm
@Leigh–totally with you about George R.R. Martin’s writing. None of his characters can catch a break or be happy for more than a minute. Maybe that’s why it’s such incredible storytelling!
FCM
July 17th, 2012
4:22 pm
@ Class of 2000 Nora writes as JD Robb for “In Death” series…you might like it. I have been a fan of Nora for almost 20 years now. She writes some good stuff. The Bride Quartet (as I mention above)I am re-reading. The dialogue in those (especially the last 2) cracks me up….Laurel is just so snarky sometimes! LOVE IT!
Longtime Educator
July 17th, 2012
5:59 pm
Currently reading “Shadow of Night” (2nd in the Discovery of Witches series by Deborah Harkness). My June and July reading includes “A Song of Ice and Fire” books # 1 – # 4 (better known as the Game of Thrones series). I’m waiting for the 5th to come out in paperback in August and then I’ll read it too. I also listened to “Unbroken”, the story of Louis Zamperini, a WWII survivor of plane crash, sharks, and Japanese prison camps. It was a wonderful book and gave me a little more insight regarding the horror of the Japanese prison camps. Also this summer… “Freedom” by Daniel Suarez (#2 in Daemon series), A Painted House by John Grisham, “On Folly Beach” by Karen White, “Barefoot” by Elin Hilderbrand, and “Witness” by Nora Roberts.
As you can tell, I am not into any particular genre of book. If it sounds interesting or comes highly recommended by a friend, then I’ll give it a shot.
Another good idea for getting book suggestions is to sign up online with ” Good Reads.” It’s free and you can connect with friends, relatives, etc. to keep track of your reading, make recommendations to your friends, and get ideas from others’ book reviews.
Wow, TWG...
July 17th, 2012
6:45 pm
…way to keep current with books to read – hopefully this does not reflect on your HS ortime at UGA in that the “older” books on the list were not read (or required reading) back in the 80’s/90’s when you were in HS and college.
And, I know, I know, it is always good to read the classics…
flwrgrl
July 17th, 2012
6:51 pm
I have read 5 books of Southern Chick Lit by Dorothea Benton Frank lately. Great for mindless pool/beach time. I am a voracious reader and used to buy thru Amazon or used book stores, until I discovered the Paperback Swap Club. It is a fabulous concept that allows you to post books that you have read to swap with others you haven’t. All you have to pay is the postage, usually about $3.00 a book, and it is all handled thru the internet, you don’t even have to go to the P.O. for postage. I have used the system for about 5 years and rarely buy a book anymore and always find something I like, then repost them into the system after I read them. (I hate going to libraries as I either can’t find what I am looking for, or I get several books, then can’t read them in time and end up having to pay a fine. And I just can’t get used to all the noise and loud people hanging out in what I was taught was a quiet sanctuary. Now it’s more of a social club/free internet access/free babysitting concept. No thanks! ) There is also a DVD Swap Club and CD Swap Club. The Swap Clubs were founded and are run by a man from Alpharetta, I believe.
April
July 17th, 2012
7:03 pm
When I am looking for something to read for pleasure, I usually look in used book stores or Goodwill. Paperbacks at Goodwill are $1.50. The selection is varied, and I always find something that interests me. When looking for a specific title I start with the used book stores and then the digital route if I can’t find it.
JATL
July 17th, 2012
7:27 pm
“Then We Came to The End”
“Wild” -currently reading and it is FANTASTIC. I think it particularly speaks to me, but I highly recommend it.
“The Fault in Our Stars” -a YA novel, but everyone raves about it and the reviews are incredible
“The Marriage Plot”
“The Catcher in the Rye” -it’s been at least 20 years since I last read it, and it caught my eye the other day on my shelf, so I put it in the deck.
I’m actually writing so much this summer, it’s taking away from some of my reading, but it’s all good!
***How in God’s name does one start “Mockingjay” and not finish it? You may think it’s depressing, but surely you at least read the ending or one of your kids told you how it ended? I mean, how could you get through most of that series and not find out how it ends? Some may find it depressing, but not to know how it all turns out -I just don’t get that at all.
newblogger
July 17th, 2012
7:35 pm
I just visited the Margaret Mitchell house with my mom and now I’m intrigued by MM. She was so much more than an author. I’ll be reading her biography now and then re-reading “Gone With the Wind”.
martha raye
July 17th, 2012
10:05 pm
“Grace of a Different God.” I just finished it (I downloaded it off Amazon.com). It really was a gut wrenching story about a brave girl who escaped from a cult, then later as an adult rescued her niece from the same situation. A great summer read.
FCM
July 18th, 2012
8:57 am
To be fair the first bit of Mockingbird is hard to get through. Fortunately someone else told me to hang in there and they were right once you get past the first 9 chapters it does get good.
theresa
July 18th, 2012
2:01 pm
Jatl what did u think of marriage plot?? We both read that one…
theresa
July 18th, 2012
2:02 pm
Enter your comments herenewblogger..loved mm house!!
tiger ochocinco returns
July 19th, 2012
1:44 pm
try “50 Shames of Earl Grey” by Fanny Merkin…if you don’t die laughing…then you’re already dead.