stargazer

Summer Reading and Reflections

We are at the end of May and guess what: summer is just around the corner! I hope the weather got that memo. Today with 10C and grey skies, it doesn’t feel particularly summery. Anyway, I guess the most important question at the moment is, whether we can go abroad on summer holiday. Here in the UK we are now allowed to travel to certain countries without having to quarantine when returning. Exciting times! Of course, there are still uncertainties left. And I haven’t got the vaccine yet. Oh and my passport expired during lockdown. 😉 But at least things are improving and fingers crossed, it will continue.

The second most important question is of course: What to read during the summer? Normally, my work slows down, which means I have more time and energy. Hence I often tackle the more difficult reads during this period. Potentially, I may mix it up with some lighter reads, with focus on telling a good story. After a spring season with lousy weather, long working hours and my spare time spent on Crime and Punishment, I think that is well deserved. 😁

Also, I’ve saved a few books, which take place in the summer. I know, I know. It’s perfectly possible to read books taking place in the summer during the winter months. Still, I like to follow the seasons if possible.

Summerwater by Sarah Moss

As Callum pointed out, Summerwater takes place in the Scottish summer, i.e. it’s raining all the time. So perhaps I didn’t have to wait for the summer to read it. We follow a group of people spending their summer holiday in a Scottish cabin park and the story plays out over a single day. Sarah Moss impressed me with Ghost Wall and I hope Summerwater can live up to that.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

To the Lighthouse also takes place during the Scottish summer on the Isle of Skye. It’s considered one of Woolf’s best novels and I can’t wait to read it. With Mrs Dalloway, it took me quite a while to get into Woolf’s stream-of-consciousness writing. Fingers crossed, it will be easier this time around.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

With themes such as racism and slavery, Kindred may not be your average beach read. But I am hoping it is all wrapped in a gripping story. Goodreads says: The first science fiction written by a black woman, Kindred has become a cornerstone of black American literature. This combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction is a novel of rich literary complexity.

A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee

Crime fiction meets historical fiction in Mukherjee’s debut novel, which takes place in Calcutta (now Kolkata) towards the end of the Raj era with rising political instability and lots of tension between various groups. I saw it on Nicki’s Secret Library Book Blog and it sounds like the perfect beach read!

The Republic by Plato

Last summer I read Camus and almost bit off more than I could chew. This summer my philosophical reading will be Plato’s The Republic, which was first published -375! I have tried it before, but didn’t get far. This time around I’ll get the audiobook. It doesn’t really accommodate rereading, thinking pauses and note-taking, but The Republic, which is written as a dialogue, should be particularly suited to the audioformat.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Chanel Miller is the girl, whose victim impact statement after a campus rape went viral and eventually caused a change in Californian law. Without doubt her story is going to be an impactful and difficult read and it’s probably good to read it during the summer, where I’ve got lots of mental energy.

These were some of books, I may pick up during the summer. Do you have any books lined up? Is crime or romance your preferred summer reading? Or do you prefer to tackle the difficult reads at this time of year?

76 comments

  1. There are some interesting suggested reads here, some of which I’ve not heard of but some of which I am all too familiar. I especially like the sound of Kindred and might have to check that out. What did you think of Crime and Punishment? I’d be interested to know your thoughts.
    I have no specific books planned for summer reading. I just scan my shelves and pick something but I am going to make sure that I read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.

    • I have – almost – written a review of Crime and Punishment. Probably, it will go up in a few weeks time. But as a sneak preview, I can reveal it wasn’t such a hit as I’d expected. I thought it would have the potential to become one of my favourites, but that was not meant to be.

      Yeah, I have great sympathy for the ‘no planning’ approach. The list in this post isn’t really a TBR either, since everything can happen for a mood reader like me. But I do try to get through a few difficult reads every summer and they are useful to plan, otherwise it won’t happen. It used to be physics, but at the moment I have a philosophy phase.

      • I read Crime and Punishment a long time ago and I remember little about it other than liking it but not raving about it. I think it was maybe too much being inside someone’s head and not enough action for me but as I say, it’s been a while…
        I have an abundance of books on my shelves so I’m just going to scan them when I’ve finished Big Little Lies and pick something on a whim. We have little libraries here – do they do those in Britain? – so I regularly visit them and I like the randomness of the books there which means I’m exposed to authors and texts that I otherwise would not come across. Big Little Lies is one of these although I have read Liane Moriarty before. I like the fact that the edition I have has been endorsed by Stephen King who seems an unlikely reader of this sort of book but I.like the idea of America’s premier horror writer liking a book about Australian suburban women!

        • I don’t know the concept of libraries in Britain, I suppose it may vary. My local library is very small despite of being in an area with lots of people. I guess central Londoners don’t use libraries. But it is situated just outside of Chinatown, and more than 50% of the books are in Chinese! I mostly use the library for audiobooks, which I can download from home. I also use the Kindle library, but you can keep the books as long as you like, so there is no stress.

          Haha, Stephen King and Liane Moriarty does seem like a strange juxtaposition, but I guess writers may read lots of different genres, which are very different to the books they write themselves.

          • I anticipate that if Stephen says it’s scary, it must be quite a dark book.
            So, little libraries are set up by people outside their homes to share books with the locals here in Canada. No audiobooks, I’m afraid, but a wide variety of reading material donated by neighbours. I’ve found some very different books to what I may normally be drawn to in the little library.
            And I love the idea that you can pop down the road and have a furtle and find something to read.
            I think I will leave off municipal library reading for a bit. I read al or of ARCs as well so I’ve got plenty to go at.

          • Ah I see. It’s a nice idea to share books with the locals. We don’t have that here, but I can imagine you will often find something, you wouldn’t have come across otherwise. Also, it’s a good way of recycling books. Good luck with the ARCs (I don’t really do ARCs – no commitment here 😉) and whatever else you decide to pick up!

          • You know, I was a little sceptical about ARCS as they have been a mixed bag but I have read some great ones. The one I am reading at the moment is really good and I am becoming more discerning, shall we say, in the ones I choose to read.

          • Yes, that makes sense. I always feel it’s more “risky” to read ARCs, because you don’t have a lot of other reviews to rely on, but have to judge by the blurb.

        • Well Plato’s The Republic is the one for this summer. Last year it was Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus, which was pretty hardcore and incomprehensible.

          • Yes, they are quite high brow! Good luck. I’ve always set a New Year’s resolution to read the complete works of Shakespeare but have never completed it! I mean, I’m familiar with much but not all. Ancient Greece is always quite interesting though so Plato could surprise?

          • Haha, it sounds ambitious to read the complete works of Shakespeare. Maybe you should make a New Year’s resolution to read one per year? And yes, I like Ancient Greece as well and I enjoyed learning about Socrates and Plato in school, so hopefully it will be ok.

    • Me too! But in this weekend, we should reach 20C, so it’s improving! Yeah rainy weather is perfect for reading, but to be honest, I would rather be out there enjoying the sun! 😉

    • Thanks Callum! I will certainly write a review of Summerwater, when I get to it.

  5. I loved A Rising Man! Later on I became less thrilled with the series but that one still stands out as a favourite. Hope you enjoy it! I’ll also be reading Summerwater at some point this summer, and I have no doubt it will be raining when I do… 😉

    Get that vaccine!! 😀

    • Now I am even more excited to read The Rising Man! Good to know about the rest of the series, perhaps I’ll stick to the first book. Haha, we can compare notes on Summerwater, when we get that far with or without rain. And yes, I should be getting my first shot (vaccine) quite soon!

  6. To the Lighthouse and Summerwater – I’d like to think I’ll read them both this summer. And you’re hedging your bets with out summer weather – very clever! You have put together such a brilliant and varied selection, Stargazer. I’ll look forward to your thoughts in the coming months.

    • They both seem very appropriate for summer reading, don’t they. 😊 Summerwater would have been perfect the last couple of weeks. We did get a lot of rain! I always try to pick different genres, since I need variety in my reading. Hopefully, they will all be great in different ways.

  8. Hello Stargazer. I found Virginia Wolff very difficult, actually I also found her book boring. But perhaps I didn’t give the books enough time. As you said, it takes a while to get into her style. As for Plato, well, I’ve read quite a lot about him, but not his own work. Let us know how you get on with him.

    • Oh no, I am sorry you found Woolf boring. But since I loved Mrs Dalloway, I hope this will work for me as well. Let’s see how it all goes. I remember Plato’s Republic as a rather difficult read, but it was many years since I last tried to read it.

        • Oh no, I’m sure it has nothing to do with being intellectual. Lots of people don’t get on with Woolf and that is ok – actually it’s a good thing we don’t all enjoy the same books – imagine how boring would our blog discussions be?

    • Glad you enjoyed Kindred, I look forward to reading it. Haven’t heard of Valentine, but will check it out.

    • I hope you will write a review, it’s the kind of book I might be interested in as well.

    • Thanks, glad you think so. I look forward to your suggestions!

    • As we’ve discussed before, I’m slightly worried that I will be disappointed, because I loved Mrs Dalloway so much. But I’m hoping for the best and will try not to compare!

    • I hope they will be! Will try to write reviews of all of them (eventually).

  14. Heh, your summer is my winter, but it seems the temperatures are kinder to us than to you at the moment ;).
    I do want to read Kindred, certainly. I heard good things about A Rising Man, so hopefully the reviews will match your experience this time 🙂 Happy reading!

    • Oh no! That is not fair! 😁 According to the weather forecast things should improve over the weekend, so I’m hoping summer will soon arrive. Kindred sounds really good doesn’t it? Thanks!

  15. Quite the list! Read To the lighthouse eons ago for school. Same with the Republic. Liked Kindred. I read a magazine interview with Chanel Miller and found her to be articulate and intelligent. The book should be a good, if emotionally difficult read. Hope to hear how the reading went!

    • I am kinda glad, I didn’t have to read Woolf or Plato in school – might have put me off for good! I am sure Chanel Miller is an interesting person to read about and I look forward to her memoirs, which I am sure will affect me deeply. Will also try to write reviews. 🙂

      • True. Reading anything in school kills it.

        I look forward to hearing what you think of the book on your list!

        • I am surprised about some of the books school children have to read. But I guess some children are ready to read adult books at a relatively young age.

  16. Happy reading over summer, Stargazer! I’m looking forward to your review of To the Lighthouse already. The very name sounds summery.

    • Thanks Rose! To the Lighthouse does sound summery and I really look forward to read it. 😊

    • I will put up my review (sooner of later) of Know My Name and then you can perhaps see if it’s for you. 🙂

  18. Summerwater sounds terrific I think I might have to add that to my summer reading list. I hope you enjoy To The Lighthouse, I’m storing it up for a re read quite soon.

    • I guess it’s a good sign, if you want to reread To the Lighthouse? I can’t wait to see how I get on with it.

  20. I don’t vary my reading according to the seasons. In fact, I’m likely to be perverse and read a grim/wintery book in the summer or a summery book in the winter!

    • I know, I am weird that way. It just feels wrong to me to read about the snow falling, when there is a heatwave or vice versa. But grim books (lots of crime) in the summer is absolutely fine! 😀

  21. Nice list! I’m doing the 20 books in Summer challenge, and will post my list tomorrow. I basically focu on what’s on my TBR, whatever the genres

    • I don’t have a TBR! And 20 books during the summer would be way too ambitious for me. Even the above should just be seen as ‘a rough guideline’ 😉

  22. I ordered a pile of books from the library, and unexpectedly, they all came at once. I feel submerged. Sarah Moss is on that list, but actually hasn’t come yet. I’ll have to do a progress report sometime.

    • That is typical! But at least you have enough reading material. It sounds like a few of us may be reading Summerwater this summer. It will be interesting to see how our opinions compare. Progress report would be good! 😊

  23. I am with you, Stargazer. My work also slows in summer, and I tend to tackle lengthier books I’ve saved all year and also like mixing those with the lighter fare. Love your list here. I definitely want to read Know My Name sooner rather than later. I hope you enjoy all your summer reads.

    • Thanks so much Jennifer and the same to you. I will write a review of Know My Name, when I get to it. I very much look forward to the summer. Not sure, I am going to travel, but that just leaves more time for reading! 😀

  24. Ahhh…summer! A popular season. Not a fav of mine though ahaha and I normally don’t read according to seasons. I’m more of a mood reader 😀 I have yet to read Know My Name and Summerwater, though! Just too many books LOL Hope you enjoy your books! 🙂

    • What is your favourite season? I think mine is the early fall or rather the transition between summer and fall. Yeah, I’m a mood reader as well. So let’s see if I get through any of these.😆 Actually, I already read Summerwater, which was short and brilliant. And I have to get through The Republic as well. Then I would be happy. Thanks!

        • Haha, summer really isn’t high on your list! I guess all the seasons have their own charm and I quite like that we do have seasons. In the winter, I look forward to be able to wear t-shirts and dresses and in the summer I dream of my snuggly sweaters!

Comments are closed.