Tell Me What to Read: Summer 2015 Edition
I seriously love reading book lists and book recommendations.
One of my favorite ways to spend down time is searching through book lists and putting as many books on hold as I can until I max out my library card.
So obviously Tell Me What to Read has long been one of my favorite things. I can’t tell you how often I go back to look at your recommendations on the previous posts.
I’ve read about five books in the last ten days (hello, vacation), so I’m ready to kick off my summer reading again.
Suggest something fun (although that doesn’t need to mean chick-lit – I’m up for non-fiction, memoirs, young adult, middle grade, AND chick-lit), and I’ll pick three to read in June, July, and August.
So! Your job: Comment with the title of a book you think I should read.
My job: I’ll choose three from the suggestions and announce them next week.
I’ll read one a month – June, July, and August. Feel free to read along.
I’ll write a review of each one here. Even if I hate the book, I will not hate you.
And . . . go! My library card is at the ready.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer…shoot you've probably already read it. But this is a series I couldn't stop reading.
For some extra LM Montgomery, The Blue Castle is nice summer read (probably not a crazy, can't put it down, five stars, but a very comfortable four).
The Edge of the Earth, by Christina Schwarz.
The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand!
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith! It's like a YA Pride and Prejudice with a little magic, mystery, royalty, and romance. The characters are so human and real; I still get butterflies everytime I re-read it!
If you haven't already then Watership Down by Richard Adams. My favourite childhood book.
Possession by A.S. Byatt, beautiful love story cum historical detective type story AND it has poetry in it. Makes this one of my favourite English novels.
Or if you feel brave and want to try something exotic, it is summer reading after all, read something foreign: A Father's Affair by Karel Glastra van Loon. Wonderful story about fatherhood. (No idea of the quality of the translation though.)
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. I am finishing up the audiobook version and really enjoying it even though it's not about a happy topic at all. Very thought provoking non-fiction.
And I know I'm being nosy, but where are you moving?
I will be on vacation in North Carolina in mid June. My best friend from high school lives in Wilmington. Any must sees and must dos you can pass on?
Who Rides a Tiger by Doris Miles Disney or Stuff Parisians Like: Discovering the Quoi in the Je Ne Sais Quoi by Olivier Magny
I highly, highly recommend The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser. I rarely buy books for myself (I'm a library junkie) and this is one of the few that I have in my personal collection. It's just that good.
The Royal We was adorable.
I also loved The Royal We, but I am recommending The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh. Fantastic middle grade novel that will give you goosebumps.
It is always a challenge to suggest a book that you haven't already read. I suggest The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde. I see that you have the Eyre Affair in that picture. Fforde can get pretty trippy—subsequent books in the Thursday Next series, but I found The Last Dragonslayer to be quirky but still normal enough to be enjoyable. I am currently listening to the second in that series (Song of the Quarkbeast) and am enjoying that as well.
I just looked back on last summer's books and noticed that you didn't get around to reviewing them. (o.k…..that sounds really anal and nit-picky. I don't mean that to be the case. I guess I am too tired to come up with more tactful phrasing.). What did you think of the Light between Oceans?
Complications by Atul Gawande
I know I've recommended the fun and fascinating non-fiction Packing for Mars by Mary Roach…but I promise I won't mention it again after today 🙂 My favourite book in the last month has been the most recent Penderwick book. I can't remember you mentioning this series but it feels like they would be right up your alley as they are lovely family stories about sisters.
Yayy! Totally one of my favourite things too!
This is not new but for some reason I found this book very enjoyable – The House of Joy by Sarah Kate-Lynch. Also The Cousins' War series by Philippa Gregory had me binge reading: The Red Queen, The White Queen, The White Princess and The King's Curse. But The White Queen was my favourite
So hard to pick just one – some of my recent favorites:
History of the Rain – unique writing style took me a bit to get into but really enjoyed it
Dancing Fish and Ammonites – (memoir by Penelope Lively- made me think)
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett – a quick fun read
The elegance of a Hedgehog – I loved this book
I also second the Elegance of the Hedgehog, I loved that one.
I also really liked Camilla by Madeleine L'Engle
Or if you're looking for something more classic and Russian I'd recommend Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak.
I enjoy a good old "whodunnit" murder mystery from time to time. One I picked up at a library sale that was a complete hit was Bleed for Me by Michael Robotham. It's part of a series but each story can stand by itself. It's well written (descriptive without dragging on) set in England which I enjoyed and it kept me guessing throughout the entire story line! Unlike some of your other readers, I do not recommend Elegance of the Hedgehog. I prayed for that book to end just so I could have closure and move on with my life.