Tell Me What to Read: Summer 2016 Edition
I’m in a serious reading zone right now (hooray!) and I’m cruising through titles like I did back in my reading glory days of 2010 when I had no children, a 35-hour-a-week job, and a husband who traveled a lot.
Which means it is clearly time for a summer edition of Tell Me What to Read.
You know the drill – 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 July, August, and September.
Your job: Comment with the title of a book you think I should read.
 My job: Choose three from the suggestions and announce which ones I’ll be reading.
I’ll read one a month (ish) between now and the end of September. Feel free to read along and check back every month for my reviews.
And, as always, even if I hate the book, I will not hate you.
And go!
Longevity – Cameron Diaz
The Secrets of Happy Families – Bruce Feiller
Bread and Wine – Shauna Niequist
"Haunting Bombay" was a book that I was kind of surprised I finished, but in a good way. One of those books that's so intriguing and well-written that even though it wasn't a story I would normally be interested in (hard to describe, but kind of a ghost story set in India), I read it anyway. Not sure that's the best recommendation, but it was a really good and unique book.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
All the Bright Places.
Zoo Story
My very favorite thing I've read lately is A Court of Thorns and Roses and the second book which came out recently, A Court of Mist and Fury. I've rarely loved a second book in a series as much as I loved this.
The Fifth Avenue Artists Society by Joy Callaway.
Lately, I've enjoyed Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick (middle readers) and A Fifty Year Silence: Love, War and a Ruined House in France by Miranda Richmond Mouillot.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by Ryan Stradal — unique perspective, fascinating read
House Arrest by K. A. Holt — children's book, told in verse, lovely
I'm currently reading The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell, and loving it. It's witty and charming, and great if you're a fan of the Brontës. A good summer book, too!
Is it cheating if I pick an unreleased book? 🙂 I know you're a Liane Moriarty fan, so I'd love to see your review of Truly, Madly, Guilty when it comes out. I can't wait for it!
Have you ever read the Accidental Detective Series? It would probably be considered a middle school fiction series (and I haven't read them since then) but they were one of my favorites growing up. Your girls might even be old enough to enjoy them read aloud- my mom read them aloud to us when I was only a bit older than Ella. I can't remember any specific titles but just start with the first in the series.
Sigmund Brouwer is the author, just checked.
Sigmund Brouwer came to our elementary school when I was a kid – he lives not far from my hometown in Calgary. I loved all these books!! I have a few of them signed by the author and I can't wait to share them with my kids in the coming years.
I highly recommend Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series if you haven't already read it, although I'm sure you have heard of it via Modern Mrs. Darcy. They are great books. I also recently really enjoyed Eligible, although it's not for everyone – it was very fun and a great summer read, in my opinion! I also second a vote for Truly, Madly, Guilty – I can't wait to read your thoughts on it (and read it myself!!)
The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes–not great literature but a fun read.
Crossover and/or Booked by Kwame Alexander
Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley a very sweet book about books!
My Mrs Brown by William Norwich
The Red Circle by Brandon Webb- a bit of language but such an amazing book
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Tiny Pretty Things by Sonia Charaipotra
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
I love these posts because I get to read through all of the comments and pick out some new titles to put on my To Read list!
Salt to the Sea – yet another WWII book but a great page turner
Unaccustomed Earth – I don't usually like short stories, but these have really stuck with me
Hannah Coulter – beautiful but unpretentious writing; I now view "small town people" in a completely different way
Brideshead Revisited – When I try and summarize this book it sounds really dull but I'm obsessed with it and I want other people to read it so we can discuss the characters and themes
Janssen, have you read SILENT IN THE GRAVE by Deanna Raybourn yet? It's the first in the most brilliant Victorian mystery series. First line, "To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor."
I rest my case.