Summer snuck up on me this year. It’s already started, and I’m behind on plotting my summer reading schedule. Luckily, you have helped me set part of it with your votes in recent polls—June and July will be dedicated to books you selected: ‘One or Two’ by H.D. Everett, ‘She is Haunted’ by Paige Clark and ‘Say Nothing’ by Patrick Radden Keefe.
After that, I’m looking to finally read some books that have been on my TBR forever, including ‘The Last Picture Show’ by Larry McMurtry. Donna just finished ‘Say Nothing’ and is looking forward to reading a hit from last summer ‘All Fours’ by Miranda July and ‘The Emperor of Gladness’ by Ocean Vuong.
What about you? Tell us in the thread below what books you’re taking on vacation or reading to unwind this summer.
Hi Mike and Donna! In terms of new releases, I'm looking forward to Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson and for backlist I'm looking forward to reading The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve.
Hi Renee! Thanks for checking in. How do you balance new releases with backlist on your TBR? Do you alternate back and forth? Or do a bunch of the same and then switch? Or whenever the spirit moves you?
I'm a mood reader so I "mostly" read what calls to me, but I keep a revolving list of my most anticipated new releases and the backlist I've been meaning to read or those that have just come on my radar. That being said, If I read 2-3 new releases I'll intentionally pick a backlist to read next or vice versa. It's a juggling game isn't it because there's just SO many books we want to read!
I'm definitely a mood reader, too. And I'm also definitely more of a backlist reader, but I'll sprinkle in a new release that speaks to me. I definitely get a charge out of unearthing some long-lost or obscure title!
Thanks, Kristen! Lonesome Dove is definitely floating a bit in the zeitgeist these days. For example, @franmagazine just did a McMurtry May where it was featured: https://franmagazine.substack.com/p/mcmurtry-may-vol-4 A friend recommended Lonesome Dove to me forever ago, and recently I picked up its sequel, 'Streets of Laredo' to push myself to read it finally. But I have to find a copy first. In the meantime, I'll dabble with a much shorter McMurtry novel this summer.
First, a recommendation for folks participating in short-books summer: please check out Martha Wells's Murderbot Diaries. I started watching the show on Apple TV last night and was reminded of how great the series is.
As for me, my wife couldn't stop laughing as she read All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman, so I'll be packing that for our flight next week!
Thanks Daniel! Especially for a short-book summer recommendation! I've heard good things about the Murderbot show and will check out the book. Donna and I swap books all the time, too. For example, she just finished Say Nothing, which she said is amazing, and I'll be reading it later this month.
Thanks, Tara! What inspired you to put this book on your summer list? Have you read any of her other books? I thought about reading 'Red, White & Royal Blue' as a first foray into romance books, but didn't get to it. I still need to get that genre into the mix here!
I LOVED RWRB, and so when I saw her next book as a Book of the Month option I selected it and just picked it up now because I wanted to dive into something light. It’s a traipse around Italy/Spain/France and summery as all hell so it wound up being perfect timing.
I’m also tackling books that have been on my tbr for ages! I love Emma Donoghue but have several works of hers to get to, so currently making my way through her story collection “The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits”, and will probably be pulling books from my shelves to make a stack soon!
Hi Cassie! Thanks for weighing in! I have been on a tear picking up new books and it's made me more self-conscious about books that have been on my tbr forever. There are some titles there that I really want to tackle, and I was hoping there would be time this summer. But it seems I'll only get to one or two, alas. I haven't read any books by Emma Donoghue, but her blurb on Ghost Wall caught my eye and I made a mental note to check out her work. Thanks for the reminder!
I'm listening to the Mrs, Pollifax series on audio. It is delightfully not dated, or stereotyped, It is very much cozy, comical, historical cold war spy mystery.
Thanks, Krett! How far into the series are you? I've wanted to dive into a long series, but it's tricky to do in a newsletter because of spoilers and wanting to give folks variety, etc. Most recently I started the 'On the Calculation of Volume' series, which is great, and I've also featured a book or two from 'Dune.' I wish there was more time in my day to do a stream of reading for the newsletter and another stream for myself.
Just finished book 2. I am also working my through Terry Pratchett's disc world series to distract myself from political doom scrolling. A new discovery for me is Paul Strathern St. Augustine in 90 Minutes, part of his Philosophers in 90 minutes series.
I’m not going away but when I finally take 2 weeks off in late Sept I will be reading mostly tbr titles: Christopher Priest (Expect me Tomorrow) and re-reading The Secret History which I read when it first came out. Interested to see if it’s still as delicious. Also pressing on with a series of novels about the ‘Accursed Kings’ of the 14th French monarchy by Maurice Druon and up to vol.6 (of 12) in a guided month by month re-read of Dance to the Music of Time hosted by the Anthony Powell Society. New stuff will be the latest poetry collections by Fiona Benson and Richard Scott which I’ve received as part of a subscription to the Poetry Book Society
Thanks, Elizabeth! That's a full slate of new-to-me books! I'll have to check out these titles. And I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on your Secret History re-read. I read it for the first time a few years ago and I enjoyed it. But I wonder if it would hold up the second time around.
I am reading The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. I am ready to be done with Thomas Cromwell, but it is sooo good. Also reading Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. It is the NYT Book Review podcast’s book club book for June and I have tried twice before, hoping third time is the charm. I also want to read the 4th book in the Neapolitan Quartet and finish that. I hope you and Donna have a great reading summer!!
Thanks so much, Kate! Looks like you've got a great summer lineup plotted out. I'm glad you're enjoying the end of the Cromwell trilogy, and I hear you about being ready to move on. If I remember correctly, I felt similarly to the Neapolitan novels, even though I really enjoyed them. I've never read Virginia Woolf. I really need to get on that.
Thanks, Mónica! I love being excessively optimistic about summer reading! The great thing about it is if you don't get to every book you hope to, you can read it in the next season, or the next!
I'm waiting on a bunch of library holds... the ones that might realistically pop up this summer are: "Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson, "Audition" by Katie Kitamura, Kaveh Akbar's "Martyr!".... AND I placed a hold on "On the Calculation of Volume" thanks to a certain newsletter. I'm also waiting on "The Thursday Murder Club" — a friend and fellow Agatha Christie/cozy mysteries fan recommended it for when you want something to read without thinking too hard. TBD if I'll want to read the rest of the books in that series, but no harm in mixing it up.
Hello, my friend! I can't wait to hear your thoughts about 'On the Calculation of Volume.' I'm glad a certain newsletter helped guide you to it. I have 'Martyr!' on my TBR, but no sense yet of when I'll get to it. I'm definitely trying to find books to enjoy without thinking to hard for the near future. I'll get serious in the fall lol!
im planning on reading some new releases this summer, such as “work nights” by erica peplin, “dyke delusions” by samantha mann, as well as some other contemporary books like “body work” by melissa febos and “matrix” by lauren groff
Thanks, Amanda! I read 'Fates & Furies' years ago and have long meant to return to Groff's work. And Febos is someone I've been following on Instagram forever, but have yet to pick up one of her books. I need to check these out. Let me know what you think of them!
febos is amazing!! the first book of hers i read was “girlhood”, which is a perfect entry into the kind of style she writes with and her experiences! im eager to read the rest of her catalog too!
Thanks for sharing, my friend! I like this plan. I may sneak in a chunky book myself toward the end of the summer. Or maybe I'll do a big-book fall?? Enjoy!
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb
Thanks, Maureen! Have you read other books by Lamb? What inspired you to put this book on your summer list?
Hi Mike and Donna! In terms of new releases, I'm looking forward to Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson and for backlist I'm looking forward to reading The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve.
Hi Renee! Thanks for checking in. How do you balance new releases with backlist on your TBR? Do you alternate back and forth? Or do a bunch of the same and then switch? Or whenever the spirit moves you?
I'm a mood reader so I "mostly" read what calls to me, but I keep a revolving list of my most anticipated new releases and the backlist I've been meaning to read or those that have just come on my radar. That being said, If I read 2-3 new releases I'll intentionally pick a backlist to read next or vice versa. It's a juggling game isn't it because there's just SO many books we want to read!
I'm definitely a mood reader, too. And I'm also definitely more of a backlist reader, but I'll sprinkle in a new release that speaks to me. I definitely get a charge out of unearthing some long-lost or obscure title!
Same!! I love finding and reading hidden gems
It's funny you mention Larry McMurtry. After hearing so many good things lately, I want to try a crack at Lonesome Dove this summer.
Thanks, Kristen! Lonesome Dove is definitely floating a bit in the zeitgeist these days. For example, @franmagazine just did a McMurtry May where it was featured: https://franmagazine.substack.com/p/mcmurtry-may-vol-4 A friend recommended Lonesome Dove to me forever ago, and recently I picked up its sequel, 'Streets of Laredo' to push myself to read it finally. But I have to find a copy first. In the meantime, I'll dabble with a much shorter McMurtry novel this summer.
First, a recommendation for folks participating in short-books summer: please check out Martha Wells's Murderbot Diaries. I started watching the show on Apple TV last night and was reminded of how great the series is.
As for me, my wife couldn't stop laughing as she read All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman, so I'll be packing that for our flight next week!
Thanks Daniel! Especially for a short-book summer recommendation! I've heard good things about the Murderbot show and will check out the book. Donna and I swap books all the time, too. For example, she just finished Say Nothing, which she said is amazing, and I'll be reading it later this month.
Casey McQuiston’s The Pairing
Thanks, Tara! What inspired you to put this book on your summer list? Have you read any of her other books? I thought about reading 'Red, White & Royal Blue' as a first foray into romance books, but didn't get to it. I still need to get that genre into the mix here!
I LOVED RWRB, and so when I saw her next book as a Book of the Month option I selected it and just picked it up now because I wanted to dive into something light. It’s a traipse around Italy/Spain/France and summery as all hell so it wound up being perfect timing.
Sounds perfect!
I’m also tackling books that have been on my tbr for ages! I love Emma Donoghue but have several works of hers to get to, so currently making my way through her story collection “The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits”, and will probably be pulling books from my shelves to make a stack soon!
Hi Cassie! Thanks for weighing in! I have been on a tear picking up new books and it's made me more self-conscious about books that have been on my tbr forever. There are some titles there that I really want to tackle, and I was hoping there would be time this summer. But it seems I'll only get to one or two, alas. I haven't read any books by Emma Donoghue, but her blurb on Ghost Wall caught my eye and I made a mental note to check out her work. Thanks for the reminder!
She's most known for Room but my personal favorite is The Wonder! An excellent examination of science vs. faith and how/if the two can coexist
Ooh! That sounds really interesting. I'll check that out.
I'm listening to the Mrs, Pollifax series on audio. It is delightfully not dated, or stereotyped, It is very much cozy, comical, historical cold war spy mystery.
Thanks, Krett! How far into the series are you? I've wanted to dive into a long series, but it's tricky to do in a newsletter because of spoilers and wanting to give folks variety, etc. Most recently I started the 'On the Calculation of Volume' series, which is great, and I've also featured a book or two from 'Dune.' I wish there was more time in my day to do a stream of reading for the newsletter and another stream for myself.
Just finished book 2. I am also working my through Terry Pratchett's disc world series to distract myself from political doom scrolling. A new discovery for me is Paul Strathern St. Augustine in 90 Minutes, part of his Philosophers in 90 minutes series.
Ooh! I need to check out this Philosophers in 90 Minutes thing!
I’m not going away but when I finally take 2 weeks off in late Sept I will be reading mostly tbr titles: Christopher Priest (Expect me Tomorrow) and re-reading The Secret History which I read when it first came out. Interested to see if it’s still as delicious. Also pressing on with a series of novels about the ‘Accursed Kings’ of the 14th French monarchy by Maurice Druon and up to vol.6 (of 12) in a guided month by month re-read of Dance to the Music of Time hosted by the Anthony Powell Society. New stuff will be the latest poetry collections by Fiona Benson and Richard Scott which I’ve received as part of a subscription to the Poetry Book Society
Thanks, Elizabeth! That's a full slate of new-to-me books! I'll have to check out these titles. And I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on your Secret History re-read. I read it for the first time a few years ago and I enjoyed it. But I wonder if it would hold up the second time around.
I am reading The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. I am ready to be done with Thomas Cromwell, but it is sooo good. Also reading Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. It is the NYT Book Review podcast’s book club book for June and I have tried twice before, hoping third time is the charm. I also want to read the 4th book in the Neapolitan Quartet and finish that. I hope you and Donna have a great reading summer!!
Thanks so much, Kate! Looks like you've got a great summer lineup plotted out. I'm glad you're enjoying the end of the Cromwell trilogy, and I hear you about being ready to move on. If I remember correctly, I felt similarly to the Neapolitan novels, even though I really enjoyed them. I've never read Virginia Woolf. I really need to get on that.
Indelicacy by Amina Cain, The Seven Ages by Eva Figes and the essays of Montaigne. Too optimistic maybe!
Thanks, Mónica! I love being excessively optimistic about summer reading! The great thing about it is if you don't get to every book you hope to, you can read it in the next season, or the next!
I'm waiting on a bunch of library holds... the ones that might realistically pop up this summer are: "Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson, "Audition" by Katie Kitamura, Kaveh Akbar's "Martyr!".... AND I placed a hold on "On the Calculation of Volume" thanks to a certain newsletter. I'm also waiting on "The Thursday Murder Club" — a friend and fellow Agatha Christie/cozy mysteries fan recommended it for when you want something to read without thinking too hard. TBD if I'll want to read the rest of the books in that series, but no harm in mixing it up.
Hello, my friend! I can't wait to hear your thoughts about 'On the Calculation of Volume.' I'm glad a certain newsletter helped guide you to it. I have 'Martyr!' on my TBR, but no sense yet of when I'll get to it. I'm definitely trying to find books to enjoy without thinking to hard for the near future. I'll get serious in the fall lol!
Reading Dan Jones's "Henry V" and Simon Tolkien's "The Palace at the End of the Sea" at the moment!
Thanks, Gina! Enjoy!
im planning on reading some new releases this summer, such as “work nights” by erica peplin, “dyke delusions” by samantha mann, as well as some other contemporary books like “body work” by melissa febos and “matrix” by lauren groff
Thanks, Amanda! I read 'Fates & Furies' years ago and have long meant to return to Groff's work. And Febos is someone I've been following on Instagram forever, but have yet to pick up one of her books. I need to check these out. Let me know what you think of them!
febos is amazing!! the first book of hers i read was “girlhood”, which is a perfect entry into the kind of style she writes with and her experiences! im eager to read the rest of her catalog too!
I really want to read the hunger games series since I never did as a child, and I genuinely enjoyed the movies.
Thanks for sharing! Enjoy the series!
I’m looking forward to maybe tackling one chunky book like Paul Austers 4 3 2 1 and then a bunch of quicker Summerween novels 👻
Thanks for sharing, my friend! I like this plan. I may sneak in a chunky book myself toward the end of the summer. Or maybe I'll do a big-book fall?? Enjoy!
chunky book summer, big book fall, thick book winter, and spring we are just trying to survive lol
I need ways to frame things or how do I know what I’m doinggggggg???! 😂
I mean same! That’s what one of my next posts is about lol 😂