My Summer Reading List

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Over the last couple of weeks, I've noticed that magazines and newspapers have started running their 'summer reading' recommendations. Although I love to see what new books crop up on these lists, my hackles always slightly stir. Once again we're persuaded to spend money and add to, if not our bookshelves, then our e-collection of stories. What's wrong with the stories we know and  the books that we own? I'm no angel when it comes to literature lust (the need to buy yet another new title even though you know you have unread novels on your shelves) but I don't have money to throw at my local bookseller. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

This summer, I will be looking to my bookshelves for unread titles and old favourites that I can easily return to. I'll also be visiting my local library (which for the holidays has been relocated to a Portakabin due to building works - I see that visit turning into another blog post in itself). Finally, as mum to two children, I'll be working with them to create stories of our own.

Fi's Summer Reading List

Unread gems I've found on my bookshelves:

Good Wives by Louisa M Alcott
Murder Most Fab by Julian Clary
The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie
The Ghosts of Sleath by James Herbert
Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

Old favourites that I'll reread:

Imajica by Clive Barker
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold by Terry Brooks
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Comments

  1. Kelly Hashway19 July 2011 at 11:21

    This is why I love the library. I do buy a lot of books, but I can't afford to buy all the book I want to read. Instead I go to the library once or twice a week. It helps a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beverly Diehl19 July 2011 at 15:46

    Not sure if I can totally resist impulse buys, but mostly, have done as you are - reading from my own bookshelves and Kindle backlist. Only a couple thousand there, so I can prolly get through the summer.

    For me, reading lists don't work. I have some lists of "You should read this" and I do select off that list on a regular basis, but I have to pick what I'm in the mood for. That might be paranormal romance, or a thick historical biograhy, or a how-to-write book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fi19 July 2011 at 16:01

    Kelly - we're having a weekly library visit (mainly to keep the kids amused) but it's such a small library that the adult section doesn't contain much that I'm interested. The children's section however is wonderful and varied.

    Beverley - I loved the romance aspect of Imajica (above) although it's more fantasy horror than paranormal.

    Thanks for the comments.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Annie Boreson19 July 2011 at 17:07

    A good reading list, Fi. I love Thomas Hardy so I was glad to see him on your rereads. I am not so much an impulse buyer but if someone highly recommends a novel, I tend to put it on my list. Just heard that first time author S.J. Watson's new book "Before I Go To Sleep" is excellent. Thanks again, Fi.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Brenda19 July 2011 at 18:42

    I can't always resist the impulse buy, but I do turn to my own library as well. I have enough books that I've bought over the years that 1) I haven't read, or will reread... I am not allowed to check out books from the public library (I forget to return) cheaper for me to buy in the long run.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My Inner Chick19 July 2011 at 19:16

    Oh, some of those look good...but I have several on my shelves, as well...
    such as Lit, Exepecting Adam, The Swimming Pool, & a fun one called Size 12 Is Not Fat!

    Sme of my faves: Lolita, To Kill a Mockingbird, Evening, The Hours, & Stones From the RIver.

    Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous21 July 2011 at 01:03

    I have so many books on my bookshelf that I haven't bought a book in a month or so. I will be making a trip to the bookstore soon, though, for a few novels I'm dying to read: The Last Werewolf, What Alice Forgot, and Before Ever After.

    ReplyDelete

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