Focus on Reading - Week 43 - Summer Reading

[Booknblues]

Since we have already hit the hundred mark here, I thought it was time to talk about Summer Reading.

What kind of books do you like to read in the summer?
What are your plans for this Summer?

[David]

Booknblues wrote: "Since we have already hit the hundred mark here, I thought it was time to talk about Summer Reading.

What kind of books do you like to read in the summer?
What are your plans for this Summer?"
I like the classic beach read. I've recently discovered that I love what I guess is called chic lit. Light fun reads that don't a lot of concentrations.
Summer is reading and writing. Going to Montana for my son's wedding.

[Doughgirl5562]

My reading plans don't really change in the summer. If I'm going on vacation, I always like to take along a book that is set in my vacation destination - but that applies year round.

And I don't necessarily try for lighter "beach reads" like many readers do in the summer or on vacation. That's because I usually have far more time to read on vacation and less distractions than other times. So that's when I can tackle my more "difficult" books that will require more concentration and time - books like Bel Canto and One Hundred Years of Solitude (which are waiting impatiently on my TBR). Of course, I'll balance that out with a lighter novel.

No plans for this summer. I am hoping to take a British Mystery tour in October and may be moving so all of my vacation time is being saved for those :-).

[Meli]

For some reason my reading vibes just shift when it gets nice out and I get a renewed sense of excitement planning my reading. I think I get inspired by all the summer reading lists and "beach reads" pics people post on vacation.

I always go for something more light or popcorn reads. Could be a straight horror, but usually something with classic monsters like vampires, or thrillers. Maybe a romance. But I'm still basically reading whatever my book clubs are reading mostly.

My favorite thing is sitting on my porch and reading.

[Joy D]

I don't really change my reading during the summer. I like to read cold weather books during the heat of the summer.

[KateNZ]

I love reading on summer mornings and evenings - the longer light lifts my reading mood. Summer also coincides with the start of the year for us, so there’s also all those lovely new reading challenges to get energised about!

[Theresa]

My legal practice is generally busier for most of the summer months, so it is a good thing I don't generally take or even like summer vacations. I hate hot weather. I also hate crowds. I only like the beach when it is cool, empty, and the sun is setting.

BnB - Temps hit 96 in NYC this week already, on a day I was out going from in person meeting after meeting.

My reading doesn't change much in the summer. I do tend to add some chunkster read, often a classic, to my reading in the summer, mainly because in July and August my evenings are freer - less theater, opera, concert, and ballet to attend, in part because the cultural season in NY is over until fall. That was true pre-pandemic.
I still haven't returned to pre-pandemic activities. I have Ulysses and moving forward in the ASOIAF read-along as this summers big reads.

Also, as the temps and humidity levels rise and stay here in NYC, I crave reading books set in cold icy snowy locales and at Christmas. Hence my starting Christmas in July!

Also, in August, around my birthday, I always find myself binging for a couple of weeks on cozies or romances.

But I don't plan them much, it is more just how the mood hits.

[LibraryCin]

Doughgirl5562 wrote: "My reading plans don't really change in the summer. If I'm going on vacation, [...]
And I don't necessarily try for lighter "beach reads" like many readers do in the summer or on vacation. That's because I usually have far more time to read on vacation and less distractions than other times. So that's when I can tackle my more "difficult" books that will require more concentration and time ..."

This, above, for me, too. Summer doesn't matter for me. If I'm on holidays from work, I have more time to read, so will often tackle longer books, but otherwise, I read for whatever monthly challenges I have going on. Nothing to do with beach reads or summer.

[LibraryCin]

Plans for the summer. Nothing, really. I will probably take a week off work, but for the second year in a row, I believe the bulk of my vacation time will be in December.

[Patricia]

I love Summer because I'm going to have a lot of time reading:) I'm going to be busy all summer.

What kind of books do you like to read in the summer?
- I think it depends on my BOTM and buddy reads and Monthly Challenges. But my currently reading today is Wonder by R.J. Palacio and The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James.
What are your plans for this Summer?
-I have a lot of plans this summer. For books, my upcoming July read is The Great Gatsby and the once and the future witches. And for my family, I'm going to spend the summer with my father and also attend some activities for our locals.

[Joanne]

Nothing changes much in my reading as the seasons change. This summer is a season of surgery for me though and so I have started a new long fantasy series and and am ordering a lot of HF and Non-Fic through my interlibrary system.

Surgery is Monday, so I will be lurking for a little while and then only have one arm and hand I can use to type...reviews will be short and quick I am sure.

[Jgrace]

When I was working, summers were for longer more serious books because I'd have time to concentrate. Also trips to the beach meant long stretches in the car for audiobooks. Now I don't really change my reading plans, such as they are. I'll read anything new by a favorite author and I try to read for the month tags in this group.
Like Teresa, I go for cold climate settings when the temperatures go up. I hate the heat.

[Jgrace]

Joanne wrote: "Nothing changes much in my reading as the seasons change. This summer is a season of surgery for me though and so I have started a new long fantasy series and and am ordering a lot of HF and Non-Fi..."

Good luck with your surgery, Joanne.

[Joanne]

Jgrace wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Nothing changes much in my reading as the seasons change. This summer is a season of surgery for me though and so I have started a new long fantasy series and and am ordering a lot o..."

Thank you!

[Sallys]

As many people said, my summer reading doesn't change but since I'm off, I tend to read longer and more challenging books that I don't have the time or focus for during the school year.

[Booknblues]

Joanne wrote: "
Surgery is Monday, so I will be lurking for a little while and then only have one arm and hand I can use to type...reviews will be short and quick I am sure..."

Good luck with that Joanne!

[LibraryCin]

Joanne wrote: "Surgery is Monday, so I will be lurking for a little while and then only have one arm and hand I can use to type...reviews will be short and quick I am sure...."

Good luck, Joanne! I hope everything goes well!

[Booknblues]

Being retired, I have plenty of time for reading so my Summer Reads are not all that different except for a few instances, like Joy, I like to read about someplace cold to offset our summer heat, so will try to read one or two this summer. Maybe this one, The Sun Is a Compass: A 4,000-Mile Journey into the Alaskan Wilds

Since, I am not planning any trips this summer, I will do my traveling vicariously, so plan some slow travelogues. Possibilities include:
Distant Sunflower Fields
Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration
Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Spain


I always anticipate the books longlisted for the Booker and will most likely read one or two. I plan to be highly selective and choose only those I think I will like.

I had such fun with the beach reads tag last June, that I will once again add a few to my summer reading. I was thinking of reading Golden Girl

[Theresa]

@BC- I do love a good travelogue or travel essays and have a lot in my TBR, including a couple you named. I also love reading books where location and geography comes through strongly, almost like a character. One great example that I recommend highly is Black Water Sister.

I will read beach reads any time, and often binge read them during holiday long weekends year round.

[Joy D]

I am wondering if anyone living in the southern hemisphere changes anything for their winter reading?

[Heather Reads Books]

When June hits, I usually crave a good thriller. I don't know why, but it tends to happen like clockwork.

I just picked up In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, which I hope will scratch that itch. I'm so behind on my other reading, though! I have a bunch of other library books waiting while I was waylaid by The Pillars of the Earth. Aside from thrillers I'm dying for something shorter, which thankfully all of them are.

Good luck on your surgery, Joanne!

My summer plans are basically recovering from the first half of 2022. Things went downhill with my dad so quickly that now I just want to remember what it's like not to be in crisis mode. I have a vacation planned for mid-July around my birthday to get away from the hot weather and into the mountains, though. I'm hoping for some good hiking weather and a lot of reading time!

[Jen K]

Like others, my reading doesn't change much in the summer. When I was teaching, I would tackle the big book. I read the whole of the A Song of Ice and Fire series one summer.

Work has been too much and will continue that way into July so I going to try to read what suits my fancy at a reasonable pace and somewhat ignore my challenges.

This will be a busy summer for me. I'm currently away for work, return on the 18th and immediately head up to Vermont for a family visit. My bro is bringing the kiddos so we will be having a 5th birthday celebration at Santa's Village (best place ever) for my niece. I'm so excited to have a few days at the local pond and loving on my nieces and nephew.

Then in August, my friend (in NYC) and I are driving up to Nova Scotia and PEI for a couple of weeks which includes a week long crafty group activity. We are doing embroidery art on photos and post cards. I can't sew a stitch and I don't have the best eyes for threading a needle but I'm still super excited. I will be too busy crafting to think about work. :)

Good luck with the surgery Joanne!

[LibraryCin]

Jen K wrote: "Then in August, my friend (in NYC) and I are driving up to Nova Scotia and PEI for a couple of weeks which includes a week long crafty group activity...."

Oooh, fun! PEI is beautiful!

[Jen K]

LibraryCin wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Then in August, my friend (in NYC) and I are driving up to Nova Scotia and PEI for a couple of weeks which includes a week long crafty group activity...."

Oooh, fun! PEI is beautiful!"

I can't wait!! It has been a dream since I read all of LM Montgomery's books multiple times as a kid!

[~*Kim*~]

My reading plans don't change during the summer. If I feel like a heavy read, then I'll read it. If I want a light read, then I'll read it. Seasons don't matter to me. LOL!

No major plans for the summer other than my boyfriend's birthday. We are going to a minor league baseball game that weekend. We're also supposed to go to this place called House of Cards sometime soon. It's a really nice restaurant/magic venue. I've heard good things about it, so it'll be nice to get dressed up and have a night out. Other than that, the only thing this summer going on is moving in August.

[Hayjay315]

During the summer months I find myself reading more YA and for the past two years have read a book related to music. This year I’m looking to continue that tradition and pick up Daisy Jones.

I’m traveling to Ohio to visit college friends who I haven’t seen in person for years so am greatly looking forward to that! My husband and I are working on some home renovation this summer- laying new flooring down in the kitchen and fixing up the tiling in the bathrooms.

[Joanne]

@ Hayjay-have great time with your college buddies! I love a good reunion with old pals!

[Amy]

I actually do like to pick some light summer reads for summer. I called them poolside Reads or Beach reads. I spend a lot of time on vacation or by the pool. And I like to reflect that lightness. I will probably read the Lost Summers of Newport and One Italian Summer. Maybe also Book Lovers, and few other things I suspect will be lighter fare. I have a whole summer list for our HayJay and I to consider together. Definitely some thrillers. I do see summer as lighter reading. I think I intend to whip through a lot of things on my list that I haven’t gotten to that just sort of feel right.

[Tracy]

My summer usually revolves around the Booker Prize- reading eligible books in advance, then reading the longlist when it’s announced. Hopefully I will have read at least a few of them!

Otherwise, trying to erode Mt. TBR is a constant project- though it seems to grow taller instead!