The weather is still so terrible that it’s difficult to think of summer but perhaps this wonderful challenge, 20 Books of Summer, will bring that elusive season to the forefront. Â Wind, and rain, and really cold temperatures, especially at night, has been our present experience, however I feel warmer days are on the way. I’ve started learning to golf once again and am planting our garden. Â Summer must come!
© Cleo @ Classical Carousel
My summer book plans are not set but I’m going to jot twenty+ selections down here to keep me on track.
- Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (not pictured)
- Unfinished Portrait by Agatha Christie
- The Child from the Sea by Elizabeth Goudge
- The Gulag Archipelago by Alesander Soltzhenitsyn
- Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome
- Reveries of the Solitary Walker by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
- Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo
- How To Be A Friend by Cicero
- World War Z by Max Brooks
- And There was Light by Jacques Luseryan
- We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake
- Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
- Journey from Peppermint Street by Meindert de Jong (not pictured)
- The Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Porter Stratton
- Storming the Tulips by Hannie J. Voyles (thanks to Jean for her review and inspiration!)
- Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard J. Maybury
I used to read The Lord of the Rings each summer for a number of years and it’s been awhile, thus time for a re-read. Â The children’s books will be fun and there are a few books attempted and then put aside so I want to make another attempt at them. Â The Girl of the Limberlost I first read when I was very young, as the book was in my grandmother’s library so I wanted to read it again to bring back those wonderful memories.
I’m not expecting to hit the halfway mark but if I could read one quarter, I’d be happy. Â If those who comment could give one or two recommendations from my list, it would help me target what might be best to choose from the list. Suggestions welcome!
Thanks to Kathy at 746 Books for hosting once again. Wishing everyone participating the best of luck!
Other 20 Books of Summer challenges:
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Photo #1 courtesy of Cleo
Photo #2 courtesy of suju-foto on Pixabay
Oh, how I LOVED The Child from the Sea!!! I read it decades ago, but have never forgotten its enchantment. A thrill, for sure. Was that because I was just 17 when I read it. I MUST reread. Thanks so much for the prompt.
I’m so glad to hear that, Judith! The Child from the Sea is definitely going to be a summer book then. Glad to hear from you. Hope you’re doing well!!
Hey, Cleo! Good to see you back. I do hope all is well.
This is an ambitious pile, but since you are looking for some support, here’s my two cents: I’ve only read Gulag, Penny Candy, and LOTR. Gulag was impressive and lasting and really an important work. It gets cited so much, even today. But it’s a commitment. Penny Candy was super quick. It was alright. And LOTR I wasn’t a fan, yet, I’m in the minority. Also I attempted Mill on the Floss, but it was too depressing at the time of my reading. I also spoiled it by watching the film in the middle of reading. I saw the ending and quit rthe book. I have heard amazing things about Girl of the Limberlost and I really think I want to read it one of the these days. Finally, I think you’ll get a lot of thumbs up for Agatha Christie, especially for that title. So good luck!!
Thanks, Ruth. I’m appalled at the way people are behaving who have no regard for human life and I’m sad for our country (like you, I’m sure) but otherwise I’m doing well. I hope you are too! Penny Candy is a must. If everyone could read this basic economics book, no one would believe inflation is because of the Ukrainian war. Maybury lays out the basic concepts so clearly. I can’t wait to read it thoroughly. The Girl of the Limberlost will definitely be one I read. I’m so glad for these comments are they are really helping me target my list. Take care!
Right??? Blame everything on Putin! LOL!!
I just read the entire The Dark is Rising Sequence. Over Sea, Under Stone was probably (IMO) the weakest of the books, but it’s a great summer read because it takes place while the Drew children are on their family summer holiday. Read it & then save up The Dark is Rising for mid-December – it’s a perfect Christmas read.
I just finished rereading LOTR today. It’s such a formative book for me – I’m certain I’ll still be reading it for all of the decades of my life. I found the ending absolutely perfect this time around. Each time I read it, I’m struck anew by its depth. This time around, it was the nobility of Merry & Pippin that really got me.
Thanks so much for your comment, Christine. I’m glad to hear that it’s all upwards after Over Sea, Under Stone.
So many people are reading The Lord of the Rings right now! I’m going to really try to fit this one in this summer. I think we need books like this one more than ever, given the worldwide present issues and the dross coming out of them.
I’ve read eight, and two of those eight are actually three books each, so that’s enough to say: good list.
The Peake books make as much sense read over three summers as in one, if that helps. I love those books. My kind of thing.
Same goes with The Gulag Archipelago I would guess, but I have not read it. I should. That’s an ambitious one for any time of year.
The Stevenson will just slide by – good fun. Julius Caesar is easy Shakespeare, as Shakespeare goes.
The Rousseau is not easy, but you have read Confessions and know what you’re getting into. It’s a lot shorter than Confessions.
Yes, The Lord of the Rings and Gormenghast and I think even the Gulag is three books although I’m reading an abridged version; normally I never read abridgements but I just need to get through this one.
I will try for at least one of the Peake books. I feel they might suit my mood now.
I read Julius Caesar with my daughter during homeschooling and loved it but it’s been awhile and I’d like to read it again.
I have read Confessions and in spite of Rousseau’s whining, I really connected with him somehow. I’m looking forward to walking along with him!
Hope your summer is fabulous!!
Excellent and ambitious choices! Funny – my LotR reread time is fall, in September and October. Can’t wait to hear the results!
I agree, Ashley, I would love to read them in September or October as it’s the perfect time but I have more reading time in summer so it’s usually read them then or not at all. Thanks for visiting!
I’m currently re-reading The Lord of the Rings – just as wonderful as when I first read it many years ago. I’ve recently read Notre-Dame and have mixed feelings about it – good and not so good. I loved Over Sea, Under Stone years ago and The Gormenghast Trilogy.
Happy reading!
So many people reading The Lord of the Rings at the moment. The perfect book for the times! I’ve lowered my expectations about Notre-Dame so thanks for the feedback. I loved Les Mis so much and I don’t want to be disappointed. Glad to hear about the other two. Thanks for the wishes and for stopping by!
Great pile Cleo – I have a very soft spot for Julius Caesar. Thanks so much for taking part again, good luck!
Thank YOU for hosting, Cathy. It’s been such a help to keep the motivation going!
Goudge eh? Child from the Sea was my first one of hers and I think, looking back on it, that the 3stars I gave it was extremely generous…
Oh no! Judith loved it and you hated it! What to do? I’ve found Goudge is a very different writer; there is definitely an adjustment to expectations. I hope I’m able to get an appreciation of it.
For your sake I hope you enjoy it. I just know I ended up not liking her as a writer after about 5 or 6 books.
Several of my favorites on your list including the Cicero and Solzhenitsyn titles. An ambitious pile for the summer, Good luck!
Hi Jim! Cicero is a favourite of mine although I recently learned that C.S. Lewis thought he was a bore. 😳 I definitely want to read the Gulag to finish up my Well-Educated Mind biographies. Thanks for the wishes! I hope you have a great reading summer!
Hah! Nothing too ambitious, just a few ten thousand pages…;) Is LOTR a re-read? I’ll be interested in seeing your response to the Gulag Archipelago.
Hey! Hope you’re doing well! Yes, ambitious is my middle name. I wish completion was my middle name as well but it’s been mostly elusive. I’m looking forward to the Gulag. I’m expecting to see some parallels with modern governments.
Best of luck on the reading challenge! I love your blog header. I’m obsessed with Waterhouse.
Lol! Thanks! It’s a reminder to read The Decameron which is NOT on my summer list. Sigh! Perhaps in fall. Thanks for visiting!
wow, this is a MASSIVE list! I have only read 7.
Your #16 was fascinating to me.
https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/05/26/20-books-of-summer-2022/
Over Sea, Under Stone is a perfect summer read. And you can never go wrong with Murder on the Orient Express (one I’ve read twice to date!). Actually, of the books I’m familiar with, I don’t think you can go wrong with too many (any?), although some might be a bit long for a single summer, at least at my reading pace! (I tried to reread Lord of the Rings in a single summer back in 2020, but it turned out to be more like a single year.) Whichever you choose, enjoy!
Thanks for the suggestions, Amanda. I’m reading Journey from Peppermint Street, and at the same time, The Mill on the Floss. Then I think I’ll move to The Coot Club and Over Sea, Under Stone. Murder on the Orient Express will be started as soon as it arrives from the library. From there, I’m not quite sure yet where I’ll go. But the good news is that I’m enjoying myself!!