Summer Reading: Did You Make it Count?
On the other hand, winter is coming.
But let's not focus on that just yet. Let's talk books.
I did not gobble them up like a glutton, as I have in years past. Instead, I read in fits and starts, trying out (and rejecting) title after title until I found one that fit. More often than not, I found YA novels helped smooth out the snags, and I was able to read steadily for a while before I floundered around for another book.
I am a firm believer in jettisoning books that don't work for the reader. Nothing against the book: my friend Carole has read books I have been unable to get into — but I'll try again. (And thank heavens for that, or I would have missed The Dinner and Less.)
So, without further ado, here is what I read during the 2018 summer reading program from May 25 to September 23:
- The Public Library📖
- The Book With No Pictures 📖
- The Useful Book 📲
- China Rich Girlfriend 📖
- Standard Deviation 📲
- The Plant Paradox 📲
- How a Mouse Saved the Royal Cat 📲
- Seven Miles to Freedom 📖
- Thunderstorm 📖
- An American Marriage 📖
- A Man Named Ove 📖
- Dear First Lady 📖
- What if Everybody Said That? 📲
- Quilt of States 📖
- Crazy Rich Asians 📖
- Frogs Are Funny! 📖
- Dear Evan Hansen 🎧 📲
- The Devil’s Arithmetic 📲
- The Sun is Also a Star 📲
- Less 📲
- The Ideals Guide to Literary Places in the US 📖
- Cat Haiku 📖
- Differently Morphus 🎧
- The Emerald Circus 📖
- Pen & Ink Tattoos & the stories behind them 📖
- Marcelo in the Real World 📲
Upon reflection, I am surprised by the number of print books on my list. I felt like I spent more time on my Kindle than on the page.
I am pleased that 17 of the books listed above were library books. Oh, I didn't slow down on the number of books I purchased, but upped my library game. (Go Library!)
Some books I had in both print and E, but read in E because it was more convenient. Honestly, I liked having the option to highlight on the page and share the highlights in Goodreads — but holding a book in my hands feels great.
I have not finished an entire audiobook in months, but not because of the books I have chosen. Audiobooks are my gym companions, and they compete with podcasts and my need to unwind with Fluff 'n Trash™. (Pop Culture Happy Hour, I'm looking at you.) Plus, despite my treasure trove of audiobooks, most of the ones I listen to are library loans, and the loan expires before I finish the book. I may have to adjust my Audible membership to accommodate my TBR-Audio list, or spend more time at the gym. (Hey, do it for the books!)
Full disclosure: I did not finish one of these books. I found The Plant Paradox unreadable and mostly unintelligible. I feel about this book the same way I felt about The Case Against Sugar: it could have been an essay, or a series of magazine articles, rather than a full-blown book.
How did your summer reading fare? Tell us in the comments below, or email me. Check back next week for Intrepid Reader Karen's summer reading list!
And a special shout-out to the artists of this year's Summer Reading graphic: Beth Wilson and her DoodleCats!
And a special shout-out to the artists of this year's Summer Reading graphic: Beth Wilson and her DoodleCats!
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