Summer is almost here, which means it’s time for 20 / 15 / 10 Books of Summer! I’ve packed my list of 10 with books for my reading goals/challenges this year: The #LoveHain readalong, #ReadingtheMeow in June, Read All Around the World, Spiritual Memoir Challenge, and StoryGraph Onboarding Challenge. If I manage all of these, it will give me a great sense of accomplishment. And if not, I will have given it a good try.
Do you know any of these? What’s on your summer reading list?
- Thomasina by Paul Gallico – Reading the Meow
- The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin – August read for LoveHain
- The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar – Around the World, Syria
- The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré – Around the World, Nigeria
- The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge – StoryGraph Onboarding
- Aunty Lee’s Delights by Ovidia Yu – StoryGraph Onboarding, Around the World, Singapore
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Baudy – Spiritual Memoir
- The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn – Spiritual Memoir
- Krabat by Otfried Preußler – Summer in Other Languages
- Voyage du centre de la Terre, by Jules Verne – Summer in Other Languages
The last two are for my own Summer in Other Languages, which helps me keep going with my studies in French and German. If you want to join, translated books are also fine!
I’m looking forward to a buddy read of Voyage au centre de la Terre by Jules Verne, with Emma of Words and Peace. Emma has set up a Discord group where we can discuss the book (in French); for the last few years, this has been a great motivator and excellent communication practice as well. If anyone would like to join, here’s the link. We’ll start on June 15 and read a chapter a day till the end of July (the book has 45 chapters).
This year I’m also going to attempt to finish Krabat by Otfried Preußler, which I started a year or two ago but found too difficult. Maybe my German skills are up to it now!
I hope some of you will be inspired to read books in (or translated from) other languages and to share your discoveries with me.
I just discovered Ovidia Yu yesterday (for another series), so am reading that for this month’s personal Far East reading challenge. I loved Otfried Preußler as a child – Krabat is one of the more grown-up of his children’s novels, I was slightly frightened of it.
I read it in English translation and loved it, but it is creepy! Not sure how I would have felt about it as a child. That is funny that you just discovered Ovidia Yu as well – I found her through the StoryGraph Community page (that’s one of the prompts on the Onboarding challenge). A cozy mystery set in Singapore sounds great, so I’m looking forward to that.
Interesting list! Happy reading!
Thanks!
Good luck! I haven’t read any of those, but I love the Disney film version of Thomasina.
I look forward to a charming read, and the cat-themed week should be a lot of fun.
Sounds like a great list. I have only read The Snow Goose, by Paul Gallico, but I was very much impressed.
Really looking forward to reading Verne together!
Yes, it’s going to be fun!
The only one I know is Voyage du centre de la Terre by Jules Verne, although I read the English translation, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, but I enjoyed it. Good luck and happy reading! 🙂
Oh good, I’m glad to know that — it gets very mixed reviews so I’m a bit nervous. It will be interesting to see for myself in any case.
It isn’t my favourite Verne, that is definitely Around the World in 80 Days, but I still enjoyed this one probably equal to 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea 🌋
I scarcely dare consider another reading prompt, so I’m going to resist joining in any more this summer unless I casually pick up something that fits in! That said, if I happen across the Verne, who knows…
I managed to get a reasonably priced secondhand hardback of The Telling online as it appears out of print in the UK; weirdly, most of the paperback editions are being offered for silly money, no idea why.
Emily’s now read the Raynor Wynn memoir twice, the second time following an account by poet Simon Armitage of a near contemporaneous trek on the same coastal path. It’s only a matter of time before she re-reads the two sequels! (Yes, there’s more, if you enjoy The Salt Path…)
No worries, you’ve got plenty on your plate for sure. I’m glad you got a hold of The Telling.
The Salt Path seems like the perfect summer reading book and will surely fan up my wanderlust.
I’ve read The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Salt Path and thought they were both excellent, enjoy your reading!
Thanks, that’s great to know.
Those look wonderful! Looking forward to our summer reading…
Thanks, me too!
I am intrigued by the buddy read of Journey to the Center of the Earth. I’m not sure my French is good enough any more, but surely I could
try in English? I am currently reading War and Peace, a chapter a day, with a group on Instagram (#whiskeyandperseverance), but let me think about this…and, thank you for visiting me.
Of course you can read in English, only the Discord discussion will be in French. On peut toujours y discuter! My level is just intermediate and Emma is very accommodating so you’re welcome to drop in.
From your list I read Baudy’s memoir (a short and inspiring book) and Verne’s book. The latter I read so many years ago that I think I do want a re-read.
I’ve been meaning to read the Baudy forever. May this be the summer it happens.
Nice pile! I love The Girl with the Louding Voice and enjoyed The Salt Path. I would love to do one of my Three Investigators books in Spanish as part of 20 Books but fear it would then be a 1 Book challenge! Happy reading.
Haha, yes I hope my goal of two books in other languages is not too ambitious. I hope to wedge some other reads in around the edges.
I shall be meowing! In your list I enjoyed the Abi Daré, and I loved The Salt Path, I’ve not read any of the others.
I’m definitely excited about both of those.
That’s a lovely list. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything set in Syria before. And Verne is such good fun. Hope you enjoy Thomasina too😺
Yes, I am excited about the Meow!
😺