When Cathy of 746 books announced last year that she would not be hosting 20 Books of Summer this year after ten successful years, Emma of Words and Peace and Annabel of AnnaBookBel both volunteered to take it on. Though I have sworn off doing too many reading challenges this year, I couldn’t resist joining in with the large and enthusiastic crowd of participants, by making at least an aspirational list.
As well as keeping up with the Jane Austen 2025 readalong, I’d like to coordinate with some other upcoming events that I enjoy – Reading the Meow, Paris in July, and Women in Translation. As you’ll see, the bulk of my list falls into the latter category, as I found so many tempting possibilities when I started looking, including some that count for other challenges too.
- Emma by Jane Austen – Reading Austen 2025
- The Abandoned by Paul Gallico – Reading the Meow
- Wildwitch: Wildfire by Lena Kaaberbol – Reading the Meow, Women in Translation
- The Piglettes by Clementine Beauvais – Paris in July, Women in Translation
- The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa – Women in Translation Month
- Eva Luna by Isabel Allende – Women in Translation Month
- Letters from Tove by Tove Jansson – Women in Translation Month
- Bird Cottage by Eva Meijer – Women in Translation Month
- The Shamer’s Daughter by Lene Kaaberbol – Women in Translation Month
- The Ingenious Language by Andrea Marcolongo – Women in Translation Month
As a bonus book, there’s Une rose seule (A Single Rose) by Muriel Barbery, which I plan to read with Emma, who for the past several summers has kindly set up a Discord discussion group for those who’d like to read and discuss a book together in French. Reading it in translation would also be a great option for August. After last year’s magnificent but dense and depressing classic, Madame Bovary, we’ve chosen something short, lyrical, and contemporary!. I’m really looking forward to it and I hope you’ll be tempted to consider joining us.
What’s on your summer reading list?
An interesting list – happy reading!
Thanks! Summer reading is always a pleasure.
I’ve only read Emma of these, although my book group read the Hedgehog book by Barbery for my book group. I never quite finish my *planned* 20 Books but I enjoy making the list.
I visited Jane Austen’s grave in Winchester last month with my mother. I also enjoyed the dramatization of Miss Austen by Gill Hornby that was just shown on PBS. I would recommend the book first (I used to have a button that said, “No, but I read the book.” I should have another that says, “Read the book first!”).
Constance
I’ve enjoyed following your posts about your trip. I never made it to any Austen sites when I was in England in the past. Maybe someday I can make the pilgrimage.
Nice list and excellent challenge-overlapping! I hope you enjoy them all.
They all look enticing, don’t they? I’ll see what I actually accomplish.
Nice list!
Oh oh, I don’t know this book you have chosen for Paris in July!
It looks like a fun one, and was translated by the author, which makes me interested to read the English and see how she did with that.
A lovely list for summer, the only one I’ve read is Emma which is excellent! Have fun!
Yes, I’m looking forward to that. I don’t think I’ve ever read through Austen in publication order before and it’s proving an interesting experience.
I just put in my order for Une rose seule (A Single Rose). Thank you for the reminder, Lory.
And I would love to try a buddy read of A Tale of Two Cities when you get the opportunity!
Ooh, I’d love that! Let’s see when we feel we can face it. It will be great to have you in the French group too.
I’ve been curious about The Housekeeper and the Professor for a while now, and I’m pretty sure I spotted a copy in the local bookshop so I’m certainly tempted. Anyway, good luck with these, Lory, hope you get a lot from them. 🙂 I usually find these literary celebrations a good way to dig into my TBR pile, with only occasional forays outside of home.
Yes, that one’s been on the TBR for a while. When I went looking for more women in translation the pile increased substantially! So many delights to anticipate, that’s the fun of this event.
Hi Lory, I am taking part in 10 Books of Summer again this year! I hope you will enjoy your summer reading. 😎
Blessings, Jessica 💌
Summer has gotten off to a great start, at least in terms of reading! Hope yours has too.
20 Books of Summer is one that I always seem to end up attempting, no matter how much I’ve sworn off challenges, too. Jane Austen is always a good choice, in my opinion. It’s been forever since I read Eva Luna, but if I recall correctly, I rather enjoyed it. It sounds like you have some great reading planned – enjoy!
There’s something just so alluring about the summer reading list, even if one never gets through it.