Cathy at 746 Books is hosting the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge again this year. I’m going to join in, with a particular effort to read from my stacks of physical books (as opposed to e-books).
There’s no better time to curl up with a book than winter. Because it’s winter in Melbourne. So while Cathy et al. is enjoying the Irish sunshine along with twenty selected books, I’ll be rugging up (I wonder if in fact my winter will be the equivalent of an Irish summer? Perhaps I’ll post the weather forecast for the day I finish each book to compare…).
The challenge is straightforward – read twenty books between June 1st and September 5th. I’ve left three spots free in case I pick up some ARCs between now and September. If not, there’s no shortage of books to fill the spot.
Here is my Summer (Winter) reading list:
01. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
02. If I Forget You by Thomas Greene
03. The Girls by Emma Cline
04. The Good Guy by Susan Beale
05. How to Party With an Infant by Kaui Hart Hemmings
06. Catching the Sun by Tony Parsons
07. The Lake House by Kate Morton
08. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger
09. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
10. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
11. All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld
12. I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
13. White Truffles in Winter by N.M.Kelby
14. Piano Lessons by Anna Goldsworthy
15. Bush Oranges by Kay Donovan
16. A Cook’s Tour by Anthony Bourdain
17. The Good Parents by Joan London
18. Addition by Toni Jordan
19. Asking For It by Louise O’Neill
20. The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith
I loved The Good Parents, I hope you do too.
Excellent! I’ve only read one of London’s books – The Golden Age – which I loved. There’s a beautiful, quiet elegance to her writing style. I’m looking forward to Good Parents.
It was lovely to hear at the Jewish Writers Festival, such a quiet understated person and yet a powerful presence.
I couldn’t get to any of the JWF – so disappointed because I think Jami Attenberg was there and I would have loved to have heard her speak as well.
It’s a top festival. I really like these small festivals, they pack a lot into a weekend:)
Loved White Truffles in Winter.
Excellent – it’s one of my Foodies Reading Challenge picks and I bought it knowing nothing about it.
A great selection I particularly enjoyed Apple Tree Yard.
Have heard lots of good things about this book – hopefully it’s a bit of a page-turner!
Irish sunshine?? We’ll be lucky! Delighted you are joining in. Yay for AppleTree Yard! Anthony Bourdain is great too, I really enjoyed that one.
I took the pic of my hard copies in full autumn sunshine 😀
Looking forward to what you make of The Signature of All Things, I really loved it. And haven’t read The Good Parents but it’s on the old list.
I was reluctant because of Eat, Pray, Love – one of the rare books I DNF – so self-absorbed I couldn’t continue. But so many people whose reading choices I trust (including you) have said Signature is NOTHING like EPL and that it is in fact wonderful, so I’ll give it a go.
Well, trusted reading choices can still not match up but I really loved this book and not just because of relief (that it was good). I kept thinking: Good lord, the woman can write!
I’ve only read 2 from your list but I really rate both of them – The Enchanted April and All the Birds, Singing. I look forward to your reviews of the rest adding to my TBR 🙂
It was your review of Enchanted April that bumped it up my list.
I’ve been tempted by this again as well, but I always get sick of sticking to the list by the third month!!
So I like your three free at the end…maybe I will…
The Signature of All Things is tremendous & I’ll be curious to hear what you think of the Morton.
Well the three free books allows for reading at whim!
I couldn’t stand Eat, Pray, Love but everyone tells me that Signature is a very different Elizabeth Gilbert.
It’s very different, not that I read EPL either (couldn’t get past the first page!)
I think I got through the Eat section and then abandoned – so self-indulgent. Have started Signature and do far, loving it.
I haven’t read any of these but The Girls sounds really good. Enjoy your summer reading!
There’s a lot of hype about The Girls at the moment – hope it lives up to it!
Actually, I *am* curious to know how cold your Australian winter is… 🙂
Ha! Okay, because I know that at least one person is curious, I’ll be sure to post a little comparison at the end of each book.
Great idea! We can compare Sydney and Melbourne winters 🙂
Then to be fair, we should include rainfall in that, given that Sydney is warmer but wetter!
Definitely & today’s report will be a doozy! 50mls overnight so far!
You have introduced some new ones to me with your listing! You remind me that I have yet to read anything published by Kate Morton! I feel sure I would like her writing! It will be interesting to see what you add to it!
Kate Morton writes intricate, immersive stories – if you like settling in with a long read, Morton is for you! I enjoyed her previous book The Secret Keeper, so was keen to give this latest one a go.
I really liked The Lake House by Kate Morton
Excellent. I enjoyed The Secret Keeper (although did guess the ending) but that’s the only one I’ve read by her.
Enjoy your winter reading! Your comment about Irish winter reminds me of something I’ve always heard. I forget who said it. “The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco.”
That’s brilliant – might have to borrow that one!
So many comments I’ve read recently about how good Joanna Cannon’s book is
Same, have heard nothing but good things. I’m looking forward to it.
The Lake House is enjoyable, as is The Signature of All Things (as a fellow hater of Eat, Pray, Love), but Signature needed at least 50 pages edited out – I’ll be curious to know what you think. I read it for my botany book club. The atmosphere in All the Birds, Singing is pretty great. And I, too, and curious about your winter. I’m pretty sure it’s autumn-like (as in no blizzards and such?), but I don’t actually know!
I’m a third of the way into Signature and loving it. Clearly Gilbert is better at writing about things other than herself.
Melbourne winters are very mild (by your standards!), hence my suspicion that many of our winter days will be close to an Irish summer day! We have no blizzards, no snow, occasional frosts and fogs but really, that’s it.
All the Birds, Singing was really good—and yes, please tell us about your winter!
Seems the votes are in and I’m running a Melbourne/ Dublin comparison 😀
White Truffles is deliciously good. Kelby writes food so well- I was hungry through most of the book.
Excellent – nothing better than good food writing (and it is a particular skill!).
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My most anticipated book on your TBR is I was told there’d be cake. I have been wanting to read for so long. Hope you finish all the ones on your list
Cake has been sitting on my shelf for eons – not even sure how I came to own it. Figured an essay collection might be a good thing to pick up and put down between the other books I’m tackling for his challenge.
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