Cathy at 746 Books is hosting the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge again this year. As Cathy states, it’s the most relaxed reading challenge you’ll participate in (swap books out, change your target, do whatever).
As I’ve done in previous years, I’m using this challenge to read from my to-be-read stack (with a particular focus this year on ARCs). The challenge is straightforward – read twenty books between June 1st and September 1st.
Of course, it’s winter in Melbourne. So while Cathy et al. is enjoying the Irish sunshine, I’ll be rugging up. The last few years, I’ve compared the Irish summer with the Melbourne winter on the day I finished each book. I’ll do it again this year.
Here is my Summer (Winter) reading list (with a couple of spots free for my book group picks and new releases that call my name):
01. Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
02. The Hiding Game by Naomi Wood
03. The Last of Her Kind by Sigrid Nunez
04. Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
05. The Reading Cure by Laura Freeman
06. See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill
07. Ma’am Darling by Craig Brown
08. Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
09. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
10. Long Bright River by Liz Moore
11. Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
12. The Details by Tegan Bennett Daylight
13. Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
14. Stay with Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
15. Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
16. How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
17. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
18. Kokomo by Victoria Hannan
19.
20.
Audiobooks listened to during the challenge (which I’ll only count if time gets tight):
01. Wham! George & Me by Andrew Ridgeley
02. Know My Name by Chanel Miller
03. The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld
04. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
05. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
06. How to Unf#$k Your Anger by Faith Harper
The only one I’ve read is No.1 which was forever ago but I really loved it so I hope you do too! I should re-read really, I remember buying it in the uni bookshop in my first year so I think I was 18. 43 year old me might have a different opinion!
Very interested to hear what you make of 8 & 9 too, they are definitely on my radar – they sound great.
I’ll start Museum as soon as I’ve finished Olive, Again (which so far I am LOVING). I often wonder about rereading books I enjoyed in my twenties – would I love them as much, reading through 47-year-old eyes? The one that stands out is Tartt’s Secret History – so tempted to reread.
Yay! I love comparing temperatures, even though you always win. Although it is due to be 22 today so we’re starting well. Great list – Behind the Scenes is wonderful!
I don’t think Melbourne won last year – we had a very cold winter. That said, I finished my first book yesterday and it was a gorgeous sunny day 🙂
Some goodies here – Atkinson, Wood and Strout jump out for me immediately, all much loved. I’d be amazed if the Sittenfeld isn’t excellent and I’ll look forward to seeing what you think about The Dictionary of Lost Words and Fleishman is in Trouble.
I loved The Hiding Game; I hope you do too.
Stay With Me is an excellent debut, enjoy your winter reading, some interesting titles on the list we’ll look forward to hearing how you get on with.
Good idea to use the project to clear up some of the TBR (just leaves room for book new books doesn’t it!) I’ve read number 1 (loved it) and number 17 (good premise but the dual time frame was irritating).
I can vouch for numbers 1, 4, and 10 as quite good. And I have a few of the others on my own TBR list, though I’m nowhere near as organized as you. I look forward to your reviews.
I really enjoyed Behind the Scenes at the Museum. The rest I haven’t read.
A couple of those are on my list too!
I don’t do this challenge, but some of these sound interesting.
I love 20 Books of Summer – I hope you have a lot of fun reading this winter.
I’ve just started Rodham. Want to get in early so I can read it without too much of the hype filtering my reading experience!
Stay warm!
I bought it as soon as it was released but then got side tracked – once I knew that I wouldn’t finish it before I heard her speak, I put it aside and have only picked it up again today. I’m not sure about the blend of fact and fiction… it might have me hitting Google a lot…
Yes I’m wondering what is factual & what is not. I had heard that everything up until the third no is based on fact – which blows my mind a lot!!!!
The reading cure – GREAT title!
Happy reading!
Here’s my list – https://onemoreword.uk/2020/06/03/20booksofsummer-or-the-big-netgalley-catch-up-amreading-books/