June 14, 2008
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Summer Reading List
I plan to read this summer. A lot. I have a stack of books just waiting for me. Here are the titles I have lined up.
Currently reading:
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson
I have wanted to read this for quite awhile. I am finding it to be a fascinating story of how one person, with enough faith in themselves and a stubborn refusal to give up, can make a difference in the world.
Next up:
A Complaint Free World, by Will Bowen
This is the next selection for my book club. I am hoping to learn some lessons about how to complain less and enjoy the life I have more. From the back cover: “…an engaging, enjoyable, easy-to-read reminder that the only permanent, constructive changes you can make in the world are the changes that you make in yourself.” That seems a little contradictory to the message of the previous book, but more along the lines of change I can personally accomplish.
After that (in no particular order):
Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky
Having just read The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, I am revisiting the WWII era. My Dad is a WWII vet, and I am ever more interested in this period of history.
Mistaken Identity, by Don & Susie Van Ryn and Newell, Colleen & Whitney Cerak with Mark Tab
This book was recommended to me by my mother.
The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, by Ben Sherwood
This book just sounded intriguing.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, by Alfred Lansing
I don’t know why I am drawn to biographies right now. This has to be one of the greatest true-life survival stories ever.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan
This is a book that might take me awhile to digest (pun intended. sorry). I think I will read chapters here and there scattered amongst my other literary adventures.
John McCain: Faith of my Fathers, A Family Memoir, by John McCain with Mark Salter
Because I want to know more about the man who could be our next president.
Obama: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell
Ditto my comment from the preceeding book.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
A classic, but one I have not yet read. I plan to remedy that!
Smilla’s Sense of Snow, by Peter Hoeg
Another recommendation. The person who told me about this book said “I was hooked by the end of the first page.” To me, that is a good sign!
Odd Hours, by Dean Koontz
This is the fourth book in a series of book with the same main character by the name of Odd Thomas. I have read several Koontz books, but the Odd Thomas books are my favorite. Yes, the stories can be a little creepy, but I find that they generally have hopeful messages, which I appreciate.
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That should keep me busy most of the summer. I also have to allow for the fact that I will get side-tracked from this list at some point by a new book that catches my attention. It is ineveitable. In my world, there are far too many books, and not nearly enough time for all of them!
Comments (8)
What an interesting and varied reading list! To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all time favorites. I’ve heard about the quit complaining book. That sounds interesting. That would be an interesting book to do with a book group. Sort of reminds me of a book I did in a Sunday school class years ago entitled Lord Change Me.I also saw the Mistaken Identities families on Oprah. What a heart-wrenching story.Looks like you have a great line-up for the summer.
WOW ~ you look like you’re gonna be busy!!!
You sure have lots of reading to do this summer! My husband is reading the McCain book now. I have Barack Obama’s book “Audacity of Hope” but I honestly don’t feel like reading it. LOL!RYC: Right now I-94 is closed between Wisconsin Dells and Madison, so I’m not sure where you are coming from. Also, I-94 between Highway and 83 and Madison is partially closed, as are the previous detour routes. If it stops raining, she said as more rain is pounding the area, these may open up. I would check the Wisconsin Dept of Transportation site before you leave.http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/incident-alerts.htm
Very cool list! I set a goal (many actually) to read a set number of books, and I can’t count self help or ‘religious’ books. I love to read and have a couple of friends that read a book along with me and we meet for lunch each Thursday to discuss it. My oldest girl decided to read all of the books that had been banned over the years. Most of them great reads. We are freaks about reading in my family, even my five year old boy. He is currently reading a book on the civil war. Nothing deep, just right for a five year old.Great choices. I would start with To Kill a Mockingbird just because it is one of my favorites! Smiles~
I also want to read To Kill a Mockingbird.. Have a great summer!
RYC: In my contemplations the last few days, I’ve come up with the same feeling you describe. It hit home the night they got back in town from their honeymoon. Instead of runnig straight home to mommy to tell me of her fantastic vacation, they met up with friends, went to dinner and a movie, we were asleep by the time they got here. It was a little disturbing until I sat down and thought about it, and that’s exactly how it should be. We texted all day while they were on the road yesterday, and I’ve heard from her about 5 times this afternoon, so it’s all good. To Kill A Mockingbird is my favorite book of all time. I loved it, and the movie (Gregory Peck *swoon*) follows the book pretty much to a T, but don’t watch it until you’ve read it, so you can see how great the movie was cast.
looks like a good list of books- I almost bought To Kill a Mockingbird for my daughter to read. I’d like to hear how you liked that first book- and I would like to read the Obama and McCain book too. But I’ll be lucky to finish “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” this summer at the rate I’m reading books!
wow, what a great list. hope you enjoy them all. i may have to look up a couple of them myself! i love to read and have lots of books in my home i want to read but have so little time when my brain can actually concentrate on the reading part…