Patricia Abbott (pattinase): Summer Reading

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Summer Reading

Does your summer reading differ at all from the rest of the year? What books do you plan to read in the weeks ahead? Mine include: DEADWOOD, Pete Dexter; KILLSHOT, Elmore Leonard, THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS, Clair Messaud, THE IMPOSSIBLES, Meg Wolitzer, SERENA, Ron Rash, and the Jordan Marsh book by Bill Pronzini (Can't remember the exact title).Probably others will intervene but these sit on the likely pile.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...: In the old days, yes. Since retirement, no.

I know George likes to have big reading plans for summer - Trollope, Proust - but I no longer bother saving "summer" books. The problem is, I never seem to get them read (like Trollope's Palliser series, which is still sitting on the shelf) so I decided to take the (self-imposed) pressure off and just read whatever I feel like reading that day.

Jeff M.; 6:56 AM
Anonymous said...: Oh, what do I plan on reading?

At the moment: John Scalzi's The Human Division and (as soon as it gets here) Kate Atkinson's Life After Life plus a boatload of short stories. I would like to read some of the books sitting on the shelves rather than new library books.

Jeff M.; 6:59 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...: Always my goal and yet the library beckons. Be interested in your take on the Atkinson.; 7:07 AM
Anonymous said...: The books don't change because if the season, but the number of books I can read is usually higher because of school being out. But I'm working summer school this year, so reading time will still be somewhat limited. Right now I have several Elmore Leonard's that I'm working through, deciding which one will be my FFB. I also just started Susan Hill's The Betrayal of Trust, featuring her series detective, Simon Serrailler. As mysteries, they're only so-so, but as character studies of people grappling with big questions of life, death, human interaction, and faith, they're excellent. My two children who are still in high school have a lot of summer reading to do. I like to monitor their progress to ensure they don't wait until the day before school goes back to go on a reading binge!

Deb; 7:23 AM
Anonymous said...: Patti - I know for a lot of people, summer reading differs from the rest of the year. It honestly doesn't for me. I've got several novels lined up, but them..I always do.; 7:35 AM
Prashant C. Trikannad said...: Whatever the season, a minimum of two classics a month, apart from regular fiction. Summer reminds me of April-May school holidays and lots of comic-books, such a long time ago too.; 7:48 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...: Summer reading clubs were a big part of my summers. Always liked the challenge.; 8:09 AM
Anonymous said...: If I had to sum up with a was looking for in summer reading in two words it would be, Big Books. Things like The Count of Monte Cristo or Michener books or Shogun or multi-part sagas. If we were going to Europe I'd look for relevant books, like The Agony and the Ecstasy or Rome and a Villa.

Also, as you mentioned, if it was a hot summer I'd look for books set in really cold climates - Ice Station Zebra, A Cage of Ice, etc.

Jeff M.; 8:16 AM
George said...: Summer supplies the time to tackle Big Fat Books. As soon as I finish the pile of library books that threatens to avalanche, I'm going to read William Gaddis' THE RECOGNITIONS (956 pages). Then, some Trollope.; 9:26 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...: Also have to read THEIR EYES ARE WATCHING GOD for my book group.; 9:29 AM
Anonymous said...: This sums up exactly why I won't be reading Claire Messud or most of the other authors she touts.

You don't necessarily have to be likeable but for me there are limits.

Jeff M.; 9:33 AM
Charles Gramlich said...: My summer reading differs in that I up my percentage of fiction. I also tend to read a lot more.; 9:55 AM
Scott D. Parker said...: I do change my reading habits during summer as I like the prose equivalent of big blockbusters.

I always enjoy a big book of history during the summer months. So far, the only one on my radar is Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer, the Evolution Debates, and the African Adventure that Took the Victorian World by Storm.

Other than that:
Doc Savage: Skull Island
Isaac Bell #3 (by Clive Cussler)
Inferno by Dan Brown

And whatever comics and books I get from this weekend's Comicpalooza in Houston.; 10:06 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...: For me the defining characteristic is interesting. I have read too many novels where the characters act too perfectly or ones where the plot trumps any sort of character development. Which is why GONE GIRL worked for me. Women Behaving Badly should get the same interest as Men Behaving Badly.
For instance, I just read two books by Elisabeth S. Holding and loved both of them. However, in both the women were perhaps too sacrificing and perfect to show up in a modern novel. Especially in THE INNOCENT MRS. DUFF. My god, the woman was a saint and thus came off as unreal.; 10:09 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...: That sounds interesting Scott, The people we were just with in Savannah and Asheville were both reading Dan Brown and had just finished the three volume history of the Civil Rights Movement.; 10:12 AM
J F Norris said...: The idea of summer reading makes me think of school days. I read so much these days I don't have it compartmentalized. I can't plan to read specific books because something else always diverts me - a free book in the mail, some new writer I learn about from reading these blogs, a serendipitous discovery in the library or book store, etc. Summer is more about exploring the country and weekend getaways and gardening and getting outdoors for me now. Reading is year round.; 11:10 AM
Chris said...: I think I'm the opposite, because I tend to plan my winter reading more than summer. Summer means a period of less time to read, as longer days and warmer temperatures makes me feel guilty to be on my butt with a book in hand, with all these gorgeous mountains and rivers around me beckoning. My only goal is to make sure that, among everything else, the 6-7 books I got at last year's Montana Festival of the Book are read before this year's rolls around in the Fall. I've never pulled that off before. . . .; 11:54 AM
Gerard said...: The only summer plans I have are when I pack up a box of books to bring on vacation.

I've thought of spending a year to focus on certain books:
1. All the unread stuff I own at home.
2. That unending Proust novel.
3. The twelve novels of A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME.
4. Histories and dramas by ancient Greeks.
5. Churchill's World War Two history.; 5:23 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...: That Powell thing haunts me.; 5:42 PM
Cap'n Bob said...: In a word, no.; 7:11 PM
Kevin R. Tipple said...: My reading is the same year around. The only difference is I am able to sit outside more.

I have noticed the wait time at the library for brand new books is usually shorter during the summer months as folks leave town.; 12:11 AM