WE ASKED, YOU SHARED YOUR SUMMER READING LIST
Try some books suggested by our readers to get you through the dog days of summer.
After sharing our staff summer reading picks, we hosted a book giveaway, asking readers to send us their book recommendations in order to enter. We got so many great emailed entries that we had to share (answers have been edited for clarity and style). There’s still plenty of summer left; let these suggestions inspire your own reading list.
Already this summer I have read and enjoyed “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro. I’m looking forward to reading “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover and “Let’s Move On” by Vicente Fox.
— DORAY SITKO
I’ve been reading “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt, which is absolutely amazing! Another one is “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara. Such a sad read, but still so beautiful. I have a big pile ready for the summer: “The Vanishing New York” by Jeremiah Moss, “The Martian” by Andy Weir and another one by Donna Tartt — “The Goldfinch.”
— DANA KONIAROVA
I am reading a ton this summer. So far I have read “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery (gotta read the classics), “Off to Be the Wizard” by Scott Meyer, “The Rap Year Book” by Shea Serrano and “Tribe of Mentors” by Tim Ferriss. I am currently reading “The Girl With All the Gifts” by M.R. Carey and “Toots of the Titans” by Tim Ferriss.
— SHANE JAWORSKI
I’ve just finished “God Save Texas” by Lawrence Wright and am currently reading “The Immortalists” by Chloe Benjamin and “American War” by Omar El Akkad. Up next on my list are “The Future of Humanity” by Michio Kaku and “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles, though I’m sure I’ll need a few more to last me though the dog days of summer!
— JACLYN MICHALEWICZ
Currently reading Eudora Welty’s “The Optimist’s Daughter.” Next up, “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” by Michael Chabon. When it’s this hot out, reading is my favorite activity!
— LAURYL EDDLEMON
This summer I’ve enjoyed reading Ruth Ware’s “The Lying Game,” Michelle McNamara’s “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark,” and John Darnielle’s “Universal Harvester.” I’m currently reading and loving Tomi Adeyemi’s “Children of Blood and Bone.” I’m looking forward to finishing “Redwood,” the fifth volume in Mark Danielewski’s series “The Familiar,” as well as reading Maja Lunde’s “The History of Bees. “
— ELENA BAGGE
I am reading Terry Pratchett’s “Discworld” series: There are over 30 books in this series of comic fantasies about death, equal rights, government, religion, racism/speciesism — you name it. Everyone gets spoofed. The books are set on the Discworld, where magic and gods are real and the world is traveling through the universe on the backs of four elephants that stand on the back of a huge turtle swimming to where
only he or she knows. The books are very funny, filled with puns and jokes, and are also quite thought-provoking. There are innumerable reviews, websites and fan sites available to share the experience with millions of readers. Read what happens when Death wa ntsavacation, a zombie is the best lawyer around and trolls actually make good cops. — NATHAN HENDERSON
So far I’ve read “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline. A lot of fun. And “The Peripheral” by William Gibson. And am reading “Insomnia” by Stephen King. After that I might go back to William Gibson for “Neuromancer,” or maybe something else. — SCOTT GIBSON
I read mostly fiction and enjoy books by Nicholas Sparks, Rosamunde Pilcher, Robyn Carr and others. The last book I read was “Under Gemin i ” by Rosamunde Pilcher and am currently reading “Homeplace” by Anne Rivers Siddons. — JANET PUSEY
I recently finished reading “A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley — a compelling true story, so good; “Meddling Kids” by Edgar Cantero — fun read for adult fans of “Scooby Doo” and/or “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”; “What Would Dolly Do?” by Lauren Marino — I’m not a country music fan but really enjoyed
this book about Dolly Parton. I’m looking forward to reading “T he Death of Mrs. Westaway” by Ruth Ware; “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover; and “Crazy Rich Asians” by Keith Kwan (before the movie premieres). — JENNIFER CURRIE
I love to read and collect cookbooks. I am currently reading “The Artful Baker” by Cenk Sonmezsoy. It is one of the most beautiful and exciting cookbooks I’ve had the pleasure to read. It demands to be read cover to cover — and used! On deck are: “Our Texas Heritage” by Dorothy McConachie — an awesome book about the cuisine and culture of groups that settled in Texas between the Civil War and World War II. Lots of reci- pes. Also: “American Cake: From Colonial Gingerbread to Classic Layer, the Stories and Recipes Behind More Than 125 of Our Best Loved Cakes”byAnneBy rn. — PAULA PALMER I’m enjoying “The Woman in Cabin 10” by Ruth Ware right now and would like to read more of her myster- ies. Next book for me will be “Leaving Time” by Jodi Picoult. — PATTY EHLER This summer I have
already read some awesome YA novels; I’m a middle school English teacher so I try to read books that I think my kids will like. I just finished “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone and loved it! Highly recommend “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas if you haven’t read it— I read that one last summer and may have to reread soon. I also have some nonfiction books that I’m planning to read, including “Origi- nal Gangstas: the Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur and the Birth of West Coast Rap” by Ben Westhoff, (this was inspired by an interesting series on “The Last Podcast on the Left”). I plan to read “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert as well. Lastly, I just ordered the second book in the “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon, so I’ll read a few of those books this summer. I’ll probably read some psychological thrillers while traveling. — ERIN STABLES