Happy Tuesday, fellow bookworms! I'm going rogue with Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) this week. The topic is beach reads, but I don't really have many new beach read recommendations from last year (you can see those here). We recently moved back to Hawaii and most of my books for the next three years will likely be taken the beach -- so they're all beach reads, right? And since there's no summer to-read list prompt this year, I decided to do it today!
My Summer Reading List:
Saga by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples: Over the spring I got caught up on the two volumes I hadn't read yet, and now I'm anxiously awaiting volume 6, which comes out in July. If you haven't read "Saga" yet -- even if you think graphic novels aren't your thing -- give it a try! The first couple volumes in particular are really awesome! I'm continually amazed at how much story can be packed into so few words -- and lots of pictures, of course.
//
The Fireman by Joe Hill: I've only read one Joe Hill book ("Horns") so far but I keep meaning to read more. And I'm totally intrigued by the premise of his new apocalyptic thriller, "The Fireman."
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: I've finally decided it's time to read this one. I know it's long, and I know it'll be emotionally devastating. And I know I hate the cover and that I don't think the plot sounds interesting. But enough bloggers and friends have read and loved it that I'm going to take the plunge.
//
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh: After hating "What She Knew" by Gilly McMillan, I decided to stay away from any book compared to "The Girl on the Train" for a while. But this thriller has gotten a lot of buzz and the plot sounds pretty intriguing, so I just can't help myself!
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan: I've had my eye on this one for a while, and I thought it'd be a great opportunity to work something light and fun into my summer reading pile.
//
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik: I hadn't heard of Naomi Novik until the end of last year when "Uprooted" popped up on so many best-of lists at the end of the year. I finally read it last month and absolutely loved it -- and now I want to try Novik's Temeraire series.
The Moor by Laurie R. King (book 4 in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series): I started this wonderful mystery series -- featuring a brilliant young woman and a semi-retired Sherlock Holmes -- a few years ago now and I'd really like to work on getting caught up.
//
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (book 2 in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series): I'd been meaning for years to check out the Inspector Gamache mysteries -- which take place in the tiny town of Three Pines in Quebec -- and I finally read the first one at the end of 2015. Like the Mary Russell books, this is a long-running series that I'm hoping to make some progress on.
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel: I've been hearing about this sci-fi book for months and I'm so excited to finally read it!
//
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: I LOVE all things Austen-related, and I've read and watched so many versions and spin-offs of "Pride and Prejudice," but I've never actually read the original! It, my friends, is time.
Books left over from my spring reading list:
There are seven books I didn't get to from my spring to-read post, but I'm actually pretty proud of myself here! I had 20 books on the list, and I managed to read 13 of them. And I had almost all of these books on hold at my parents' library in Colorado (where I spent a good chunk of April and May as part of our military move to Hawaii) and they just didn't come in before we left. I'll be requesting them again as soon as I get my Hawaii library card! (And if you're interested in hearing more about our move to Hawaii, you can check out this post!)
I can't wait for the new Saga...I need more Lying Cat. I plan on reading The Fireman too. Congrats on getting 13 of the 20 off your list but you really need to read "A Criminal Magic" now. It's one of my favorite reads this year!
ReplyDeleteGood to know about "A Criminal Magic"! I actually had it checked out from my Ohio library and I didn't have time to read it before the move (sniff, sniff). I had it on hold at my parents' library in Colorado but it didn't come in while I was there. It sounds right up my alley! It would actually have been perfect for that TTT topic from a couple weeks ago, books I picked up on a whim. I had never heard of it, but I saw the word "magic" and it made me read the blurb, which sounded awesome!
DeleteYay for Lying Cat! :)
The Royal We is one that I hope to get to this summer, but I'm not sure I will. I haven't read any of Pierce Brown's books yet, but I added them to my TBR list after seeing him at BEA. I hope you have a wonderful summer of reading!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2016/05/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-plan-to-read-at.html
Oh, I'm so very jealous that you got to see Pierce Brown at BEA! He's one of my favorite authors; I absolutely LOVED "Red Rising" and "Golden Son." The only reason I haven't read "Morning Star" yet is that I actually bought it (rare for me!) and it's packed up with all our household goods for the move. I hope you enjoy "Red Rising" when you get to it!
DeleteI'm a little leery of books compared to Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train as well but I Let You Go seems to be everywhere right now and I'm definitely intrigued! Plus I read In a Dark Dark Wood earlier this year and loved it and it was compared to those two (though it wasn't really anything like them.) The Royal We looks like fun beach reading as well. The Fireman sounds like such a page turner! I'm looking forward to reading it as well. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI loved both "Gone Girl" and "The Girl on the Train," but just about every book I've read that's been compared to one of those has been a disappointment. I do want to read "In a Dark, Dark Wood," though! I didn't even know it was compared to those two; the cover's what caught my eye there! Plus a good friend read and enjoy it.
DeleteI can't wait to see what you think of Pride and Prejudice. It is one of my all-time favorites :) My copy is SO falling apart I've read it that many times. The Royal We is going on my TBR now. Hope you enjoy all of your picks!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Oh, I fully expect to love it -- at least I HOPE I do! I don't know if it'll be a benefit or not that I already know the story so well. I don't buy books very often since I work(ed) at a library, but there are so many gorgeous editions of "Pride and Prejudice" that I'm thinking I might actually splurge and purchase one!
DeleteCan I make a suggestion?! Read A Little Life and then follow it with The Royal We. You will NEED something light and fun after A Little Life, but it's so so great and was one of my top 3 books of last year.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely take that recommendation, Sarah! I've avoided reading too many in-depth plot details of "A Little Life," and I'm starting to get curious about what exactly is going to be so terribly devastating!
DeleteI've got to psych myself up for A Little Life. I feel like I need to read it when I'm in a happy place, but not too happy so it won't make me come crashing down!
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't have too good of an idea about what exactly it's about, other than four men in New York City with some horrible plot point that makes everyone sad... and I'm starting to get pretty curious about what has everyone so torn up (a little nervous too!).
DeleteAdding The Royal We to my TBR right now! I also recently started the Inspector Gamache novels and are really enjoying them! I just finished The Things We Keep and thought it was amazing.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to get "The Things We Keep" for months! I was almost to the top of the library holds list when we left Ohio, and then I think I was next in line at my parents' library in Colorado before we left. I WILL get it one of these days! I'm excited to continue the Louise Penny books. I really liked Inspector Gamache and I'm looking forward to getting to know him better.
DeleteI am also eagerly awaiting the sixth volume of Saga. I also really loved His Majesty's Dragon and, of course, Pride and Prejudice. It looks like you have some brilliant reads ahead of you!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you enjoyed "His Majesty's Dragon"! I'm hoping to love it -- NOT that I really need to start any new series. Have you read "Uprooted"?
DeleteSo many of these sound good, Lindsay! I am looking forward to reading The Fireman. I haven't read Horns by Hill, but I enjoyed The Heart-Shaped Box. Sleeping Giants is another one I really want to read. I hope you love Pride and Prejudice as much as I do!
ReplyDelete