The Myth of Summer Reading
If you’re like me, you often begin the summer with this image of relaxing in the backyard or by the pool, devouring all of the books you didn’t read throughout the year. Maybe it’s the pervasive myth that things will be easier in summer, that your schedule will magically clear itself to match the weather, or maybe it’s the memory of childhood summers, of having little to no structure or responsibilities, but then none of this ever quite materializes as soon as we pass Memorial Day. Many of us still have to work, and care for children and loved ones, and attend meetings, and do the dishes, and plan friends’ baby showers and retirement parties, and stay engaged politically, and take the cat to the vet, and and and—
The Book Stack (We All Have One)
So how do we decide what makes the cut on our summer reading lists, particularly if we do somehow have a lighter schedule over the summer or an actual vacation that permits some beachside books?
Take a look at the stack of books on your bedside table. Go ahead; I’ll wait.
At any given time, you may have the book you’re actively reading, the book you stopped about 1/3 of the way through but will surely get back to at any moment, the book your friend insisted you read, the library book you’ve renewed four times but have barely cracked, the book you re-read every year, and some variation thereof sitting beside you when you finally slip into bed at night. To give yourself a fighting chance of reading as much as you can over the summer, start with one of the books on the bedside table. Which one most calls to you (And not just out of guilt, but genuine interest)? Skip the others for now; they’ll still be there in the fall (Unless it’s the library book. You might as well return that one for now if it doesn’t make the cut. I’m not condoning fines!). Behold my own book stack:
Building Your Summer Reading List
Maybe you’re like me and you’ve been doing a reading challenge throughout the year. Reassess your to-read list. Which books are you genuinely excited to read? Which ones will transport you somewhere new and exciting? (e.g. If you live in Phoenix and feel like you could boil an egg on your head in July, maybe pick a book set in a colder climate such as Voyage of the Narwhal).
In my own reading challenge this year, so far I’ve read:
- White Tears by Hari Kunzru (audio)
- Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle (audio)
- Yes Please by Amy Poehler (audio)
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (audio)
- Into the Water by Paula Hawkins (audio)
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (text)
Right now, I’m reading Vivian Apple Needs a Miracle by Katie Coyle (text)
There are also a few I’ve started, but haven’t finished:
- The Revolution of Marina M. (text) (The length is a bit intimidating…)
- We Were Eight Years in Power (text) (Overdue, so I had to return!)
- The Opposite of Loneliness (audio) (Overdue, so I had to return!)
The reading challenge that I (very loosely) set up for myself has a goal of 26 books this year. So far I’ve read six. Ideally, I’d like to read at least another six this summer. I may not make my goal in the end, but I’ve already read some books I probably wouldn’t have, and I’ve had fun planning and selecting (and bending the rules to make books fit into my self-imposed parameters).
Find Your Reading Bliss
All of this is a long way of saying, set a goal for yourself, either to read x number of books this summer, or to read a specific selection of books (book stack or no). Or maybe your goal is not to set a goal, but to pick up whatever book catches your eye, and to just go from there organically. If you’re looking for inspiration, here’s a good list from Parade of books coming out this summer (confession: I’ve already preordered Florida by Lauren Groff). Whatever summer reading path you choose, do what’s most fun for you, dear writers and readers!
What are you reading right now? What book are you most looking forward to reading this summer? Tell us in the comments!