It’s almost here!
20 Books of Summer 2016
Twitter: #20booksofsummer
20 Books of Summer is hosted by the lovely Cathy at 746 Books. For those of you who don’t read quite as much, you may choose 10 Books of Summer or 15 Books of Summer. The Challenge begins Wednesday, June 1 and runs through Monday, September 5 – almost fourteen full weeks this year. Go for it, you know you want to. This is your big chance to take part in a Challenge in which you have total control over which books you read – no set list, genre or format. Check out Cathy’s post “20 Books of Summer is back! Who’s in?”
My progress will be tracked on my 2016 Reading Challenges Page. The planned list:
It Takes a Witch (Wishcraft Mystery #1) by Heather Blake
The Edge of Dreams (Molly Murphy #14) by Rhys Bowen
Royal Blood (Royal Spyness #4) by Rhys Bowen
A Walk in the Woods, Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
A Full Life, Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter
Embrace the Grim Reaper (Grim Reaper #1) by Judy Clemens
The Gods of Guilt (Mickey Haller #5) by Michael Connelly
Catering to Nobody (Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #1) by Diane Mott Davidson
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
The Revolt of the Angels (La Révolte des anges) by Anatole France
Shakespeare’s Champion (Lily Bard #2) by Charlaine Harris
The Predator of Batignolles (Le Léopard des Batignolles) by Claude Izner
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, A Memoir by Haruki Murakami
Salem Chapel by Margaret Oliphant
Leon Roch by Benito Perez Galdos
A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
Murder on Astor Place (Gaslight Mysteries #1) by Victoria Thompson
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Join us this summer! If not the full 20, then for 15 or 10. Don’t forget to visit Cathy’s 746 Books to sign up.
Vauquer Boarding House 
HAVE FUN! Super excited to catch up on my reading 🙂
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Thanks! You too.
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What a great list!!! Of course, I’m already rethinking the majority of mine and will likely have revised it by the time I leave work in 5+ hours. Eesh. Last summer doing the neglected series worked really well for me!
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I see you couldn’t resist a Georgie book once you were reminded. I might actually read two of them this summer.
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So glad you are joining in Dagny, what a great list! I’m feeling very positive this year!
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Thanks, Cathy. 20 books should be easy for me, even with the Olympic coverage. It’s way too hot to do much outside and I have no little ones out of school like you. My goal this year is not to change my list mid-summer as I did last year. Tried to get it right the first time!
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That’s a good list! I really want to “do” Mrs Oliphant, but keep thinking I need to finish Trollope first, or at least the Barchesters, before I start her. Maybe I should swap out one of the two Edith Whartons on my list for a Trollope. Argh!
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Salem Chapel is a group read which Wanda found for us. I’ve read Oliphant’s Hester and Miss Marjoribanks, but I think that’s it. Amazing how many she wrote! I really liked the Barset series. Not sure I read all of the Palliser novels. I think I missed one of the Phineas ones. The House of Mirth is one of my all time favorite books.
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Hmm, I might do this again this year. I want to give The Golem and the Jinni another shot (it’s heavier than I had anticipated, and just wasn’t a good fit at the time).
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I was stumped as what to pick for the June Genre Challenge of Mythological. I saw it described as a mix of “folk mythology, historical fiction, and magical fable” so thought I’d give it a try. My other idea was Grendel by John Gardner, but I wanted to save it for the September Genre in the “retelling” category. All this planning!
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I’m about 25% in The Golem and the Jinni and now know what you mean. It started out quite interesting – and is again, but there was quite a bit of talky/preachy to get through. I’m listening and I think that helps.
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Yes, this time around I’ve got an audiobook, so I think that will help. I’ll also have to pair it with something really light for when I need a break, lol.
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An ambitious but lovely plan! I haven’t read any of these, so I am curious about them. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks! I tried to get a good mix because last year I ended up revising my list partway through.
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Great list! I’ll be interested to hear what you think of Jimmy Carter’s book, and Travels with Charley has been recommended to me in the past… but of course I haven’t got around to reading it yet! Have a great summer! 😀
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I’d long heard of Travels with Charley, but never actually thought of reading it. Casey in the What an Animal Reading Challenge recommended it just a month or so ago and that was fresh in my mind when I chose it.
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Sadly I haven’t read any of the books off your list, although I have enjoyed some of the authors. Well done for going for the full 20 and happy reading!
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Thanks, Jessica. I’m rather heavy on the non-fiction which is something I don’t read much, but there are plenty of mysteries to keep me going.
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I look forward to your thoughts as I love reading non-fiction and I enjoy a good mystery too 🙂
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Series mysteries are my favorites. I become so attached to the characters of the ones I follow that I actually read them more for the characters than the mystery.
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The Golem and the Jinni has been sitting on my shelf for ages. I’m hoping you’ll like it! And all the others. Have fun!
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Thanks, Naomi! You too. The Golem and the Jinni will be one of the first ones I start since I already have it from the library.
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what a mixture – Oliphant and Bryson! At least you should find something to suit whatever mood you’re in
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LOL, Karen. You’re right.
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Oh, the Jimmy Carter and the STeinbeck, but I’m really curious to see what you think of The Golem and the Jinni! Nice list! Happy reading!
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I started The Golem and the Jinni a couple of hours ago. Quite interesting so far!
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[…] Vanquer Boarding House […]
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The trouble with reading everyone’s lists? I want to add more and more to my pile! 🙂 I’ve been wanting to read both The House of the Scorpion and A Walk in the Woods for ages. Hope you enjoy every single one!
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I know! These lists are so insidious. Another reader just replied that she has a collection of Bryson’s books and loved A Walk in the Woods.
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How much fun are these lists? I’d especially like to read your Bryson and Steinbeck selections! I’ve not read any of these, however. 🙂 Sending you a very happy wish for your reading this summer, Dagny!
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Thanks, Jillian. You too!
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Wow! All the best, Dagny. I saw it on your Twitter that you’re already done with 2. Great going!
Have fun 🙂
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Thanks, Heena! I’ve got to get ahead of the game as I might not get much chance to read during the Olympics.
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I hope you’ll read enough books to enjoy Olympics without worrying about reading 🙂
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Thanks, Heena! I’m on a good pace, so should be ok. (fingers crossed)
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I haven’t read any of your 20 books, but A Walk in the Woods sounds good. Enjoy, and have fun reading!
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Thanks. I’ve heard good things about Bryson’s books. This will be the first one I’ve read.
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Oops – already making a change. Replacing The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer with The Lost Island (Gideon Crew #3) by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
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Read “Révolte des Anges ( A. France) …I’ll am very curious what your impression will be!
Murakami (Running…) was a wonderful read!
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I agree about the Murakami book. So far not too fond of the France, although it seems to be getting better. I’m about 3/4 through.
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Angle wings and some references to Lucifer, the fallen one…do not a great book make. A. France disappointed because I expected more from a Nobel Prize winner.
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