I love books and I love reading. And now that summer is here, I am full on ready to get lost in my summer reading list. I’m pretty sure my first summer love was books. Men have come and gone in my life but I still have my books.
I’m one of the few people who still reads paper print. I need that sense of accomplishment by turning pages. And I love perusing my bookshelves, looking for my favorite author or my latest chick lit find. I’ve compiled some of my favorites.
MY 2020 SUMMER SUGGESTED READING LIST
HOOK THEM WHEN THEY’RE YOUNG
The first book I ever read by myself was Go Dog Go by P.D. Eastman. A real page turner. And it did not disappoint. After that, I branched out to Dr. Seuss, some Golden Books, Babar the Elephant, the Berenstain Bears, and eventually working my way up to the Laura Ingalls Wilder series. Today I finished a John Grisham legal thriller, The Confession. It was no Go Dog Go but still worthy of its place in history. Also I’ve stopped following with my finger, reading out loud or moving my lips while I read now. Such progress.
When I was a kid, our local library held summer reading programs. A reading marathon of sorts. Sun-shaped construction paper with the name of the book, author and child’s name written on it and then placed on the coveted wall. I wanted lots of suns with my name on it on that wall. It fueled me to read.
ENTER THE 2020 READING CHALLENGE
In grade school, we had weekly trips down the hall, library index card in hand to pick out a treasure for “quiet time”. I still have my library card and it lists nothing but kitten, cat and bunny books. I liked one particular shelf and apparently never strayed from it. Also my mom was a school volunteer and on occasion I’d see her in the library, shelving books. It added to my excitement of the library visit.
MY LOVE FOR READING RESURFACED
I took a long break from leisure reading as school, college, self-help, and parenting books took over my life. Then about four years ago, I renewed my love for recreational reading. I began keeping a list of what I read and what I wanted to read. The second list grew faster than the first. I gathered authors from Amazon, Good Reads and recommendations from my fellow readers. I started using a great app called Book Crawler. I love reviewing my list.
GET THE BOOKCRAWLER APP
My favorite is British chick literature (Brit Chick Lit), like Sophie Kinsella and Jill Mansell. Great fun reads usually centered around a woman who despite her good intentions, gets caught in absurd circumstances and hilarity ensues. Think Bridget Jones. Another favorite genre is the restrained woman who breaks free of her job, boyfriend, family, fill-in-the-blank, and finds herself in a new situation in an attempt to grow. Under the Tuscan Sun or Eat, Pray Love are great examples.
THEN I TOOK A WALK ON THE DARK (GREY) SIDE
I also went through a spell of erotic literature during the Fifty Shades of Grey frenzy. I bought the first book of the series at Target and bought the sequels from Amazon, thinking I needed a few days to read FSOG. However I finished FSOG so fast, and my Amazon order wasn’t due for another 1-2 days, that I trucked back to Target and bought the next 2 books because I just couldn’t wait.
Then thanks to the recommendations of Amazon I was turned on to the Crossfire series (Sylvia Day). Then RK Lilley. Then Meredith Wild. Then Samantha Young. Then J Kenner. It turns out women like smut. The authors for this genre were countless. And I was completely caught up in it. I was reading about a book a day. And I learned a lot. Thank you Urban Dictionary. And thank you Jamie Dornan.
ELECTRONIC READER OR BOOK -WHICH SHOULD YOU USE?
I not only purchase books but I borrow them as well. I again am using my local library, but my card is electronic this time. I drop the books on a magnetic table, swipe my card, enter my PIN and I’m checked out. I can renew as well as reserve online. What a wonderful city/county resource. I encourage you to explore yours.
IF VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR THEN APP GAMES ARE KILLING BOOKS
I didn’t used to understand why readership was so low. Few of my friends read. You seldom see someone with a paper book or e-reader in a waiting room or on an airplane. I suppose it’s because books don’t have the faux celebration, prizes and alarms that the popular mobile device games like Candy Crush, WordScape and FarmVille offer. Instead print requires focus, time and imagination to thoroughly enjoy its benefits. And that’s not very stimulating.
But I’m committed to reading and manage to enjoy about a book a week. I should join a book group to share this passion. It really is an escape from reality for a few minutes or hours. Thank you Mrs. Swanson for providing me my first summer love by teaching me to read. Your efforts have not gone unappreciated the past 40+ years.
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What are your reading recommendations? How has reading shaped your life?
