20? 15? 10? books of summer 2019
It’s officially summer in the northern hemisphere so time once again for the 20 Books of Summer challenge hosted by Cathy of 746books.com.
I’ve never yet managed to complete this challenge despite Cathy’s ultra flexibility with the “rules’. I suspect 2019 will be no different so there’s no point in going the whole hog with a list of 20 books. I’m going for the option of 15 books of summer and if I manage to read even 10 of them I’ll be dead chuffed.
Half of the fun of this challenge is putting together the list of books to read. Since I’m not likely to be taking a summer holiday I shall use my reading to do my travelling for me. I’ve chosen 15 titles that will take me to different parts of the world. Of course every journey has to start from home so the first book on my list comes from Wales. I may read the books the order below, travelling through Europe, crossing the Atlantic and then making my way east before dropping down to the southern hemisphere where by September 3, when this challenge finishes , it will be Spring…
So, my suitcase is packed. The tickets have arrived. My passport is up to date. My journey begins on June 3.
Wales: Ghostbird by Carol Lovekin
France: Hotel Tito by Ivana Simić Bodrožić.
Austria: A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler
Germany: Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada
Finland: The Midwife by Katja Kettu
Canada: One of Louise Penny’s detective novels – not sure which yet
USA: Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote
Jamaica: The Long Song by Andrea Levy
South Africa: A Dry White Season by Andre Brink
India: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Indonesia: Twilight in Djakarta by Mochtar Lubis
Malaysia: Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
China: Frog by Mo Yan
Australia: Shell by Kristina Olsson
New Zealand: Ships by Fiona Duigan
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Selecting books from across countries – a very interesting idea!
It’s so enjoyable to read from a perspective that isn’t only UK/USA centered
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Thank you for choosing Ghostbird!
I’ve been meaning to read it for so long Carol, I bought it when Honno did a pop up bookshop in Cardiff a few years ago
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What a brilliant way to organise your list – enjoy your travels!
I discovered today the book I had put down for France is actually by an author from Croatia. Oh well, thats a country I’ve wanted to visit for a long time so no harm done
Haha that’s the sort of thing I’d do
I loved putting my list together too, but I don’t think I was as creative as you!
Happy Reading!
I’m joining in too – https://onemoreword.uk/2019/06/02/20-books-of-summer-2019-20booksofsummer-amreading-books-summer/
Just popped over to your blog to see what you’ve listed…
Interesting take on the challenge! I love the idea of hopping across countries. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favorites by Capote – the writing’s so sharp.
I shall look forward to it then Michael
What a fun idea! I loved A Fine Balance, and Louise Penny’s series is always comforting and fun. Good luck with the challenge…or should I say, bon voyage?! 😉
I really enjoyed putting the list together and imagining all the places I could go
All the best with your list, Karen and happy summer reading/travelling 😀
Thanks Jessica. At least in this form of travel you don’t have to queue at airports or do tonnes of laundry on the return
Yes! And you can do it in your pyjamas whilst drinking tea 🙂
This is so exciting! Best of luck. I’m Indonesian but never read Mochtar Lubis oops hahaha! Hope you enjoy it. Yangsze Choo is also really high in my TBR.
I only came across him because I was looking for an author specifically from Indonesia
What a great list! I’m having lots of fun playing with my list. Louise Penny and A Whole Life are definites already. Just the last few that keep changing. It would help if I knew how many I want to aim for!
You mean in terms of how many books? You can always change your mind part way through. I do enjoy the process of creating the list (more than reading the books sometimes….)
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What an amazing theme for your list! I took forever to choose my list! I have not heard of any of these books bar one. So quite excited to see what you think!
Thanks Zoe, it was great fun putting the list together
What a great idea to go on a virtual trip – the best kind! You’ve got some great looking choices too. I loved Yangsze Choo’s Night Tiger, so would really like to read Ghost Bride sometime, and Alone in Berlin is hovering somewhere on my wishlist. I’m in the minority that didn’t love A Fine Balance, though – hope it works better for you. Enjoy your trip!
Life would be dull if we all had the same reaction to a book – there’d be nothing much to talk about…
What a fun idea! It makes me want to go with you. I hope you enjoy your trip to Quebec! If I remember correctly, you’ve already read some Louise Penney, is that right?
I have indeed read a few of her novels – i look for any excuse to return to Three Pines
I think the travel theme is a great idea. And , I am so jealous of your having A Fine Balance to read for the first time; it is one of the truly great books.
Now I’m excited – pity its so far down the list. Maybe I can alter my flight plan to get there quicker
Fun with lists! You made a great one. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a favorite of mine. I have always meant to read A Fine Balance. I own a copy. Perhaps I will join you.
I hadn’t realised Breakfast at Tiffany’s was a novella until I bought my copy.
What a good idea to use it to travel around the world! I haven’t made my Pile yet as I am mithering over whether to include review books or not – I’m thinking not, to make myself read other books, too, and I’m thinking print only so I can make a Lovely Pile!
I’ve stuck to print versions too and all books that are already in the house so I can make some dent in the TBR and feel very smug when I see the gaps appearing
Like the idea so enjoy the journey. Most of your book/countries are new to me but I’ve read and liked Alone in Berlin and absolutely loved A Fine Balance ( make sure you put tissues next to your passport for that one!)
Really – I had better make sure not to read it in public in that case
Ghost bride better be good, if either of us get to it!
It’s not a book that you see mentioned very often ….
Ghost Bride better be good- if either of us get to it! Have to say, I didn’t care for the Louise Penny book I tried, but I’m in the minority.
Love your journey approach to this year’s list Karen – I think my theme will have to be the slimmest books on my TBR pile 🙂
I made sure to include some slim ones in my own list….
ooh, I need to look into this challenge, and at your titles. As for Louise Penny, they really need to be read in order, to get most of them – evolution of characters and relationships
I think that’s true with the later L Penny novels. the first few can be read in isolation but once the scheming against Gamache gets underway you do need to go with the sequence
I love this idea! I’m in the process of putting my list together, so hopefully, I’ll have it nailed down in the next few days.
Looking forward to seeing what you end up with
What a great idea! I love your travel theme. I’ve got several countries too but I didn’t think of taking a ‘trip.’
I decided to go for a theme to help me feel I’m making progress on one of my projects.
I loved Hotel Tito, my first book by a Croatian writer, and Ghost bird is lovely I think you will enjoy it. A fine Balance is just wonderful, an unforgettable book.
Have I got confused about Hotel Tito – I put it down for France but should it be Croatia?
It is set in Croatia at the time of the war, mainly in the area of Zagreb and a town outside it, but the narrator does take a short trip to Italy. Which ever country you assign it I think it’s a really good book. Hope you enjoy it.
thanks for the insight Ali
Now I’ll have to research most of these! Good sound list.
Some of them are certainly not well known 🙂
What a great idea! I hope you enjoy your summer travels. I’ve read Alone in Berlin and will have to disagree with Edward – I loved it and didn’t want to put it down! The Long Song is good too, but I haven’t read any of your others.
I put this on my list after hearing a podcast Tea or Books discussion which was very much in favour of the book
Oooh, very globetrotting list – good luck! 😀
I do like putting these lists together – it’s a great excuse to go looking through the TBR
I loved both A Whole Life and A Fine Balance. Enjoy your literary travels, Karen.
I don’t know why it has taken me so long to get around to the Mistry. I do love Indian based fiction
Alone in Berlin will not offer very cheery holiday reading I’m afraid. It’s a dark tale set in Nazi Germany with, I found, a rather plodding narrative. The principal characters are not one bit engaging and thus it’s difficult to sympathise with their (obviously doomed) crusade.
Interested to hear that I wasn’t the only one who struggled with this. I found the narrative so hard to get into I actually abandoned the book, so I won’t rush to try again… 😉
I hear such mixed reactions to this book.
Oh dear, that doesn’t fill me with confidence…
I love your travel theme Karen! You are in for a real treat with A Whole Life – it’s wonderful. Thanks so much for joining in.
Thanks to you for organising this event Cathy