All those books that I said I wish I could read this summer in yesterday’s post… Well, thanks to Cathy and her 20 Books of Summer Challenge which runs from today through Sept. 5th, I’ve found a way to make myself a little more accountable for actually getting some of that reading done. I struggled last night, because I really wanted to sign up for this but at the same time knew I could never make myself stick to a strict list of 20 books. (With homeschooling I have way too much prescribed reading as it is.) But I was inspired by Amanda’s approach of making herself a pool of books to choose from. She went with 30, which seems reasonable. I may make my pool larger, which probably isn’t reasonable. 😉
- Small Gods by Terry Pratchett (This one is pretty much a definite. I actually read the first 25 or 30 pages of this a few weeks ago, then got buried in school reading and set it aside. So I will be starting this one over to enjoy in its entirety.)
- “A Problem from Hell”: America and the Age of Genocide by Samantha Power (This one is pretty much a definite too, as it’s our final read for this year’s genocide/human rights course. It might be cheating to include this book since I’ve already started it, but I still have just over 400 pages to go in it so I’m counting it whether it’s technically cheating or not. Yeah, I’m such a rebel–ha!)
- One Crazy Summer, P.S. be eleven, and Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia (Because Ana *never* steers me wrong. Added bonus, Bina recommended them too.)
- Hannibal Rising (and if I enjoy it, the rest of the Hannibal Lecter books) by Thomas Harris (Mostly I’d just like to read these so I can get them off my shelves, but am looking forward to giving them a go.)
- A Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket (The first six would be rereads.)
- Duma Key or Insomnia or Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King (Because Stephen King and summer just go together.)
- Salt Fish Girl by Larissa Lai and/or When Nights Were Cold by Susanna Jones (Because Eva brought them over the other day thinking I might enjoy them, and I’ve reason to doubt her, so I ought to get them read so I can return them.)
- Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons or Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell or Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster or Saplings by Noel Streatfeild (Because I’ve sort of been craving a classic lately. I know, I know–who is this talking, and what the hell did you do with Debi?!!)
- Change Comes to Dinner: How Vertical Farmers, Urban Growers, and Other Innovators are Revolutionizing How America Eats by Katherine Gustafson or Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World by Paul Hawken (Because hope and the goodness of humanity are always welcome in as much abundance as possible.)
- A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (Because I happen to have it out from the library right now. Not to mention that it’s just high time I read it.)
- Beloved or Love or A Mercy or Song of Solomon or Sula by Toni Morrison (Because seriously Debra Anne, speaking of high time! How the hell do you justify never having read Toni Morrison?!! Yeah, no excuse.)
- Seedtime: On the History, Husbandry, Politics, and Promise of Seeds by Scott Chaskey (Because summer and gardening and food…)
- Skip•Beat! Volume 19 (and onward) by Yoshiki Nakamura (These just make me happy.)
- Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova (Another I happen to have out from the library right now.)
- Bitch Planet Volume 1: Extraordinary Machine by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro (Because it’s going to be awesome.)
- Watchmen or From Hell or V for Vendetta by Alan Moore et al. (Filling major gaps in my comics reading.)
- Cricket Never Does: A Collection of Haiku and Tanka by Myra Cohn Livingston (For something a bit different.)
- Cat & Mouse by James Patterson (For a time when I just want something fast and compelling and mindless.)
- Life on Earth by David Attenborough or The Top 10 Myths about Evolution by Cameron M. Smith and Charles Sullivan or The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert or In the Kingdom of the Sick: A Social History of Chronic Illness in America by Laurie Edwards (Just a few more non-fiction titles I’ve been wanting read.)
- The as yet unknown books that I will be reading for next year’s school prep.
Okay that’s 20 bullet points, but among them are numerous options so here’s hoping I can actually follow through…
nothing of importance...again 
So many good things in one post! Bitch Planet!
A Raisin in the Sun is one I keep meaning to read too.
And Saplings – I grew up on Streatfeild’s books so part of me has always hesitated over this one. I hope you tell us how you like it (or not) if you read it 😃
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Oh my!! So many amazing books on your list, your summer is gonna be fantastic 🙂 Heh Ana has been responsible for so many books I read and put on my tbr over the years. I need to read the 2nd and 3rd Gaither Sisters books too. Also love all your nonfiction! Is the seed book also about the seedbank? I’ve been wanting to learn more about it. And Salt Fish is on.my tbr too. I also really liked the Series of Unfortunate Events adaptation.
I should put together a book pile, too, since for once I will have summer off, and.need something besides job hunting to occupy my.thoughts.
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LOL–yes, put together a book pile! And share it! And absolutely explode my wish list! 😀 😀 😀
You know, I’m not really sure if Seedtime talks about seed banks or not, but I’m guessing it does. I think I first saw it in some organic gardening magazine, and when I did I immediately ordered it but that was a year (maybe two?) ago. My guess is that something about the description talked about the importance of biodiversity or else the way a certain evil corporation is harming farmers around the world not to mention the environment, and that’s what made me have to get in my hands asap. Hmmm…and yet here it is still unread. Too many great books to be read! 🙂
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Haha it’s only fair, since you add to mine so much 😀
That does sound really great! I never really took that much interest in plants and gardening, but now with TTIP and the food industry the way it is, I’ve found my social history, social justice angle and have been after books about this topic and getting my mom to plant veggies and not just flowers 😀
I’m kinda reading the book about Monsanto, always a few pages, but I keep having to stop and take notes. But it’s about evild overlord corporation and farmers too. Happy reading with your gigantic summer pile!
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So glad you decided to join! I read Duma Key a while back and it was riveting.
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Thanks! And I’m glad to hear that about Duma Key! That’s one of his books that I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say much about, either good or bad.
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Thanks for joining in! Great list – here’s to happy summer reading!
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No, thank you for coming up with such a fun event and allowing the rest of to join in! I’m very much looking forward to it!
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