Top Ten Tuesdays: Summer Books!
I love to read. I have always loved to read. As a child, I loved it when the teachers would pass out the Scholastic book orders each month and I would spend days stewing over the choices and circling and dog earring those flyers. Anyone remember those things? And I still love to read. I went years where the deepest thing I could get into was a People magazine, but now that the kids are a little older, I am doing better. I also have been more excited about it ever since I got a kindle earlier this year.
With my Summer Vacation just a week away, I had to make a list of all of the books that I think I need to read on my trip or at some point this summer. These are recommendations from myself, friends and family. PLEASE share your recommendations for your favorite Summer reading. Trashy can be good too….
Game of Thrones (ALL FIVE) by George R. R. Martin
I’m sorry- I have to say that these books are to die for. If you love the show, then your mind will be BLOWN by these books. I read them last year, and I am seriously considering reading them all over again.
THEY ARE SO GOOD.
The Fault in our Stars by John Green
I still haven’t read it, and I am still dying to. I think this one is for my first flight. After watching movies like “Marley and Me” and “Saving Mr Banks”, why stop my ugly plane crying streak now?
Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
I bought this book years ago, and I am still meaning to read it! Pete and I are obsessed with him. He is so entertaining, even if a little mean spirited! Can’t wait for this one.
Sharp Objects, a novel by Gillian Flynn
So Gone Girl was really pretty good. Like so weird, but good. I want to have another go around with her crazy psychological thriller style of writing. Anyone read this? Or any of her others?
Garlic and Sapphires By: Ruth Reichl
The 3rd book in her auto-biographical series about being a top food critic in New York. I have heard that these books are VERY entertaining.
The Vacationers By Emma Straub
My sister recommends this one. This is about a huge crazy family on a vacation together. I can relate.
The Other Boleyn Girl By Philippa Gregory
I’m obsessed with period stories like this one. I know this is an old story, but I can’t wait to read this…
The Paris Wife By Paula McLain
Another old story: This book is set in the 1920’s and tells the story of Earnest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley. The story chronicles their courtship, marriage and eventual move to Paris where they socialize with many of the most infamous writers, artists and partiers of the twentieth century.
The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck
This is one of my favorite books of all time, and I have read it a bunch of times, but the last had to have been over 10 years ago. It’s time to revisit.
Yes, Chef: A Memoir By Marcus Samuelsson
I really love Biographies, and I would love to read Chef Samuelssons. He was an orphan from Ethiopia, and was adopted by a Swedish family, he then becomes a chef and opens restaurant in Harlem becoming a famous chef and an inspiration in the process.
Print Recipe
Heather, thank you for this list! I love to read. As a kid, I would tear through books so fast and make my mom get me more books. I think giving me the love of reading was one of the best things she could do for me. I can’t wait to check out some of these reads! I loved those Scholastic book magazines…what a flashback!
I know- my sister reminded me of those scholastic magazines and I was like “whoaaaa”!! I hope my girls love to read as much- I think Pia will be my little book worm.
Garlic and Sapphires-I read it last year and honestly could not put that book down. It is one of my all time favorites; made me howl with laughter. I still like All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. The first book in the series is my favorite. Never fails to amuse me.
My parents used to read us James Herriot Vicki- and then we would watch it on PBS. Love those stories…
LOVE, LOVE to read! Before i opened your blog today i finished “The Secret Life of Bees” which was AMAZING, could not put it down, and i ready 2 books on your list, and have “The Paris Wife” on my Kindle right now to read next .So here’s my review:
Game of Thrones — you know that it’s a book #5 in series, right, and they are HUGE and complicated, but it’s one of my favorite series, there is so much going on in them, and the fantasy is unbelievable. LOVE it!!
Fault of Stars– it’s YA book, and i think it says it all. I know that people will throw stones in me, but it’s really not very deep. I was on a big YA kick for years, read everything YA.. but came to the point that they don’t fill me up any more. I was not crazy about that one, but you might need to read it because everyone is talking about it and you have 2 growing girls who might like it 🙂
Thank you for the list!! I will sure check out Good Earth, sounds good.
Thanks Nikki! I think I have to agree. The Divergent Series I never even finished because the third book was so, um, meeeeh? the secret Life of Bees is now on my list!
Gillian Flynn is brilliantly disturbed. After reading Gone Girl, I read her other two, this one plus Dark Places (?). Good, but even darker than GG. Hard to read at times even.
I hope to start the Divergent series soon, since I was such a sucker for the Twilight and Hunger Games series.
I like the first two divergent Michelle. I think Dark Places looked too scary for me 🙂
Ruth Reichl..Tender At the Bone was my first and favorite..then Comfort me With Apples..the Garlic..etc:)
If you can get TATB..do..
I too like AB’s books and I bought MR on Kindle this year and read it..he’s got such an edge that I don’t have..:)I liked it .
The Paris Wife was good too:)
Have you read The Art Of Hearing Heartbeats? I know everyone’s tastes are so varied and different..but this on is a keeper in my mind.
Have not read the others but am a watcher of GOT..
Have a great summer…thanks for all your beautiful recipes.
Thank you for the recc’s Monique!! “The art of hearing Heartbeats” is on the list 🙂
I loved Gillian Flynn’s other book, Dark Places. It sucked me in, and I think I finished it in 2 days. I love her writing style, so I am excited to hear she has a third book!
Also, Yes Chef is SO GOOD. I really like Marcus Samuelsson. His story is so engaging!
Thanks Jessica- I was too scared for Dark Places after reading the story line, but maybe I will give it a try after all!
Thanks for the recs! I’m currently reading A Storm of Swords in the GoT series. I’ve been binging–in the past 6 weeks I’ve read up to about 1/4 through that one, so I might finish them by the end of the summer. I’m not sure if I’m happy about that or not…
I still haven’t watched more than a few episodes of the show, though. =X
I’ll definitely check these others out!
It is a gross binge. I could not stop- it was a total addiction for me. I was like, hiding it from my husband.
Great list!! Two more: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened and This Is Where I Leave You. Let’s Pretend… had me literally crying from laughing but it’s not for everyone. I felt like she was trying too hard until I got about 5 pages in – then I couldn’t put it down and kept trying to read passages to George. Definitely my favorite book in recent past.
Have fun and ENJOY!
I have to be honest… Sharp Objects was just freaking weird. I loved Gone Girl, but this one was just a little past what seemed okay, and seriously left me feeling not okay when I was done. haha 🙂
Can’t wait to read the Game of Thrones books, I hadn’t even considered it before seeing your list, but love the show!
Have you read any of Jojo Moyes? Particularly Me Before You? If not, it should definitely be on your list… the perfect summer read!
I also can’t wait to read The One and Only by Emily Giffin; sounds like Friday Night Lights in a book!
I first read The Good Earth as a young girl. I haven’t read it in probably 25+ years. Time to re-read it, so thanks for that!
I’ve been re-reading all of Jane Austen’s novels, currently on Persuasion for the second time. Reading Jane Austen can be a labor of love. However, I simply do not find any contemporary writers who can match her gimlet eye for the peculiarities of polite society. Jane rocks.
I read My Life in France by Julia Child and Julie & Julia by Julie Powell at the same time. What a hoot to read them together! You should try it.
Heather,
Consider downloading the app, Goodreads, while you are traveling, and have some down time to explore (as if that were possible). It gives you lightning fast access to titles, authors, reviews, and recommendations based on your taste preference and ratings. You can also set up your account to link with friends, favorite book stores, Amazon, or even reserve new titles at your public library. I kinda consider it a cross between Facebook and Netflix for bookworms, and use it regularly. Check it out! I have been on a bit of a Paris jag, and recently finished The Paris Wife, close on the heals of The Paris Architect (nazi occupation, designs hiding places), The Perfume Collector (romance, intrigue, perfume and Paris), and the total blockbuster, Paris:The Novel ( a multigenerational, multi family, historical fantastic read)… Would recommend any of those, or all… Currently reading Delicious, Riechl’s latest, tho both Tender and Apples are very entertaining. There are just so many… I have to stop… Hope to see you on Goodreads! P.s. Your cookbook has a respectable 3.94 rating on Goodreads! Xo Aunt Mary Ann
Mary Ann, completely agree– Goodreads rocks. You can have a nice list of books there that you want to read ( so you will never wonder what to read next, you will never forget), then put finish dates when you are done and review books, so that in 5 years you can go “Oh, yeah, i have read this one.. let me see what it was about.. ” 🙂
Great recomendations, by the way, i am just starting my Paris kick, but all those books that you recomended are on my list.
Just read Reconstructing Amelia and loved it. Newer release. The Kindle is the best for reading! I loved The Other Boleyn Girl. Perfect vacation reading.
Anything by Jojo Moyes-Me before you and The Last letters to my lover were amazing books. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom and anything by Elin Hilderbrand, all of her books are light, easy and fun reads. I LOVED the Paris Wife and The Fault in Our Stars, both made me cry like a baby! Thanks for the book ideas!