When my children were in grade school they participated in a summer reading program sponsored by Pizza Hut. Low and behold, I did a google search to see if could find the name of the program and I was quite please to see that the program/challenge was still alive and well. It is called ‘Book-It’ and this year it features Wimpy Kid and scheduled to begin June 22, 2015. Well … the grade school kids are now grown kids and have very little interest in composing a list to read for the summer. Freshly graduating from college, I am sure she does not want to pick up another book until September when grad school starts. As far as my son is concerned, he will pick up a book when starts college in the Fall. Neither kid seemed to inherit my love for reading. They admit they loved to read as children but now grown, they despise it.
This summer I set a goal for myself to read 20 books of different genres, lengths and media. In the booklist that I have compiled, some will be read on my e-reader, a few will be audiobooks but most will be a good old fashioned paper book. I very rarely check a book out from the library as I love to keep my books and but them in my own personal library. If I know that I am not going to keep a book for my library, I usually buy it in audio or buy an electronic copy.
So after an entire month of adding and deleting, here is my list in no particular order.
Go To Set a Watchman By Harper Lee
The Grave Robber by Mark Batterson
Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Do Over byJon Acuff
Miracle at Higher Ground Café by Max Lucado
Trapped Under the Sea by Neil Swidey
The Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides
Tom’s River by Dan Fagin
The Undertaker’s Wife by Dee Oliver
The Alliance: Managing Talen in the Networked Age by Reid Hoffman
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Creativity Inc by Ed Catmull
Rational Ritual by Michael Chwe
God, Gun, Grits, & Gravy by Mike Huckabee
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Everline’s Sky by Mike Russo
Chicken, Mules and Two Old Fools by Victoria Twead
Duke by Terry Teachout
Mentor Me: The Complete Guide for Women who want to Mentor Girls by Paula Dirkes
First, I am going to try to stay true to the list but good things just come way and I cannot resist. I love biographies and stories of triumph -that true American Grit. While watching cspantv/booktv.org, I had the opportunity to listen to Tom Brokaw speak about his life and his journey to writing his book -A Luck Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope. I wanted to make a mad dash to Amazon, eBay, or B&N.com and order a copy. It is so hard to stay focused when good stuff like that comes across my path. If I could get an autographed copy I think I would run heedlessly into moving traffic! Told you I was love with reading AND good old fashioned paper book.
The next thing I am going to do is write a review of each book I read. Some book reviews tell you so much about the book there is no need to read it or they spoil the thrill, turns and the end. I will give a general synopsis about the book (no spoilers)and tell how the book has affected my own life and perspective. I have plowed through a couple of books on my list already so check back for a review soon. In the meantime, I would like to know your recommendations or simply what you are reading and why. Do you prefer an e-reader or physical book? Let me know.
Pure & Lovely Gifts 