Summer arrived last weekend, bringing lots of sun and very warm temperatures. I wonder if it’s here to stay? Well, even if the weather takes a turn, I’m definitely in “summer reading mode,” riding high on a wave of good reads in May. I managed to read all the books in my May book stack, plus one more: Elizabeth Taylor’s The Sleeping Beauty (I’m hosting a readalong in June). And I’m really excited about the books in my queue for the next few months. Some are books I bought with a birthday gift card, others are Orange Prize winners or nominees, and everything just looks sooo good!
Pictured from top to bottom:
- On my Kindle, George Eliot’s Middlemarch. I’m making steady progress on Book IV, reading a chapter each week. The Team Middlemarch discussion will be in July.
- The Observations, by Jane Harris: This was on my “might read” list for May, but I read Elizabeth Taylor’s The Sleeping Beauty instead. I added it to my 2012 reading list after seeing so much praise for it during Orange January. And it’s living up to my expectations so far!
- Carry Me Down, by M. J. Hyland: This 2006 Booker Prize nominee caught my attention when I was perusing the prize backlist.
- Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward: This National Book Award winner was one of my gift card purchases.
- Gillespie and I, by Jane Harris: Yes, another by Jane Harris! The buzz about this book was more temptation than I could resist. Yay for birthday gift cards!
And not pictured, which I’ll get from the library later this month:
- Mother’s Milk, by Edward St. Aubyn: another Booker Prize nominee. I’ve heard a lot about St Aubyn’s Melrose series lately, and decided he was an author I should discover. I know you’re wondering, why aren’t you starting with the beginning of the series? Well, it’s a Booker “completist” thing. Once I read Mother’s Milk and Carry Me Down, I’ll have read the entire 2006 shortlist. Call me crazy, but I do like checking off lists … 🙂
June will be a busy month with other family activities, and I seem to be on a slower pace this year overall, so 5 books is realistic. But if I happen to have time for more, don’t worry: I have a long list of candidates for Orange July, and would have no problem diving into them early!
What are your summer reading plans?
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Musings 
These all sound very tempting! Middlemarch is one that’s on my list of TBR.
Enjoy your reads! Here’s MY SUNDAY SALON POST
Ooooh, great looking books in your stack for this month (can’t wait to see what you think of Salvage the Bones!). I really need to read some Harris novels…will look forward to your reviews of those 🙂
Hi Wendy, thanks for stopping by! Watch this space for reviews. The Observations is interesting so far, I can tell you that much.
A good mix there. It is years since I read Middlemarch – though I know I enjoyed it. I have never read any Jane Harris – so wil be interested to know what you think. I have read Carry me Down, I know I liked it – but am struggling to remember anything about it.
Ali, I have that “struggle to remember …” feeling about lots of books too. I know I enjoyed them at the time, but in a lifetime of reading they don’t stand out. But then they can’t all be 5-star reads, can they?
Looks like you have some great reading lined up! I loved The Observations when I read it a couple years ago.
Carrie, so far I’m enjoying The Observations myself!
Loving your stack! I’ve heard of Mother’s Milk so I can’t wait to read your thoughts on it. This summer, I want to get a handle on my tbr stack. It’s out of control. 🙂 Happy reading.
Vasilly, I’m trying really really hard NOT to add to my TBR stack these days. I have a few years’ worth of reading just sitting on my shelves, so it’s kind of crazy to acquire more. So I completely understand your challenge!
Looking forward to your reactions to Gillespie and I. I read this last month. It kept me going through a long night flight because the story zips along but by the end I did wonder what all the fuss was about.
Now Middlemarch – that’s totally different; one of my all time great reads.
Karen, I was certainly influenced by book blogger buzz in my decision to acquire Gillespie and I. And that always makes me a little nervous — will it live up to high expectations? We’ll see …
I would put aside the completist urge and read the first four Patrick Melrose books in chronological order. I’m sure Mother’s Milk works well as a standalone novel, but as they almost amount to a ‘roman fleuve’ it would be a bit like turning to the last chapter of a whodunnit before you even begin.
Richard, thank you for sharing your perspective. I have to admit it’s been nagging at me a bit. My completist urges run in two directions: reading Booker nominees, and reading a series in order. I think you’re right that it’s best to read Melrose from the beginning. I’m not likely to begin this month, but your comment helped me make a decision. Thank you!
I love checking off shortlists too! Mothers Milk is one I haven’t read either so I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts. Enjoy!