One of the most fun discussion threads we’ve done this year was on summer reading, and I was thinking about it this morning as what I’ve been reading has really shifted this year. Before, I was reading almost exclusively nonfiction (which makes sense, given a lot of the things we talk about each week in the newsletter).
But this year, I’ve shifted almost exclusively to fiction — and it’s been like discovering a new world all over again. So far this year, I’ve been reading:
John Grisham’s The Reckoning, The Guardians, The Last Juror + Sycamore Row
Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad — which we read in our book club
Delia Owens’s Where The Crawdads Sing — oh wow, this one was AMAZING (especially the ending)
S.A. Cosby’s Razorblade Tears — just started this one, read almost half of it last night. Really intense.
Kelsey McKinney’s God Spare the Girls — it’s a coming-of-age tale that almost reads like a suspense novel
Laura Dave’s The Last Thing He Told Me — just fantastic, really breathlessly suspenseful
T.J. Newman’s Falling — you’ll never see flying the same way again, I bet!
Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms — the Ken Burns documentary re-ignited my interest
Robert Galbraith (actually J.K. Rowling)’s The Cuckoo’s Calling — still in the middle, intriguing so far
How has your reading changed this year (or not), and what have you discovered that you really loved, or are loving right now? 📚 — Terrell
Great thread. While I stick mostly to fiction, I just finished I Came as a Ghost, the autobiography of John Thomson - Georgetown's iconic basketball coach. On the fiction side - I don't know why exactly - but started reading older stuff including Treasure Island, James Fenimore Cooper's The Spy, and Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar. Change of pace.
I read Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime earlier this summer. Great book! Loved it! Now reading Andréa Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano mysteries, starting with the first three.
Well, I'm still reading "Exercised" by Lieberman. Busy starting the 12 week training for November 7th for the Golden Gate Half, so books go into to the slot of "when I have some spare time!" Haha! :
Next up on my list is "The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu" by Tom Lin which was recommended by NYTimes. I tend to go with using our King County Library for books (having been a librarian) rather than buying them. It takes time to get new releases on hold, but it works with my schedule. :)
“Rust: The Longest War” was a great read about entropy and how much it costs. I’m also space sci-fi fan, and Marko Kloos writes the best series. I worked through the first three books in his new series. I think I’m up to 42 books this year. “In the Garden of the Beasts” was a really good read about America’s failure to grasp the murderous intent of the Nazis as they rose to power. The story is pulled from the ambassador’s private journals, and the communications between him (likely in the post due to having the same name as someone way more qualified), and the entrenched elites that ran the State Department. It’s not political, it is very factual on what happened.
I'm obsessively reading "The Keeper of Lost Things" by Ruth Hogan. It's language is so British, and has been a fun escape in a tough summer here in the Northwest. I feel like I have new episodes of Downton Abbey again.
Currently reading "Behold the Dreamers" and enjoying it immensely. I have read several of the same books as you ("The Last Thing He Told Me," "Where the Crawdads Sing,"), and highly highly recommend Erik Larson's "The Splendid and the Vile," "Before We Were Yours," and "Beneath A Scarlet Sky." I love love love to read, and have already read 20 books this year. My goal is 30, but the summer is the one time to get outside and enjoy the weather -- even if it's humid!!!
Good morning Tyrell. The school where I work has started a program where the students are required to put away all electronics for 30 minutes [4 days/week] and read an actual book. As it's my first exposure to something like this, I am surprised about how much I'm again enjoying reading an actual book [I've turned recently to e-books, like most of the population!]. As I'm a sports nut, I'm presently reading a lot of John Feinstein's fiction novels dealing with social issues, through sports - I work in HS. It's been a real pleasure to simply sit at my desk, with my kids in their seats, and read for reading's pleasures again...
In preparation for running NYC in November, I am reading Hal Higdon’s marathon book - looking for strategies, guides, etc. Read Sir Alex Ferguson’s My Autobiography this past summer about all things Manchester United
I just printed your list out Terrell! Always looking for new reads. I have "listened" to The Splendid and The Vile, Erik Larsen; The Women in White, Wilkie Collins; I'm Still Here, Austin Channing Brown; Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell; Circe, Madeline Miller; If it Bleeds, Stephen King and listening now to What Happened to You, Oprah Winfrey. I have read/reading: Running with the Kenyan; Choose Me, Tess Gerritsen; Emotional Agility, Susan Davids....so much good stuff out there!!
Hemingway is good to re-read as one gets older. I really enjoyed his memoir "A Moveable Feast" and a historical fiction novel called "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain about Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley. https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Wife-Paula-McLain/dp/0345521315
I have collected more e-books (most of them free) on Kindle than a human being could possibly read in a lifetime . . . and based on my collection, recommendations are sent to my notifications. I got a notice this morning that one on my wish list was on sale, so I bought it and that's what I'm reading now: Endure by Alex Hutchinson, and books he mentions within his book – Deep by James Nestor, Once a Runner by John L. Parker Jr., The Four-Minute Mile by Roger Bannister, 14 Minutes by Alberto Salazar and John Brant, and Treatise of Man by René Descartes. A different recommendation got me reading Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I need a job that pays me to read (what I want to read, not what an editor's job would require me to read - lol) so I can spend more time reading instead of going to work! 😊
Good Friday Morning. Dry cleaners had my shirts ready before I walked in, donuts in the office. It is a great day.
Can't even fathom how many books you read. And the thought of reading two at once blows my mind.
I try to spend at least 30 minutes with the Bible every day so that is always good. I have also been rereading AA's Big Book with a guy trying to get sober. It always amazes me how much I identify with feelings and emotions in the book that I thought were unique to me.
Currently reading stuff that gets me stoked for my goals - nonfiction by runners, hikers, kayakers, rowers, climbers and other adventurers always keeps me motivated for my comparatively bland city workouts. This summer I re-read the PCT accounts "Thirst" and "Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart," read "Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life," and devoured "Alone On The Wall" and "The Push" (Honnold and Caldwell, respectively). "The Sun Is A Compass" and "Paddling North" are less recently visited but well-loved inspirational gems.
Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower and Plath's The Bell Jar!
Great thread. While I stick mostly to fiction, I just finished I Came as a Ghost, the autobiography of John Thomson - Georgetown's iconic basketball coach. On the fiction side - I don't know why exactly - but started reading older stuff including Treasure Island, James Fenimore Cooper's The Spy, and Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar. Change of pace.
I read Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime earlier this summer. Great book! Loved it! Now reading Andréa Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano mysteries, starting with the first three.
Currently I am reading Eat & Run by Scott Jurek
Never too Late by Kate Champion
Well, I'm still reading "Exercised" by Lieberman. Busy starting the 12 week training for November 7th for the Golden Gate Half, so books go into to the slot of "when I have some spare time!" Haha! :
Next up on my list is "The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu" by Tom Lin which was recommended by NYTimes. I tend to go with using our King County Library for books (having been a librarian) rather than buying them. It takes time to get new releases on hold, but it works with my schedule. :)
“Rust: The Longest War” was a great read about entropy and how much it costs. I’m also space sci-fi fan, and Marko Kloos writes the best series. I worked through the first three books in his new series. I think I’m up to 42 books this year. “In the Garden of the Beasts” was a really good read about America’s failure to grasp the murderous intent of the Nazis as they rose to power. The story is pulled from the ambassador’s private journals, and the communications between him (likely in the post due to having the same name as someone way more qualified), and the entrenched elites that ran the State Department. It’s not political, it is very factual on what happened.
i just finished the paper palace....not very intellectual but a fun beach read:)
I'm obsessively reading "The Keeper of Lost Things" by Ruth Hogan. It's language is so British, and has been a fun escape in a tough summer here in the Northwest. I feel like I have new episodes of Downton Abbey again.
Currently reading "Behold the Dreamers" and enjoying it immensely. I have read several of the same books as you ("The Last Thing He Told Me," "Where the Crawdads Sing,"), and highly highly recommend Erik Larson's "The Splendid and the Vile," "Before We Were Yours," and "Beneath A Scarlet Sky." I love love love to read, and have already read 20 books this year. My goal is 30, but the summer is the one time to get outside and enjoy the weather -- even if it's humid!!!
Good morning Tyrell. The school where I work has started a program where the students are required to put away all electronics for 30 minutes [4 days/week] and read an actual book. As it's my first exposure to something like this, I am surprised about how much I'm again enjoying reading an actual book [I've turned recently to e-books, like most of the population!]. As I'm a sports nut, I'm presently reading a lot of John Feinstein's fiction novels dealing with social issues, through sports - I work in HS. It's been a real pleasure to simply sit at my desk, with my kids in their seats, and read for reading's pleasures again...
In preparation for running NYC in November, I am reading Hal Higdon’s marathon book - looking for strategies, guides, etc. Read Sir Alex Ferguson’s My Autobiography this past summer about all things Manchester United
I have mostly been immersed in Nonfiction over the past several months.
About 6 years ago I decided to read a biography about each president in the order they served and I am working through Kennedy's Bio now.
Reading "An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917-1063: by Robert Dallek.
I have read several Presidential Bios just this year starting with Hoover.
In addition, I have read several additional other Nonfiction History books and a few novels.
My current count is 15 books so far this year and I expect to be around 30 when the year ends.
I just printed your list out Terrell! Always looking for new reads. I have "listened" to The Splendid and The Vile, Erik Larsen; The Women in White, Wilkie Collins; I'm Still Here, Austin Channing Brown; Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell; Circe, Madeline Miller; If it Bleeds, Stephen King and listening now to What Happened to You, Oprah Winfrey. I have read/reading: Running with the Kenyan; Choose Me, Tess Gerritsen; Emotional Agility, Susan Davids....so much good stuff out there!!
Hemingway is good to re-read as one gets older. I really enjoyed his memoir "A Moveable Feast" and a historical fiction novel called "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain about Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley. https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Wife-Paula-McLain/dp/0345521315
I have collected more e-books (most of them free) on Kindle than a human being could possibly read in a lifetime . . . and based on my collection, recommendations are sent to my notifications. I got a notice this morning that one on my wish list was on sale, so I bought it and that's what I'm reading now: Endure by Alex Hutchinson, and books he mentions within his book – Deep by James Nestor, Once a Runner by John L. Parker Jr., The Four-Minute Mile by Roger Bannister, 14 Minutes by Alberto Salazar and John Brant, and Treatise of Man by René Descartes. A different recommendation got me reading Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I need a job that pays me to read (what I want to read, not what an editor's job would require me to read - lol) so I can spend more time reading instead of going to work! 😊
Good Friday Morning. Dry cleaners had my shirts ready before I walked in, donuts in the office. It is a great day.
Can't even fathom how many books you read. And the thought of reading two at once blows my mind.
I try to spend at least 30 minutes with the Bible every day so that is always good. I have also been rereading AA's Big Book with a guy trying to get sober. It always amazes me how much I identify with feelings and emotions in the book that I thought were unique to me.
Currently reading stuff that gets me stoked for my goals - nonfiction by runners, hikers, kayakers, rowers, climbers and other adventurers always keeps me motivated for my comparatively bland city workouts. This summer I re-read the PCT accounts "Thirst" and "Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart," read "Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life," and devoured "Alone On The Wall" and "The Push" (Honnold and Caldwell, respectively). "The Sun Is A Compass" and "Paddling North" are less recently visited but well-loved inspirational gems.