Why do people have Summer Reading lists, but not Spring, Fall or Winter reading lists? I’ve always thought Winter is the idea time for such a thing as you’re more likely to want to stay in and curl up in a soft chair. Then again, maybe most people prefer to sit around when it’s hot – I’ve come to realize that I’m rather unique in my LOVE of the heat. That said, I recently spent several hours in my local Chapter Book Store and walked away with 6 books – I guess that means I have a Summer Reading list now!
The first two are books I have previously read but loved and would gladly read over and over and over and over and over and….you get the idea. Both are Science Fiction, which does happen to be one of my all time favorite genera’s (both in books and television).
Pastwatch the Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card
I first read Pastwatch back in High School when I first discovered Orson Scott Card. Since then I have read a very large number of his books, and continue to be amazing by his writing. Of all books I’ve ever read this is one of my favorites, possibly topped only by Enders Game (also by Orson Scott Card). If you’re looking for a book that involves time travel, changing the past/future and alternate reality then this is the book for you.
Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer
The first time I read Calculating God I remember being completely surprised and thrilled to find that the opening scene takes place at one of my all time favorite places – the ROM and the former Planetarium. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that it never gives final answers about the big questions, it gives you thoughts and idea’s instead. I’m not going to lie, this book is right up there with Pastwatch and Enders Game.
Now we’re getting into the books I haven’t read before. Two of them are SciFi, the other two are non-fiction.
A War of Gifts by Orson Scott Card
Yep, you all have already seen one book by this guy on my list. As mentioned he’s one of my all time favorite authors, plus this book was only $2! It is part of the Ender Series, which started with the previously mentioned Enders Game. Just a short little side story, it will be good for a rainy evening or some other time where I know I won’t want to leave something partially unread. I’m really looking forward to it 🙂
The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton
Okay, I’m not going to lie, before I stumbled across this book I had never even heard of this Author. I’m not even sure what kind of lead up to it I should provide, so I’m not going to. If you’re interested in finding out what I’ve chosen to add to my reading list, go look it up. All I know is that it sounds fascinating and intense.
The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment by A.J. Jacobs
A few summers ago I read The Year of Living Biblically by the same author, and I laughed so hard at times that I cried. The way this man writes is amazing, the way he lives, astounding! In this case apparently he turned his life into multiple experiments. Apparently at one point he outsources all aspects of his life to India, another time he spends a month practicing “Radical Honesty” and he even goes to the Academy Awards disguised as a movie star to see why fame has strange and warping effects. I can’t wait to read this, I truly expect I will be in stitches with tears running down my face at varying times.
Under a Green Sky by Peter D. Ward Ph.D
Okay, so all of my other books are fairly light reading, this one not quite so much. As the tag line on this books says: Global Warming, the mass extinctions of the past and what they can tell us about our future. Yep, I’m thinking this one won’t be quite so light. That said, I tend to love this kind of book because it makes me think (which SciFi does aswell), but in this case it makes me think about things as they are. My beloved SciFi makes me think, and sets my imagination on fire, but it tends to send me into imaginary futures that may or may not have a basis in our current world. Books like this ground me. I’m really hoping it will be a good read. I think I’ll save this one for a sunny day on a beach. That way even when it gets heavy, it won’t bring me down, after all, I’ll be on the beach with my toes in the sand!
Do you have a Summer Reading List? If so, what books are on it? If you don’t, why not?
Kirsten's Life 
hi kirsten!
i’ve been following your blog all along and enjoy hearing what you’ve been up to. here’s what’s on my list –
now reading: room
just finished: the girl with the dragon tattoo, the tenth circle, the girl who played with fire, the pact, harvesting the heart
yet to read: left neglected, the help, the girl who kicked the hornet’s nest, sickened, the forgotten garden
Hi Nic, I’m glad to hear you’ve been enjoying this little blog of mine! I never know if people are acutally reading it or not! Sounds like you’ve been getting alot of reading in as well. Any of them that I should add to my list?
I don’t consider my stack of books to read to be specifically a summer reading list, more of a “when I get to it” list. I read all the time, especially right now that I’m currently unemployed after graduating from college last May. In my blog I’ve been reviewing all of the books that I read, and since I started my blog in March I’m up to about 60 books that I’ve read, plus several more that I read this year before I started my blog.
I agree that Card is awesome. I’ve read the first four Ender books and I’ll keep reading more of the books in the series. Ender’s Game was amazing, and Speaker for the Dead was brilliant on multiple levels.
Calculating God sounds interesting, I’ll probably have to check it out eventually.
I agree, I totally have a “when I get to it” list/pile of books. I’m also pretty sure that these six won’t all be read this summer, after all, I have at least two other books on the go right now (I keep a book at work, a book in my bag and a book at home – this way I ALWAYS have something to read).
I hope you continue to enjoy Card. I’ve always found his writing to be almost magical.
Calculating God is a really interesting read. I highly recommend it, and have already managed to get half way through it (I work 10 hour days, so really it’s pretty impressive!).
Enjoy the books, and I’ll try to get over and check out some of your reviews for future suggestions 🙂 Hope to see you back here again.
Sounds very interesting, I do remember buying you several Orson Scott Card books for Christmas one year. Can’t remember if it was highschool or early uni. The book by A.J. Jacobs sounds really good. I might see if I can find it at the library, except I have close to 10 books to read right now. I will keep it in mind. Hope you find a nice beach and umbrella to be under and read.