I just realized, I’m late to Cathy’s 20 Books of Summer. It’s my first time participating and I had no idea it didn’t start at the beginning of summer but at the beginning of June.
I was always tempted to participate but for some reason never could come up with a list of books. The other day, I was looking at a pile of unread books on one of the shelves of my newest bookcase and noticed that there were almost 20 very tempting books. I added a few more to have at least one German and one French title, plus one memoir.
Normally, I don’t like to plan my reading but recently decision fatigue has kept me from actually reading and so, having a smaller pile to choose from, sounded like a great idea. It’s a bit like the capsule wardrobes that many people with too many clothes resort to.
Most of the books are rather slim with the exception of Erpenbeck’s Kairos and Edith Wharton’s The Custom of the Country. I’ve already read one book, Willa Cather’s A Lost Lady and am about halfway through Kate Zambreno’s The Light Room.
There are three books of short stories:
Olivier Adam’s – Passer l’hiver
Hilary Mantel’s – Learning to Talk
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s The Thing Around Your Neck
The rest are all novels:
Jenny Erpenbecck – Kairos
Edith Wharton – The Custom of the Country
Willa Cather – A Lost Lady
Elizabeth Taylor – The Wedding Group
P. G Wodehouse – Summer Lightning
Pamela Frankau – The Willow Cabin
Janet Frame – Living in the Maniototo
Penelope Lively – Moon Tiger
Sandra Cisneros – The House on Mango Street
Kaye Gibbons – Charms for the Easy Life
Elaine Dundy – The Dud Avocado
Patricia Lockwood – Nobody is Talking About This
Natasha Brown – Assembly
Jen Craig – Since the Accident
Danielle Dutton – Margaret the First
Kate Zambreno – Drifts
One memoir
Kate Zambreno – The Light Room
I’m very pleased with my choices. There are so many books on this pile that I had wanted to read for ages like The Custom of the Country and Moon Tiger and A Lost Lady that I think, I might actually manage to stick to them.
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
I’ve got Kairos on my list too! I try to read the International Booker winners each year. I love Custom of the Country, it’s so funny. Undine might be my favourite Wharton character.
I don’t always read them but this one interested me. I thought people generally find Undine awful. I’ll find out soon how I feel, I guess.
Oh she is awful. Love to hate 🙂
Ah, I see. 😁
A great list, I’m late too, I made a pile but haven’t posted it yet, I thought I’d fi ISH some kindle reads but the first one Tom Lake by Ann Patchett was a DNF at 25% so I’m back to printed mood reading but I have a few chunksters in the pile too.
I’ve only read Assembly from your list, which was a thought provoking read.
Happy Summer Reading!
Thank you, Claire. I’ll be looking out for your list. The Wharton is fairly chunky so I might keep it for last or I’ll lose momentum. I’ve heard mixed things about Tom Lake. Sorry it didn’t work for you. Happy Summer Reading to you too.
There are a lot of good titles there–the Custom of the Country is one of my favourites
Thanks. I do remember you said you liked the Custom of the Country. It might not be my next one but soon. I need to do a catch up post on a few crime novels I read. The first Jake Jackson by Stig Abell was quite fun.
Great pile! I have Assembly and the Frame in my TBR so I’ll be interested to know how you find them.
Thank you. I’ve heard good things about Assembly. I always meant to read Frame since I saw Jane Campion’s film about her. I also have her autobiographies. Too many unread books.
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Great pile Caroline! Look forward to hearing your thoughts. Happy reading!
Thank you so much. Reading is well underway now on to reviewing.
Lovely to see a post from you, Caroline, you’ve definitely been missed! That’s a great selection for the summer. I’ve read a few of these – Assembly, The Dud Avocado and The Wedding Group – all great. I also think very highly of Kairos, but the relationship depicted makes for uncomfortable reading. I’ll be interested to hear what you think.
You’re so kind, Jacqui. Thank you. I’m glad you like the list. I’m pretty sure I read your review of Assembly. It’s possibly what made me get the book. I’ve heard good things about The Dud Avocado and don’t think one can a er go wrong with Elizabeth Taylor. I didn’t know Kairos made for uncomfortable reading. Thanks for the heads up.