Every evening for the last two years, 10:00 pm rolled around and I got a phone call from J. We’d chat it up for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour and then I soundly fell asleep. It’s been that way almost every night since we’ve dated. In fact, it’s a little hard to remember my bedtime routine before dating J… Did I watch TV? No. Would I blog? Nope, this thing wasn’t around two years ago. Oh wait, I know what I did: READ!
I’ve always loved reading. I’m not the best reader, but I love it. I grew up with books. Call me a dork, but I was that girl who would read all of the books on the summer reading list from school. Many of my summer afternoons were spent sitting in a dogwood tree in the front yard of my house reading things like The Babysitter’s Club, Mandie books, Little Women, or the Little House on the Prairie series. The first time I read Anne of Green Gables, I loved the book so much I finished the rest of the series in a month.
So after a long time of neglecting my book world, I’ve decided to pick it back up this summer. Who wants to join me in a little Summer Book Club? I know, I should have warned you before June, but rest assured there are still plenty of hot summer days ahead.
Here’s the deal: I’m going to read books this summer. You can join in reading one or all of the books I plan to read. To discuss, either post about it on your blog or comment after my review. I am getting almost all of my books from the library, so the order of the books may change (based on holds/availability), but if you read a book and blog about it before me, just make sure to email me or comment on this post so I can add you to the list of reviewers.
Who’s with me? I’ve kept the list to five to keep it a manageable goal, then I may add a few more after I finish these. If you say you’ll join me but end up not reading that many (or none), it’s not a big deal. It’s the summer, so it’s not meant to be stressful. And I know some of these books are very popular and so if you’ve already read them, you can review them as well and give me any more book suggestions!
The Book List:
Eat. Pray. Love. by Eliabeth Gilbert
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Anyone want to join the MPP Summer Book Club? Comment below if you’re interested and I’ll update those participating. Yay! I’m so excited. The first book: Eat, Pray, Love. You know, to prepare for the movie this summer…. ;)
— Update —
Book Club Participants:
I’ll join in! Not sure if I’ll be able to do all of them, but I don’t think I’ve read any of these so I’m going to try!
Sounds great to me! I am currently reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and have been wanting to read Eat Pray Love. Looking forward to it!
Also, when looking for extra books, I caution against Dan Brown’s new one (The Lost Symbol). I just read it and by the end I was so disappointed and mad that I had spent all that time reading it to have it end the way it did.
I will definitely join! I’m already part of a book club and LOVE to read! In fact, I’ve already read 4 out of the 5 on your list and they were fantastic. :) Great choices! (The one I haven’t read is also one I haven’t heard of, I Capture the Castle.)
I can join in. I have read Eat Pray Love but some of your others are still in my queue. Currently I am reading Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It is apart of a three book series and I was planning on reading the set before starting the Alchemist.
I do mini reviews on my blog as I read and can send you a message when each one is complete. They are not very detailed reviews since I don’t want to give away details but they have my ‘feelings’ about the book.
I’m in! I’ve only read I Capture the Castle, but am totally up for a re-read!
And also excited that someone else remembers the Mandie books…thought it was just me!
I’m in for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I was planning on making it my next read! I’ve already read Eat, Pray, Love, and you will LOVE it! It was way better than I ever expected it to be. In fact, I’m reading the sequel, Committed, right now.
Can I be in the Summer Bookclub when it’s Winter where I am?
I’ve already read a few of the books on the list, but I’m keen to read the others – I’m always on the lookout for new book ideas!
Wowzers. I’d love to join. Do you still have room? :)
I´m in! already read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the other two books friom the trilogy. I read too Eat. Pray. Love. I´m reading now The wife´s time traveller. I only hear about The alchemist, but i´ll try to read the others.
I recomend to you the classics, when i need something to cheer me up i read Pride and Prejudice and it works!!!
I’ve read ‘I Capture the Castle’ and ‘Eat Pray Love’. Both are terrific summer reads. I couldn’t put them down- think I read them both in under a week!
@Bexi – Of course you can join the Summer in the Northern Hemisphere Book Club! ;)
@Unavocis – Yes, of course! Always more room. You’ve been added.
@Teresa – Siiiiiiigh. I loooove Pride & Prejudice and have read it… maybe 5 times? If I finish these five I just may have to re-read it again. Never gets old.
This sounds really fun! I haven’t read a single one of these books. Count me in.
Well, I would love to be included! But I went through our library’s catalog tonight, and only one of the books is available right now! It was “I Capture the Castle.” Every other book is checked out, but I’ve added myself to the wait list for them all, so I hope they’ll become available in time for me to participate. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is so popular that I’m in position 75 on the wait list!
Count me in! I may just be a little slow at getting the books. :)
I’m definitely in! I’m in grad school but it’s summer so I finally get to read for fun again :) I’ve already read Eat.Pray.Love but I may reread it – and I’d love to read the others. Exciting :)
@Red – Haha yeah I feel your pain, I am #404 on the wait list for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! If it’s not in by the time I finish the others, I may just end up buying it.
@Bucksome Boomer & Jane – you’re added!
May I join in, very belatedly? Apologies; have been tied up with reading for another book club, but am interested by your book list.
Penny F.
Yes of course! You’ve been added.
I just wrote up my review of The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo.
http://uffdaprojects.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-review-girl-with-dragon-tattoo.html
I need to finish this series before I start another book and will keep you posted.
here’s my review of Sarah’s Key if you are interested :) http://acceptanceenergyhappiness.blogspot.com/2010/07/something-new-book-review-sarahs-key.html
I want in! I know I’m coming to this a lill late but I think it will be fun! xoxo
I just did my review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (and I’m also giving away my copy of the book since I won’t read it again now that the surprise is gone). Check out my post here http://payingmyself.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/book-review-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/
I’m joining-I know it’s late but I’ve read Eat, Pray and Love but not the other books on the list.