Monday, June 20, 2011

Summer (Vacation) Reading List

I head out on vacation in a few short weeks (once we're past ALA, that is, where I hope to see some of you fine folk). But it's never too early to start thinking about what books I should take on vacation with me! Here's what I'm planning so far:

(I always like to take a volume of poetry on vacation, because I find few things more luxurious than whiling away a summer afternoon overlooking the ocean with a glass of wine and a book of poetry. And though I know and love her "greatest hits," I'm curious to see what I think of lesser-known Millay.)

(You better believe I'm going to do whatever it takes to get my grubby little hands on this at ALA, b/c if it's anything like Anna and the French Kiss, it'll be the perfect vacation read.)

(A colleague whose taste and editorial skills I quite admire edited Breadcrumbs, and I've been wanting to read it since the moment I heard about it--but I've been waiting till I had time to really savor it. It's a retelling of The Snow Queen. I adore retellings and The Snow Queen is my very favorite fairytale (so heartbreaking! so magical!), so I am primed to love this.
(Is it redundant to read travel writing while traveling? Perhaps, but both my editor self and my rookie travel writer self are excited for this one. "A sense of place" is one of the things I fall hardest for in any kind of writing, so a book devoted to that idea itself sounds delicious. Add that to it being a volume of general inspiration and craft-talk by some travel writing greats, and I'm totally sold.)

So that's a start, but I think I might have room in my bags for just a few more books. So...help me out! What have you read lately--any genre!--that was un-put-downable, or that made you stop and think, or that made you laugh, or that you just flat-out loved?

9 comments:

  1. A copy of LOLA has been making the rounds here on 15 and it is SO GOOOOOOD!!!!! And now we're all doing Team Etienne and Team Cricket type of trash-talking. Not everyone agrees but, personally, I liked LOLA every bit as much as ANNA.

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  2. You have a fabulous blog! I want to award you the Best Books Blog Award for all the hard work you do!

    I invite you to follow me since we have a lot in common, but no pressure. I’m not giving you the award just so you will follow me. You really do deserve it!
    Take care:-)

    Go to http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/p/awards.html and pick up your award.
    ~Deirdra

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  3. I think Lola is on everyone's reading list. I have Breadcrumbs and just love the cover. It is so beautiful in real life. Great list!

    Jen

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  4. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta is a great, witty, coming-of-age novel.

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  5. I really like your blog. I am only halfway through it. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. The book I've been pushing off on all my friends lately is "One Day" by David Nicholls. It was sad and so funny and sweet. I can't stop thinking about it. I just finished Laini Taylor's "Lips Touch ..." and squealed all over the gorgeous writing. I love dark fairy tales. I hadn't heard of "Breadcrumbs" but it sounds lovely. The Snow Queen is one of my favorite fairy tales. I like the part where the goblin breaks the mirror and people get glass in their eyes. On days I slip into hag-mode, I blame it on the goblin. I figure I have a little too much glass in my eyes too ;) I so enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for the heads up on so many great reads!

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  7. I'm catching up on the Mortal Instruments series, with City of Fallen Angels, and LOVING this installment. Can't wait to hit up The Infernal Devices next.

    Also reading and loving HOURGLASS. It cuddles my Southern upbringing and love of time travel all at once.

    An older book you need to read if you haven't? Joseph Mitchell's BOTTOM OF THE HARBOR. Essays about mid-century NYC. You'll enjoy.

    I have a bunch of friends who listen to audiobooks who are very glad DIVERGENT is out in that format. ;-) *has maybe been talking it up*

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  8. So Young, Brave, and Handsome by Leif Enger is a literary western, and it is an amazing book, even though I'm not normally a western reader.

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  9. "The Color of Water" - true and inspirational story.

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