SURVEY SAYS: Summer Reading List 2019

Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “Do you spend more time reading during the summer than other times of the year?” I also asked them to share what’s on their reading list for the summer of 2019.

Responding readers were evenly split between those who do spend more time reading in the summer and those who don’t.

Asked what’s on their reading list for this summer, readers shared titles, authors or genres. “Becoming” by Michelle Obama and “Game of Thrones” were common answers by several readers.

The list from readers also includes:

• Right now, Everything by Wendy Tyson, Ty Hutchinson, Mark Dawson, Marie Force (Fatal series!) oh, and Diane Henders is fun too! And just finished The Chef by James Patterson.
• Some baseball books recently purchased.
• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, City of Oranges by Adam Lebor, The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonsen, Babylon Berlin by Volker Kutshur
• The President is Missing by President Clinton and James Patterson, anything Nora Roberts
• Several older Grisham and Stephen King novels
• “Educated” by Tara Westover
• The New Girl by Daniel Silva, The Reckoning by John Grisham
• Fiction or history…nothing too dry.
• The Island of the Sea Woman – Lisa See, Lost Roses – Martha Hall Kelly, Prisoner – Jason Rezaian, Bad Blood – John Carreyrou, On Call in the Arctic – Thomas Sims
• Whatever other Newsdash readers recommend.
• Murder mysteries. Anything by C. S. Lewis.
• Cari Mora, The Perfect Fraud, Earth’s Past (trilogy).
• Superman, Batman and the Flash
• Sea Prayer (by the author of Kite Runner).
• A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens, Knife by Jo Nesbo, Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin
• The Marriage Plot, Cold Sassy, Tree Phantastes
• Too Big To Fail
• Memoirs and biographies
• I definitely want to read Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations by William McRaven and The Pioneers by David McCullough. I will also be picking a couple of books off my bookshelves that I’ve picked up this past year and not read.
• The Paris Architect, The Camel Club Series by David Baldacci
• Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
• Any kindle book Amazon offers for $0.99, but also the newest Andy Carpenter book by David Rosenfelt
• Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective

In verbatim comments left by readers, the split between those who read more in the summer and those who don’t was clearly seen. One reader talked about an app to use to track how much one reads. Another said last year, he or she picked out some books from the NewsDash survey list and said, “I must say that I was not disappointed! I am looking forward to new suggestions for this year.” Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said: “Can’t wait to see others’ lists! Thanks for doing this again.”

A big thank you to all who participated in the survey!

Verbatim

Love, love, love reading a good mystery!

Reading in the summer is a good way to pass the time when it is too hot outside and nothing worthwhile is on television.

I generally read equally throughout the seasons. As soon as I am done with a book I tend to immediately pick up another and I have several in my home library that I will read.

Before kids, I used to enjoy sitting on the back porch reading a good mystery book.

Unfortunately I have less time to read in the summer 🙁

Sitting under a shade tree with a good book – a lost art!

My annual week at the beach usually helps me read 2-3 books.

Best reading time is sitting on the covered deck – out of the sun – during one week at NC coast in September. I even listen to a book on the drive down.

I’m outdoors more in the summer. With winter’s early sunsets, that’s when I read more. I’m looking forward to being able to read more post retirement.

Nothing better than sitting in the sun in the summer, reading a book while enjoying an ice cold beverage. Ocean/lake view a definite plus.

Can’t wait to see others’ lists! Thanks for doing this again.

I read all the time so I don’t read any more or less in the summer. Everyone should read – A Woman Is No Man – Etaf Rum. It was probably my favorite book so far this year. Finding Dorothy – Elizabeth Letts and The Sun Does Shine – Anthony Ray Hinton were also excellent

I spend about 3 hours each day commuting so I listen to books on CD that I check out from the library. Last year, I took the suggestion list from Newsdash readers, did some research and picked out several authors to try. I must say that I was not disappointed! I am looking forward to new suggestions for this year.

I spend more time on outdoor activities and less time indoors reading in the summer.

I think reading in the summer is more difficult. It’s sunny and warm and the last thing I want to do is read when I could be doing something else.

The beach and a good book IS summer!

The Goodreads app lets you actually track your total pages read across all your books for the year. It is kind of cool to know that I’ve already hit 10,000. Goal for the year is 25k!

I read every day, all year round. It is my favorite activity no matter what the weather or season!

Having worked in financial services for the past 25 years, this time period still fascinates me. The book walks you through every big player’s back story – it’s good stuff.

Seems like summer gets more and more busy, just like the rest of the year. I just try to carve out times during the day to read a chapter or two (before work, lunch and before bed).

Spending more time by the pool and on the beach gives me more time to read. I read every night before I go to sleep but get a lot more time in reading during the summer.

My reading time consists of about 2 hours each night after work, dinner, chores and before bed. Season is not a factor.