SURVEY SAYS: Summer Reading List 2012

But, before we get to the list… I also asked whether readers prefer to have a book in hand or read from a screen. Even in this electronic age, the majority of respondents (57%) said they would prefer a book in hand. Eighteen percent indicated they would prefer an e-reader or computer screen, and one-quarter said they didn’t care either way.  

In the verbatim comments, many respondents mentioned audio books as another alternative. And many remind us that any time of year is good for reading.  

And now, the list…  

Anything by James Rollins, Lincoln Child, Douglas Preston, or Dan Silva. 

Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series 

Hunger Games trilogy, Michael Connelly’s “The Drop”, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels 

none 

“The Power of Habit”, “V is for Vengeance” “Stolen Prey”, and “Gone Girl”. 

Hunger Games 

Janet Evanovich Jodie Picoult 

WISH I had more Robert Parker to read, but I’ve read ’em all! Now I’m searching for a new author…. 

The Hunger Games 

50 Shades of Gray, The Help 

Daniel Silva’s newest Gabriel Allon novel, The Fallen Angel and Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84. 

Joel Rosenberg, Vince Flynn, James Rollins…lots of action and suspense with a dash of romance and paranormal activities… 

Recreational Reading… mysteries and SF 

The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver 77 Shadow Street – Dean Koontz Odd Apocalypse – Dean Koontz The Ritual Bath – Faye Kellerman 

Game of Thrones books 1 – ?? 

Fall of Giants, by Ken Follett 

The Hunger Games (yep, I’m behind) 

Pride and Prejudice. 

The only specific books I have an interest in reading this summer are Volumes 4 and 5 of the Fire and Ice series (otherwise known as The Game of Thrones) by George R. R. Martin and a book on the Cherokee relocation to Oklahoma, commonly known as the Trail of Tears. Otherwise, pretty much any scifi book that interests me. I read alot. 

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larrson 

Death of A King by Bernard Cornwell and many others that I haven't decided on yet. 

Nothing in particular. I have some hand-me-downs sitting in a cabinet; they are mostly cheap crime stories; lighthearted who-done-its. 

Good thing this is anonymous, but after all the hype I have to read 50 Shades of Grey. 

Anything John Sanford, Lisa Scottolini, Jonathan Kellerman 

I am waiting on The Help and thinking about 50 Shades of Grey, not sure I want to read it though. 

Dragon Tattoo series 

The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand Richard Jury Mysteries, Martha Grimes Jackdaws, Ken Follett Many Lives, Many Masters, Brian L. Weiss Red Pony, John Steinbeck The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration, Isabel Wilkerson 

"Big Stone Gap" by Adrianna Trigiani, "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton, & "Dreams of Joy" by Lisa See 

I go for authors who write about New England so I'm looking forward to reading "Eternal on the Water" by Joseph Monninger, "Here If You Need Me" by Kate Braestrup, and "Loon Cove" by Pamela Lord 

The Belgariad by David Eddings (re-reading), and everything by Stephen Brust I have not yet read. 

Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels; Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; Hunger Games series; Steig Larsson - Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series 

I am currently reading Arcadia about a boy raised on a commune. I enjoyed the Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger and the Hotel Angeline which was written by 36 authors! 

Textbooks - back in school for my MBA. 

7 Habits of Highly Effective People; Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 

Any James Patterson Novel 

James Patterson's new Murder Club mystery. 

Madeline Albright's Prague Winter 

Irish Country Doctor series by Patrick Taylor 

Shadows of Night Catching Fire Bring Up the Bodies Wolf Hall 

The Lifeboat, The Stone Cutter, Ashes to Dust, Hitlerland 

I've got a spreadsheet of authors/titles that I've kept over the years -need to or I end up reading the same books over and over. 

Fluff 

The Game of Thrones Series 

Fifty Shades of Gray series 

Hunger Games 

Team of Rivals. Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. 

I intend to read the Game of Thrones series. My wife read them all, and the stack has been staring at me from my night table all winter. 

The Affair by Lee Child. 

I don't read much, so there's tons on my list to get to! I'd love to read the latest Stephanie Plum novel from Janet Evonovich. 

50 Shades of Grey 

Bullpen Chronicles 

Water for Elephants Night Circus 

I have nothing specific on my list, but cannot wait to see what others list. I'm always on the look-out for a new good read! 

Meltdown Blink The Art of Choosing 

fifty shades of grey 

Hunger Games trilogy 

A Song of Ice & Fire series. 

Historical romances 

fiction only, nothing work related so far 

The Day I First Believed (about Columbine) Then a good Mystery 

50 Shades of Grey 

The Hunger Games series; and all the mindless fiction/mystery/drama I can consume to "escape" from reality for a few minutes/hours/days. No self-help, business related materials allowed! 

How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis Stumbling on Happiness by Dan Gilbert The Secret of Shelter Island by Alex Green 

The President's Club 

Anything by James Patterson 

Hunger Games - avoided it like the plague during the pre-movie buzz, but I figure I should at least see what all the fuss is about. I figure it will take about an hour. 

Beating The Odds - Raising Academically Successful African American Males By Freeman A. Hrabowski III, Kenneth I. Maton & Geoffrey L. Greif 2. Big Russ & Me - Father and Son: Lessons of Life By Tim Russert (Rest In Peace) 3. President Obama Biography 4. QBQ! - The Question Behind The Question - What to Really Ask Yourself To Eliminate Blame, Complaining, and Procractination By John G. Miller 

Verbatim  

I'm actually becoming quite addicted to my e-reader. The problem with them is that it's too easy to purchase books on a whim that I could just as easily get from my local library. 

"Real" books are better at home. E-readers are great for traveling or having on hand for work/md appts/long lines, etc. 

I just read all year round, my favorite past time. I now have the Nook to tuck into my purse, always have something on hand to read. 

Reading is great all year long! 

Why didn't you include audio books in your preferred methods of reading? For many readers, audiobooks are the preferred method of reading, especially if you're blind, low-visioned, an auditory learner or a multi-tasker. 

I always have two or three books I am reading...seasons notwithstanding! I usually load up at the library, but received a Nook this year for Mother's Day so am trying it out now. I like the idea for traveling, especially, but there is something special about having the book in my hands.... 

Fight for books.... 

I love my Kindle, but I wish I could check books out from my library on it. They don't have that capability. 

Re #2 above, I like and use both traditional books and ebooks (ipad). 

Wish there was more time to do it! 

For me, there is no such thing as only "summer reading." There is only reading -- which is a daily activity. And, while I'd rather have the book in hand, I am seriously looking into the e-readers so I that I get one before my next big vacation. I figure I can lose a suitcase if all my reading material is in one small package! 

Summer reading MUST be light, brainless, silliness. Even our brains need a little vacation...... 

Too busy enjoying activities the warm weather to be reading! Although, I do like to sit in my Sky Chair in the backyard listening to my waterfall and the birds reading a magazine... 

There is nothing better - the hum of lawmowers and the tweeting of birds in the background, the warm kiss of the sun. So much more satisfying than winter reading, huddled in blankets (I'm from Canada). 

I get books on tape for the car since I have very little time to read. Makes the drive interesting! 

I love to read in Summer...a tradition I started 40 years ago at my hometown library. It was newly built and I felt encouraged to enjoy reading (I read Gone With The Wind at age 14). To keep things from getting boring, I don't stay in any one genre...I like to switch things up from history, fiction, non-fiction, light and heavy subjects. For the longer books, I prefer to read on my Kindle. However, nothing beats a real live book in my hands! There are sooooo many places your mind can go in a book!! 

Verbatim (cont.)  

Reading is wonderful any time of year but it's especially nice to sit in the shade in the chaise lounge and read while sipping a cool beverage. 

I read all year long - neither more nor less during the summer. 

Since I am no longer in school, I don't have the summer off I don't worry about having a summer reading list. 

My Mom always said as long as you have a book, you are never alone. I guess I took her seriously as I have a personal library of almost 3000 books, about half fiction and half non fiction. My husband and I can happily spend many hours just reading. I am never without a book or several when I travel and so now am enjoying ereading when on the road. That library is growing too! Passing the joy of reading on to a child is a truly great gift. 

Cheaper to borrow a book from the library than using an electronic device and it keeps their circulation up! 

I prefer the feel of a book in my hand and turning pages. And no batteries. 

Any season is fine for reading. 

I read all year round, I don't read different kinds of books during the summer than any other time. 

I read all year round, I don't read different kinds of books during the summer than any other time. 

I've found I prefer the "Paper" screen for reading, much eaiser on the eyes. I don't buy as much as I use to as my local library has about everything I want in eBook format - no more trips to the store or library I can do it all online from anywhere. 

I recommend reading year-round. 🙂 

Students should have mandatory summer reading lists. 

I also like to listen to books on CD or ipod. It's great to listen to a good book & multi-task. 

I haven't tried an e-reader yet, so maybe I'll move to those one of these days! 

Still hard to find the time for pleasure reading! 

I listen to audio books in the car. It greatly improves my commute. 

I love my Kindle, but at the beach where the elements are an issue, I will take a paperback. 

There is nothing more relaxing than sitting all day on the beach (under an umbrella at times) reading books of choice and discovering tidbits of interesting information. These tidbits can then be shared with friends and family while consuming adult beverages and laughing together as the sun is setting at the end of another glorious day. 

I'm old enough to still want to hold the book in my hands and turn actual pages. 

Regarding the above question, I like reading traditional books, but they don't transport as readily as my kindle. Beyond that, since my Kindle fire, I have rediscovered reading real newspapers. Who would have thought? 

Find a nice Park and enjoy reading :)!!!