SURVEY SAYS: Summer Reading List 2016

This year, not only did I ask readers to share what’s on their summer reading lists, but I asked how often they read for recreational purposes and whether they have more time for reading in the summer.

Forty-two percent of responding readers indicated they read for recreational purposes (not work-related) every day, and 36% said they do so several days per week. Two percent each responded that they read one day per week and one day per month. Eight percent read for recreational purposes several times per month, while 6% do so less often than one day per month. Four percent indicated they never read for recreational purposes.

While one might assume that people have more time for reading in the summer due to vacations and less school-related activities for children, 82% of responding readers said they do not have more time for reading in the summer. Eighteen percent said they do.

As for what’s on readers’ summer reading lists, there were not a lot of repeats as in years past, but Redemption Road by J. Hart and the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Childs were repeated. David Baldacci and James Patterson were authors mentioned several times. Others listed genres, such as mystery or history.

In reader comments about recreational reading, many said it is a good break and stress reliever, with some saying it is an essential part of their lives. Others mentioned they’d rather golf, garden or do other activities. One respondent suggested that children should get into the habit of reading as soon as they are able and others recommended unplugging in order to read more. However, some respondents mentioned that they read electronically or use books on tape. A couple of respondents anticipate having more time to read because they are retiring. Editor’s Choice goes to the one who said: “Yes, share the list, please. I bought a new Lazy-Boy as a retirement present and can’t wait to hunker down and turn the pages. Yeah, actual finger-lick flip pages. How sweet the sound; flip, nap, flip, nap…..fridge.”

Summer Reading List 

Finish "The Island at the Center of the World" and several months of accumulated car magazines

Memory Man by David Baldacci; Forgive Me by Daniel Palmer

Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline; Redemption Road by John Hart. That's so far.

Beautiful Ruins; Khirbet Khizeh; Me Before You; Mothering Sunday; Love & Fate

Bill O'Reilly's "Legends and Lies - The Patriots"

The new James Rollins! Also probably re-read something naughty and inappropriate just for fun...grin...50 Shades of Grey...

Haven't decided yet.

A Man called Ove; Accidental Empress; Killing Reagan

I don't have a list.

Summer Reading List (cont.) 

The Winter Fortress by Neal Bascomb; Service by Marcus Luttrell

The Second Life of Nick Mason; The Infidel Stain; Anything by Mary Balogh; New releases from some of my favorite romance authors -- Lisa Kleypas, Elizabeth Hoyt and Madeline Hunter

Last Mile, David Baldacci; Jack Reacher books in order, Lee Childs

BIBLE The Rewriting of America's History by Catharine Millard; Making Judgments w/o Being Judgmental by Terry Cooper; Enemy Access Denied by John Bevere; Soccernomics by Kuper & Szymanski; plus 12 others!

Start Here: Master the Lifelong Habit of Wellbeing; The Art of Hearing Heartbeats; Nitro Mountain; A Little Life: A Novel The Marriage Plot Between the World and Me; Lilac Girls; The Street of a Thousand Blossoms; Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

David Baldacci

Sci Fi, romance, non-fiction - anything that looks interesting. I read a lot so listing the books right now is useless. I'll be done with some by the time this survey is posted!

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The World According to Garp (hopefully more but these are the ones I feel I may actually have time to read).

Summer Reading List (cont.) 

I try to find new authors at our great libraries - both fiction and nonfiction

"Eve" by Wm. P Young

The Wheel of Time - will only get through one or two of the series though...

Mysteries some old some new

Wild and The Martian. Both were made into movies and so far the books are very entertaining, especially The Martian (you envision Matt Damon as the main character)

Finishing up "Half-Broke Horses."

H is for Hawk, The Buried Giant and Sense and Sensibility

The latest Lisa Scottoline novel and J.D. Robb novel.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Frank Turek and Norman Geisler; I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai

I have several John Irving books that I want to read over the summer.

Summer Reading List (cont.) 

I am currently re-reading the James Clavel novels about Japan. Just finished Shogun so will start Taipan shortly.

Finishing up J.A. Jance Joanna Brady series, then starting on J.A. Jance J.P Beaumont series. Reread (probably my 5th or 6th time) the Tony Hillerman "library"

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud

Anything by Clive Cussler; also enjoy historical fiction

The Greatest Generation

James Patterson, Andrew McCall-Smith

Through a Howling Wilderness Citizen Washington anything new by Charles Benoit, Christopher Buckley, Harlan Coben, Tim Dorsey, Jasper Fforde, Carl Hiaasen, or Ann Tyler

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani; The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney; The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough; The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Mariner; Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond

The Jack Reacher novels by Lee Childs - I'm on #16

Verbatim 

If kids are encouraged to read every day it becomes a lifelong habit -- one of the good ones! Reading improves memory, spelling, comprehension and the list goes on and on.

I enjoy reading fiction because it allows me to forget real life. But the more I think about it lately, real life seems more fictional than the books.

I love to read all year. But there is nothing like reading in the sun, by the water.

I wish I had more time for recreational reading, but with the DOL finalizing the fiduciary rule I'm having enough trouble reading everything coming out about that!

I need this to survive. This allows me to clear my head and relax while work-related reading keeps reminding of my shortfalls and what I haven't gotten done yet.

Reading is not recreational for me. It is as essential as breathing. It takes me away from my life and allows me to relax and dream.

I find I'm spending too much time on social media - I used to spend it actually reading books. Trying to unplug!

I try to read two books per month for two different book clubs.

Recreational reading gets in the way of my playing golf.

I'm retiring at the end of this month, so I'm looking forward to a lot more time for reading.

Never enough time for it because I print out too many white papers.

I'm not much of a TV watcher, but I love to read. Now that the kids are grown, I read a lot more -- almost every day, but not quite.

Have more time in summer as boat trips give me time and gardening, too, as I listen to books on tape.

I wish I had a parallel life in which one of me went to work all day and the other got to read all day.

I read on the bus to and from work. Try to keep a mix of fiction and non-fiction, new and old on the Kindle to keep it fresh. Love that the library lends e-books!

It is obviously an activity in decline. My kids don't read as much as they did, people in general don't read as much as they used to. I love the Bill Hicks joke about reading in a restaurant in the South and being asked, "Why are you reading?" Not what are you reading, why are you reading.

Verbatim (cont.) 

never enough time with work and kids activities, so I listen to books during my daily commute through the overdrive app on my phone.

Too busy enjoying my garden, flowers, and outdoors to read live in Montana only have three months of summer to enjoy these things.

Everyone should read. You can't think about anything else but the book in hand!

Reading is the escape that puts into places and moments that are captivating. I try to decide what I would do, while I live and die with the decisions made by the central character. People should pull their nose out of their computer, tablets and TV's and take a real trip away from reality.

I love reading and wish I had more time for it!

For years, I didn't read much and then I discover the Outlander series and Jamie Fraser. I read all 7 books in one year. Had to wait a while for the 8th.

Reading has always been relaxing, whether the book is historical, non-fiction, or just plain fun and action-packed. It gives you a glimpse into a period in time or another culture that you may not be familiar with. Reading opens up a person's eyes and mind to the broader world.

I read every night before bed. It's part of my bedtime routine and I have a hard time falling asleep if I don't read.

It is my greatest pleasure, when I have a few minutes to lose myself in a great book - just not enough time

Reading is my stress reliever; it takes me out of myself to other times and places.

Goal is to make more time for recreational reading. Have started more than one book -- haven't finished any of them.

I never seem to have the time to read books at leisure. The library is right next to the building where I work, so I go over there and check out books on tape. I always have a book on tape in my car and listen to books when I'm driving.

in the morning (as well as the newspapers), after work, before bed, on the weekends; reading is more entertaining and relaxing than watching TV

Yes, share the list, please. I bought a new Lazy-Boy as a retirement present and can't wait to hunker down and turn the pages. Yeah, actual finger-lick flip pages. How sweet the sound; flip, nap, flip, nap.....fridge.

Most nights, I read before going to sleep. It is a soothing nighttime ritual to unwind from the day. Summers, for me, include a lot of time spent at the beach and pool. What better place to sit and read a book!

I highly recommend it!

I have to read every day. It's a good mental break.