Spring Break is over, which means it’s just a quick downhill ride to the end of the school year (I know how fast this fourth quarter goes!) I’m starting to think about summer plans- a new strength training routine, possible travel, running goals… and this year I want to do some sort of a summer reading project.
Last week I listened to this episode of Best of Both Worlds podcast, where Laura and Sarah talked about their reading lives. Laura mentioned that one year, her reading challenge was to read War and Peace. The book is divided into 360 short chapters, so she read one chapter a day, to complete the book within the year.
Well, I like that idea! Fun fact, though: I already read War and Peace, as a teenager. And I enjoyed it! This gives you some idea of the type of person I was- I didn’t go to my high school prom, but I did read War and Peace. Yep, I was a total weirdo. In my teens and 20s I read mostly classics- all of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Thomas Hardy, Edith Wharton… just to name a few (a total, TOTAL weirdo.) Funny to look back on that time, because now it seems like I mostly read mysteries.
So I’m not looking to read, or re-read any classics. I’m thinking more non-fiction. Something big and kind of daunting, that I could break into ten sections (for the ten weeks of summer vacation.) It could be self improvement, or philosophy, or maybe something spiritual (I’m thinking along the lines of Buddhism?)
I want something that could be relevant to my everyday life. A biography of Abraham Lincoln, which I’m sure would be an educational and challenging read, wouldn’t really be applicable to my life right now (no offense to Honest Abe.) Also, it doesn’t have to be one large book. It could be a series of books, or different books on a similar subject, that would all fit a central theme.
So you can see I have a general idea of what I want- but nothing specific in mind. That, of course, is where YOU come in! Please give me suggestions! Any ideas are welcome. I’m also going to Barnes and Noble this week to browse around to see what I can find. I’ll plan to start this project after Memorial Day.
Do you do any reading challenges or projects?
Do you change up your reading over the summer?
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29 Responses
I’m useless for advice, but I will be interested to see what you pick!
Ha, okay J! I’ll let you know…
I used to read all the classics as a teenager as well. I had a list of the 100 must-read books and I think I got to about 70 of them. Dostoevsky and all.
I hardly ever read fiction – like you, I’m mostly on a search for something that I can apply to my everyday life.
On my shelf right now, I have
1. “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahnemann (who just died),
2. “12 Rules for Life” by Jordan B Peterson and
3. “Invisible Women” by Caroline Criado Perez (mostly about data bias in science, eg face masks being designed for men).
I must admit though, that I struggle to stay focused and concentrated. I often turn to lighter books, like running books (currently 80/20 by Matt Fitzgerald). But you have now given me the motivation to make this my project over the next few months: finish those three books!! Thank you, Jenny!
That’s a good project, Catrina! i figure if I pick something challenging like that and break it into chunks, I can complete it over the summer.
It always shocks me how quickly summer break comes for my friends in the Southern US. We JUST finished our second term, and I think our schools finish on the 28th of June this year?! But…we don’t go back until September. It makes so much sense with our weather, it just always feels weird that many other kids the same ages as A and L are off almost two months before they are!!
The public schools in our county finish right after Memorial Day- so it’s coming right up. There are still school in the US that start after Labor Day and finish well into June, but not in Florida.
I definitely read more during the summer. I park myself in a chair on an island and read until I finish a book. Obviously not a long one.
Otherwise I am pretty active and only read before bed.
WHAT! I want to sit on an island and read an entire book! Maybe that should be my reading project- find an island to read on.
Hmm! I love this idea! The only “reading project” I have ever done (besides something for school!) was in 2020- I decided to read I think it was 5 or 10 books all from different, specific genres than I might normally read. I think I sketched out like Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Folklore, a Classic, Mystery, etc. (I tend to read a lot of sort of self-helpy non-fiction, and otherwise just basic fiction like new release type stuff.) This was SO fun and now you are inspiring me to maybe do this again! It was surprisingly awesome to “read with a purpose” for a while. Can’t wait to see what you decide on!
Yes, that sounds fun! For me, I don’t feel like I read enough non-fiction, so that will probably be my summer reading project (although… ‘non fiction” is a broad category! Have to actually pick a book or group of books.)
Well, right off the bat I’m thinking about athlete memoirs, though I know you’ve read quite a few and taken notes. I’m just spitballing, but Kathrine Switzer’s book and Matt Fitzgerald’s Life is a Marathon (very much not about marathons) are two titles that popped up in memory.
I don’t do reading challenges b/c right now my reading time is limited and I have a brutal DNF policy, BUT I enjoy following along and stealing any recommendations that look good. The only way that my reading changes in the summer is that sometimes I read more since I have the option of hanging out in a beach chair in the backyard plus beach vacations.
PS I started The Breaking Wave last night!
Oooh! I still haven’t started it because I had a bunch of library holds come in. I don’t want to get too far behind you though so maybe I’ll start it when I’m finished with my current book.
Yes, I don’t want to do a typical reading challenge, like “read the alphabet” or “reading bingo” because I feel like I would read a bunch of books I don’t really want to- and like you, my reading time is limited.
Oh, wow! Look at you reading the classics. I think I might tackle War & Peace next year. Or maybe Crime & Punishment, which my husband claims is better.
I don’t have any recommendations for you because I’d be more likely to dig into a big historical tome, like a book by Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs & Steel has been on my reading list for decades now) or the David McCullough book about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. We are different people, Jenny, is what I’m saying!
Yes, we ARE different people! I admire your reading choices… they sound very weighty and intellectual but I have no desire to read about those topics.
Because I exclusively read books from the library, I can’t exactly do a “reading project” since I don’t have complete control over what will be available to me. In the past I used to do a challenge hosted by Book Riot that pushed you to read diverse books. But I found it negatively impacted my reading to find books to fit a certain category and that I have enough things “required” of me in life in general that I didn’t need to make a job out of reading. But that is probably unique to me – a lot of people love a challenge! The non-fiction book I would like to read but feel intimidated by is “The Emperor of All Maladies” – but it’s about cancer so it’s not an uplifting topic at all… I would also like to read “The Warmth of Other Suns” which is about the great migration of people of color from the south to the Chicago area. That might be of interest to you since you are from the Chicago region.
One thing I love about the lead up to summer is all the summer reading lists that come out! I love a good list! It’s so fun to peruse and see what people are suggesting. I add them to my hold list or TBR list in Libby but because I’m at the mercy of the library, it could be month before I actually read what is suggested!
We’ve been marking down the weeks of the quarter in our house. We have a schedule that shows whether Paul has art, music, or gym for the entire school year, so we mark off a week each week. He starts the 4th quarter next week and will finish around mid-June. His first year of school has gone by pretty fast. He has loved school but I think he’s looking forward to summer, which he’ll spend in the same program as last summer (the school-based care program that he also attends for before/after care and on non-school days). We are so impressed by the programming. Last summer they studied a different country each week that was celebrating its independence day. This year the theme is the olympics!
Oh right- that’s the other thing about summer- the Olympics!!! I LOVE the summer Olympics!!! Uh oh, that will cut into my sleep and reading time, ha ha.
I agree that I don’t want to do a challenge where I have to read from a specific category, or read books on various topics or genres- I definitely want to pick the books I read, not based on some random list.
I get most of my books from the library, but would be willing to buy a book if need be for my summer project. We’ll see!
This is not a big thick book, but it is one that actually changed my life. It’s called Your Body Your Best Friend, and it is written by a yoga teacher who is an incredibly wise and compassionate woman. It changed the way I look at myself, forever. Well, hopefully forever.
Okay Nicole, I’m going to look it up! Even if it doesn’t become my summer reading project, it wounds like something I should read.
Ooh. I love this idea! I don’t bebe specific ideas but I can’t wait to hear what you pick!!
Well, I got the idea from your podcast, which I have to say I’ve been enjoying immensely! As you can see I’m going back and listening to old episodes- it’s really fun.
I don’t have kids but working for a school district, the countdown is definitely on to the end of the year! We finish right before Memorial Day but unfortunately I work in a year-round position and don’t get a summer break, but things are a little more relaxed in the summer until right before the start of the next school year.
I definitely gravitate toward nonfiction, and there are a lot of running related books I’d like to read so I’ll probably pick one or two to read over the next few months. I don’t have any recommendations but I can’t wait to see what you pick!
I read almost entirely fiction, so a reading “challenge” for me should definitely be non-fiction!
Yes, your job probably changes somewhat over the summer months. I would imagine everyone is more relaxed, at least.
Well I read a lot of nonfiction so I suppose you could have a skim through my blog for ideas … Invisible Women is a good one, if you want something really different I’d recommend “Brittle with Relics” by Richard King which is an oral history of Wales in the mid-20th century (I did work on it myself but I also read it afterwards!).
Okay, I’ll skim through your blog! I’m not sure I’m up for a history of Wales though : )
Ooh, what a fun project! I have some ideas:
– Four Hundred Souls, The 1600 Project, or Stamped From the Beginning, if you’re looking for something social justice-y
– Hidden Valley Road, which is a story about a family where 6 of the 12 children ended up diagnosed with schizophrenia (dives into a love of schizophrenia research, too)
– The Four Winds, which IS fiction but also has a lot of nonfiction elements as it talks about the Dust Bowl era, which I knew nothing about!
I’m very excited about this summer project of yours and can’t wait to find out what you choose!
Oh, I think I remember you reviewing Hidden Valley Road- that one sounds good. Not sure I’m up for something social justice-y. And I’ll look at Four Winds- it sounds good!