My Summer Reading List

Do you love a challenge? I do! Which is why I thought Modern Mrs. Darcy's year-long reading challenge could be a lot of fun to adapt to the twelve weeks of summer.

But even if you think challenges are challenging, you might appreciate this list.

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1. A book you've been meaning to read
Reading Lolita in Tehran 
Non-fiction story about life behind-the-veil in Iran.

2. A book published this year
Unbecoming
A novel for a book club I joined, it has been compared to The Girl on the Train, which I'd also like to read. I also could have mentioned The Royal We (some have called it Kate Middleton fan fiction) and Dear Carolina, both of which I have already read. It's been a good year for books!

3. A book in a genre you don't typically read
Finding Audrey
Young Adult fiction by Sophie Kinsella, a favorite author of mine. Comes out today!

4. A book from your childhood
Heidi
I bought the pretty new edition for my daughter's One Room Challenge.

House Beautiful

5. A book your mom loves
Three Days on Mimosa Lane
Really just about any of these books could have been recommended by my mom; she is the one who introduced me to several of my favorite authors (Austen, Kinsella, St-Exupery). This is one in a series and I love the title.

6. A book that was originally written in a different language
Wind, Sand, and Stars
Written first in French, it is an adventure story by the author of The Little Prince.

Traditional Home

7. A book that "everyone" has read but you
The Goldfinch 
I started this one last summer but it is HUGE. It may take me awhile to get from cover to cover.

8. A book you chose because of the cover
The One and Only 
A popular novel by Emily Giffin with a pretty blue cover, it was published last year and I didn't get to it then.

9. A book by a favorite author
Emma: A Modern Re-Telling by Alexander McCall Smith
This is a two-fer since I love both Jane Austen, the original author of Emma, and Alexander McCall Smith, who writes the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Lonny

10. A book recommended by someone with great taste
Queen Bee Goes Home Again (recommended by Simply LKJ)
Another popular novel that looks like a good read.

11. A book you should have read in high school
The Book Thief
It wasn't published when I was in high school, but it is being read nowadays by students where I grew up. I had asked for suggestions in this category on Facebook and got so many good recommendations that I think I might do a "back-to-school challenge" for myself in the fall.

12. A book that's currently on the bestseller list
Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling
Adapted from a commencement address that the author of the Harry Potter series gave a few years ago, it should be very, very good. I am also hoping to read HP with my kids this summer.

BONUS! Some really cool reading printables for your kids here.

Are you reading anything good right now? I find it a lot easier to read when I have a bunch of books on my "to read" pile.