Blogger: Rachel Kent
I’m off on my camping trip this weekend and I’ll be digging in to Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay. Finally! I’ve done a lot of reading already this summer, but most of the books have been pre-published. There are so many good ones and I can’t wait to see them in print.
That is one of the interesting parts of my job as an agent. It’s hard to find time to read published books! I have a gigantic stack of them and I move through them, but much more slowly than I’d like to.
What have you been reading this summer? What is the best book so far?
How many books have you read this summer?
Please post the number of books you have read below (along with any other summer reading updates) and I will send a copy of Karen Barnett’s Beyond the Ashes to a randomly-selected reader when I get back from my camping trip.
I loved Lizzy & Jane! Enjoy, Rachel. The book and the vacation.
How many? I don’t keep count. I just finished Dr. Mabry’s Heart Failure.
The best? On Earth as It Is in Heaven by Warren Wiersbe.
My to-read list will be longer by the end of today. ‘Twill be fun to see everybody’s favorites.
Hmmm. . . I read close to a book a week. I have a couple of favorites from the summer. Heir of Hope by Morgan Busse, Failstate: Nemesis by John Otte, and Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger. So a Christian Fantasy, A Christian superhero book, and a secular teen steam punk. I just knew that I would love steam punk if I ever got around to reading it and yep, I did. So fun.
Kristen, have you read steam punk by Shelley Adina?
I’ve read an even dozen books since summer’s official beginning, and my favourite has been “Angels Twenty”, by Edwards Park (if the name is familiar, he wrote for Smithsonian magazine for many years). It’s the story of his time as a pilot during WW2 in New Guinea and his voice is casual, engaging, and compelling atthe same time. (The title refers to altitude – angels twenty translates to 20,000 feet.)
I don’t know how many books I’ve read except not nearly as many as I’ve wanted to. A recent favorite is Once Beyond a Time by Ann Tatlock. I also read Wuthering Heights for the first time and loved it.
Here’s a nonfiction pick: The Lady in Gold which goes into much more depth about Adele Bloch-Bauer’s golden portrait that was taken from her Viennese apartment by Nazi officials and displayed in an Austrian museum until her niece sued the Austrian government. Helen Mirren played the niece in the recent movie, The Woman in Gold.
I saw that movie recently and it was great!! A very fascinating story! I’ve been able to “read” more this summer through listening to audiobooks. I’ve listened to “The Girl in the Gatehouse” and “The Silent Governess” by Julie Klassen. I’ve read/listened to about 8-10 books this summer.
I’m currently reading an advance copy of “Not By Sight” by Kate Breslin and it’s fantastic!!
Your camping trip sounds fun. I’ve never been camping and wish I could try it some time.
In June I read or listened to 16 books. Books Read In June
My favorite reads for June were probably Hand Me Down Husband by Rosanna Huffman, From the Start by Melissa Tagg, and Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney. I guess June was mostly a contemporary fiction month.
Here’s what I’ve read so far in July. https://www.pinterest.com/nina4sm/books-read-in-july-2015/ Only 10 books, but it’s taken me awhile to get through some of them. I’m currently over half-way through Carrie Turansky’s The Daughter of Highland Hall and Kristi Ann Hunter’s novella A Lady of Esteem.
For August I hope to read more historical fiction including Gone With the Wind which I have never read. We’ll see how long it takes! I also hope to read Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin, Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund, A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer, Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore and several more.
Here are the July books I read. That link I posted is to the August books
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/440508407280322394/
I think I’ve read about six. It’s hard to know exactly. I had to slow down on reading a bit … give my eyes a break. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton … I’m pretty sure I read it at the start of summer. 🙂
Are you still getting headaches, Shelli? I get optical migraines when I’ve been doing too much reading and / or not getting enough sleep so I know it can be frustrating to have to slow down when you love to read.
Please know that you are in my prayers.
I’ve read 5, but that’s only because I’m working on a manuscript that is not yet finished. I love reading but admit most of what I’ve read (other than the Bible) is theology, Biblical history and Christian living. Recently, I’ve been reading Christian fiction.
So far this summmer, I’ve finished Mary Sharratt’s “Illuminations” and I am almost done listening to “Anne of Green Gables” by L. M. Montgomery.
I saw the movie “The Lady in Gold” this summer before it went to DVD. I didn’t know there was a book. It was a good movie. I will have to check out the book.
Please don’t enter me, because I’ve already read Beyond the Ashes, which I loved! With a family wedding and a book release, I’ve read almost nothing! Other than Beyond the Ashes, I’ve also read Carla Stewart’s A Flying Affair about a woman pilot in the Roaring 20s (wonderful!), and I’m halfway through Rebecca DeMarino’s To Capture Her Heart (love the 1650s Long Island setting).
Well, this writing business definitely cuts into my reading time, but I still manage to squeeze a few in! So far this summer my hand’s down favorite is Not By Sight by Kate Breslin. Fabulous historical detail with SUCH a compelling romance. Sigh.
Loved reading Until the Harvest this summer, Sarah. 🙂
Hey, I recognize that book! 😉 I hope you have a wonderful camping trip, Rachel. Here’s to great summer memories! 🙂
I’m not sure how many I’ve read this summer. Not as many as I would have liked. My TBR is growing faster than I can tackle it, but that’s a good problem to have. Recently I’ve read Lori Benton’s The Wood’s Edge and Rebecca DeMarino’s To Capture Her Heart. It’s exciting to see the CBA embrace some novels with Native American POV characters. I’m loving that! I don’t know if two books counts as a trend, but I hope so! I’m just starting Sarah Sundin’s Through Waters Deep, so I know I’ve got some great hours of reading ahead!
Lori Benton’s newest was fantastic!
Rachel, I’ve finished 6 books since June 1, and I’ve started as many more. By far, the best novel I’ve read this summer is Finding Amanda by Robin Patchen. She writes with so much tension that I stayed up late several nights reading her novel (plus the prequel). I found out about these titles from ACFW when I took her online class this month. Enjoy your camping trip. 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy
That one’s on my to-read list too. And the more I hear about it, the more I’m looking forward to reading it!
Dawn, have you read the prequel, ‘Chasing Amanda’? It’s a free novella, and it’s what hooked me onto the main characters to begin with. Then I wanted to/had to read the next book. 🙂 Blessings on your final edits.
Good morning! I’m on my second book this summer! I really, really want to read Beyond the Ashes……written by one of my dearest friends, but I don’t have it yet! Thank you for this opportunity! 🙂
I’ve been reading all sorts of stuff this summer. Of the 11 books I’ve read, the three best have been: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wader, The Well by Stephanie Landsem, and Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke.
I have read 13 books since June 1
I’d been on a sort of reading-hiatus since February. I tend to read like Fahrenheit 451 is about to become reality, and I must read all books now. After several weeks of binge-reading, I have to slow down 🙂 But I read Irene Hannon’s Trapped for book club in June and had to read the third book in the series (also excellent and a Carol Award finalist). That got me going again, and I’ve read at least 25 books since June.
Next up is Beyond the Ashes! Our book club selection for August 🙂
I love your book club, Sarah! 🙂 Thanks for including Beyond the Ashes in your lineup.
To Capture Her Heart, (DeMarino) Beyond the Ashes (Barnett) A Love Surrendered (Lessman) Love’s Reckoning (Frantz) All My Belongings and As Waters Gone By ( Ruchti) Lady Maybe (Klassen) The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn and At Wood’s Edge by Lori Benton. With Every Letter (Sundin) is waiting on my table. This list might take me back to May because I read Karen Barnett’s book first and it came out in May, I think. Anyway, I try to read a book a week if I can. With so many great authors, there just aren’t enough hours in the week. But my treadmill regimen keeps me reading at least thirty minutes a day six days a week. Multi-tasking at its finest.
Pat, you will love With Every Letter! 🙂
I really enjoyed As Waters Gone By. Cynthia knows how to imbed her characters into our hearts.
So far this Summer my favorite book is THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN by Kristy Cambron! I’ve not yet read Lizzy & Jane. I am currently reading THE SOUND OF WAR by Sue Watkins.
What a great idea! I’ve read Karen’s book. I’m sure the lucky winner will be delighted with this fine read.
In addition to reading several nonfiction books, I’ve been intentionally expanding to fiction written about other times/cultures. So far my favorites:
Orhan’s Deliverance by Aline Ohanesian and The Shadow of the Crescent Moon by Fatima Bhutto.
Enjoy your camping adventures, Rachel!
I’ve read around eight titles this summer. Really enjoyed Julie Klassen’s Girl in the Gatehouse. My favorite non-fiction title was written by an incredibly talented poet I had the privilege of meeting, Susan Bono. What Have We Here: Essays About Keeping House and Finding Home.
I already have a copy of Karen’s newest book and can’t wait to read it.
I’ve read approximately 5 so far, including Kindle books. Altho’ I’m an avid reader, my time this summer is taken up with final edits on my novel.
Since June 1, book total is 6 and three halves (still reading those). I’ve been focusing on craft improvement by reading Christy-nominated authors and relevant nonfiction. The Queen’s Handmaid and Palace of Darkness by Tracey Higley, Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin, and First Light by Bodie and Brock Thoene were all riveting. Karen Witemeyer’s A Worthy Pursuit was fun and a good study of how to handle alternating two-character POV. Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell was worth every minute. I’ve started Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card, and I can already tell it will be valuable. I’ve also been studying body language to improve show-don’t’ tell. The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease is fascinating and occasionally hilarious. I now know that the left side of the smile is usually more pronounced when a liar lies but maintaining eye contact means little with practiced liars. I also learned that you might be able to conceal your true thoughts by controlling your face and maybe your hands, but your legs will give you away almost every time. (If you catch me looking at your feet at a writer’s conference, I’ll no longer be doing it only to check out your shoes.)
I haven’t counted the books I’ve read so far this Summer, but I estimate about 30. I usually read five or six Middle Grade fiction books and maybe one YA or (gasp!) grown-up fiction book every week and maybe one adult non-fiction book a month.
One I recently read and loved is The Scavengers by Michael Perry.
Thanks for all of your comments! We had a wonderful camping trip!
The winner of BEYOND THE ASHES is Kristen Joy Wilks! Kristen, please email me your mailing address. Email is rachel@ booksandsuch .com (remove spaces).