41 summer book recommendations curated by my friends, from new releases to backlist books: prize-winners, romances, thrillers, feminist stories, autobiographies, and more
I am in my noir era. I'm reading Philip Marlowe, but also a selection of 40's & 50's (and even some 60's) American hardboiled mysteries & thrillers. I just finished The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson and next up is The Lady in The Lake.
And for something completely different, I am also reading Anthony Trollope.
Thank you for including my recommendations, Alicia! I am pleased to squeeze in a couple of Japanese works💓In Japanese culture, summer and autumn are considered ideal for reading, though I read every day!
Great list of books here! So many to comment on and add to my TBR.
Moby Dick has been begging to be read for years, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it. I read want to make a stab at A Little Life this summer, but I also have a handful of just released books by fellow Substackers Jayne Marshall and Maria Glymph that I'm eager to read.
Jam (and Alicia, of course!), if you're reading this, I'd highly recommend Jamaica Inn. I enjoyed Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel but I think Jamaica Inn is my favourite of hers (also, was happy to see that Italo Calvino finally arrived!)
Orbital is another one I'd like to read at some point.
I reread Meditations not long ago, that's one I revisit every few years or so, an all-time classic of course.
I recently read The Adventures of Augie March (Saul Bellow), which was wonderful and I was sad when it ended. Am currently reading Vile Bodies (Evelyn Waugh), which is so funny and a quick, breezy read. I'll be reading In a Lonely Place (Dorothy Hughes) next.
Ackk, so sorry I'm only replying now! I want to read Moby-Dick because of Call Me Ishmaelle by Xiaolu Guo (which I haven't started either). A Little Life has been on the back of my mind, but it is such a tome...
I will bump Jamaica Inn up on my list! @Jam? (Hmm, tagging doesn't seem to work.)
I'd be curious about your thoughts on Orbital if you do get to it.
Those books you're reading sound very interesting! I do need to read Evelyn Waugh as well. Love that you're reading books by fellow Substackers.
Hey, no need to apologise for any delays! This is the Substack life, we’re busy, we get tied up, I know how it goes.
Actually, off topic, but I set up a separate newsletter and it’s causing me all sorts of confusion with notifications, and I’m already struggling to keep track of what’s what!
Yeah, not sure if we can tag in post comments.
I don’t know of Call Me Ishmaelle, but I’m intrigued (damn it, is this another potential addition to my TBR list?!).
Kolina Cicero is who really inspired me to give Orbital a try, and although it’s not a priority, I do want to get to it soon.
I love Waugh, and based on my recommendation, a fellow Substacker read The Loved One and loved it (as you would, right?).
I loved the shoutout here! Moby-Dick is still intimidating me a little, but slow progress is being made 😂
This is one of my favorite books of all time
I mean, how could I not mention you?
How are you finding Moby-Dick? I want to read Call Me Ishmael soon, which is inspired by it!
Some amazing recommendations here!! Thank you for including me in this incredible list <3
Thanks again for contributing, Soph!! I loved reading what books you're excited about. <3
I haven’t read the Twyford Code yet so tell me what you think when you do!!!
I deffo will! I would try and read it before we meet up so you can have it but let’s be real… that’s not happening 😭
I am in my noir era. I'm reading Philip Marlowe, but also a selection of 40's & 50's (and even some 60's) American hardboiled mysteries & thrillers. I just finished The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson and next up is The Lady in The Lake.
And for something completely different, I am also reading Anthony Trollope.
Those sound really cool! Do you tend to read a few of the same genre together? I tend to spread mine out, mainly because I get confused!
Maybe you can add my book to your summer reads?
The Sinking of the Leonardo da Vinci
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what a great list! thank you to everyone for introducing us to all these titles — I’ll have to check out Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon first! ☺️
I'm so glad you found good book recommendations here Jin!
Thank you for including my recommendations, Alicia! I am pleased to squeeze in a couple of Japanese works💓In Japanese culture, summer and autumn are considered ideal for reading, though I read every day!
Thanks again for contributing, Yuri! And yes, I love that you included Japanese books in this list too!! What are you currently reading?
Great list of books here! So many to comment on and add to my TBR.
Moby Dick has been begging to be read for years, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it. I read want to make a stab at A Little Life this summer, but I also have a handful of just released books by fellow Substackers Jayne Marshall and Maria Glymph that I'm eager to read.
Jam (and Alicia, of course!), if you're reading this, I'd highly recommend Jamaica Inn. I enjoyed Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel but I think Jamaica Inn is my favourite of hers (also, was happy to see that Italo Calvino finally arrived!)
Orbital is another one I'd like to read at some point.
I reread Meditations not long ago, that's one I revisit every few years or so, an all-time classic of course.
I recently read The Adventures of Augie March (Saul Bellow), which was wonderful and I was sad when it ended. Am currently reading Vile Bodies (Evelyn Waugh), which is so funny and a quick, breezy read. I'll be reading In a Lonely Place (Dorothy Hughes) next.
Ackk, so sorry I'm only replying now! I want to read Moby-Dick because of Call Me Ishmaelle by Xiaolu Guo (which I haven't started either). A Little Life has been on the back of my mind, but it is such a tome...
I will bump Jamaica Inn up on my list! @Jam? (Hmm, tagging doesn't seem to work.)
I'd be curious about your thoughts on Orbital if you do get to it.
Those books you're reading sound very interesting! I do need to read Evelyn Waugh as well. Love that you're reading books by fellow Substackers.
Hey, no need to apologise for any delays! This is the Substack life, we’re busy, we get tied up, I know how it goes.
Actually, off topic, but I set up a separate newsletter and it’s causing me all sorts of confusion with notifications, and I’m already struggling to keep track of what’s what!
Yeah, not sure if we can tag in post comments.
I don’t know of Call Me Ishmaelle, but I’m intrigued (damn it, is this another potential addition to my TBR list?!).
Kolina Cicero is who really inspired me to give Orbital a try, and although it’s not a priority, I do want to get to it soon.
I love Waugh, and based on my recommendation, a fellow Substacker read The Loved One and loved it (as you would, right?).