Summer book club announcements and a delightful classic play
Plus magical libraries in literature and the best bad review on the internet
Hi readers!
I read some great books this week and I can’t wait to tell you about them!! Those will to have for the Paperback Summer Reading Guide, but today I’m wondering about your summer reading vibe. As I finalize the books on this guide, I’d love to know: what are your favorite types of books to read in the summer?
In other news, I finalized and announced the May through August selections for my Patreon Book Club and Buzzy Book of the Month. If you didn’t know, over on Patreon I host lots of great book conversations each month. We read one backlist book together as our official Book Club pick and also choose one buzzy new release to discuss together. You can check out our picks here and, if discussing this wide range of books with a group of thoughtful readers sounds like just what you need this summer, sign up for Patreon here!
This week in books.
This week I read…
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. I read this play for an upcoming episode of Novel Pairings, and it was such a delight! If you’re not familiar, the story is about a man named Jack Worthing who has long pretended to have a rogue of a brother named Ernest. Fake Ernest is always getting into trouble so Jack is always having to dart off to London where he—of course—lets loose as a man named Ernest. The plot then revolves around two women who are both in love with the fictitious Ernest and it all comes together in the most charming and silly manner. This is a great play for reading on the page as it’s filled with wordplay and because all of the plot is revealed in the dialogue, you aren’t reading a ton of stage directions or trying to read between the lines (literally or figuratively). Of course there are also great film and stage adaptations to watch, but however you encounter this, it’s a fun one! Our episode we’ll air on Tuesday, April 30th so there’s plenty of time to read beforehand. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Now I’m reading…
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange. This is the April Buzzy Book of the Month for the FictionMatters Patreon community. So far I’m really enjoying it. Tommy Orange is such a great writer. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Links I love.
The Millions’ Great Spring 2024 Preview is here. (The Millions)
And if you need even more recommendations, check out indie booksellers’ favorite books of spring 2024. (Electric Lit)
Everyone in the book world is talking about this truly brutal review. It’s a must read. (Bookforum)
The short lists for both the International Booker and the Carol Shield’s Prize have been announced. (NPR)
New sci fi and fantasy coming this month. (Lit Hub)
Are there too many books being published? (Lit Hub)
The most talked about books of the year so far. (W)
8 magical libraries in literature. (Electric Lit)
10 new children’s books coming out in April. (Lit Hub)
This is the list I need: Audiobooks to lull you to sleep. (NYT)
End notes.
This week in views, listens, eats, and moments of joy.
I bought this duffle bag for some upcoming travels and I’m obsessed.
Speaking of travels, we decided to book a trip to London for my mom’s birthday in August! It’s far away but I am so excited for some international travel—it feels like it’s been a lifetime.
We made this oven BBQ chicken recipe. As NYT promised, it was quick and easy and it will definitely go into the regular rotation.
Louise is having her very first sleepover at her Nonna’s house this weekend. As I type this I have no idea how it will go but she was very excited about it so fingers crossed it goes well for everyone!
I saw Dune. I didn’t love it but it was fun to look at and I did love going to a theater. It also put me in the mood to read some sort of sci fi or fantasy epic.
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Happy reading!
Sara
yay for booking trips way in advance - the anticipation is so much a wonderful part of the travel experience! My favorite types of books for summer reading are the completely compelling page turners with very atmospheric settings, whatever the genre may be. I just read a May release set on Prince Edward Island, and it was such fun to be transported to somewhere I have always wanted to visit ~ I wish I had saved it for summer and poolside reading!
As a high school teacher, the academic year is busy. I like my summer reading to be a mix of breezy (hard to define...but I am not a rom-com reader), immersive, and thought-provoking.