“Books are appointments to be met and demand our full presence. They cannot be ignored, at least not without some guilt. They stand sleepy in my library, waiting to possess me, holding ideas that can change me and spaces where my consciousness can merge with another’s for a sustained period of time, until it becomes a part of me.” ☺️
I must admit I don’t distinguish between summer reading and rest of the year reading. Mostly I read what I consider well written trash,aka murder mysteries or historical fiction. My job requires actual thinking, so I don’t want my pleasure reading to be demanding, or lecture me on how to think or how to behave. Ditto for movies and TV. Very satisfying!
These books aren’t “light” summer reading. Beach reads are usually easy-reading fiction, not heavy tomes about how broken our present society has become.
Oh but her entire point was to show how cultured and intelligent she is, so above the peons who read light romance or fun thrillers. Let them eat cake! 🎂
I never enjoyed sitting on a hot sunny beach doing nothing. As a kid living on Long Island, I enjoyed swimming in the ocean and picnicking on the beach with my family. As an older adult, when I get to the beach, I enjoy walking by the water in the morning or evening.
As for reading, I'd rather do that somewhere cool and not crowded. And I prefer murder mysteries for relaxation, and otherwise, history and biographies.
So much great reading for the summer I add my own new book with some trepidation. Titled HOW TO ROB THE BANK OF ENGLAND, Icon Books in September, this is the storyline: "On a sunny May morning in 1990, a bank courier strode out of the Bank of England and, minutes later, was robbed at knifepoint of 301 bearer bonds valued at £292m. It was the biggest theft in British history. The thing is... when Keith Cheeseman received a call from a disbarred lawyer connected to London’s underworld and attended a meeting on the night of the robbery, he counted £427m in bonds — £135m more than the Bank of England had reported. So what happened to the missing £135m?" At all the Amazons https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Rob-Bank-England-Cheeseman/dp/1837731357
It was nice to read this in The Coborn. A London , Mile End pub. I chatted to a filmmaker/ teacher lady who will sit on a panel of a film festival in Greece in August. I asked, what films she made? She asked if I had Disney +. I said I didn’t have a TV. She reminded me of Hanif Kureishi here on Substack and his story about being a judge in Cannes or possibly Venice film festival. I shared this with her. My new acquaintance has never heard of Hanif, let alone substack. I felt a bit awkward, a little smug too in a positive way. She got her take away mac’n’cheese. Then she practically ran. Ran for her life. I ran after her and said you had left your book on the table. Turns they keep the pub menu and wine list in a book on tables. Various books. Her copy was the English Journey from J.B. Priestley. That’s how The Coborn added to my blushes this afternoon. She had a nice smile and long blonde hair. Pubs are the only socially acceptable places to strike up a conversation in the country. I enjoyed this exchange.
Sharp wit and irony are much appreciated. Even if I'm on my third vodka and orange juice at 8 a.m.
Maybe checkout my Substack. I'd send a fourth screwdriver if it were possible
Love this description of yours!! 😍
“Books are appointments to be met and demand our full presence. They cannot be ignored, at least not without some guilt. They stand sleepy in my library, waiting to possess me, holding ideas that can change me and spaces where my consciousness can merge with another’s for a sustained period of time, until it becomes a part of me.” ☺️
I must admit I don’t distinguish between summer reading and rest of the year reading. Mostly I read what I consider well written trash,aka murder mysteries or historical fiction. My job requires actual thinking, so I don’t want my pleasure reading to be demanding, or lecture me on how to think or how to behave. Ditto for movies and TV. Very satisfying!
If you read mine you don't have to use your brain at all!
These books aren’t “light” summer reading. Beach reads are usually easy-reading fiction, not heavy tomes about how broken our present society has become.
Oh but her entire point was to show how cultured and intelligent she is, so above the peons who read light romance or fun thrillers. Let them eat cake! 🎂
I think that’s her entire point
I have to agree. At the risk of seeming biased, I'd recommend The Trumansburg Project. It's certainly a lighter read.
I never enjoyed sitting on a hot sunny beach doing nothing. As a kid living on Long Island, I enjoyed swimming in the ocean and picnicking on the beach with my family. As an older adult, when I get to the beach, I enjoy walking by the water in the morning or evening.
As for reading, I'd rather do that somewhere cool and not crowded. And I prefer murder mysteries for relaxation, and otherwise, history and biographies.
So much great reading for the summer I add my own new book with some trepidation. Titled HOW TO ROB THE BANK OF ENGLAND, Icon Books in September, this is the storyline: "On a sunny May morning in 1990, a bank courier strode out of the Bank of England and, minutes later, was robbed at knifepoint of 301 bearer bonds valued at £292m. It was the biggest theft in British history. The thing is... when Keith Cheeseman received a call from a disbarred lawyer connected to London’s underworld and attended a meeting on the night of the robbery, he counted £427m in bonds — £135m more than the Bank of England had reported. So what happened to the missing £135m?" At all the Amazons https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Rob-Bank-England-Cheeseman/dp/1837731357
“Every summer I truly intend
My intellectual sloth to end.
Leave Dumas and Conan Doyle behind me,
And let the dog days, when they find me,
Find me beside the sea perusing
Volumes of Mr. Hutchins’ choosing,
Congesting my uncultured head
With famous books I haven’t read…”
Read the whole poem at:
https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/summer-reading
These first four paragraphs are beautiful. Perfectly put and the prose is deserving of praise.
Hi, Sophia, Anne Byrn has a new book coming out September 3rd, here’s a link to Anne’s Substack and more about the book, which looks fantastic.
https://open.substack.com/pub/annebyrn/p/baking-in-the-american-south-is-here?utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app
I mean, only the BOOK OF THE SUMMER ~ "Sandwich" by Catherine Newman (of Substack Crone Sandwich) - released in June.
https://open.substack.com/pub/cronesandwich/p/sandwich-an-excerpt?r=nuwng&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
SCREW the booklist! I'll just read your posts Sophia! They're the best!
Thank you so much for popping Weathering into this esteemed line up.
Thanks for Sharing! I can’t wait to get my hands on Leslie Stephens, You’re Safe Here! I most definetly will be reading this on the beach abroad !
Great stuff -- love to see books promoted here as there are so few places left to do it.
I’ve been eyeing Ambition Monster, officially adding it to the list! 💥
It was nice to read this in The Coborn. A London , Mile End pub. I chatted to a filmmaker/ teacher lady who will sit on a panel of a film festival in Greece in August. I asked, what films she made? She asked if I had Disney +. I said I didn’t have a TV. She reminded me of Hanif Kureishi here on Substack and his story about being a judge in Cannes or possibly Venice film festival. I shared this with her. My new acquaintance has never heard of Hanif, let alone substack. I felt a bit awkward, a little smug too in a positive way. She got her take away mac’n’cheese. Then she practically ran. Ran for her life. I ran after her and said you had left your book on the table. Turns they keep the pub menu and wine list in a book on tables. Various books. Her copy was the English Journey from J.B. Priestley. That’s how The Coborn added to my blushes this afternoon. She had a nice smile and long blonde hair. Pubs are the only socially acceptable places to strike up a conversation in the country. I enjoyed this exchange.