What's on our Bookshelf? Summer reads
Welcome to our literary series on the blog “What’s on Our Bookshelf?” where we’re delighted to share our reading recommendations with you. Whatever your genre of choice, we’ve tried to include something for everyone.
The summer season is now upon us and while we might not be guaranteed sunshine (we never are in Ireland) we can’t let that stop us from making plans for the summer months and at least dreaming of the few rays.
One thing we all love for the summer is a good book so here are a few of the titles to get you started.
Fiction
Often described as “the great American novel,” The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a book I do like to revisit every year, simply for the fact that Fitzgerald’s prose is so beautiful. In a nutshell, this is the story of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his obsessive love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, and the lengths he goes to in order to win her back. It’s set in Jazz Age New York and with Gatsby’s wealth comes a whole lot of glamour and decadence…that is ultimately passing and shallow. One major bonus feature is that it’s pretty short! If you haven’t already, check out Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation; a little risque in places but visually stunning.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen so what better time to add an Austen title to your summer reading list. New to me is Persuasion so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in! For those of you who have never read any of Austen’s novels, Pride and Prejudice is probably the most well known so a great one to start with.
Non-Fiction
This next read is in the to-be-finished pile but every time I can sneak a few pages I am always the better for it. Bill Bryson is an extremely well known travel writer and on my bookshelf is his Notes from a Small Island which documents his travels around England, and in many ways is an ode to all things British. Bryson’s language is certainly colourful in places but he is hilarious!
Children’s Fiction
Starting with one for the very tiny people is Summer from The Nursery Collection by Shirley Hughes. This is an absolutely gorgeous picture book about summer and details all the delights of summer for children from sticky ice cream, to splashing in water and playing sandcastles. A really sweet book for your list.
One for all the family is Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and it’s a great book to read aloud. It’s whimsical and light-hearted and Grahame’s characters are so endearing, who wouldn’t want to share a picnic with them on the river bank?! A perfect slow-summer read.
I’ll admit this last one I haven’t read myself but it comes highly recommended by my pre-teen! The Famous Five: Five on A Treasure Island by Enid Blyton is the first novel in the Famous Five series and according to my source, is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin! Treasure and mystery are always appealing at summer time!
What books do you have on your list this summer? Share your recommendations with us; we’d love to know what’s on your bookshelf too!