Book Tag: Summer Setting, Summer Reading

How would you like to play book tag this summer? The idea for this game originally came from Carmon at her blog Buried Treasure, but since she no longer seems to be keeping a blog, I thought we’d play here.

“In this game, readers suggest a good book in the category given, then let somebody else be ‘it’ before they offer another suggestion. There is no limit to the number of books a person may suggest, but they need to politely wait their turn with only one book suggestion per comment.”

So, the category for today is: Summer Setting, Summer Reading.

What are the best books you’ve read that are set during summer or make you think of summer or seem just right for summertime reading?

I’ll start off with a couple of links to posts here at Semicolon, and a suggestion.

Summer Reading: 52 Picks for the Hols
Death in Summer: Mysteries for Hot Days

And my suggestion to start off this game of book tag is Three Men in a Boat (to Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome. Three young men and a dog named Montmorency go boating down the Thames to improve their health and disposition. They meet up with angry swans and assertive steam-launches, among other obstacles, but they are nevertheless determined to finish out their “fortnight’s enjoyment on the river.”

It’s funny in a Wodehousian way, and I think it takes place in the summer, at least during some sort of holiday time.

So, ready, set, go! What’s your summer book recommendation?

16 thoughts on “Book Tag: Summer Setting, Summer Reading”

Stand in the Wind by Jean Little. I can barely remember the details of this one but I remember loving it as a child. Something about two sisters on a beach vacation, and there is some kind of trauma or relationship issue. The line from the book that sticks with me is “Stand in the wind and eat peanut brittle”. I knew my college roommate was a kindred spirit when she yelled that phrase out on a beach trip freshman year. Now, I’m thinking I just might have to add this to my own summer reading.

Funny that you picked Three Men in a Boat. I had never heard of this one but recently have seen references to it everywhere, beginning with an excerpt from it being used in a high-school speech competition that I was judging.

What a fun game, I’ll definitely be back to see what others say.

The Big House is a wonderful story of an extended family’s summer home on Cape Cod. Perfect summer book.

This sounds like such a fun idea, except I’m having trouble thinking of any.

Doesn’t To Kill a Mockingbird start in the summer? I think it ends up around Halloween, though.

Serenity by Harry Kraus takes place in the summer and struck me as a nice beach read,

What a fun idea for a boggy “game”! I, too, have seen references to To Say Nothing of the Dog everywhere.

The first book that comes to mind is The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, though I think all the Penderwicks books would do nicely. Here’s my link: http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2011/06/24/the-penderwicks-at-point-mouette-by-jeanne-birdsall-series-musings/

Of course, when I looked up that link I saw my review to Thimble Summer by Enright, and obviously that oe’s a nice fit, too. I’m sure I’ll think of half a dozen more when I submit tIs comment. I also tend to remember where I am when I read certain memorable books (especially traveling), so I associate certain books with vacations. For example, I distinctly remember reading Gurl of the Limberlost while at the beach in Gulf Shores, AL.

Oops–Three Men in a Boat is the title! 🙂

I was stumped … until I looked at the first book on my son’s summer reading pile. Is there anything that screams “SUMMER” more than baseball? My choice … The Natural by Bernard Malamud.

All good suggestions, especially The Penderwicks. We’re all Penderwicks fans around here. It’s my turn again, and I’m going to suggest for a summer classic An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser. The book begins with the line, “Dusk–of a summer night.”
If I remember correctlythe story is is very summery–hot and lugubrious and very, very sad. As a bonus, I would suggest the movie, A Place in the Sun, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift and Shelley WInters.

Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright is a wonderful children’s book to read in summer. It had my daughters wishing for the same adventures and opportunites. Return to Gone Away is great too.

The Summer of Katya. It’s set in the halcyon summer of 1914, just before WWI broke out. It’s partly mystery & partly love story.

Dinosaurs, time travel, kidnapping & summer vacation! Greg Leitich Smith’s recent middle-grade release – Chronal Engine – is a blast for YA readers, too. My no-spoiler review: http://booksyalove.blogspot.com/2012/05/dinosaurs-time-travel-chronal-engine-by.html

Who’s got the next great summer book?