Summer holiday reads

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen that we’re having a family reading challenge. We’re a family of readers, and between us picked a number of books for each other that seemed reasonable to get through during the summer holidays. The mini bookworm is due back to school in the second week of September, so we have time to fill with books.

We all read in different ways. My husband is a comic book reader, but enjoys audiobooks as his form of book intake. Our son generally reads physical books with audiobooks when he’s relaxing, and the odd Kindle book. Me? I’m a combination of all three. Just to keep everyone on their toes. It always makes me smile, seeing all three of us attached to some form of book on a daily basis. It’s really lovely, and I love knowing that I’ve passed on my love of reading to my son. I’m now infertile, so he’ll be my only protege. No pressure, kid.

Anyway, with these weeks to fill, here are a few of the reads I have planned for the next few weeks.

The Secret Barrister

I started this after the holidays started, so I’m counting it. So far, it feels almost like the law version of “This Is Going To Hurt”. A balance between humour, honesty, and horror, it feels like a blow to see so many holes being shown in the legal system that I’d love say I trust. I already know that there are flaws in every system, of course, but some of what I have read already has shocked me. And yet I need to keep reading.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

I’ve had this book on my “to read” list for ages, having heard so many good things about it. It recently came up as an offer on Audible, and so I had to start listening immediately. So far I’m fascinated. I’m taking every opportunity I have to listen to it, and really glad I’m using that time in such a way. The story is captivating, and the narrator is so relatable. It is quite a long book, and obviously the holidays are for enjoying time with your children (and then drinking gin at bedtime), so will just try and squeeze some time in.

The Binding

Kindle informs me I am currently 16% through this book, and I’m bloody loving it. It feels like the beautiful balance between historical fiction and magic, yet not quite magic, but nor is it quite sci-fi. Overall, it’s just brilliant. I’m loving every word.

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?

I’ve read both of Caitlin Doughty’s other books, and gained so much from them. So as soon as this was announced, I pre-ordered, and am picking it up the day it comes out for public release. Her approach to talking about death, to making talking about death more socially acceptable, is beautiful, brilliant, and so needed. It is a fact that we will all die one day, and the more comfortable we can be with that, the better. I can’t wait for this book.

The Priory of the Orange Tree

I might be a little behind the times with reading this one, but I do know how well it’s gone down by all the book bloggers. It’s generally that which has motivated me. I love the sound of it, and the extract I’ve read has motivated me to not be scared off by the number of pages (I keep telling myself I’ve read Les Miserables so I’ll be fine). This one I’ll read as a balance between Audible and Kindle; the physical book is beautiful but really I can’t hold heavy books any more, which is why Kindle is so useful to me.

Inferior: The True Power of Women and the Science That Shows It

I’ve always proudly described myself as a feminist, I delight in it, especially when it outrages people. Because the people it outrages are the reason we need feminism. This year I’ve focused on myself a lot, focusing on the power I hold as a person – and a woman – in this world. Thus, this is another book to add to this year’s self care objective.

Obviously in the real world, I have an ever changing, ever growing, TBR list, but these are some of the top priorities for this summer. I think I’ve given myself a nice selection, and I’d love to hear some of what you all have planned for August too.