David W. Swanson

Pastor and Author

happy saturday: your summer reading suggestions

Regular Signs of Life readers know how often books are brought up on this blog.  You’ve likely noticed that the majority of these books are of the non-fiction variety and often lean towards the theological.  For example, I’m currently halfway through Soong Chan Rah’s The Next Evangelicalism.  Summer, however, is for fiction.  Last year was the summer for Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, a beautiful story that ended up on my favorite-5 list at the end of 2008.

I recently realized that I’m without a summer novel.  A favorite memoir, Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire, is on the coffee table, but this won’t satisfy my two arbitrary criteria for a summer book: 1) Fiction.  2) New (to me, at least).

So I’m looking for suggestions. What have been some novels you’ve enjoyed during summertime?  Is there anything you’re really looking forward to reading during the next few months?

David Swanson

9 responses to “happy saturday: your summer reading suggestions”

  1. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    How about “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoyevsky, or something by Charles Dickens? Classics. The last novel I read was “The Brothers Karamazov.” I had been required to read about half of it in a high school English class. Returning to it now as an Orthodox Christian, it yielded up much more of its treasure. But these suggestions are certainly not pleasure reads. They will force you to grapple deeply with the human condition and the nature of grace.

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  2. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    Yesterday, we visited a thrift store in Angels Camp–an old gold mining town in the foothills of CA. For $1.17 I bought Vanity Fair, Ladies of the Club and The Far Pavillions. I’m looking forward to re-reading two of them and enjoying one for the first time. Warm summer afternoons just beg for still moments spent reading.

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  3. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    How about ‘Foundation’ by Isaac Asimov?

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  4. Anthony G Avatar
    Anthony G

    For some great summer reading, which I would interpret as something light and fun, I’d suggest Terry Pratchett. His “Discworld” novels are hilariously irreverent and poke fun at the whole fantasy genre, along with pop culture and anything else that pops in to his head. Definitely some of the funniest books I’ve ever read.

    Also, being a huge fan of historical fiction, I’d recommend the novels of Patrick O’Brian. His Aubrey-Maturin series paints a vivid picture of life in the early 19th century through the lens of the British Navy. I’ve never seen a book so clearly illustrate a piece of history while giving characters such life and nuance.

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  5. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    I’m looking forward to re-reading A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens (an all time top five). My two all time best books are Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis and The Brothers K by David James Duncan. Fantastic, all three of them. This summer I’m also hoping to read the three-in-one Norwegian Classic Kristen Lavrensdatter, which is supposed to be excellent and listed on the “most influential books of all time” lists (but get a recent translation or you won’t understand the English much better than the Norwegian). Tolstoy is fabulous too.

    I could not get into Pratchett at all, and I really tried.

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  6. stanford Avatar
    stanford

    I’ve also tried to read as much Dostoyevsky as possible.

    My fiction list for this summer has one entry on it…Asimov’s Foundation.

    I really like Camus ‘The Plauge’ too.

    I also enjoy Walker Percy. Really, I am just starting to get into fiction, though.

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  7. Nate Avatar
    Nate

    Reading Karamazov myself. I stopped yesterday right before The Grand Inquisitor which is supposed to be one of the best chapters ever in literature. I wanted to wait and savor it. Other random great books:

    Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware – we talked about the principles behind this book at the CG leaders meeting.

    Metamagical Themas – A collection of articles on various subjects.

    My summer reading list contains:
    The Physics of Christianity
    Head First Design Patterns
    Lifehacker.com
    blog.makezine.com
    getrichslowly.org
    Pro WPF in C# 2008
    The Black Swan
    Outliers
    Object Oriented Reengineering Patterns

    All of which I recommend, but cannot say they will assist you in any way shape or form 🙂

    Reply
  8. Otakudad Avatar
    Otakudad

    If you dig sci-fi in any way, I recommend my favorite author, William Gibson, and his classic “Neuromancer”.

    I also recommend “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson, and if you’re looking for a summer’s worth of reading (that sadly, for voracious readers will likely not take you more than a month, if you have access to it all), I most DEFINTIELY recommend Stephen King’s Dark Tower books. There’s seven in all, and they’re great reads.

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  9. Susan Richmond Avatar
    Susan Richmond

    Just read and enjoyed Little Bee and Peace Like a River by Leif Enger is one of my all time favorites – what a beautiful writer!

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