Last year I joined Cathy’s #20BooksOfSummer Challenge but chose the option of reading ten books instead of twenty. I know myself, and I know that I am a mood reader. Writing down a list of books that I MUST read ignites my inner rebel and instantly makes me want to read anything but. And when I began thinking of my lists for this year’s challenge, I was going to go with the 10 books again. However, having seen many lists going up this week, I’ve started to question my decision. I think I’m going to go ahead, roll the dice, and do the FULL TWENTY! So what if I don’t finish? So what if I decide to swap out books? No one is going to notice, because they’re too busy reading their own books and writing their own posts, right? I’m not being graded on this, so why not? Quit being such a perfectionist, Laila! So, here is my list. (BTW, the picture below is not the full twenty – some of them will be library books I haven’t checked out yet.)
The Cutting Season by Attica Locke
The Drawing of the Three (Dark Tower #2) by Stephen King
Passing by Nella Larsen
Now You See Me (Lacey Flint #1) by Sharon Bolton
In the Country by Mia Alvar
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Saints For All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan
Discontent and Its Civilizations: Dispatches From New York, Lahore, and London by Mohsin Hamid
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie
The Reckoning (Maeve Kerrigan #2) by Jane Casey
Lady Susan, The Watsons, and Sanditon by Jane Austen
Ghana Must Go by Taye Selasi
American Street by Ibi Zoboi
At Mrs. Lippincote’s by Elizabeth Taylor
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery
(Yes, I’m combining my #AnneReadAlong2017 with this challenge!)
There it is! Have you read any of these? Are you joining the #20BooksofSummer Challenge?
I haven’t read any of these books but I have heard only good things about The Hate U Give. I hope that you will enjoy it. All the best with the challenge and yeah, don’t worry about changing it up, I do that with my monthly TBR. I post them but don’t always stick to them 🙂
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thanks, Diana – that makes me feel better! 🙂
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Best of luck!! Am looking forward to reading all of your reviews. 😊
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Thank you, Anna!
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I’ve got into the water on my shelf right now, I’ve read mixed reviews so not sure what to expect. I’ve also got Sherman Alexie’a memoir on my shelf, it’s about his mother. Apparently it’s quite sad and funny at the same time 😬
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I have low expectations for Into the Water. I liked Girl on the Train okay, but I didn’t love it. I do really want to read the Alexie memoir. I love him.
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Yah I’m excited about the memoir, I think it’s going to be pretty sad though, apparently his mother was an awful woman.
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What a great list Laila, thanks for taking part! I loved The Reckoning, I hope you do too x
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You’re the reason I read the first one, thanks! 🙂
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I’m excited to see Passing on this list. That ending…! I think you are right; no one will really care if you swap books. Most of us will probably do it. It’s about having fun, right?! (But do read Passing! 🙂 )
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You and Fiction Fan both like that one, so that’s a great reason to read it!
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Wow! I really respect your commitment, Laila. Good for you for taking a chance and trying to let go of your perfectionism! I can relate to how hard that is, for sure. I have never done this challenge for that EXACT reason. I struggle too much to stick to a reading list. I’m glad to see you’re including Anne on your 20 Books of Summer challenge! Both Jane and I are looking forward to seeing what you think of this series.
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Ha ha – thank you Jackie – it’s funny, the first book I was reading for the Challenge was a DNF! I just couldn’t continue – so I’m switching it with another book! That’s the only way I could try to do this challenge – flexibility! 🙂
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I’m so proud of you for even considering switching books! I would have just said, “Well, my first book was a DNF. One down, 19 to go!” 😉 You are certainly more committed than I am. Will you be writing a review of that book? I can’t recall, do you even write DNF reviews?
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I do not usually write reviews of DNFs. I don’t feel like I have enough time to write posts on the books I really like, much less the ones I don’t. I might make mention of them in recap posts or on a TTT or something, though.
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That’s completely reasonable. I feel the same way often, but there are times… well, it just seems like the right thing to do for me. I just wish there were more hours in the day!
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Oh, some great stuff on your list! And for once I’ve read a few of them. The Anne books I love, of course, and hope you will too. I thoroughly enjoyed The Cutting Season and have been meaning to read more of her stuff for years – oh, well! Passing is excellent (and short!). Great to see both Maeve Kerrigan and Lacey Flint put in an appearance – two of my fave ‘tecs. And of course we both have A Gentleman in Moscow on our lists. Have a fab summer of reading – and I will be grading you… 😉
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Thanks! I’m excited to read all of these detective stories, FF! I hope you grade on a curve – or perhaps a little chocolate might sweeten the pot? 😉
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Bribery is always welcome… 😉
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Passing is a fantastic novel that move through the modes of African American life during the time and how no stereotype can make a person fulfilled. Of course, I’ve read the Anne books 😊
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Great – that makes me even more eager to read it.
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The Anne books are the only ones I’ve read (Anne of the Island’s one of my favourites), but the rest of your list sounds fantastic, too!
I notice a lot of bloggers recommending “Passing” – I’ll have to bump that one up my own list. 🙂
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I saw it on Fiction Fan’s blog and added it to my list!
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Great list, Laila. Can’t wait to read your review of Into the Water as I loved it but there is many people online who hated it…
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I’m starting it today!
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Then I expect you’ll be done in three sittings or less! Enjoy
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I’m seeing quite a few posts on this challenge, but I’m in winter 🙂
There are a lot of books on your list that I have on my to read list too (The Cutting Season, The Hate U Give and A Gentleman in Moscow). Looking forward to reading your reviews on them. I’ve read a few posts on your blog and I love your blog. Definitely becoming a follower!
PS – I liked Into the Water, I hope you’ll enjoy it too.
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Thank you, Melinda! I’m reading Into the Water right now and I am really liking it. I think it’s better than her first.
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Nice combo. Some old classic and new classic, some entertainment and some thinking. Sounds great! My favourite in your list – oh, I was going to say Sherman Alexie, but then I realised WHICH of Elizabeth Taylor’s books you chose and I am exceptionally fond of that one. There are a couple of delightful bookish lines in it too. Enjoy them all!
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Oh yay! I am so excited to read them – that makes me even more so!
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This is an awesome list! Since you told me you liked The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I’m confident you will also appreciate The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. As I recall, it’s a difficult read at times, but so good (and I don’t even like short stories). Several of these are on my TBR for this year, so I’m eager to see what you think!
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Thanks, Sarah! I’m looking forward to more Alexie for sure.
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