20 Books of Summer: wrap-up

It’s September, and not only was it back to school yesterday for INSET – more of which to come on Monday (groan!), but it’s the end of the 20 Books Of Summer Challenge hosted by Cathy at 746 Books.   My original 20 are pictured on the right – all pre-2018 acquired books from my TBR.  Last year I managed 11. This year I managed 8 from the 20, plus one official substitution. However, during the three months of the challenge, I also read 6 more from my TBR for other tags and challenges, so I’m going to make them unofficial subsititutions. The result is, that I can cheekily say I read 15/20 which is an improvement.

The official 9 in A-Z by title were:

  • Billie by Anna Gavalda (translated from French) – #6 (8.5/10) Review
  • The Brontes Went to Woolworths by Rachel Ferguson – #9 (6/10) Review
  • Concrete Island by J G Ballard – #2 (9/10) Review
  • Exit West by Mohsin Hamid – #4 (7.5/10) Review
  • La Femme de Gilles by Madeleine Bourdouxhe (tr from French) – #7 (9/10) Review
  • Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf – #1 (10/10) Review
  • The Singer’s Gun by Emily St John Mandel – #8 (9/10) Review
  • Wabisabi by Francesc Mirailles (translated from Catalan) – #5 (8.5/10) Review
  • Weightless by Sarah Bannan – swapped in – #4 (10/10) Review
  • What a Way to Go by Julia Forster – #3 (7/10) Review

The unofficial six were:

  • A Man’s Head by Georges Simenon – (9/10) Review – for Paris in July
  • The Italian Girl by Iris Murdoch – (7/10) Review – for Liz’s Great Iris Murdoch Readalong
  • Master Georgie by Beryl Bainbridge – (9/10) not reviewed yet – – for Shiny Booker week
  • Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson – (10/10) Review – for Book Group
  • Paddy Clarke, Ha, Ha, Ha by Roddy Doyle – (7.5/10) Review – for Shiny Booker week
  • Rites of Passage by William Golding – (10/10) Re-read – Review – for Shiny Booker week

I never take reading challenges that seriously, but I do like to join in, often knowing I won’t complete it – especially where reading from my overlarge TBR is concerned. Anything that gets me to read a book that’s been on my shelves for ages is, frankly, a very good thing!

9 thoughts on “20 Books of Summer: wrap-up

  1. Bellezza says:

    Your list looks good (I’ve only read Exist West from it, which I loved until the ending), but what has especially caught my eye is the title you’re reading now in your sidebar: If Cats Disappeared From the World. I love the cover, I’m intrigued by the title and of course…Japan! Looking forward to your thoughts on that one.

  2. JacquiWine says:

    There’s always scope for a substitution or two, especially if a Simenon is involved! I’ve only read Gilles and Oranges from your list, both of which I loved – especially the Bourdouxhe. Anna Gavalda’s name keeps cropping up in various recommendations, so maybe she’s someone to bear in mind for the future.

    Best of luck with the return to school – I hope your first week back isn’t too onerous.

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      I loaded the two French ones into the pile for WIT and Paris in July! My choices were multi-tasking. Luckily Monday is inset, so only four days of the boys in the first week!

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      Usually my school is one of the last back, but we’re early this year – it was a shock having to go in for Inset on Friday – still in August! Luckily, I got out of doing the teachers workshop, but have a day of meetings on Monday. Good luck with yours.

  3. Liz Dexter says:

    Great list and well done! I love this challenge because it’s very free and easy. I did two swaps and got my 20 in right on the line, but read 10 others in the time period. You’ve got some great ones there and hooray IM of course and thanks for the link.

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