Preparing for 20 Books of Summer

I’m so glad that Cathy is running her ‘20 Books of Summer‘ challenge again for 2021. Although I always sign up for the full 20 with good intentions, I’ve never quite managed it yet. Any challenge that gets me reading from my TBR piles is a good nudge for me not to only read the latest acquisitions or review copies. I’m very glad that Cathy’s challenge encourages summer reading without rules. Some pick a pile of 20 books and stick to that pile. I can’t do that – the minute I restrict myself like that – I lose the enthusiasm for reading any of them.

So, I shall repeat what I did last year – my twenty books will be from my bedside bookcase, and will exclude current review copies – all the other books in the bookcase, piled on top, or the piles in front are available to me for this challenge. Here they are:

Yes, some of those books have been there for well over a year…

On the top shelf the books to the right of Homeland Elegies are excluded, as are the bottom four in the pile sitting on top of those, being current(ish) review copies. All the others are available. There are a good few translated books in the mix to cross a few more countries off my list for the European Reading Challenge 2021 hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader.

So, your suggestions for my first read on June 1st…

Why not join in – sign up with Cathy here: 20 Books of Summer 21?

19 thoughts on “Preparing for 20 Books of Summer

  1. A Life in Books says:

    I can recommend A Theatre for Dreamers if you fancy a trip to Hydra. Also enjoyed True Story and I’ve just spotted The Ice Storm although that’s a tough read as I’m sure you’ve gathered.

  2. Liz Dexter says:

    I’ve got The Liar’s Dictionary, that’s the only one I recognised as one I have. I am doing it, too, and trying to exclude review and e-books but will probably include my Anne Tylers, or at least one a month (hm, otherwise they take up six places). I do love doing it!

  3. kaggsysbookishramblings says:

    Oh lovely! I reckon I could possibly do this if I had such a big pile to choose from (which I probably have if I gathered them all together!) Good luck – I recommend Suppose a Sentence! And of course the Paul Morley, but that’s such a big book that it might be best not done as part of a challenge!!

  4. Cathy746books says:

    Out of your piles, I LOVED The Liar’s Dictionary, The Glass Hotel and A Theatre for Dreamers. I love your plan Annabel, thanks again for taking part – happy reading!

  5. Rebecca Foster says:

    Your bedside bookcase is MAD!! I do hope you don’t sleep to the right of that curtain, i.e. the direction towards which some of the stacks on the top are leaning! You have many gems to choose from, so you could easily get to 20 and not have a single dud. I’m currently enjoying The Absolute Book — not my usual fare, but it’s really rollicking along. (Psychologically, would it be better for you to aim for 10 or 15 and smash it, rather than set a goal of 20 and not manage? In any case, be easy on yourself and throw in some short ones like the Bythell.) Hope you’re doing something nice for your birthday.

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      I have to aim for the full 20! I usually do manage to get to 15 or just over, so I have to aim high.

  6. BookerTalk says:

    This is an inspired idea. Like you I don’t care for reading from a pre-defined list. It makes it feel too much like a task rather than a pleasure. So I wasn’t planning to take part but now you have me thinking…..

  7. Marina Johan says:

    Ah! Amazing idea! I’d love to participate. Need to look through my shelves after this. The Woman in the Wardrobe & The Cat Chronicles caught my attention.

  8. Ellie Warren says:

    I think I’d be worried about being crushed by books in the night! I really liked both the Natalie Haynes books as well as The Rapture and The Edge.

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      It’s never fallen over – yet, and my bed is just far enough away that I wouldn’t get hit by any other than the very top books! Think I’ll move that Paul Morley… 😀

  9. Brona's Books says:

    I think you want something relatively quick and easy first up so you feel like you’ve had a flying start with the challenge 🙂
    So I recommend Klara and the Sun.
    I’m also reading the George Saunders, but I’m expecting it to be a much longer project, so kept it out of the challenge…good luck!

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      I don’t think I will be reading the Saunders as part of my 20 Books, but lots of nods for Klara have pushed it up my list. Thanks.

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