SURVEY SAYS: Summer Reading List 2014

In addition to asking readers what they will read this summer, I asked them where they like to read. Half of responding NewsDash readers chose “anywhere I can.”  Nearly one-quarter (23.7%) said they like to read on the beach or by the pool; 47.4% on the porch, patio or deck at home or on vacation; 31.6% indoors, where there’s air conditioning and no bugs; 23.7% during travel or work commute; and 31.6% while in waiting rooms or lines.

“Other” responses were specifics about where indoors some like to read:

• “I have a chair in my living room with a footstool. As soon I turn on the light by the chair, my cat, Spud, comes running along. As soon as I sit down and get comfortable, she lays down on me and falls asleep. I could sit there all day!”
• “You forgot the bathroom i.e. toilet or tub.”
• “In my bed”
• “in the “WC” (“water closet”). Or, as I like to call it (much to my wife’s chagrin), my reading room.”

As for the reading list, there weren’t as many duplicates as in lists past; duplicates included the Divergent series, the Game of Thrones Series, and Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts. Some readers listed authors—i.e. David Baldacci, James Rollins—rather than book titles.

Here is the list:

• ISCEBS Fellowship exam materials (for the first part of the summer). Once the exam is over - it will be super light reading just to give my brain a break!
• Anything by James Rollins.
• Allegiant; The Mortal Instruments series; Flash Boys; A Song of Ice and Fire series; The Target; Stress Test; 10th Anniversary; 11th Hour; 12th of Never; Unlucky 13; The Watchdog That Did't Bark; The Railway Man; Maleficent; The Hit
• Bodice Rippers
• Where Men Win Glory, by Jon Krakauer; Sargeant Rex, by Mike Dowling; Act of War, by Brad Thor; The Heist, by Daniel Silva...and as many HEA stories as I can!
• I am currently reading The Dive at Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer.
• Anything that is still in printed form.
• It's time to revisit Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". I downloaded it to my Nook yesterday.
• The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
• Anything new by David Baldacci, The Orphan Train, try to finish an Elizabeth I biography,
• The Divergent series
• Written in My Own Hearts Blood
• Whiskey Beach
• The Bone Orchard by Paul Doiron
• Whatever piques my interest. Since I generally mostly read science fiction and fantasy it is a good bet that will be the type of book. I have been reading F&SF Magazine since 1974 so all new editions will certainly be read this summer. On the more serious side I have recently taken an interest in ham radio so I will be reading various publications to enhance my knowledge base.
• Re-reading some of the classics- Henry Miller, Hunter S. Thompson and Arthur Conan Doyle.
• A Casual Vacancy by Robert Galbraith aka J.K.Rowlings, Any missing Dirk Pitt novels by Clive Cussler (way behind on those).
• Gone With the Wind
• Begin the Game of Thrones series
• David Baldacci
• Missing You---Harlan Coben; Whiskey Beach and The Collector---Nora Roberts
• Gardening Books and Magazines
• The new Baldacci Book and the new Murder Club book and probably 10 more before the summer's out.
• Stephen King's Mr. Mercedes
• "Dearie," the story of Julia Child
• My summer reading list, among others, always includes trashy magazines - (People, OK) but just for fun. I don't even know half the people they write about!
• "My Struggle" (book 1) by Karl Ove Knausgaard "The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarity "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
• The Divergent series. Received them for Mother's Day and have been told they are good.
• Game of Thrones Series and the new Janet Evanovich book coming out mid June.
• too much. I keep downloading all these free books, a combination of classics to be read (and in many cases, REread), and some really trashy (and sometimes quite good) self-published books on Amazon. I'll NEVER catch up!

In verbatim comments, readers expanded on where they like to read—“Nothing better than sitting on the deck at twilight with a glass of wine and a good book,” and “My all-time favorite place to read is in a deck chair on a cruise ship!” for example. One reader lamented that summer is just as busy so doesn’t offer any more time to read than any other season, while another is considering what to read after getting rid of cable TV— “We're pulling the plug on the cable this summer so maybe I'll start with ‘War and Peace’ or ‘How to Win Friends’ for it could be the strangest of times.” Editor’s Choice goes to the Dr. Seuss among commenters who said: “I like to read on a plane, on a train, in the sun just for fun, while I'm bathing, not while shaving, while I'm waiting, not while skating, sometimes in bed, while being fed. So many places yet to try, my oh my oh my oh my!”

Thank you to everyone who participate in the survey!

Verbatim

There is nothing better than curling up in a hammock near a campfire and reading by headlamp, miles from civilization. It's the best way to completely unwind from the everyday stress of our jobs.

Borrowing eBooks from local library to read on my mini iPad is great ... only downside is that in April I was 74th in line to check out Allegiant so hopefully I will get by the end of summer!

I think enough at work that I need some escape time; however, I know when I've had enough fantasy romance novels when my eyes start rolling around in my head. Then it's back to the murder mysteries and thrillers!

Reading is an anywhere, anytime activity. 'Nough said.

My all-time favorite place to read is in a deck chair on a cruise ship!

Verbatim (cont.)

Nothing better than sitting on the deck at twilight with a glass of wine and a good book.

I like to read on a plane, on a train, in the sun just for fun, while I'm bathing, not while shaving, while I'm waiting, not while skating, sometimes in bed, while being fed. So many places yet to try, my oh my oh my oh my!

I love to read, regardless of the season.

Anywhere or anything not work-related!

No set list for the summer. I like courtroom thrillers.

Favorite is to listen to books on tape while driving

I read anywhere/everywhere I can...books take me places I have never been and allow me to revisit places I have been---learning something new with each visit.

My husband and I have two favorite places to read - the gazebo in our backyard surrounded by lush ferns, flowers, trees, the sound of our fountain and many, many birds or the front porch which is lined with pots filled with flowers and vegetables, ferns and a bubbling fountain. The house sits up high so we can look down on the gardens and the thick green grass...and wave to our neighbors as they go by.

Usually the only place I can read undisturbed is vacation, so I tend to read only once a year!

We're pulling the plug on the cable this summer so maybe I'll start with War and Peace or How to Win Friends for it could be the strangest of times.

Wish I had more time to read, but unfortunately, summer is no different than the rest of the busy year.

I have found that I prefer to read certain genres in certain places - the more sun, the less serious. So, zombie apocalypse on the deck, and biographies in the...well, you know...