I’ve decided to participate in 20 Books of Summer again this year, it’s hosted by Cathy@746 Books . I’ve completed it in the past, but it was Judith @ Reader in the Wilderness who nudged me to do it this year. It almost went past me, mainly because I can hardly believe that we’re almost at June again. So, beginning on the 1st of June I’ll be working my way through:
1. Family Money by Nina Bawden
2. Eva Trout by Elizabeth Bowen
3. The Loved and Envied by Enid Bagnold
4. My Career Goes Bung by Miles Franklin
5. A Use of Riches by J.I.M. Stewart
6. The Humbler Creation by Pamela Hansford Johnson
7. Amerika by Franz Kafka
8. Gentian Hill by Elizabeth Goudge
9. The Small Army by Michael Marshall
10. The Return of the Railway Children by Lou Kuenzler
11. Midnight is a Place by Joan Aiken
12. Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease
13. The Stronghold by Molly Hunter
14. Comes the Blind Fury by Douglas Rutherford
15. Three Loves by A.J. Cronin
16. Friend and Foe by Shirley McKay
17. In Place of Fear by Catriona McPherson
18. Cymbeline by William Shakespeare
19. The Witch’s Brat by Rosemary Sutcliff
20. Rival Queens by Kate Williams
A lot of these books are very new to me as I bought quite a few of them at a secondhand booksale just last week in Edinburgh. Three of them have been borrowed from the library. Only one is non-fiction, Rival Queens by Kate Williams. Five of them were written for older children or YA as they might be categorised nowadays. There is always a chance that I’ll substitute some of the books on this list with a ‘must read now’ books, but I’ll try to stick to it.
Have you read any of them?
I’ve only read Midnight is a Place. I read it over and over when I was a kid but i haven’t read it in years.
Jennifer,
I’m looking forward to reading that one, although it’s quite a bit thicker than most of the books on the list.
I read Cymbeline by William Shakespere before I went to see the play on 9th September 2001 at the Globe Theatre on Southbank. Sadly I will always have the memory when returning from the interval of the announcement on stage as to what had happened in New York with the terroist attack on the Twin Towers. The announcer said he would quite understand if people wanted to leave. Quite a few did, I guess Americans wanting to be in touch with family and friends. The show did go on my friend and I did stay. I must say I found the bench seating with no back rather tough going for several hours but authentic to the times of Shakespeare! It also felt eerie as no longer planes flying over as the airspace over London had temporaily been shut down as a precaution. It was planes I had noticed in the first half thinking these would not have been around in Shakespeare’s time.
In saying all this I need to refresh my memory on the play so I will read it again thanks for the prompt.
Cecilia,
That was quite an experience. I’d love to go to the Globe for a performance, I didn’t realise that they could last for so long, I hadn’t factored in the intermission, it must be even worse if you’re a groundling. We might get around to it one day.
I enjoyed Gentian Hill and In Place of Fear, but they are the only two I’ve read from your list. Good luck!
Helen,
Thanks, I’m cheating a bit as I’ve already started reading In Place of Fear as it’s a library book and I’m really enjoying it.
That’s a really interesting list – good luck!
Haven’t read a single one of them! Looks like an interesting list, though – hope you enjoy them!
FictionFan,
That must be my penchant for old books and dead authors shining through! They don’t answer back anyway!
I just learned of your site from Judith’s site … and look forward to your Scottish posts and book reading. I have not read these books on your list but my interest is piqued. And I will start working on my summer list shortly. Can’t believe May is almost over. Happy reading from Canada.
Susan,
Thanks for dropping by, I’ve just popped over to The Cue Card, it’s especially interesting to see your photos of places you have visited. I look forward to more in the future.
Katrina