Summer Reading With A Twist

Recently our Thursday #FollowReader discussion went a bit lighter-than-usual topic-wise, and we spent a delightful hour or so talking about summer reading. This conversation was no mere list of summer titles to be read (though, that certainly was discussed), but a well-rounded exploration of all that summer reading entails — including how it might be changing with the introduction of ereading devices other digital reading options.

Some of us seem to favor lighter reads during the summer, but plenty don’t let the season dictate just what or how they’ll read. Interestingly, many of us commented that we love  reading books about locations where we’ll be spending our summer vacations, and a lot of of also share a delight in finding completely random reads at summer vacation destinations.

You can find the thread in its entirety at: http://bit.ly/18Xmq7. And, for a “condensed” version, check out the summary of highlights below:

Question: How Will You Be Reading Your Summer Reads This Summer?

npilon: @KatMeyer I’m planning to try to read some classic fiction as eBooks this summer. Pride and Prejudice, at minimum.

lmtapscott: @ KatMeyer No one could drag me away from print. An eread just isn’t a book!

Question: Bookstores – Do Your Sales Increase in the Summer? Does any Genre Outsell Others in Summer?

AaronsBooks:our booksales increase a lot in summer but we’re a tourist town

nettisue: in our area they do, but we are a tourist town. Lots of men fishing and women reading.

AaronsBooks: no one genre outsells, but def. MMP and bestseller list TPB are more popular than non-fic and Hrdcvr

Question: Anyone Using Ereaders at the Beach/Around the Pool?

ftoolan: i had a kindle at the beach last year, worked out ok, but i was nervous about it, and kept it in a plastic baggie

nettisue: yes, Sony E-reader works like a charm in full sun

youareonvisual: me! I do ereading on my N95 using mobipocket

jasonboog: I read “Six Bad Things” by @CharlieHuston on my iPhone on a Puerto Rican beach. Highly recommended experience.

Liza: I took my Kindle on vacation in Maine last year. It was out of the wireless range and therefore almost useless.

nicole_miller: @allegra2157 I’ve taken my #kindle to the beach and not had any problems with it…the sand in my hair, on the other hand..

A Question from @Nick During Elicited a LOT of Response From FTRers:

NickDuring: Does anyone else remember past summers by the books they read?

laurahazardowen: @NickDuring YES! One summer I read both Gone with the WInd and Little Women for the first time, and i remember it so happily.

kashicat: @NickDuring Yes! I read Michael Moorcock solid one summer. And Nigel Tranter another summer

npilon: @NickDuring Yes. There were a couple when I was growing up that are particularly memorable – IE, the summer I read Foundation

toofondofbooks: . @NickDuring I can often remember where/when I read a particular book. All kinds of memories associated w/certain books.

lmtapscott: @NickDuring The summer of my 13th birthday, I was really into R.L. Stine. Thankfully my tastes have evolved .

Some Books Recommended by #FollowReader Readers:

WheatmarkBooks: Just finished “Punching In” by Alan Frankel. It’s a really interesting look from the other side of pop. companies.

wiremamma: @trisheylady – This summer’s beach bag book of choice: Jude Deveraux – _Knight In Shining Armor_ just cuz. I ♥ bks read b4.

hmccormack: Some excellent YA crossover summer reads from an incredibly well-read librarian http://bit.ly/pKA77
staycation reads 4 summer http://bit.ly/tq2c3;Devour Books, Not People: Summer Zombie Lit http://bit.ly/KRHoZ

rebeccawoodhead:Just finished Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Amazing book. Reviewed it here: http://bit.ly/194O8T

booknerdnyc: Summer read: TROUBLE by Kate Christensen. And I really want to visit River Run in New Hampshire!

JulieKlam:Just bought and am saving Kate Christensen’s TROUBLE for my summer read (if summer ever comes)

trishheylady: My choice 4 a summer read 2009: BESIDE A BURNING SEA by John Shors, & THE HUNGER GAMES then CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins.

susanmpls: Absolutely wonderful summer reading: Auntie Mame & Around the Wrld With Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis

ehrenc: Someone mentioned road trip! Little Road Trip Handbook by @erinhere

Going on a Summer Road Trip? Some Audio Books Recommended by FollowtheReaders:

trishheylady:I’ve heard The Time Traveler’s Wife is excellent.

bookish_type: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, as read by author. Funny and classic! Maybe a little hazardous while driving.

pussreboots:Sue Grafton’s alphabet series translates well to audio book.

ReneeAtShens: I’ve listened to The Time Traveler’s Wife on audio. It was great!

jenforbus:if you like mystery I highly recommend Mark Hammer’s readings of JL Burke’s Dave Robicheaux novels.

ftoolan: love Harlan Coban and Nelson Demille for long car trips (like MA to NC)

toofondofbooks: if no kids in car, Josh Bazell’s BEAT THE REAPER is an on-the-edge-of-your-(car)seat thriller w/comedic touches

ReneeAtShens:I’m listening to Me Talk Pretty One Day on audio right now. I would recommend anything by Sedaris- he’s hilarious.

jenforbus: or George Guidall (sp?) reading Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire series.

charabbott:Audio of Push by Sapphire read by the author is AMAZING. Movie version (called “Precious”) is coming this fall.

cincindypat: I loved listening to Oscar Wao and Life of Pi on summer drives from NYC to VA, but that was years ago

mhsteger: on long drives my my family has listened a few times to Derek Jacoby reading Peter Pan; maybe time to try Jacoby reading Iliad

FTRers’ Recommended BookStores to Visit While on Vacation:

wiremamma: my fave to find on vaca. used book stores… dusty, dank, w/ much loved on pages. Or the bright lights of Bookmans! (Tucson)

sruszala:My vacations always include the best bookstore in the city: Shakespeare & Co in Paris one of my all-time favs

susanmpls: I always visit bkstres where I vacay. Doesn’t everyone navigate USA by bkstr? (Seattle=Elliott Bay; Denver=Tattered Cvr etc.)

BaileysandBooks: On vacation I always try to go to a bookstore, fondly remember many hours sitting in City Light in San Fran b.c it was raining

trishheylady: If anyone comes to the Bay Area, @bookpassage is fantastic.

wiremamma: Like the Paperback Shack – used bookstore in Temecula. Tiny by comparison to @bookmans – but good atmosphere.I like Book Tales in downtown Encinitas, CA – small, fun, great place to find a beach book.There’s another fun one in Crestline – a kids book store… Little Folks Book Shoppe – the girls love it.

lmtapscott:Shakespeare & Co, Paris

KatMeyer: fave bookstore to visit on a vacation: Powell’s in Portland

jesakalong:Powell’s bookstore is my favorite place on earth!

ErinHere: Baker Books, Dartmouth MA, and of course Bunch of Grapes in Vineyard Haven!

lmtapscott:The Globe Bookstore, Prague. a MUST visit, if you’re in Prague. Has a great cafe in back too.

SideshowAmi:(fave bookstore to visit on a vacation) Big Hat Books in Broad Ripple, IN. And near the Broad Ripple Brew Pub!

susanmpls: Wild Rumpus in Mpls has 2 cats RT @kashicat:And we must not forget the great bookstores with cats!

ftoolan: to any that venture to Newburyport, MA Jabberwocky books is a great store!

SideshowAmi: too true! My all-time fav. bookstore, Box of Delights in Wolfville, NS has a pub to the right and to the left of it!

rebeccawoodhead: Jaffé and Neale Bookshop & Café in Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds, England is meant to be wonderful. Hope to go there soon.

For a great list of bookstores reviewed, check out “Spotlight on Books Series” from “She Is Too Fond of Books” blog.

Have your own ideas about great summer reads, favorite bookstores to visit while vacationing, or any other thoughts on summer reading? Please let us know in the comments section!

And, please join this week’s#followreader publishing discussion on Thursday July 2nd. To follow to our discussion in real time, go to Twitter Search and type in #followreader. To add your comments to the discussion, follow @charabbott and @katmeyer on Twitter, and include #followreader into your responses.