Summer Reading Lists

Focus for this List: My friends, it's truly summer, and thus, time for everyone to recommend their summer reading picks. This list will give you a list of other resources to explore. Do let me know which links you end up liking, and what you're reading. Enjoy!



1.  Lifehacker: How to Create an Awesome Summer Reading List
My husband's reaction when he caught me reading this article was to say in a tone of some indignation, "What are you doing on MY favorite website?" Yes, it's not normally my stomping ground, but they actually came up with a wonderfully comprehensive list of resources. Check out their list of Books That Changed Your Lives, compiled by surveying their readers. It tells you all you need to know about those who frequent this website! 

2.  Great Books Lists
While not very visually interesting, this website is a list of links to lists of good books. Most of the collected links are by people trying to define the canonical texts. The sheer variety of lists keeps it from being too narrowly focused for my taste. That, and they listed Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land as one of the classics.  Ya'gotta respect the Dean if you're going to have MY approval!  :) 

Note: this website actually indexed all the books on all the lists . . . so just scroll to the bottom of the page to see if anyone gave respect to YOUR favorite author! 

3.  NPR: Three Rapid Reads for the Impatient Intellectual
This particular list is for Michelle, as I know she likes short stories!  *waves*  You can also find other NPR recommendation lists: Summer Reads to Transport You Back in Time, Three Memoirs that Won't Make You Slit Your Wrists, and Indie Booksellers Target Summer's Best Reads.  Go on, dig in, you know you want to!

4.  The Book Seer
Ok, I know it's silly of me to be seduced by the clever interface, and the grammatical sentences, not to mention the commentary you get when you don't fill out both fields, but seriously?  This is a fabulously fun website, and a great way to find some recommendations!  So, what are YOU going to read next? 

5.  List of Lists for Kids
Similar to this post, this is a compilation of links to lists, this time focusing on books for the younger set.  I'm not generally a fan of about.com, but this is actually quite a helpful list of links. 

6.  International Reading Association
While it's a bit odd to have pdf documents rather than clickable links, the information remains good, and the choices are interesting.  This is a professional organization for English teachers. 

7.  Modern Library Lists
These are the folks who came up with the much-discussed Top 100 list that's been circulating on facebook since forever. I was delighted to find both the books their editorial board chose, and also the books their readers recommended. Yes, I liked the readers' list better . . . more Heinlein, you know!

8. Oprah: Books for the Armchair Traveler
The best part of this list is that each book recommendation comes with links to other resources.  Sometimes it's an interview with the author, and sometimes it's to a book club discussion guide, the point is that they've really made this a rich resource.  Here's another nifty Oprah link: 4 Books to Steal from Your Teenager, because hey, I agree with two of her choices, and I've added the other two to my To Be Read List!

Also, a list of her favorite books from one of my favorite authors: Jodi Picoult.  Great website!

9.  Amazon
Honestly? I tend to turn to Amazon for reviews on just about everything. Their book recommendations aren't particularly on course for me, but that's improving as I actually buy books from them, rather than just using them for research. 

10.  Nifty Cool Literature Map
Ok, in terms of fun graphical interface, this wins the contest. Type in the name of your favorite author and see what happens. I won't spoil the surprise, but I will say that I was delighted with the depth of their sci-fi offerings!

BONUS!  Half-Price Books also has a blog . . . with book recommendations.  Look here for a post of the best books about caterpillars / worms.    Enjoy!

For Comfort While Facing a Storm

Focus for this List: A dear friend of mine asked for a list of books that would be light, fun reads, with minimal romance.  My friend is going through a really challenging time, and so, I also recommended some books that I've found helpful when the world comes crashing down.  E, this list is for you. 

Nonfiction that has Saved My Sanity (more than once):
1.  Laurence Gonzales: Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
This is far more than a book on how not to die while camping -- it's a survival guide for life. No, really. In fact, it's a bit of a genre-spawning book, and one that is quite readable. Skip the overly science-filled parts if you wish, but focus on the lessons. They're essential.

2.  Viktor Frankl: Man's Search for Meaning
A small book, it is, in fact, the most truth-filled and helpful guide to living I've ever encountered.  Written by a psychologist who survived the Holocaust, this is a guide to living with meaning, even when it all seems meaningless.
And here's an official recommendation by someone other than me, "According to a survey conducted by the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Library of Congress, Man's Search For Meaning belongs to a list of "the ten most influential books in [the United States]." (New York Times, November 20, 1991)."  Thanks, Wikipedia!

It's a good book, and I think it will help.  Please read it?

Nonfiction that's just fun to read:
3.  C. S. Lewis: On Stories: and Other Essasy on Literature
Yes, I read C.S. Lewis for comfort - don't you?  :)

4.  Jane Yolen: Touch Magic: Fantasy, Faerie & Folklore in the Literature of Childhood
I'm not sure why faery-tales came so strongly to mind, E, when I was making this list for you, but they did.  Thus, my favorite collection of essays by one of my favorite authors.  In particular, I think the essay titled, "The Mask on the Lapel" will speak to you.  Page 53 in my book. 

Fiction for You:
5.  Jane Yolen: Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast 
Well, I could hardly let you escape without reading some of her fiction too, eh?  They are short stories for when that's all the time you've got!

6.  Louis Sachar: Holes
Some would say this is a book for teens and pre-teens.  I say that it's a modern fairytale with points to touch us all.  That, and it's set in West Texas.  You'll like it.

7.  William Saroyan: My Name is Aram
Another collection of short stories -- I find Saroyan's writing style to be uniquely calming -- almost a literary balm, at least for me!  You'll enjoy Aram; I think you'll recognize your boys in some of his stories!

8.  William Saroyan: The Human Comedy
This is on my personal top-ten of all-time list. I first read it when wildly homesick as an exchange student in Germany. I allowed myself to read only one chapter a night, and yes, that's how I survived that January. 

9.  Robert Heinlein: The Green Hills of Earth
Short stories to take you away, make you think, change your perspective, and leave you laughing, these are some of the best.

10.  Spider Robinson: Callahan's Crosstime Saloon
If all else fails, read this book (and its friends) until you're helpless with laughter and the light seems brighter.  I've linked it to the Kindle edition for faster access!  Why this book?  Because shared pain is lessened, and shared joy is increased.  Yes, that's a quote.  Go on now, you'll love it!

((((HUGS)))) + A Cup of Tea + A Good Book (or 10) = Better Times Ahead!

Folks the Turkey Birds Would Invite Over for Dinner

Focus for this list:
In a lunchtime debate over the merits of Lord of the Rings, my husband and I ended up talking about how there are some books you read just because you like spending time with the characters. And thus was born this post.  Mind you, we don't always agree, so this is a three part list. It reminded me a bit of our discussions about the wedding lists. Enjoy, and feel free to tell us in the comments whom YOU would like to have over for dinner!  :)

Our Mutual Guest List:  
1.  Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. 
Yes, we would have lots of sweets.

2.  Lady Cecelia from the Serrano / Suiza series by Elizabeth Moon
She's charming, witty, wildly opinionated, and she'd likely solve some of our problems -- whether we wanted her to or not!

3.  Lars & Killashandra from the Crystal Singer series by Anne McCaffrey
C'mon, the stories they could tell!!! 


Mr. Turkey's List:
4 & 5.  Jubal Harshaw from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
If you haven't met Jubal, you've not lived.  Still, he's on Mr. Turkey's list and not mine because I think he would be a bit intimidating. I'd love to listen to him, though.  And hey, if we could also invite Edmund Talbot from John Ringo's There Will Be Dragons, I'd sit in the corner, all ears!

6.  Bilbo from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
This matter was seriously debated, but Mr. Turkey finally settled on Bilbo, saying that he could bring Beorn cakes with him!

7.  Jack Aubrey from The Aubrey Maturin Series by Patrick O'Brian
He's got a gregarious personality and lots of stories about life aboard a frigate.


Mrs. Turkey's List:
8.  Minerva Dobbs & Friends from Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
If all of my best buddies lived within walking distance, we'd be like the folks in this book -- I just know it.  *sigh*  So, in the meantime, I hang out with this crew when I get to feeling lonely. 

9.  Carialle & Keff from The Ship Who Won, and The Ship Errant by Anne McCaffrey & Jody Lynn Nye
Faire + The Holodeck + brain and brawn partnerships = fabulous conversations and companionship.

10. Friday from Robert A. Heinlein's book of the same name.
She's just fabulous!  I'd love to invite her whole family over for afternoon tea. 

End Note:
Hmmmm, looking at the lists, I think we've even created groups of characters who would get along well together.  So, three different dinner parties it is!  When are YOU coming over? 

Comfort Reading

Focus for this list: When it's all been just too much and I simply want to escape into a book, where do I go? 
Here:

1.  Anne McCaffrey: Freedom's Landing
2.  Robert Heinlein: Friday
3.  Lois McMaster Bujold: Falling Free
4.  Jennifer Crusie: Crazy for You
5.  Linda Howard: Now You See Her
6.  James P. Hogan: Star Child
7.  Tanith Lee: Biting the Sun
8.  Spider and Jeanne Robinson: The Star Dancers
9.  Robert Heinlein: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
10.  Spider Robinson: The Callahan Chronicals

Bonus for Kindle Lovers (*ahem* Shannon):  Callahan's Crosstime Saloon, by Spider Robinson

Love & Marriage

Nonfiction:
1.  Dr. John Gottman & Nan Silver: The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work 
2.  Po Bronson: "Why Do I Love These People?": Understanding, Surviving, and Creating Your Own Family
3.  Judith Wallerstein, Julia Lewis, Sandra Blakeslee: The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25 Year Landmark Study
4.  Eric Weiner: The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
5.  Laurence Gonzales: Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

Fiction:
6.  Anne McCaffrey: Crystal Singer (series) & Freedom's Landing (series)
7.  Robert Heinlein: Friday
8.  Jennifer Crusie: Crazy For You

Something Else:
9.  Kahlil Gibran: The Prophet
10. Elizabeth Gilbert: Eat Pray Love

Focus for this list:
Yes, I'll admit, one can (fairly easily) see from this list that, as a child of divorce, I have some issues with love, commitment, and marriage.  My general approach when something scares me silly is to do research; thus the extensive nonfiction selections.  If the nonfiction list delves into the nitty gritty of what can go wrong (and how to avoid having things go wrong) then the fiction gives visions of what love can be. 

Relationship lessons I've learned from reading Anne McCaffrey's books? 
1. Things work out in the end, if both are willing to work hard at it, but it may take several books to get there. 
2. Partnerships work best when strengths are balanced and complementary. 
3.  Love pops up in some unexpected places!

Lessons from Robert Heinlein:
1. Family (& humanity) is what you make of it.
2. A little sexual mischief is always fun!

Lessons from Jennifer Crusie:
1.  Reach for happiness, even if you can't see how you'll there from here.
2.  Always adopt the stray dog.  ;)

 And that, my friend, is my list of books that have influenced my view of love and marriage.  I've been married (quite happily) now for 5 months and 9 days! 

Happy Valentine's Day, and may we all one day be free to marry whomever we love. 
-Mrs. Turkey Bird