How exciting to see that Cathy at 746 Books is celebrating 10 years of 20 Books of Summer! I haven’t participated every year but I’m looking forward to joining in on the fun this summer.
I enjoy using reading challenges to focus on books I’ve had for a while so with that in mind I’ve selected 10 books to focus on. This time I’m also including some Kindle reads that I’ve had on my Kindle for at least 5 years. If I swap out any books it has to be with another shelf sitter.
Here is my pile of possibilities:
The Swiss Summer by Stella Gibbons. I picked this one up due to the title because honestly that’s where I’d love to be right now!
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather. This classic tells the story of Father Jean Marie Latour, a French Jesuit priest, who is sent on mission to the newly acquired southwestern part of the United States in 1851.
Barbara Isn’t Dying by Alina Bronsky; translated by Tim Mohr. Walter Schmidt has lived his whole life within the narrow, “comfortable†confines of traditional gender roles. After all, he could always count on his wife, Barbara. But when one morning she can’t get up from bed anymore, everything changes. I’ve greatly enjoyed  two other books by Alina Bronsky.
Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie. The beautiful bronzed body of Arlena Stuart lay facedown on the beach. But strangely, there was no sun and she was not sunbathing… she had been strangled. I always like to have a mystery to choose from and it’s been ages since I read any Agatha Christie.
The Weekend by Charlotte Wood. Four older women have a lifelong friendship of the best kind: loving, practical, frank, and steadfast. But when Sylvie dies, the ground shifts dangerously for the remaining three.
Photographic: The Life of Gabriela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero. Through this graphic novel we discover the power of images through the photography of Graciela Iturbide. Born in Mexico, Iturbide blazed her own path in the photography scene of the 1970s to become one of the most accomplished photographers in the world.
From my Kindle:
The Lost Words by Stephanie Butland. Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look closely, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are things she’ll never show you. Fifteen years ago Loveday lost all she knew and loved in one unspeakable night.
Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose. In Regency London, an unconventional scientist and a fearless female artist form an unlikely alliance to expose a cold-hearted killer . . . It’s been a while since I read a historical mystery!
My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Korede’s sister Ayoola is many things: the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola’s third boyfriend in a row is dead, stabbed through the heart with Ayoola’s knife.
Things You Save in the Fire by Katherine Center. Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse. She’s a total pro at other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.
As usual, I try to  a variety of genres. Let’s see how I do this summer but I’m excited. Let me know if you’ve read any of these and if you are planning to join!
So many good books on your list! I love that Andrea Penrose series. And Things You Save in a Fire is another favorite. Same with My Sister, the Serial Killer. And Stella Gibbons and Agatha Christie are always good choices for any reading list. Happy reading all of these this summer! 😀
I’ve read two of your choices – The Weekend and My Sister the Serial Killer and loved them both. Thanks for taking part and happy reading!
I have enjoyed so many of Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford and Sloan series, but I don’t remember this one. Maybe I didn’t review it or simply missed somehow. I’ll have to check!
I really liked The Lost Words Bookshop much more than I expected. Bookshop books usually appeal to me, but this one turned out to be a bit more thoughtful!
Barbara is Dying sounds interesting–these things always throw abrupt changes in relationships and roles.
You’ve got some great choices here, Iliana. I have been wanting to read Braithwaite’s book and The Lost for Words. I hope you enjoy your summer reading!
Oh nice list. That’s a Willa Cather novel I still need to read. It came many years after My Antonia and O Pioneers so I wonder how it compares. Happy reading with your books! Glad you joined in the challenge.
Oh, Death Comes for the Archbishop is a a good one! Have fun with the challange!
Evil Under the Sun is one of my favorite Christie books. Hope you enjoy it! I have not read Things You Save In A Fire, but I keep meaning to read it. I also keep thinking that I’ll get to one of Katherine Center’s events here in the Austin area at some point. She’s coming to Georgetown and doing one for Lark & Owl Bookstore here in June, but I’m not going to be able to go. I did see Elizabeth Crook recently and she talked about her book The Madstone. Have you ever seen her? I’m going to share about that in an upcoming post soon. Enjoy the summer, Iliana, and don’t melt – ha! I keep laughing that the weather people rotate from ‘risk because of rain/thunderstorms’ to ‘risk because of sunshine’. We’re always under some kind of risk! LOL
Nice list! I enjoyed My Sister the Serial Killer on audio and recently did a read/listen combination of Death Comes for the Archbishop. Be sure to save the Cather for a time when you’re in the mood for a slow, beautiful novel. Barbara Isn’t Dying is on my wish list. Good luck with your selections.
Great list, Iliana! I read and enjoyed Death Comes for the Archbishop many years ago (Cather is wonderful!), and I loved Things You Save in a Fire. I’ve tried one other by Center, but didn’t care for it, so it was a DNF for me. Happy reading!
Lark – So good to hear that you like that series! I’m very excited about it! Hope you have a great reading summer too!
Cathy746Books – Congrats again on the anniversary of the 20 Books of Summer! Thank you for hosting!
Jen Mullens – I think I have a couple in the series as well. Glad to hear you liked the bookshop book! I love “bookish” books!
Literary Feline – I’m excited too! I hope you are having a great weekend!
Susan – I bought my edition when I was in Santa Fe last year and I’m so excited to read it one because it’s Willa Cather and two because it’ll remind me of being away on vacation!
Stefanie – Glad to hear you enjoyed that one!
Kay – As often as Elizabeth Crook does reading around two I still haven’t had an opportunity to see her or read one of her books. I need to remedy that! Hope you are surviving the heat too! I’m already over it 🙂
Joann @ Gulfside Musing – Good to note about the Willa Cather book! Glad to hear you enjoyed the Braithwaite book!
Lesley – I’m really looking forward to it. I read O’Pioneers a couple of years ago and loved it so I’m definitely excited for it.