Cathy from 746 Books has been running 20 Books of Summer since 2014, and I’ve been taking part since 2015 (see all my lists and links here). The idea is simple: choose 10, 15 or 20 books to read and review between 1 June and 1 September, swap out and in as many as you want to and it doesn’t matter if you don’t complete as long as you enjoy yourself.
Choosing my books
While I usually go with selecting “the oldest 20 books on my TBR”, I do change that sometimes. For example, I often pick some Virago or other reclaimed-women-author presses to fit in with All Virago / All August challenge, in 2021, I went for a diversity / social justice theme for at least June and July, and in 2023 I picked 20 books I’d bought from The Heath Bookshop! But this year, I was a bit stuck. Just the first 20 again? Every xth book working through the years? I didn’t have 20 books left from 2023 that I’d bought from the Bookshop and I knew I wanted to choose books that would count towards my 2024 TBR Project. Well, what’s the point of having another person in the house if you can’t ask them to set you a challenge (even if he once challenged me to only read 52 books in a year …)? So I called Matthew and told him I needed his intelligence and problem-solving skills and left him to it …
I only had two stipulations: I wanted him to pick from books I’d acquired up until the end of 2023 (hence the front row of the bottom shelf sitting on the floor in front of him so he could see the back row), and no Dean Street Press books as I wanted to save them for Dean Street Press December. None of my Emma and my Reading Together books and of course no NetGalley books (invisible anyway, right??) and review books. How did he choose them? “Completely at random based on my own personal thought process: some of it based on spine, some on title, some on ‘juxtapositions’,” and one on a book he wants to read on Audible alongside me.
He accidentally chose 21 books so gave me right of veto on one – I picked one on exercise in menopause which I’m unlikely to read through in one go. Then – THEN – he did a terrible thing, given how I like to read my TBR in acquisition order, and MIXED THEM UP into a random order! I’m going to trust the process, though, and dig out the next book in his order each time.
The Pile
Planned for June:
Ruth Ozeki – The Book of Form and Emptiness – her latest novel, passed to me by Ali. Matthew wants to read this, too, hence its appearance at the top of the pile (Winner of the Women’s Prize)
Helen Taylor – Why Women Read Fiction – based on a study and interviews with women, why do we read fiction?
Alice Mallison – The Book Borrower – a novel about sharing books which Matthew bought me from the San Diego Public Library library sale.
Taj McCoy – Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell – a novel that was recommended by a fellow-blogger featuring a plus-size Black woman negotiating love (I’m pleased I have two novels in a row here I can hopefully pick off quickly)
Ben Waddington and Janet Hart – 111 Places in Birmingham That You Shouldn’t Miss – fairly self-explanatory
Hilary Mantel – Eight Months on Ghazzah Street – fictionalised autobiography of expat life, another one passed to me by Ali
Bob Mortimer – And Away – and actual, though probably tweaked amusingly, autobiography from the hilarious writer
Planned for July:
Susie Dent – Dent’s Modern Tribes – book on the slang and jargon used by different groups of people from football managers to train ticket inspectors
Joe Lycett – Parsnips, Buttered – the son of Kings Heath’s observations and life hacks
Dara McAnulty – Diary of a Young Naturalist – Wainwright Prize winner on life as a young nature lover living with autism
Paul Theroux – On the Plain of Snakes – vintage travel writer travels to Mexico
Nataly Kelly and Jost Zetzsche – Found in Translation: How Language Shapes Our Lives and Transforms the World – discussions of language and translation
Katherine May – The Electricity of Every Living Thing – a woman walks to find herself
Sophie Pavelle – Forget me Not – a low-carbon voyage looking at lost or vanishing species affected by climate change (Winner of the People’s Book Prize for Non-Fiction)
Planned for August:
Rob Beckett – A Class Act – autobiography of the comedian and discussions of class
Drew Haden Taylor (ed.) – Me Tomorrow – Indigenous views on the future
Vanessa Nakate – A Bigger Picture – climate change activism as a worldwide pursuit by a young Ugandan woman
Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne and Kadija Sesay George – This is the Canon – decolonising your reading
Kgshak Akec – Hopeless Kingdom – a novel that geos from Sudan to Geelong via Cairo and Sydney (Winner of the 2020 Dorothy Hewett Award)
Lars Mytting – The Bell in the Lake – bought for me because of the similar themes to Iris Murdoch’s The Bell
There are 6 works of fiction and 14 non-fiction, which is probably representative of my TBR as a whole although my reading tilts to slightly more fiction thanks to NetGalley. Ten are by women, eight by men and two by a mix. Four are on nature and four are autobiographies; four are prize-winners. Ten were gifts and ten I bought myself. There are 6 books by people from Global Majority / Indigenous communities, which is less than my usual balance and the balance on my TBR.
Are you doing 10 / 15 / 20 Books of Summer / Winter this year? Do you think you’ll complete? I’m not entirely sure myself …
May 13, 2024 @ 08:14:42
I read the Hilary Mantel when it first came out and loved it, so I hope you enjoy it.
The Dara McAnulty has been sitting on my shelf for ages, I don’t know why I haven’t read it. I look forward to your thoughts on it.
I am intending to do 20 Books of Summer again but haven’t finalised my list. I’m trying to include books that will tick boxes on the 52 Book Club 2024 Challenge list – but I’m also planning to choose only shortish ones so that I have some vague hope of finishing in time. I do usually read all the books, it’s the reviews that sometimes fall by the wayside.
Good luck!
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:27:38
Sounds like a good plan. A lot of people read the Mantel when Ali got it so I know I should enjoy it. I am not sure I’ll get through everything but there are some lighter and hopefully quicker reads in there so we’ll see!
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May 13, 2024 @ 08:20:12
Great list – good luck with the challenge.
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:27:59
Thank you!
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May 13, 2024 @ 08:53:06
A nicely eclectic selection whatever those thought processes were. Good luck!
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:28:39
Yes, he did well, perhaps a little less social justice than I’ve have picked but some neurodiversity and race and Indigenous issues in there …
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May 13, 2024 @ 12:10:20
It looks like your hubs did a great job picking out your books! I’m looking forward to reading your reviews!
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:29:06
He did and it was so interesting! I hope you enjoy my reviews and I might tempt you with the odd one!
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May 13, 2024 @ 12:24:13
Nice picks, Matthew! I’ve only read the Mantel (dated, but I enjoyed it) and the Ozeki (not her best IMO).
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:30:33
This wasn’t an Ozeki I was desperate to read but Ali really enjoyed it so we’ll see. At least we’ll be reading it together. I know there are two in the pile (The Electricity of Every Living Thing and Me Tomorrow) that he hoped from the spines were sci-fi and it’s always interesting to get someone else’s perspective on one’s TBR!
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May 13, 2024 @ 13:29:43
Matthew chose well! I’m hoping to participate in 20 BoS too, although my TBR will be a little ramshackle…
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:30:58
I hope you have fun picking yours!
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May 13, 2024 @ 14:13:32
Well, I was going to say that you’re very brave to let your husband pick out your reading, but actually mine is quite good at sourcing interesting books for me, so this could be a good plan! And the list is very intriguing, though I would struggle if I had to read them in a specific order, as I’m such a mood reader. Good luck with your 20 books and I’ll look forward to your thoughts!!
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:32:17
Ha – yes, I was a bit nervous (I don’t let him pick out new books for me though he did find those two pony books and The Book Borrower in the San Diego library sale) but he did well! The order is a bit challenging because it’s ot my normal way of doing things but hopefully I can cope!
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May 13, 2024 @ 15:25:15
Good luck! I’ve only read the Lars Mytting, which I enjoyed, but the rest of your list looks great, with plenty of variety. I always have to include some of my NetGalley books on mine as I would never manage to read another 20 on top of those!
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:33:32
That’s good to know you liked that one as it’s a bit of an unknown quantity for me. I have quite a lot of NG books for over the summer but I traditionally do this from my TBR and have managed it while doing other print book challenges (I may have included my challenge books but doubt it) so hopefully I’ll manage. Have fun with yours!
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May 13, 2024 @ 16:31:33
This is a great plan Liz! Well done to Matthew. Dara McAnulty was just at HomePlace last month and he was so smart and sweet. Best of luck!
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:34:15
Why did I forget I had that one when it came to Reading Ireland, that’s what I want to know! Thank you for hosting this again, I’m excited but nervous to get started …
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20 Books of Summer is back: Post Your Links Here!
May 13, 2024 @ 16:40:58
May 13, 2024 @ 17:17:45
Well done Matthew for a varied and inspiring pile of books for you! Like kaggsy, I am also very much a mood reader these days so I am not sure I would have the discipline to stick to a pile; I am forever shuffling and getting books from the library wherever the reading whim leads!
I look forward to your reviews on them in due course and I’ve added several to my list of ‘want to reads’. I think you will find Why Women Read fiction an interesting read. I read it back in 2020 and have now got it in my pile for a planned reread.
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:35:11
Ah, that’s good to know about Why Women Read Fiction, thank you. I don’t mind reading to a plan at all, but I am finding the order of things a bit daunting, weirdly. I’m sure I can cope!
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May 13, 2024 @ 19:39:48
I haven’t participated in this one, because although I always read 20 books during the summer, I don’t really pick them out ahead of time. I’ll be interested to see how you do, though.
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May 13, 2024 @ 20:35:43
I always enjoy doing it though I have failed to finish them all in the past!
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May 13, 2024 @ 22:23:43
Good luck!
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May 13, 2024 @ 22:13:42
I love that you had Matthew choose your books for you and that you are going to go for the order he gave you! I sometimes have my daughter choose my next book and it’s tough to let go of the control!
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May 15, 2024 @ 17:00:53
It was quite hard but easier than choosing myself, which I got completely stuck on!
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May 13, 2024 @ 22:27:09
Looks like an interesting mix, though all those non-fiction books would be too many for me! Have fun and enjoy your reading!
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May 15, 2024 @ 17:01:27
I’ve got plenty of NetGalley fiction to keep me going on that front and there are a few at least.
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May 13, 2024 @ 23:42:33
I saw your intriguing selection process pic on Insta whilst I was having breakfast…I had to pop on over straight away to see how it worked out 🙂
Looks like it worked just fine. Matthew knows you well and I’m adding Forget Me Not to my wish list.
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May 15, 2024 @ 17:02:24
Nice to know my IG does its job sometimes! I did think it was funny to capture him in the act of choosing (I carefully didn’t look at what he was picking). Yes, that one looks very interesting, came from Bookish Beck originally.
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May 14, 2024 @ 07:19:06
I think spines are underrated as a method of choosing what to read. It’s all you ever see of most books (until you pull them out), including in bookshops.
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May 15, 2024 @ 17:02:59
Indeed, although two of them did lead him astray a little with their fake Sci Fi ness!
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May 14, 2024 @ 08:50:57
Goodness knows what my husband would pick out for me if I gave him the chance! Matthew’s picked some great books. A bit heavy on the NF, maybe, and I’m sad for him there’s no sci-fi; do you have any sci-fi? 😂 I loved the only other Ruth Ozeki I’ve read, A Tale for the Time Being, so I hope you enjoy the new one together. Happy summer reading!
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May 15, 2024 @ 17:04:21
I don’t have any sci-fi at the moment, just the two he thought might be from the spines. It would be worse if I’d had a load nestling there he didn’t spot, though! I loved A Tale for the Time Being and her earlier ones, I didn’t rush to buy this but didn’t reject it when it was offered. I’ll be reading that quite slowly as reading along with Matthew doing the audio book, not sure how that will go!
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May 14, 2024 @ 16:04:36
He has chosen some good books there, I have read the McAnulty, Theroux and May and have Sophie Pavelle’s book to read. I went to her talk in Shaftesbury and she came across really well.
I have chosen my books, just need to get organised!
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May 15, 2024 @ 17:05:06
I thought we might have quite an overlap. Enjoy choosing yours and yes, I have some big ones I need to read before I start these, too!
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May 15, 2024 @ 17:12:51
I have chosen my list! Just need to sort the post out now
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May 15, 2024 @ 17:38:39
I’m a big cheat on the 20 books challenge – my list includes everything in my TBR from before Jan 1 this year. I find that choosing a specific pile makes me not want to read them! Good luck with yours.
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May 17, 2024 @ 09:17:55
Completely fair enough! How many does that give you to choose from??! Have fun with yours.
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May 18, 2024 @ 21:11:06
About 1500 I’d wager. Plenty of choice ha ha!
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May 17, 2024 @ 20:50:18
Well that’s a brilliantly varied pile of summer reading. It was brave of you to let Matthew pick them though. Really looking forward to seeing what you think of The Book of Form and Emptiness and Eight Months on Ghazzah street. I’m also curious about The Book Borrower.
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May 18, 2024 @ 16:04:39
It was clever of Matthew to choose two books you’d passed me, wasn’t it! I’ll lend you The Book Borrower if it’s any good!
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May 17, 2024 @ 23:23:53
Nice list. I’ll probably start my list in June with 10 books of summer. From your list, I’m curious about the Mantel and the Book Borrower. Keep us posted on these. Happy reading.
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May 18, 2024 @ 16:05:07
Sounds like a good plan. I hope to be able to keep up with my reviews as I go along …
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May 20, 2024 @ 15:59:25
Good luck with your summer reading challenge. You a good variety of books.
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May 20, 2024 @ 21:24:44
Thank you! Yes, I think it’s varied enough to keep me interested. Seems like a lot of pages, though!
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May 22, 2024 @ 10:43:19
A big yes to the Ruth Ozeki and The Young Naturalist. Good luck! Enjoy!
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May 23, 2024 @ 11:27:21
I’m looking forward to both of those. Thank you!
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Book review - Brit Bennet - "The Mothers"
May 23, 2024 @ 05:51:42
May 26, 2024 @ 13:35:14
If I had so many physical books to choose from I’d give this method a go! But mostly I am working from a digital TBR and e-library; I don’t buy many books. I love looking at a nice book stack though and yours looks pleasantly varied.
I’m aiming for 10 books as I did last year, a doable goal that leaves me pleased if I can manage more.
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May 26, 2024 @ 16:45:32
I’m glad you enjoyed looking at my book pile and yours sounds like a good plan!
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May 27, 2024 @ 16:01:01
If Tumblr were still a thing I’d reblog this as my future TBR since that has been happening for 20 years and I love it.
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May 27, 2024 @ 19:53:20
Does Tumblr not exist any more? I hope I can inspire you with a few of these, anyway!
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May 27, 2024 @ 17:08:39
What a brave move to let someone else make the choices! It would certainly have saved me a lot of time I spent making my lists and changing them endlessly but I’m too much of a coward to let my husband take over
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May 27, 2024 @ 19:54:05
I thought it was pretty safe given that it was my own TBR, not random books he’d chosen from out in the world, but it is a bit weird, esp the ordering!
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May 29, 2024 @ 17:36:16
Well yes but I’d still be looking over his shoulder and giving off vibes
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May 31, 2024 @ 16:37:50
I wouldn’t say it wasn’t hard not to look!!
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May 31, 2024 @ 17:11:33
What a fun way of choosing your list! I might force my husband to do the same (and hope that he doesn’t mess up my TBR order in the process). Or better yet, maybe I can get him to join me! I’m very thankful for the short descriptions you put alongside each book title and author. I’m planning to venture into some new genres this time round, and your list looks great!
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Jun 01, 2024 @ 17:05:38
It was quite fun though a bit scary, too. I photographed my shelves so I could make sure I put the books back in the right place after he chose them! I’m glad you were interested in some of them and hope you have a fun summer of reading.
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Book review - Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani - "I Do Not Come to you by Chance"
May 31, 2024 @ 17:20:14
State of the TBR June 2024
Jun 01, 2024 @ 16:50:49