It’s hard to believe a year has passed, but there are hints of a change in the weather here in Ireland and I’ve decided to challenge myself again this year to read my 20 Books of Summer!

Last year I managed a mere 16 ½ books, so hopefully I can beat that record this time round.

When I started trying to decide on my 20 Books, I had an idea. At the start of 746 Books, the aim was to read what I had, save some money by not buying books and clear some space by reading what was in the house. And I have managed to read what I have and save some money but over the last 18 months though, I’ve come to realise that I mostly read on my iPad, so the piles in the house are still there, mocking me.

So, this summer, I will only read physical books. It’s a bit daunting, because it removes the opportunity to read on my phone, but it will be nice to spend some time reconnecting with some real, actual books for a change! Plus, I might have a clear shelf by September!

So, starting from 1 June and running until 4 September, I’m hoping to read 20 actual books. 7 a month, I can do that, right? Like last year I’ve gone for as broad a range of genres and books as I can and like last year I have included a rock star memoir, a trashy 70s classic, and some sneaky short plays, poetry collections and short stories!

I won’t be reading in any particular order and be warned, reviews may be shorter than usual – I’ve still a job and a couple of twins to look after you know!

So, here are my 20 Books of Summer, click on the titles for a link to their Goodreads description:

• The Selected Works of TS Spivet by Reif Larsen
• In the House, Upon the Dirt, Between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell
• The Principles of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman
• The Idle Parent by Tom Hodgkinson
• This Isn’t the Sort of Thing That Happens to Someone Like You by Jon McGregor
• The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht
• Love in the Ruins by Walter Percy
• Killer Joe by Tracy Letts
• Out by Natsuo Kirino
• The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
• Motel Chronicles & Hawk Moon by Sam Shepard
• Life by Keith Richards
• The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? By Edward Albee
• The Vanishing Act by Mette Jakobsen
• How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
• Hawthorn & Child by Keith Ridgway
• The Dead of Summer by Mari Jungstedt
• And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
• The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart
• Light Boxes by Shane Jones

I’m going to keep a Master post at the start of the blog so you can follow my progress as books get crossed off the list and if anyone feels their reading needs a bit of oomph then why not join me? Just take the Books of Summer image, pick your own 10 or 20 books you’d like to read and link below.  I’d love your support and I’ve provided a 10 Books image in case 20 seems too daunting! I’ll be tweeting my way through the challenge as well using the hastag #20booksofsummer.

So, any thoughts on my choices? Have you read any of my 20? Any I should start with straight away, or save for later? Any I’m going to regret putting on the list? I’d love to hear what you think.

20 Books of Summer The 746 20 Books of Summer agatha christie and then there were none autobiography classic edward albee hawk moon how i live now in the house jon mcgregor keith richards killer joe life light boxes love in the ruins luke reinhart maira kalman mari jungstedt matt bell meg rosoff mette jakobsen motel chronicles natsuo kirino out play reading challenge reif larsen rolling stones sam shepard script shane jones short story tea obreht the dead of summer the dice man the goat or who is sylvia? the vanishing act the housekeeper and the professor the idle parent the principles of uncertainty the tigers wife thriller tom hodgkinson tracy letts ts spivet walker percy Yoko Ogawa