This week my big plans are to trim the overgrown fig tree, put in some rabbit resistant shade flowers and shop for a gas grill. Or maybe charcoal. We will see.
Recently I saw the Twenty Books of Summer mentioned on quite a few blogs and thought I'd make my own list. I know can't get to get through all of these this summer but I wrote out my library holds list and will read them as they come in.
Probably won't officially sign up at the host site but will challenge myself here.
I made a short list of books to get off my shelves/kindle HERE....so including this list below, that makes a total of nineteen books. I'm close to getting Best Dog in the World (nonfiction) and Brawler by Lauren Groff.
Here are the titles I currently have on hold.
The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin ✔ (this one arrvived early)
Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (I liked her book The Light Pirate)
Under Water by Tara Menon
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune
The Door-To-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
Nonfiction
The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love by Alice Hoffman
Strangers: a memoir by Belle Burden
Wish me luck as I tackle all these books as they come in. Do you have any from my list or any to recommend? Update, as I was tidying up this post the nonfiction Priceless is ready for pick up!
Last but most definitely not least, my thoughts are with Jinjer. xo
Sharing with Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon.
We had a fig tree in the back yard of the house I grew up in and that thing got ENORMOUS unless you stayed on it. The yard was about half an acre and I'm pretty sure at some points the fig tree was half of it. The Gales of November looks good though heartbreaking. I watched a documentary years ago where they retrieved the ship's bell and then replaced it with a replica that was rung by a member of each of the families. I was weeping by the end. Priceless looks fascinating! I love art heists and recovery. Have a lovely week! Looks like you've got some good books to keep you busy.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, I had no idea this fig tree would get so large! We had one when we lived rural, before we moved here, and it didn't do much. Crows ate most of the figs but I think it was too far away from the house so no activeity near it. Definitely trimming this one!
DeleteOh, that's a mivng story about the ships bell. I can't wait to read this one,
You have some good books on your list. I'm interested in This Book Made Me Think of You, Ruins, Land, and Whistler. I have Land, but none of the others, although I can listen to Whistler (and the others, I suppose) on Spotify with my Premium membership. I kind of want to read all of these in print, though. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteLes, thank you, I am looking forward to them all. And any book with pictures of books on the cover interests me. I am determined to read the ones I've had on hold for a while BUT if I don't like it I am doing a DNF. I finally stopped reading the Colm Toibin book.
DeleteThat's great you have Land. In book form or audio?
I've got Land in print, but it's my mom's copy so I should wait until she's read it. ;)
DeleteThat's so cool you like the same books, I would love someone in my house like that! I have a wait before I get my library copy. Not too long though. And I just got the pickup notice for Best Dog in the World. Recently started This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman,
DeleteThank you so much, Tina. Means a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou have a fig tree AND an orange tree??? Oooo I'm jealous. And I just read about some big, beautiful, ancient fig tree that some IDIOT cut down here and it made me so mad.
Enjoy your grilling and your reading!
Jinjer, don't be jealous of that orange tree as it isn't mine! It's in the greenway that runs the length of about 6 of the houses. We can walk there but no one does because that's where the rabbits play and sun. That said, we can pick the oranges but nothing beats a California navel orange for good eating! These are more of the sour sort I can use for making mojo.
DeleteThat's awful about an ancient fig being cut down. They live centuries.
If you need a shoulder I am here xo
Oh fig trees can be messy -- we had one once growing up in Calif. It hung over the driveway and was huge. Cutting it back is a good idea. The book list looks good. We have a hardback copy of The Gales of November since I gave it to Robert for Xmas ... but it hasn't been read yet. Of course I'm interested too in the dog book ... and which authors and dogs link up. Good luck with the books & the chores this week. Stay out of the heat. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I didn't know they got so big ! I've told out neighbor to come pick as many as they like. It's pretty but getting too big,
DeleteI'll let you know on the dog book as I see now it's in transit. I think I may need to put a suspension on the books while I read the ones I am about to pick up. Hope we can read one of these together.
Absolutely staying in afternoons with this humidity!
What a gorgeous fig tree! My town was a big fig producer way back when, and we have two small fig trees we just planted last year now. I love the look of all the books you have on your reading list for the summer. Enjoy, Tina!
ReplyDeleteDeb, it's a huge tree compared to how it looked when we moved in a year ago. Definitely trimming it but right now we have dangerously high heat so it won't be today. Yes, the books I have on hold look like winners and I am excited to get them. I always need a goal.
DeleteI had a difficult time making my list of books this year for summer reading. I couldn't find many new books I wanted to read. I'll be watching to see what you think of the books on your list.
DeleteI am reading Whistler right now and hope to get to Land soon, after I finish up a few other books. It looks to be a good reading season for both of us.
ReplyDeleteMy SS: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2026/06/sunday-salon-home-from-our-trip-by.html
Anne, I have that coming up in my library holds, looking forward to it. I am reading more as I am inside so much in summer so hopefully I'll have some winners.
DeleteYou've got some good books on your list! I'm reading Whistler now and really enjoying it. I love making lists even when I know I won't be able to get to all of the books. Seems like there's never enough time to read, plus you never know when a library hold will arrive. Have fun working your way through these titles!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, glad to hear Whistler is a good one although Ann Patchett usually comes through. I think my favorites by Patchett are The Dutch House and Bel Canto. Oh, I'm pretty sure I won't get to all my holds but we will see as they come in if I can manage them before due dates.
DeleteI started This Is Not About Us by Goodman and I like it. First chapter confused me because there were so many characters but that family tree helped. Now I can keep it straight as I am deep into the book.
I already have This Book Made Me Think of You and The November Gales on my reading list, but now I’ve added Ruins. Looks like a great list for your summer reading!
ReplyDeleteOlivia, thank you! I liked The Light Pirate so I am hoping The Ruins will be just as good. I guess we will be reading the same books this month :-)
DeleteOh, I didn't know about The News from Dublin! I just put it on my Wish list at the library.
ReplyDeleteJackie, I thought it was a novel but it's a collection of short stories. Not bad but not what I expected.
DeleteMy brother just read The Gales of November and was raving about it, so it is now on my list as well. I am eager to read Whistler. Love me a good Ann Patchett. Twenty books seems like a tall order for my summer, with no travel plans and lots of house projects.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your summer and book lineup!
What a wonderful list Tina, I don’t think you can make a wrong choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your week, happy reading!
Thanks, Shelleyrae! I am making some headway with these holds already. Soon I will have a nonfcition to link up with the challenge and I just finished another book.
DeleteThere is a smallish patio tree I have that needs some trimming. You just reminded me to put that on the list!
ReplyDeleteLots of great books here. I don't think I can do a summer list this year. Too many work challenges but I may pick a chunkster classic to read as my summer book.
Hi Ti, glad to help! I can;t wait to trim that fig tree. Picking a chunster for summer is a great idea.
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