I decided to participate in 20 Books of Summer hosted by Cathy at 746 Books. I am not a fast reader and 20 seems a bit daunting. However, I can see myself reading a lot of books this summer and as Cathy says, you can go for 10 or 15—the point is to have fun and it WAS fun gathering up all the books to choose from! I will try and read as many of these as I can between June 1 and September 1 and we’ll see what happens. I will claim right here, right now: The final total, whatever it may be, will be a win 🙂
Maybe I’ll see you there?!!
So here is my list:
- Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth’s Extinct World’s, Thomas Halliday
- Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction, Michelle Nijhuis
- Mere Christianity, CS Lewis
- The Cloud of Unknowing, Anonymous
- Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel, Thomas Keating
- Grave Goods, Arianna Franklin
- Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda
- The Angel’s Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
- The Snow Leopard, Peter Matthiessen
- Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet, Thich Nhat Hanh
- The War in the Air, HG Wells
- A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway
- My First Summer in the Sierra, John Muir
- Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard
- Sweet Thursday, John Steinbeck
- The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain
- Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman
- Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
- The Golden Calf, Helene Tursten
- Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of CS Lewis, Michael Ward
Relevant Obscurity 
Looks like quite an ambitious list! The only one I’ve read is Mansfield Park, which of course is great – I hope some of the others prove to be just as enjoyable. Have fun!
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I hope this reread of Mansfield Park is enjoyable!
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Mansfield Park and A Moveable Feast are two of my most favourite books so you’re in for a good summer of reading, have fun!
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I hope so! I will be reading MP in August and the Hemingway fairly soon.
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Good luck with these, Laurie, some worthwhile stuff there! I’ve only read three of these, the titles by Austen, Ward and Ruiz Zafón. I mostly enjoyed the latter, following the action on a modern map of Barcelona (though the modern street names are Catalan and the novel’s are in Castilian Spanish) – but the climax I remember as being a bit unfocused. The Austen and the Ward are both great, though, each in their own way.
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I love following maps with books, so I’ll keep that in mind. Spain is a place I would really like to visit.
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Two I have on my TBR: Moveable Feast and Innocents Abroad. I hope to read MF this summer, too. I’m really looking forward to it. Good luck!
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(I just found this in the spam folder-I usually check it every couple of days, because this has happened before to you! So sorry about this)
These two books seems to be on others’ tbr or favorites, so I am hoping they’ll be fun reads for me, too.
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Lots of interesting books. The War in the Air caught my eye and having just read more about its subject matter it sounds intriguing and amazingly prophetic.
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I am really interested in The War in the Air, too. HG Wells is really an amazing writer having tackled so many subjects.
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Lots of books to “sink your teeth into”….bravo for an amazing list!
I will definitely investigate 18 books on the list….I’ve only read Jane Austin and Mark Twain.
This challenge always manages to lift my reading spirits after at times a stressful (world news, pandemic etc) during the first six months of the year. Books lift us up….
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This list is sure diverse. I am trying to read as many books off my shelves as I can this year. Many people have commented on the Twain, which is so good to know.
I hope you have a nicer last 6 months of the year!
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That’s an interesting list. The only one I’ve read is Mansfield Park, which I enjoyed. Good luck!
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Mansfield Park is a reread. I hope to find something to like in Fanny Price that most people find. I am missing something!
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Great list, Laurie. I’ve been curious about The Cloud of Unknowing for many years. If you start it, let me know and I’ll try to join you!
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Oo yes, maybe July?
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I’ll mark my calendar and download a copy in prep. 😊
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Great list Laurie, I’ve read Magic Lessons and the Steinbeck (a long time ago!). Thanks so much for taking part and good luck x
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Thank you for hosting!
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