Reading List: Summer 2016

We are headed on a family travel adventure to Ireland and Scotland and I've had a great time building a summer reading list for myself! I have a feeling a few of you are reading/listening more than usual and might have some other ideas for me as well!

On my Shelf:

• Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks- #1 best seller in Northern Ireland Travel Guides... the dude makes a drunken bet to hitchhike around Ireland with  a fridge... I had to get it! Gonna crack into it on the plane!
• Raven Black (Shetland Island Mysteries Book 1) by Ann Cleeves- Jill made me promise I'd read these... we aren't going to Shetland on this trip, but I might as well be prepared for a future one! Plus, once I finish I can watch Shetland on PBS, right?
• A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman- I liked the reviews I read... I bought it... I think that is all I know!!
  

Just Finished:

• My Brilliant Friend: Neapolitan Novels, Book One by Elena Ferrante- Historical Fiction set in Italy in the 1950's... I feel mixed about this, I finished it which means I didn't dislike it, but it also didn't totally spin me in its web.
• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes- Don't judge... everyone needs a little trash in their lives!
• The Moonlit Garden by Corina Bomann- NO idea how I stumbled across this gem but I really enjoyed it. There was history, mystery and a little love! Perfect bedtime reading : )!

Listening: 

•  The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova- 26 hours of vampires and historical fiction... need I say more?
  
• City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg- I've been listening to this on and off, something about it is a little too close to home (tortured teens and young adults in NYC in the mid-80's)... I like it but get depressed everytime I listen to it!
  
• The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood- I heard I am going to like the second book in this series even more than I liked the first one? How is that possible?

Listened: 

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert- I am not a "self-help" reader and avoided this book on creativity like the plague, but I have to say I am really glad I listened to it.... I pretty much agreed with 90% of what Elizabth said, and therefor felt validated and great about myself, isn't that what a self help book is all about?
• Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood- Like 12 people told me to listen to Oryx and Crake this spring.... THEY WERE SO RIGHT! Already onto book #2! Taking them slow as the story line is so good and I don't want it to ever be over!
• Power of One by Bryce Courtenay- a friend suggested this as her favorite book of all time, I'm not sure it's my favorite, but it is up there! The girl and I listened together and were able to discuss, which made it even more interesting.
• Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari- this book taught me what Tinder is, and why I don't need it!

Knitlandia Book Around Update: The book is onto the 5th reader.... and is making its way around the world, I believe it is about to leave the US and go to Belgium and Chile! Kinda awesome, right? I might suggest a book around with Round Ireland with a Fridge... let's see if I love it first!

Also, can someone remind me next year to not schedule vacation right when the peach tree ripens?

 

What are you reading/watching/listening too?  I know I'm going to blow through this list and be looking for more! Let's help keep each other entertained!