Summer is creeping up on me. My kids will be out of school in less than ten days, so I’m in panic mode trying to decide what in the world we will do everyday for the next 60 or so week days between now and the middle of August. By the time I get the scheduling and planning part of my brain figured out my kids will be in college. But there is one thing I want to be intentional about this summer and that’s books!
We were planning on moving this past spring or summer, but with the housing market being absolutely ridiculous right now, we have decided that’s likely not happening. However, I did start packing a few months ago, items that we don’t use everyday, but can’t trash or donate, like books. I wasn’t shocked to find that I had a whole box dedicated to books I had bought or been given, but not read.
I’m taking an idea from Kendra, The Lazy Genius, because she has amazing ideas. And one of them she has talked about is her spring reading queue. She came up with some criteria for books she wanted to read, made some choices, and now has a smaller selection to choose from when it’s time to pick a new book to read. And this is what I’m doing for my summer reading. I chose ten-ish books from my “books I’ve never read but really want to” box and those are the ones I’m choosing from this summer.
No buying more books until I’ve made a dent in this box.
There are a couple of things I don’t like and a couple exceptions I’m willing to make. I’m lacking fiction and diversity. I will allow myself to check out fiction from the library, borrow audiobooks for free from Hoopla, and buy books from authors of color—like this one.
Having this shortened selection of books will help me in choosing books this summer. I’m so excited to get to reading. Here are links to these books, and what I need to finish reading first. If you’d like to keep up with books I’m reading and what I have read, you can follow/friend me here on Goodreads.
Books I’m Currently Reading
These first three books I’m reading with groups. I don’t enjoy having several books I’m reading at one time, but yet find myself continually doing it over and over again. Here are Amazon links, not affiliate links.
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscialla Shirer
The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi
My Summer Reading Queue
Links for your convenience, because I’m helpful like that.
Competing Spectacles: Treasuring Christ in the Media Age by Tony Reinke. I bought this after I read 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You. I recommend it if you want a different way to think about your phone usage.
Take It Too Far: Abundant Life, Boundless Love, Unending Grace by Jess Connolly. I loved You are the Girl for the Job and am looking forward to her new book Breaking Free from Body Shame, but I won’t be buying it this summer, at least not until I’ve finished this devotional book from her.
No Other gods: Confronting Our Modern Day Idols by Kelly Minter. I’ve had this book for years. I’m currently reading through the Old Testament and I think this book will be a good addition to reading about the Israelites and all their golden idols.
13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success by Amy Morin. I received this book from a fellow Hope*Writer for Christmas of 2019. It’s time to read it.
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. When you find a classic at a library book sale, you buy it. But it does no good if I don’t read it, right?
She Reads Truth: Holding Tight to Permanent in a World That’s Passing Away by Rachel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams. I LOVE She Reads Truth. I wrote here about how their study books helped start me on a habit of daily Bible reading. So of course I want to read this book by the leaders of SRT.
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I read a biography of Bonhoeffer and wanted to read more from this Christian that worked against the Nazis in WWII Germany. To read from someone that you know lived what they taught is very convicting.
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg. I’m excited to read this after I finish The Artist’s Way.
The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer. Another classic I’m ready to dig into.
Triggers: Exchanging Parents’ Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses by Amber Lia and Wendy Speake. After hearing two separate people in the same day recommend this book, I knew it was a sign I should read it. I also have the study guide that goes with it. I’ll need this one this summer!
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. A friend let me borrow this. I’d like to return it, so that means I need to read it. I’ve heard good things from lots of people about this one.
What are you reading this summer? Do you have a fiction book that is a must read for me to add to my list? Let me know in the comments.
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Love the list Natalie! I loved the Cost of discipleship! and Mere Christianity is on my summer to-read list as well!! 🙂
Thank you! Definitely not light summer reading, but I’m sure I’ll find some fiction for easy reads!