In 2021, I read six out of ten on my list the Big Book Summer Challenge, laid down each year by Sue Jackson at Book by Book. I didn’t get them all read before Labor Day, but still…not too shabby, especially compared to my track record from the 2020 challenge. To qualify for the challenge, the book has to be 400+ pages long.
I’m carrying over three from last year’s list and adding seven new books/audios to complete this year’s list of “Top Ten Books On My Summer 2022 To-Read List.” They are in order of when I hope to get to them.
1. Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth (656 pages)
Since the challenge began before I started Plain Bad Heroines, my current audiobook, I’m counting it! I borrowed this dual-timeline (both creepy) novel by Emily M. Danforth from the library. Luckily, it was a 3-week loan, because it is LOOONNNG. It’s like a Victorian comedy of manners tinged with (maybe) tongue-in-cheek horror.
2. Devil House by John Darnielle (416 pages)
Devil House is kind of cheating, because it’s the next one up on my library downloads shelf. But it’s just long enough to count, so I will!
3. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (1104 pages)
I’d been planning to listen to The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett on audio someday for years, but I picked up a paperback copy on a vacation visit to a bookstore and decided to read it this summer. This book has always been daunting because of its equally long sequel.
4. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (400 pages)
At 400 pages, People We Meet on Vacation also just makes the cut! I wanted at least one funny and light summery book on the list. I’ve read and enjoyed the books by this author before (Beach Read) and after (Book Lovers) this one.
5. Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer (528 pages)
6. This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer (544 pages)
Number 5 and 6 on my list are the final two books (6 and 7) of the Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer, seven family sagas in the serial style, each of which leaves readers on a cliffhanger, waiting for the next book.
7. Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante (400 pages)
8. The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante (480 pages)
The two final Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante are repeats from 2020 and 2021. Will 2022 be the year I finally read them?
9. Project Hail Mary by Andrew Weir (496 pages)
Project Hail Mary is another repeat from 2021, but I’ve switched it to the audiobook. Ray Porter is one of my favorite narrators. Also, Sue from Book by Book encouraged me to keep this one on my list!
10. Pursuits of Happiness: On Being Interested by Eva Brann
This is a stretch to include a tenth book, but it’s a top ten list and I like to follow directions. I’ve been dipping into this collection of philosophical essays here and there, and it’s more likely to be a winter read than a summer read, but let me include it because it’s in my library and I do want to read it, if only to bring back college days of philosophy discussions and great books.
I’m sharing this with Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, so you’ll find many other Top Ten Books on My Summer 2022 To-Read Lists there!
I hope you love all of these books!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-on-my-summer-2022-to-read-list/
I love that the limit is 400 pages minimum, and you included one over 1000 pages! I’ve had that book on my shelf for YEARS as a gift from an aunt and was always a little nervy about it. Good luck with it, and the rest! Plain Bad Heroines is intriguing, but it looks like it could have body horror and I really don’t love that.
The Pillars of the Earth is fantastic but it is definitely a monster! I really liked Project Hail Mary but I read it in print. I recently listened to Ray Porter for the first time and agree that he’s a great narrator. You’ve reminded me that I need to continue the Clifton Chronicles. I think I’ve listened to the first two? So I have a way to go. I hope you enjoy these when you read them!
Welcome back to the Big Book Summer Challenge, Laurie!!
Wow, what a great list! 10 books and Pillars of the Earth (over 1000 pages) is one of them? Way to go! Pillars of the Earth was the book that inspired me to create this challenge for myself 11 years ago (the next year, I made it official and invited others). It’s outstanding.
And Project Hail Mary is SO AMAZING!!! Oh, my gosh, it just gets better and better. Can’t say too much more without spoilers, but it is really special and unique. I’m loving it.
Hope you enjoy all of your Big Books this summer – you have some great ones here to choose from!
Sue
2022 Big Book Summer Challenge
I had to look up what body horror was, and Plain Bad Heroines doesn’t have it. But it was creepy and horrifying in lots of other ways!
In addition to the Clifton Chronicles (7 books) the author has been publishing mysteries featuring the fictional detective that his fictional character from the Clifton Chronicles writes! I haven’t tried those yet. https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/fiction/jeffrey-archer-william-warwick-books-in-order
Thanks, Sue! Wow, I didn’t realize that Pillars of the Earth was your inspiration! I’m following in your footsteps! I know my list is really more of a “read in the next six months” list, but we’ll see! Counting audiobooks certainly will help.
i read pillars of the earth many years ago and enjoyed it. made it all the more wonderful to actually visit salisbury cathedral.
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