We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.
- Ursula K. Le Guin (USA, born 1929)
Another Way To Travel This Summer!
Since the summer of 2005, Nicola has organised a Summer Reading Group as a continuation of the Book Club during July and August. It offers readers a selection of recently published books from around the world either to take on holidays with you or else to allow you an alternative way to travel the world through stories!
Nicola proposes a selection of 4 books by both men and women writers from the different continents to read over a period of two months. At the end of the summer, the group meets to discuss the selection of books and to vote for the Best Summer Read. Nicola also choses one as her Coup de Cœur! Here are some of the favourite summer books so far:
Check back shortly to find out which book was voted Best Summer Read 2010
Discover Nicola’s summer reading lists by following the links below:
Nicola’s Summer Reading List 2009
Nicola’s Summer Reading List 2008
Nicola's Summer Reading List 2007
Nicola's Summer Reading List 2006
"The Summer Reading Group gives a nice shape to those two months when you feel that the whole city has emptied and all your social connections are gone. As you read the four books you are secure in the fact that people will return and that the discussion evening, which is always stimulating and fun, is already set up - a great start to autumn. The international nature of the group brings a whole range of perspectives to the discussion and is an added plus for me." - Maggie Inglis
“I enjoy the Summer Reading Group because it puts just the right amount of structure and challenge to my summer reading. The discussion component at the end of the summer is a great 'what did you discover on your summer holidays' experience in which you find all the different things people took away from the books. Thanks for putting this experience together.” - Nancy Koeppel
“Though it took me a while to get into summer mode, I had a lot of fun reading the selection of books Nicola chose this year. Each one had an interesting cast of characters and there was a lot to both like and dislike in all the stories. The meeting to vote for Best Summer Read was very well led by Nicola and the exchange of views with the other readers was engaging. I was very happy with the group’s choice of winner as it coincided with my favourite!” - Nina O’Connell