It appears that the summer doldrums have arrived in book blogland. I’ve noticed that not only are many bloggers posting less often, the number of comments all around have dropped off too. It always happens this time of year and frankly, I was expecting it to happen sooner than it has. Summer means places to go and things to see and do as well as being lazy. I know I’ve got the lazy part going on full tilt. Laziness does not preclude reading by any means, it just translates to writing about my reading. For some reason it seems like so much more work in the summer than it does in winter. Like tonight, I was planning on writing about The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, a book I liked very much. But I just can’t turn my mind to it. It also doesn’t help that Waldo is currently laying on both of my arms with his cold, wet nose pressed into the crook of my elbow and his paws gently kneading my bicep. He’s purring so happily I don’t want to dislodge him.
So today, I point you to a wonderful site I just found out about called Read it! Loved it!. Put together by Gavin Jones an Australian teacher-librarian in Melbourne, it provides book recommendations for teenagers. Jones has read and loved all the books he suggests and over the years has recommended them to many of his own students. It is a delightfully simple site with lots of good suggestions. He has the lists broken down between boys and girls and age groups. At first I was put off by the gender divide but when checking out the categories under each many of the recommendations are the same. The biggest difference I noticed was that the girls 16+ had a romance and a tearjerker category and these were absent from the boys 16+ categories. There are also more girl-specific books under the “facts of life” category. Check it out if you have a teenage reader in your house. I bet grown-ups might even like it too.
Now I am off to be lazy. Or should I say, lazier?
Catted in! One of those good/bad things… I know what you mean about the lazy summer thing. I was super-busy this past weekend and actually will be super-busy all through July, but I’d like nothing better than to laze around with a book and a cat and a glass of iced tea…
That site looks terrific! I am going to go be lazy and check it out.
Daphne, yup, catted in. Waldo is very good at it
You have been super busy with your high school reunion and all that which sounds like it was so much fun. I do hope you get some time to be lazy this summer!
What do you think about this take on The Sense of an Ending. I liked her “ending.”
Sherry, I had forgotten Susan read the book, thanks for pointing me to her write up of it. She has come to an interesting and possible conclusion I had not thought of. I can’t believe Tony’s take on things in the book, he is too unreliable. I’ll have to think about Susan’s hypothesis a bit. Thanks!
Hi there, Just found your blog and really love it. I am about to embark on looking after a school library and am very excited about the site you recommended. Thank you.
Ruth
That Waldo sure sounds like he knows how to enjoy Summer!
Ian, oh yes, Waldo knows how to enjoy summer but he is especially excellent at winter when as soon as a lap appears he is in it
Ruth, Hi! Thanks for you kind comment. Best of luck to you as you venture into the world of school librarianship. You are a very brave woman in my opinion.
Yup, it’s summer in these parts all right! There are so many challenges going on at the moment that I wondered whether the summer effect might pass unnoticed, but no. Still I’m right with you on the laziness, even though our UK summer has been cold and rainy so far! By the time we reach August there is really nothing to be done but to succumb to gentle reading.
Litlove, I usually barrel on through the summer but this year it has caught up with me. While you’ve had the incessant rain we’ve had nearly incessant heat. too much of either can really get to a person. I don’t even want to think about August yet!
You’re quite right – incessant heat would be just as bad! If only we could swap a bit of our weather for yours. I recommend a state-wide hosepipe ban. It hasn’t stopped raining here since we had one imposed – best form of rain dance ever!
You are not alone, I am still reading, but having trouble taking the time to write reviews with lots of other more enjoyable things to do in summer.
Diane, yes, so many distractions in summer and I don’t know about you but it has been consistently hot here and the heat saps my energy. If I could spend the rest of the summer in a shaded hammock reading and drinking cold shakes I would be a very happy person.
Your Waldo sounds like my Turtle. She likes to knead and knead and smoosh her face into me or pillows or anything she’s lying on. She leaves me bleeding, my furniture tattered, and I worry she’ll suffocate herself!
I commend any bloggers who write about books. I’m fine with prattling on about this and that, but I have no patience for writing about the books I read. I do write up very brief summaries on 3 x 5 cards for my personal reading index. I read several books at a time and after finishing one, I’m opening the cover of another.
I remember the excitement of school summer reading lists and all the books I read that I might not have if they hadn’t been on the lists.
Joan, I love your cat’s name! Both Waldo and Dickens like to knead so we clip their nails. It is traumatic for all of us but it is quickly done and soon forgotten until the next time. Otherwise I would be bleeding too. I read several books at a time and start new ones even before I am done with the ones in progress. I do enjoy writing about my reading though since it helps me put my thoughts together about each book. Pre-blogging I tried keeping a notebook in which I would write a page about the book but it didn’t last long since it never went past me. When I was a kid I loved summer reading which to me meant that I got to read the books I wanted to read instead of the ones my teachers assigned.
I always have trouble getting around to reviewing the books because I’d rather be reading than reviewing, but you are right about summer making it even more difficult to sit in front of the computer!
Jenclair, I am glad I am not the only one with whom summer is catching up!
Frankly I was relieved to see your post. It’s my first summer in the blogging world and I kind of wondered what was going on. Couple that with my guilt over not being able to get revews written and I was getting ready to check out. I’ll keep plugging away and hope we turn the corner soon. I can’t wait to read The Sense of an Ending by the way.
Alena, glad to be of service. This happens every summer beginning sometime in July. Don’t feel guilty, give yourself a break, and before you know it we’ll have reached the end of August and things will begin to pick back up again.
You’re coming through loud and clear, today, Stefanie. I wish I had this resource available when I was teaching it would have been a real asset.
Alex, thanks! You may no longer be teaching but you never know, such a list could come in handy now and then.
I think the doldrums are happening all across blogland! I work in an industry that feels like it never stops and already I feel like summer is slipping through my fingers! I need to slow things down and savor the summer before its gone entirely. How strange to feel that way so quickly after the 4th of July…
Courtney, it’s been so hot here I wouldn’t mind if the rest of summer just zoomed by and I suddenly found myself in the midst of a crisp autumn! I do hope you get some time to slow down and do some savoring
My summer doldrums set in much earlier than yours did I think–I noticed a serious decline in visitors a while ago. That was in part why I started taking off more blogging days, but now I just go ahead and write when I want to and if someone drops by and reads–cool–if not, it’s as much for myself as anyone else. But I’m totally with you on not feeling especially motivated to write about books–the heat just zaps my energy. Maybe September will be better…I’m really looking forward!
I’ll have to share that link with my niece…not that she’s done much summer reading (apparently my bookish habits have not rubbed off on her sadly).
Danielle, I sure hope September will be better! I doubt that it could be worse. And you never know, your niece might be a bookworm who just hasn’t hatched yet.
If you’re taking a hiatus, do come back soon… considering some of my blogging friends have decided to take an indefinite leave of absence… I really miss them. One comment about dividing books into boy and girl reads, and so age specific too, while I can fully appreciate the effort and time that’s involved in setting up the recommendations, I’m not too sure if that’s such a good idea… I mean I just randomly clicked on Boys age 12, quick read, and there’s Paul Gallico’s The Snow Goose, a book that ought to be read by all ages, male or female. (I remember reading it for our English class in Jr. High at a girls school when I was still in Hong Kong, I was so moved by the story), This could be a good discussion post, Stefanie, should we divide books into gender and age specifics…
Arti, oh don’t worry, I’m not taking a hiatus, just commenting on how lazy I have been feeling. I will be away visiting my family for several days soon but other than that, I’ve no plans of going anywhere! Did you check to see it The Snow Goos was also recommended in the same girls’ age group? Most of the books between the two genders are the same I found. I like your idea for a discussion post on whether we should divide books by gender and age. I will think about it for a bit and then write something up. Thanks for the suggestion!
You’re right, it’s in the girls’ section too. Just begs the question of why divide the genders. If you do write a post on this I’ve a tidbit… my review post on the book Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier was linked to an online open college on their list entitled “100 Books Every Woman Should Read”. While I was glad to be linked, I wasn’t too pleased with being on that list. Come to think of it, I think I did write a post on that subject after finding out that list. Memories… how frail they are.
Arti, you’re right, why bother having gendered lists then? Why not just have an age breakdown and a list of categories? Yes, those frail memories. Now you mention it, I seem to have a vague recollection of that post. I will have to see if I can find it
Wow, seldom have I read anything more apropos.
I feel like copying your first long paragraph there, changing the cat’s name, and pasting this onto my own blogpage — for it is exactly how I feel.
LAZY!
And just as you say — it is not as if I am not READING… but writing about reading has taken a turn for the non-existent, with me.
I blame a) summer heat, b) too much weekday work, c) utter laziness.
Cip, if we can’t be lazy in summer, when can we be? I say bring on the lazy!
OH my, the heat! It has me not wanting to do much of anything,we don’t have air conditioning so it’s too hot almost to read right now. I do try to comment, though not as often as I’d like. It’s totally lazy days with the heat! And my book reviews – I’ve been lagging badly with that too. I have so many reviews done in my mind! If only I could transfer them and put them on the computer by touching the screen or something easily transferrable (ie instantaneously….)……
Susan, oh poor you with no air conditioning! Wouldn’t it be cool if you could just think about books and our thoughts get transferred to the computer screen and we could edit as appropriate? Someday, but not yet.
Reblogged this on This beautiful life and commented:
Thanks for the recommendation. Great site! Love yours too!
I’ve definitely been feeling the summer doldrums. I tend to blog less in the summer as it is my busiest time at work. I hate to wish for cold weather but I know I will read more then!
Boarding, I know, I hate to wish for cold weather too but by the end of July I find I am always looking forward to it.