I'm just returning home after spending this week with my sister and her husband in Waco.
When Cathy of 746 books announced last year that she would not host 20 Books of Summer this year after ten successful years, Emma of Words and Peace and Annabel of AnnaBookBel both volunteered to take it on. Summer reading IS the 20, 15 or 10 Books challenge to all of us.
- The #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge runs from Sunday June 1st to Sunday August 31st
- The first rule of 20 Books is that there are no real rules, other than signing up for 10, 15, or 20 books and trying to read from your TBR.
- Just enjoy a summer of great reading and make a bit of space on your shelves!
Here are my 20 Books of Summer:
The idea behind this reading challenge is simple: Use the ease of summer to tackle a Big Book (400+ pages) or two or ... however many you want! You set your own goals. And if it is the start of winter where you live, then it's your Big Book Winter Challenge. Everyone is welcome to participate.
The Details:
- Anything 400 pages or more qualifies as a big book.
- The challenge runs from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend (May 23 this year) through Labor Day (September 1 this year).
What kind of books "count"? All kinds! Middle-grade, YA, graphic novels, classics, all genres, all types--as long as they are at least 400 pages. Yes, e-books and audio books count, too--just check online for the number of pages in the print edition.
My big book reads this summer:
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry - 964 pages
- The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang - 545 pages
- Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty - 505 pages
- Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 by Tony Judt - 955 pages
- Pigeon Post by Arthur Ransome - 548 pages
- Mark Twain by Ron Chernow - 1200 pages
- The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves - 560 pages
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - 590 pages
- Dream Count by Chiamamanda Ngozi Adichie - 474 pages
- Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America by Robert B. Reich - 416 pages
How lovely to have these memories of times with your family! Have a wonderful weekend Deb.
ReplyDeletegood to see everyone!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see the photos of you and your sister with husbands enjoying vacations together. Lots of big books and you know, I didn't pay attention to the Big Boks of Summer event. Maybe next year. I am a fan of Michener and Rutherfurd so that's a good start.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the big books this summer! Enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you had a great time with your sister! I haven’t read any of the books on your list, but The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side seems to be the one that interests me the most!
ReplyDeletehttps://embracethepandemonium.wordpress.com/
Wonderful pictures of you and your sister and your husbands. How great it is to have loved ones to share our adventures! I see that I've only read three of your "big books." My favorite was "The Crow Trap," one of my favorite Ann Cleeves books.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a nice visit with your sister.
ReplyDeleteWOW! That is a lot of big books!! I read four which was good for me, and I have read over 20 books for the summer, eight were on my actual list of 12. I did my wrap up yesterday. Have a great week :)
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool that you and your sister and your husband have been adventure pals all these years! I love it. And you never cease to amaze me with your reading...TEN big books plus 20 books of summer??? Incredible!
ReplyDeleteI love going on adventures. My sisters and brother live in other states so we don't see each other as much as we'd like.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, your books over 400 pages were whoppers! 1200 pages on Mark Twain. You are a better person than I am!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great week in Waco!
Looks like you had a great time with your sister. You had some great summer reads. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy 😊 you had a wonderful time with your sister 💗 Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a wonderful time in Waco.
ReplyDeleteI have Robert Reich’s book on my wish list. I have seen him on shows promoting it. I never realized how small he really is.
Have a great week!
What lovely adventures you've had with your sister and husband! Hope you enjoyed your time in Waco!
ReplyDeleteI hope that you had a lovely time visiting your sister.
ReplyDeleteI have failed in my 20 Books of Summer Challenge. I wanted to beat last year of 8/10. I managed 5/10. I am hoping to get the next 5 done by the end of the year, but I am full until October so it's not looking promising!
I think you did well! Remember all the people in the world who didn't even read one book this summer!
DeleteLooks like you had a lot of fun during your travel. Those are some big books, especially Mark Twain.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your summer reading challenges! And thanks for sharing the pictures over the years of some trips that look like a lot of fun! I love the 1983 one - I remember those years fondly ;)
ReplyDeleteYou've been constantly on the move this summer, I'm in awe of how much you've been doing! It's been really nice to see you talk about your family time. :D
ReplyDeleteIt has been such a busy summer!
DeleteYou are amazing! That's huge!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing the summer challenges! That is a lot of big books.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed your trip. You can tell you are sisters. :-) The challenges look like fun.
ReplyDeleteYour family photos of adventure over the years are such a treasure! Lots of great reading this summer, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have family you get along with so well you can travel far and wide together. You certainly keep busy in "retirement".
ReplyDeleteWow, you read a lot of big books this summer! Maybe I will try it with one next summer. Have a great week! :)
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you've had so many vacations with your sister and her husband! Have you read Lonesome Dove before? It's one of my favorites. The old mini-series is good too.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have read Lonesome Dove now four times.
Deleteso glad you had a little break with your sister! and i love your 3 good things as always.. plus all those books read!!
ReplyDeleteI love all of your adventures! It's good to have a sibling to share those things with. My brother and I and our spouses are very close as well. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun trip you both had! I live vicariously through you. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo many big books! Since I read almost exclusively on my Kindle, I seldom know how long a book is until it comes to writing down the details on my reading log spreadsheet. I don't think I've ever chosen a book just because it was a "big book." Great family photos too. Those trips look like a lot of fun. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteNice you were able to spend time with your sister.. love the now and then photos of you and your family in Utah. I have James on my TBR.. how'd you like it?
ReplyDeleteI strongly recommend it.
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