Question: What’s your summer read?

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americangods_massmarketpaperback_1185415388I’m strapped for time this week, with lots to do before we take off for Drummond Island. Three weeks with my husband! I can’t remember when we last had a break like that. I think it was ten years ago when we last went to the States together, just before we moved here to Munich.  Anyway, things are pretty busy, so let me cut to the chase: I’d like to know what you’re reading this summer.

The book I’ve started and that is calling out to me is Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods”. I’m going tell you about it and read you a short passage from it in this week’s podcast.

American Gods is a combination of Americana, fantasy, and ancient and modern mythology. The central idea is that the gods exist because we believe in them, and they thrive in traditional society. But when immigrants to the United States brought their dwarves and elves and spirits and gods with them, their power was diminished as people stopped believing in them. They were replaced by the New Gods of America, media and technology, celebrity and drugs.

As the story begins, Shadow, who is as moody as his name, is just getting out of prison and looking forward to seeing his beloved wife again. But then he hears that she has died in a car accident, and his dreams are shattered. On the plane to her funeral he has a “dream”… (reading from pages 19 and 20)

This book hooks an adult reader the way books on, say, dragon slayers won’t, because the world of magic is so near, just around the corner, in the next stranger you meet. Thank you very much to Katja for lending it to me.

So what’s your summer read? What genre is it? What do you like about it? Who is the author? Have you read anything else by him or her? How did you find out about the book and the author? Where and when do you plan to read it?

Was ist das Blogprojekt? Mehr dazu unter Englischlernen mit Anne!

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Comments

10 Responses

  1. Embarrassingly my Summer read is going to be “The Host” by Stephanie Meyer – Of Twilight fame! I was intrigued by the Twilight series as a fun and engaging read and decided that over Summer I would read her new book… It would be in the sci-fi(esk) genre and really the reason I want to read it (and have saved it for Summer) is that I enjoy her style of writing and the ease of read!
    I am going to start it on the plane, on the way to the USA!(I bought it over 2months ago in anticipation 🙂 ).

  2. I’m reading “What is the What” by dave edgars.
    so far it’s about a Sudanese refugee who ends up in New York and i think it’s based on a true story.
    it’s harrowing, poetic and i feel humbled by the importance of it.
    I chose it because, firstly the title, secondly the back page, thirdly the opening line.
    “I have no reason not to open the door so i answer the door.”
    And can i leave this here?
    http://bitsnbobsshowntell.blogspot.com/2008/03/neil-gaiman-reading-instructions.html

  3. I’m currently reading “The World Without Us” by Alan Weisman. It basically looks at what would happen to the world (the environment and humanmade stuff) if people suddenly disappeared. I started reading it for background info on a book I’m writing, but I’ve ended up really enjoying it.

    I’m also reading “Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg and have found it really inspiring and motivating.

    I’ll have to check out the other books on this list. They all sound good!

  4. At the moment, I’m reading “I am a Cat” by the Japanese novelist Sōseki Natsume. It’s a hefty tome full of witty observations about human nature & feline behaviour, narrated from a cat’s perspective.

    I started reading it on holiday a few years back and forgot all about it once I got home. I recently re-discovered it when I was sorting through books to give to Oxfam, and decided to give it another go.

    It’s a pretty interesting read, but not the type of book you can really race through. My hubby originally chose it; I usually tend to go for Goth/Fantasy/Sc-Fi titles when I’m left to my own devices.

    The books people here have suggested all sound interesting & like David, I’ll be checking them out!

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