In case you’re looking for a new novel, these are the four books I’ll be trying to read this summer. Though, knowing me, I’ll probably just simultaneously read the five books on my shelf at the moment and get through none of them. Nevertheless, I thought I’d share these anyway as I find them compelling! They are not all novels, and they are all slightly different genres, so I’m thinking, if one doesn’t interest you maybe the others will.
First: The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee. This is a science book. Everything I’ve read of and heard of Siddhartha Mukherjee I’ve really liked. He is a massive role model for me. I have never been the type to obsess over celebrities or ‘famous people’ but my enthusiasm for Mukherjee is the most groupie I get. Why do I like him so much, aside from his obvious genius (which he denies in the second article)? Read this joint interview regarding medical ethics, as well as this interview about who he is as a person.
Second book: The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim. I find the world, especially for younger generations, to be moving so fast. And so, I find reminders to take breathers, to be slow and to observe the world incredibly important, to prevent us from rushing along absentmindedly. I know very little about this book to be honest, but I judged it by its cover and I liked it. I’m intrigued.
Third book: Elmet by Fiona Mozley. This book is publicised a good deal in York, as the author is a graduate of the University of York. The story is also set in Yorkshire. Mozley can also proudly claim this work as a finalist for the Man Booker Prize. I am always intrigued by works of creativity about Yorkshire. So, I am curious about Elmet.
Lastly, the fourth book: Selected Poems (Penguin Classics) by Rumi. I have seen several of Rumi’s poems before and, those I have seen, I have found to resonate with me. I quite like reading books of poetry to add variety to my personal reading, adding diversity between the layers of fiction and nonfiction.
If you read any of these, let me know what you think! Alternatively, have you got books you are reading this summer? Leave your best recommendations in the comments.
Paeonia blog 