As an adult, I sometimes miss the rhythm that a school schedule provides. As a kid, summer vacation meant a lot of things — swimming lessons at the pool, trips to the beach, Girl Scout camp, barbeques, and for a few consecutive summers, crafting entries for the Marshfield Fair. But I think my favorite activity was always summer reading. Not necessarily the required stuff they forced us to read, but I always participated in the library summer reading program for the fun and the challenge of seeing how many books I could get through.
I’d been thinking of pulling together a summer reading list for myself as I headed into the library the other day to meet a co-worker when I saw a poster for the most amazing thing ever: an ADULT Summer Reading Program! My inner geek was absolutely ecstatic. Week 1 encourages participants to re-read a childhood favorite which set my mind racing with possibilities: Mr. Popper’s Penguins? Matilda? The House on Mango Street? The Chronicles of Narnia? A Little Princess? Treasure Island? Then my eyes landed on a worn copy of Anne of Green Gables on the books-for-sale shelf and it was decided. It’s incredible how powerful the experience and memory of reading a particular book can be but I think if one book had to define my childhood, that would be it.
If you’d like to follow along with me, here are the details of the program or view below. I’d love to hear what you’re planning to read.
June 23th – 29th
Read It Again!
Read or reread a favorite book from childhood.
June 30th – July 6th
Explore Massachusetts One Page at a Time!
Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) that takes place in Massachusetts.
July 7th – 13th
Spin-offs Aren’t Just for TV!
Read a spin-off from a classic – or read the classic itself, if you’d prefer. (Or both!)
July 14th – 20th
Scientific Notation: Exploring Literary Elements!
Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) involving science.
July 21st – 27th
Passport to Summer Fun!
Read a book that takes you to another country. Experience life around the world.
July 28th – Aug 3rd
Step Into Their Shoes!
Read a biography of an historically significant person. Consider ways his or her story has influenced or changed you.
Read It Again!
Read or reread a favorite book from childhood.
June 30th – July 6th
Explore Massachusetts One Page at a Time!
Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) that takes place in Massachusetts.
July 7th – 13th
Spin-offs Aren’t Just for TV!
Read a spin-off from a classic – or read the classic itself, if you’d prefer. (Or both!)
July 14th – 20th
Scientific Notation: Exploring Literary Elements!
Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) involving science.
July 21st – 27th
Passport to Summer Fun!
Read a book that takes you to another country. Experience life around the world.
July 28th – Aug 3rd
Step Into Their Shoes!
Read a biography of an historically significant person. Consider ways his or her story has influenced or changed you. – See more at: http://www.watertownlib.org/adult-summer-reading#sthash.OFiCjKQH.dpuf
Read It Again!
Read or reread a favorite book from childhood.
June 30th – July 6th
Explore Massachusetts One Page at a Time!
Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) that takes place in Massachusetts.
July 7th – 13th
Spin-offs Aren’t Just for TV!
Read a spin-off from a classic – or read the classic itself, if you’d prefer. (Or both!)
July 14th – 20th
Scientific Notation: Exploring Literary Elements!
Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) involving science.
July 21st – 27th
Passport to Summer Fun!
Read a book that takes you to another country. Experience life around the world.
July 28th – Aug 3rd
Step Into Their Shoes!
Read a biography of an historically significant person. Consider ways his or her story has influenced or changed you. – See more at: http://www.watertownlib.org/adult-summer-reading#sthash.OFiCjKQH.dpuf
Married with Style 
I actually just finished reading this and absolutely loved it, such a great novel.