by Juliana, Public Service Associate
It’s going to be a hot one this week folks, and we’re here today to spark up reading and listening inspiration for the season we’ve all been waiting for — summer! If you’re looking for something to make your days dreamy and luminous, you’ve come to the right place.
I asked the following questions to a few of my fellow library staff members and compiled our responses to share with all of you.
What are your favorite summer reads? Beach reads, vacation reads, summer vibes in general. Are you checking things off your TBR list? Are you rereading an old favorite? Do you use vacation to catch up on Stephen King? Are you choosing audiobooks for a road trip? Do you have a favorite cd or movie that seems especially summery?
I hope you enjoy this list of responses as much as I do.
Josh, Tech Librarian
I love finding a Summer listen. Not a playlist, necessarily. I love finding an album where every song is a Summer song. Headphones, computer speakers, home stereo won’t do this music justice though… no, no, no. This music sounds the best in your car when the windows are down, a light breeze wafting in and the music blasting out. The three albums I’d recommend are:
- Raze Regal & White Denim Inc. – 70s feeling album with a lot of ear candy! The foundation of every song is a solid groove with catchy melodies.
- Aaron Frazer – Introducing… – Very grooving and Motown-ish feeling! Aaron drums and sings with Ohio’s own Dan Auerbach producing.
- Anderson Paak – Malibu – Another drummer/singer on the list! Paak’s breakthrough album in 2016 still feels great in the car! (Note: there are very explicit lyrics on this album, so if that’s a deterrent I would suggest the edited version that’s available on streaming services).
Windows down, volume up!
Hannah, Patron Service Associate & Creative Content Coordinator
I enjoy reading seasonally. While haunting tales suit the moody autumn air and A Christmas Carol at Christmastime enhances the festivity, I find lighthearted novels, fairytales, and exciting adventures pair well with iced tea and hot days. My summer reading pile is stacked with…
- Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Having finally bought a copy for myself, this beloved story was a last-minute addition to my beach bag. The whimsy and heart never fail!
- America the Beautiful?: One Woman in a Borrowed Prius on the Road Most Traveled by Blyth Roberson. This is a road trip we can all enjoy without feeling car sick.
- The Magnolia Journal – You might recall from a previous blog that I love magazines. And who knows, I may try all these pasta salad recipes someday.
Mary, Public Service Lead & Adult Volunteer Coordinator
Westerns have my heart during the hot summer months. I am planning on reading The Virginian by Owen Wister (which is technically a re-read for me!) along with Cities of the Plain, Cormac McCarthy’s final book in his Border Trilogy.
Juliana, Public Service Associate
- I somehow didn’t read Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine until my thirties, and now I love re-reading it every summer. It’s so shimmery, filled with golden light and simple summery joys. When I think of Dandelion Wine I think of one word: Relish! (referring to great enjoyment, not the condiment).
- Another favorite is The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. If you’ve not read anything by Jansson, I highly recommend her books. They are short and quiet and full of everyday life.
Joseph, Public Service Associate
As far as I’m concerned, summer has just one thing going for it: it makes certain music sound fantastic, such as…
- Baumstam – On Tour – For several years now, this has been my capital-S, capital-A, Summer Album. Something in the guitar fuzz has a transmutative power, I tell you, to turn the drowning humidity which floods the night aesthetic.
- Can – “Halleluwah” – This is another German recording from the ’70s, to listen to as or after the sun sets, except this one you’ll actually be able to stream from your service of choice.
- Wipers – Is This Real? – Daytime listening (that is, the non-depressing tracks are). These songs are like sunglasses for my ears.