Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Give off Summer Vibes

This week’s topic is books that give off summer vibes — and given that this is a pretty weird summer, these books are likely to be more important than ever. 

Thanks to That Artsy Reader Girl for another great Top Ten Tuesday!

Pete’s Five

What We See When We Read by Peter Mendelsund
Part picture book, part essay, this exploration of reading and visualization is a one-sitting read. It’s also just fun to flip through the pages now and then.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
This classic is a great lazy summer read, and Twain’s humor is as timeless as ever.

The Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
Two novels in one, this volume is a great little package of light, accessible fantasy that plays like a movie in your mind. 

The Magicians by Lev Grossman
I read this one in the summer after sophomore year of college, and it reminded me how magical (and sometimes cynical) the fantasy genre can be. 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
While this is far from light, it’s one I will always pair with summer in mind because of where and when I read it. Still one of my favorite mystery/thriller novels.

Indiana’s Five

A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L’Engle 
I read this one while staying with my grandparents one summer so it’s always reminded me of that time. Plus, the book takes place in the summertime. 

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 
This one could be either spring or summer . . . but since I originally read it in the summer, that’s what I always think of. 

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
While I don’t think I read it during the summer, the humid Florida setting makes me think of the summer season. 

Less by Andrew Sean Greer
This one is about non-stop (mis)adventures, which are most perfectly suited to summer.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
The North Carolina setting rings of summer to me, though I picked it because I often find myself grabbing at least one bestseller each summer. It’s usually an impulse-buy during a day trip or vacation. Not sure how much of that there’ll be this summer.