Open Thread: Summer Reading

What are you reading, and what's on your list?

Happy Friday folks.

We’re into the height of summer

¹

meaning everyone is sharing their beach read book lists—here’s The Guardian and The New York Times with a few ideas, if you’re struggling.

But I’m sure you’re not. If you’re anything like me, it’s too many books, and not enough time. So tell me: have you read anything great recently? Something you’re enjoying as you work your way through? Or maybe you haven’t started yet, but have one or two books peering at you from your Tsundoku that you’re eager to start.

I’m two-thirds of the way through Empire of Pain, Patrick Radden Keefe’s spectacular book on the Sackler family and the drug OxyContin, which came to define the opioid crisis in America. This was after reading Say Nothing last year, which my dad—who lived through The Troubles—said was the best thing he’s ever read about it.

I’m also hoping to get to Andrew O'Hagan’s Mayflies next month. I’ve heard so many rave reviews, with Douglas Stuart (author of Shuggie Bain) blurbing the book with a promise of “A beautiful ode to lost youth and male friendship by one of our sharpest observers of modern masculinity.” Sounds perfect. Although I hope it doesn’t knock the wind out of me as wee Shuggie’s story did.

Enough about me. What are you reading—or hoping to—this summer? Let us know: what, where, when and why. Also, if you’re struggling to find the time or motivation to stick to a reading habit, share it here. We’re a helpful bunch and might be able to offer tips and tricks that have worked for us.

1. Apologies, folks in the UK, where a month of rain is expected this weekend. I am sure you read that one through gritted teeth.