I hate, hate, hate summer, and the last few days here in NYC have been August at its worst: super humidity, subway-killing flooding from the thunderstorms, and general heat-induced crankiness from my fellow citizens. Now is always when I want to hibernate, and it’s in that spirit that I suggested the theme for this round of the Bookworms Carnival.

Thanks to all who participated! I’ve enjoyed checking out your posts as they’ve come in, and I’m excited to share them now.

Stay cool–

Articles:

John Mutford wants to know why summer reading should be different than any other reading, posted at The Book Mine Set.

Chicago Pop presents Proust’s Dad posted at Daddy Dialectic. “This mundane little story about a boy anxious over his broken routine, his coping mechanisms as he frets alone in his bedroom, his desperation and increasingly bold plans to obtain his good-night kiss against the wishes of his father, all of it not only introduces a new style of literature, a new method of weaving together a narration drawn from various states of consciousness, but raises issues about the emotional life of children and the ways adults attempt to suppress it. Specifically, how fathers police the emotional life of sons.”

Leticia Velasquez presents Nothing makes a homeschool mom happier than a box of books! posted at cause of our joy.

Kate Baggott presents My Summer Reading Includes People Who Are Not Like Me posted at Babylune. She believes in expanding her reading horizons, and it’s really working out for her.

Henry Cate presents Books I have recently skimmed posted at Why Homeschool, where he writes about the power of skimming a book and reviews eight books he has recently skimmed.

Reviews:

Dew presents Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie posted at Hidden Side of a Leaf. “Before reading this, I knew very little about the Biafran War/Nigerian Civil War/Nigeria-Biafra War (whichever name you prefer –Adichie seems to prefer the latter). I kept setting aside the book, both to look up information about the war and to process what was happening in the narrative.”

Melanie presents Chilling out with YA fiction posted at The Indextrious Reader, discussing two “light reads, the latest in my International Polar Year theme of Polar Reading. ”

BookGal presents Daddy’s Girl by Lisa Scottoline posted at Books, Memes, and Musings. She wants to talk about the ending, so if you’ve read this one please leave her a comment with your thoughts.

Gayle Weiswasser has been escaping the DC steam with Stephen Goodwin: “Breaking Her Fall” posted at Everyday I Write the Book Blog.

David Gross reviews Moral Courage posted at The Picket Line, saying “Rushworth Kidder tries to define and develop moral courage in his book on the subject, “Moral Courage”, but a whiff of sycophancy comes off the pages and spoils the project.” Not the lightest of summer reads, but to each his own.

Laura Young presents Powerful Story of Survival: Thirty-one Years and Still Standing posted at Dragon Slayer’s Guide to Life. She says, “He’s a member of the National Speakers Association, a therapist, a coach, an author… and quadriplegic. Michael Schwass was the first quadriplegic ever to walk again without the aid of braces. I encourage you to read his compelling autobiography, Don’t Blame the Game, for details of his personal journey.” Inspirational stories definitely make it hard to complain about a little sweat.

One good way to stay out of the sun is to become a vampire, so alisonwonderland read New Moon by Stephenie Meyer posted at So Many Books, So Little Time.

Becky at Becky’s Book Reviews read Eclipse, the third book in Stephanie Meyer’s trilogy.

Peggy Payne recommends anything by Peggy Payne’s Boldness Blog: Lionel Shriver: One Gutsy Writer posted at Peggy Payne’s Boldness Blog. She also notes, “My novel Sister India (A New York Times Notable Book) is set in a place so hot that it will make your own temp feel blissfully cool.”

Valentina presents The last elf – Silvana De Mari posted at Valentina’s room. “Summer reading means pure, undiluted pleasure. And this book was all of this.”

Therapydoc presents 2 choices. The first: How to Talk to a Widower–Grieving and Drugging. “This one’s light and easy, but the message cuts deep for this therapydoc.” The second:TherapyDoc presents Holding On and Letting Go, saying “Psych self help usually turns me off, but this is fantastic.” Both are posted at Everyone Needs Therapy.

BeckyB reviews an audiobook called Clementine, posted at In the Pages…..

Suzanne presents an excerpt from Beowulf – Seamus Heaney translation posted at :: adventures in daily living ::. It’s absolutely gorgeous. She’s also got a review of the glass castle: a memoir, a great memoir I also highly recommend.

Heather Grove presents ?Black Order? by James Rollins posted at Errant Dreams Reviews, saying, “I had trouble putting this book down for meals, so it certainly took my mind off of the heat!”

Mctiller reviews The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film. A book review. posted at MCT Images. He says it’s “a summer book about a great Summer movie!”

Hit the beach with any one of these books from Host Bee’s list at Busy Bees Beach Books posted at Busy Bee Lifestyle.

Jeremy drops some science in Swooning for Science Books posted at WTTF: Welcome to the Future. Vacation relaxation could be very conducive to learning.

And for your kids or your inner child, Little Willow recommends Billy Hooten, Owlboy by Thomas E. Sniegoski posted at Bildungsroman.

Harry Potter:

Blue skelton serves up JK Rowling Interview posted at The Literary Junkie. It’s her favorite interview with the Queen of Summer 2007.

Jon Swift says, “Harry Potter is a terrible role model. He is a petulant, self-pitying brat who routinely breaks rules that he believes don’t apply to him.” Read the rest at Harry Potter Is a Brat posted at Jon Swift.

GrrlScientist has some bones to pick with JK Rowling in My Thoughts About Harry Potter [Review, More Spoilers] posted at Living the Scientific Life, which is “a fairly detailed treatment of the last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

Other:

Karl Staib gives a behind-the-scenes look at his new e-book, The Making of 92 Things To Do Besides Suicide posted at Karl Staib and the Pursuit of Happiness. The book will be available on September 2nd.

Zenofeller is selling a book called ASYLUM, the novel. posted at zenofeller.com. Not quite sure what it’s about, but the website is certainly worth browsing.

Anne-Marie presents Go “Barefoot” through “The Blood of Flowers” (A Book Giveaway Contest) posted at A Mama’s Rant. She says, “The contest is over but the books are worth picking up at the library or bookstore.”

Debbie is in suspense about the new Stephanie Meyer book. Read all about it at My Reading Spot: Eclipse.