Among other things, summer means Summer Read time. You might remember that last year I attempted to read and write about the whole Summer Read book list.

This year, the Summer Read program appears to have been scaled back. There was no launch party (unless I didn’t hear about it), the books list has been reduced to ten books (hardly a challenge), there is no prize for the most popular book (simply an ‘enter to win’ prize), and the author blog is gone.

The SLV have introduced a new element to the program though, and one which I really like: they are asking the public to recommend their own great summer read title, and the top recommendations will be published online in April 2010. I guess this replaces having a winning author from the program’s featured books.

It’s a shame that the program seems to have shrunk, and I don’t know if I will take part this year. The biggest stumbling block for me is the books list. And here I need to add a disclaimer: my book was considered for the program but didn’t make it in, a fact that I feel fine about, but something I feel I need to disclose before I write the following.

One of my favourite parts of last year’s Summer Read was the diversity of the books list; by trying to read my way through it I dipped into a variety of genres that I wouldn’t normally pick up, and discovered several new authors along the way. This years list isn’t as exciting – it features many of the books that have been heavily publicised throughout the year, and many of them already sit on my ‘have-read’ or ‘to-read’ piles.

The books chosen for the shortlist are no doubt fantastic, and it’s great to see independent publishers well represented as well. What’s lacking for me is diversity. There is a focus on the novel, and a literary focus; there are only two non-fic books and both are memoir. It just all seems rather samey.

Considering I’m aware of most of the featured books anyway, and planning to read many of them too, I’m not sure whether it’s worth me blogging about them as I go. The lack of an author blog, and the fact that ten books is hardly a challenge, also disinclines me to take part this year. It’s a shame, because I really enjoyed the Summer Read last year; if the program broadens again next year I’ll jump back into it with joy.

Because I was waiting for the summer read to start, I’m now left with a bit of a hole in my summer reading plans! What are your picks for books to read in the coming months?

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