My Summer Reading Goal

Summer 2025 is well underway, so I wanted to share a quick update on a personal goal I set back in early June. It’s a simple one: rekindle my love of reading by carving out time each day to read. To make room for this, I had to put a few things on pause, writing being one of them.

Now, I’m happy to say that I’ve regained my writing rhythm while still sticking to my daily reading routine. I’m feeling great about the progress so far. I plan to continue this habit through an upcoming trip to Hawaii in September. At that point, I’ll consider the goal complete and shift into a “daily maintenance” reading mode.

What Sparked This Goal

This all started with a conversation I had with a new friend named Ken, whom I met while picking up my grandson from middle school. Ken is the crossing guard, about my age, with similar interests, and we hit it off right away. When I asked about his summer plans, he mentioned he’d be reading more. I thought that was a great idea. Inspired, I gave him a book from my collection and started mapping out my own plan.

Books I’ve Read So Far (Yes, Judgment-Free Zone!)

So far, I’ve finished nine books—some re-reads, some new titles:

Executive Orders (1997) by Tom Clancy
The Bear and the Dragon (2000) by Tom Clancy
The Kaiju Preservation Society (2022) by John Scalzi
Dig Two Graves (2024) by Craig Schaefer
Lucky Son of a Gun (2023) by John Conroe
Ghost of a Chance (2021) by Dan Willis
The Backyard Bird Chronicles (2024) by Amy Tan
Zero Tolerance (2011) by Jonathan Maberry (a short story)
Flybot (2025) by Dennis E. Taylor

Current Read & Some Thoughts

Right now, I’m reading White Wolf (2024) by John Conroe. Like his other book I mentioned earlier, it’s been underwhelming. Both are first-person narratives from secondary characters in The Demon Accords series, which spans 20 novels plus short stories. I’ve read the main series and found it compelling, but these side stories feel flat. Without a clear plot, they come across more like extended character sketches than fully developed novels.

Standout Favorite: No Surprise Here

My favorite read so far? No surprise to regular readers, The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan. I loved it so much that I started a physical diary project combining bird photography with reflections and short stories about each photo. I’m currently working on an entry about Brown Pelicans.

Interestingly, I’ve read the book twice. The first time was slow and deliberate, savoring each page. The second read took about two hours and was focused on analyzing Tan’s artistic growth.

Revisiting Old Favorites

The two Tom Clancy novels are old favorites I first read more than 20 years ago. Re-reading them was a nostalgic experience. My memory kicked in quickly, I could recall the major plotlines after just a few chapters. I’ve searched for another series that hits the same notes as the early Jack Ryan books, but nothing quite compares.

What’s Next on My List

Up next:

The Last Dangerous Visions (2024), a long-awaited collection of stories assembled by Harlan Ellison
Diaries 1969–1979 (2007) by Michael Palin
Plus, a few more fantasy and sci-fi titles waiting on my nightstand

Do you have a reading goal for this summer, or this year? I’d love to hear what’s on your list. Drop your current reads in the comments below.

Peanuts In My Pocket