It’s that time of year again!

Time to work on our summer reading lists, and thank our lucky stars that there won’t be a quiz at the end. Though I’m sure my lovely readers would ace anything that comes their way.

This year, I’m trying to branch out a little, though I will admit I plan to read some books that are well within my niche.

As you all know, I am currently reading Miriam Winthrop’s Saudade, and I am LOVING it. Expect a more detailed post once I have finished. Most of my spare time lately has been taken up by getting lost in that book.

Next up is Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? because she’s one of my favorite people. She’s smart and funny, and if you’re not watching “The Mindy Project” you need to be. I have a friend who likes to declare that certain people and things are her “spirit animal,” and in this case I really think Mindy Kaling is mine.

Also on deck is The Monuments Men, as I really enjoyed the film.

And since I can’t get enough Tolkien punishment, I am eagerly anticipating my next paycheck so that I can spend it on his Beowulf translation and commentary. There might also be some Thorin Oakenshield emotions involved in this reading. Because Thorin is rather like Beowulf in his own way. (Really, my reading habits should be a warning to what fandom can do to a person. But I must admit I enjoy my afflictions.)

Normally, my thoughts turn to Poirot at this time of year, and this summer will be no exception. My summer reading wish list includes Death in the Clouds, which has a fun tie-in to “The Unicorn and the Wasp” episode of “Doctor Who” where the Doctor and Donna meet Agatha Christie.

As far as me branching out, brace yourselves:

Herman Melville is on my list.

Yes, I know that my hatred for Billy Budd burns with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns, but I am willing to try anything once. I come from a heritage where a great deal of our men were whalers, and even though I hate the thought of it, I figure I’ll give reading Moby Dick a try. Plus, lots of people tend to quote from this book (again, it’s about a guy obsessed with killing a whale, when whales are awesome and should be left alone, so why the fuss over this book?) so I wish to see what all of the fuss has been about.

Now, that’s more than enough to be getting on with, but I am left wanting to add one more book to my list. Currently, I am torn between Don Quixote, Parade’s End (the miniseries was gorgeous and Benedict Cumberbatch nearly broke my heart), and One Hundred Years of Solitude.

There simply isn’t enough interaction on this page, so please dear readers, feel free to pick for me! Or to recommend anything else to read while I’m soaking up some sun down in Newport.