So . . . a few weeks ago, Bonny and Carole and I were talking about books and reading and summer coming up. We reminisced about how much fun it was when we were kids . . . to just lay around in the summer (all summer) and read whatever we wanted. And we got to thinking . . . wouldn’t it be fun if we could do that . . . NOW? (Like this summer!) And TOGETHER? (Like all of us!)
And with that, the idea for the Read With Us LOUNGE was hatched!
What exactly IS the Read With Us LOUNGE, you ask?
Well. Let’s just say . . . it’s a virtual Summer Reading Program. Like the ones you remember from when you were a kid. Only online. Pretend with us, here on our blogs, that we’ve built a cozy and comfortable reading lounge. The chairs are perfectly suited for relaxing and reading. You can kick your shoes off and put your feet up. There are side tables for your snacks and beverages and books. There are plenty of big windows with peaceful views of lovely gardens or rolling meadows or idyllic summer lakes. The air is perfectly cool, and the lighting is always Just Right. You have no deadlines, no interruptions. Just time to read . . . whatever you want to be reading for as long as you feel like reading. With your book-pals.
Because here in the Read With Us Lounge, there are . . .
No Rules.
Just fun.
The Read With Us Lounge is NOT a program designed to . . . challenge you to read “harder” or to read “more” or to make a summer reading plan or to fill out a Bingo card or to match your book cover to your manicure (although that’s totally fine if that’s what you want to do!). There will be no judgements. No race to finish first. No friendly competitions. No counting of books or number of pages read. The Read With Us Lounge is simply a summer program we hatched up . . . to encourage you to READ. Whatever you want. In any format you like. However much or often you want. For fun. And with us!
Bonny and Carole and I will be officially checking into the Lounge each Monday until the end of summer. We’ll be telling you what we’re reading. We’ll be sharing stories ABOUT reading and reading-related topics. And we’ll actually be encouraging you to . . . put aside any notions or knock down any barriers you may have about the SHOULDs of reading. There will be silly (or maybe not silly; we haven’t decided yet) prizes for all participants. There may be occasional Zoom hangouts to talk about . . . well, whatever we want to talk about, really . . . but likely book-adjacent topics for starters (again, we haven’t decided yet).
And there you have it.
The Read With Us LOUNGE is now open for the summer!
Grab a book. Find a comfy spot to read with us for awhile.
No rules!
Just fun!
==========
The regular Read With Us blog book group will continue as usual. Remember to RSVP for next week’s Zoom discussion if you haven’t already. And stay tuned for our summer Read With Us book selection to be announced later in June. (So much bookish-goodness!)
“Bookish Goodness” – Perfect! I had just read (and commented on) Carole’s and Bonny’s blogs and I do love this idea. It’s the way I always read (no rules). Looking forward to “seeing” everyone in the Lounge!
This sounds like fun! I’m currently reading, and enjoying Endling by Maria Reva. But for the life of me I cannot remember how I came across this book.
It (almost) feels like the Lounge is a real place! That’s how I’m going to think of it whenever I sit down to read.
This sounds like a good way to spend the summer… and with the perfect group of people! I am beginning on a good note, my hold on Homeseeking came through overnight! (I have been waiting a long time!) It feels like a bonus start for the summer!
My penpal just sent me an article from her newspaper with various people sitting in their favorite reading spots. I was going to try to get a shot of me in my usual spot to send her a picture.
I love the idea of hanging out with imaginary friends while we read away the summer. I’m so excited to get my hands on Land tomorrow and I’m reading John of John now. So many great books coming our way this summer and I’m looking forward to reading with everyone.