Don’t judge a book by its cover. It is a phrase that everyone has heard and ignored (at least once). You’ve picked the Penguin classics version of The Picture of Dorian Gray over the Wordsworth classic for the sole reason of it looking more aesthetic on your bookshelf. Well, the very same can be said about judging people based on what they read. What does it say about someone if they disliked Homer’s The Odyssey or choose Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment as their poolside read? We, The Concrete Team, are opening ourselves up to this judgement. So, readers, judge away at our summer reading round-up!

“This summer, I’ve – very slowly – worked my way through The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry. Lured in by the one-pound price point at a charity shop, I’m guilty of having judged this book by its cover. A hardback, sage green-bound novel with flakes of gold depicting an eye, I hoped for a story of mystery and glamour. While there were elements: a mysterious night circus, 1920s flapper girls and an entire town that begins sleepwalking, it was a little too much for 240 pages. Too many names and loosely structured character arcs made it confusing. I wanted to love this gothic-noir fiction, but sadly – it wasn’t meant for me.” – Emily (Milli) Pitt-Shaw: Editor-in-Chief

“I had a whole list of hot, languid summer reads lined up for this year, but surprisingly my favourites have been thoroughly from within the cold climate: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bugakov and Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus, two streaming, fantastical romps through Russia. Last Acts by Alexander Sammartino did perfectly scratch the hot weather itch with its soupy Arizona setting and prose so hectic the book felt like an episode of heatstroke. It’s a darkly funny critique of modern capitalism via the tragic tale of a family gun business — I couldn’t put it down.” – Tabitha Woolcott: Fashion Editor

“My favourite book is The Talented Mr Ripley! It feels a little cliché, but I love complex characters, and I think that Patricia Highsmith does an incredible job at making you empathise with the title character, even as he commits these immoral acts. That’s definitely a testament to both her writing ability and impeccable characterisation; it’s difficult to put a reader inside a character’s mind, especially those who are complicated, immoral, and imperfect, but in TTMR, it feels effortless.” – Macy Hall: News Editor

“Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a book about friendships, connection… and an octopus! It’s slower paced and can feel a little hard to get into, but is perfect for sitting by the pool, or lounging in the sun all day. It’s a charming read, especially for any animal lovers like me, with heart-warming character development and a captivating telling of their intertwining lives.”– Hannah Foley: Lifestyle Editor

“I’ve been trying to get back into reading this summer and thus have mostly been sticking to books under 250 pages. These books include The End of Eddy by Edouard Louis (a memoir about growing up gay in rural Northern France), Nobody Knows My Name by James Baldwin (a collection of essays), Hot Milk by Deborah Levy (about a young woman’s relationship with her mother), Querelle of Brest by Jean Genet (about a murderer in a port town in Brittany), and Lie With Me by Philippe Besson (another memoir about being gay in rural France). In my attempt to read a novel longer than 300 pages, I am also currently halfway through The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton, a novel about a journalist exploring the history of a 1970s rock duo.” – Micah Petyt: Venue Co-Editor

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
“This is one of the first books I read this summer, and what a great choice it was. The majority of the novel takes place in Cyprus, some forty or fifty years ago, and this backdrop filled my mind with images of luscious landscapes and the hot Mediterranean sun. This is a story about generational trauma and how familial love can be a power to overcome it.” – Robyn Srikandan: Venue Co-Editor

“The book that got me out of my reading slump and into my summer reading frenzy was Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. It’s the sort of book that is compatible with the sweaty summer sun but will make you sleep with the light on! Another remarkable read has been Ian McEwan’s Atonement – probably my favourite book I’ve read this summer. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the ending. Just complete, utter devastation. Sticking with the theme of emotional destruction, I’ve noticed that my summer reads tend to be a little on the distressing side. I think summer is the perfect time for me to indulge in this literature, as there’s so much positivity around that reading never feels too heavy. Some other books I’ve enjoyed have been The Last Day of a Condemned Man by Victor Hugo, The Collector by John Fowles, Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier and I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. I also tried challenging myself to read War and Peace this summer, but I just looked at it once and then gave up. Maybe next year…” – Polly Dye: Books Editor

“This summer I read Mongrel by Hanako Footman, and it has become one of my favourite books ever. The way the author weaves three different stories all together to show a story of womanhood, identity and family is beautiful and stuck with me long after reading.” – Kathryn Bailey: Events Editor

“This summer I really jumped away from my usual diet of poetry towards non-fiction and feminist writing, through books such as: Love in Exile by Shon Faye, Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler and Enemy Feminisms by Sophie Lewis. I wanted to be more equipped to meet trans exclusionary rhetoric head-on in wake of recent policy moving to suppress transgender rights in the UK.”– Fig Oakes: Social Media Editor

“My summer consisted, for the most part, of reading for my third-year modules. This led to me reading Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham poolside in Menorca and Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley in 40-degree heat in Morocco. While I often like to align my reading with the weather, time constraints overruled. However, it proved to me that wherever you are, a good book can truly transport you anywhere in the world (even an apocalyptic one!) I did manage to squeeze in a pick of my own: Deborah Levy’s Hot Milk. I found it in a charity shop about two years ago and was drawn in by a quotation on the back.

It posed an important question to me: if our lives are dependent upon, and indeed, documented thoroughly online, what happens when that is broken? Are we too, broken? The book took a far different turn than I expected from this quote, exploring the messiness of family and romantic relationships to the backdrop of the Spanish countryside. While it was not what I expected, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was the perfect summer read.” – Lilia Colledge: Deputy Books Editor

Now you’ve heard our favourites, what about yours? We’d love to hear what you enjoyed or didn’t in the comments and who knows, you might find your next read lurking there…