Summer in the city means iced coffee walks in the morning, a dip in the water, late night dining outdoors, and, more recently, hot guys reading. Everyone from Jacob Elordi to a guy you swipe past on Tinder seems to be posting pictures of what they’re reading—in a bay window, at the bar, on the metro, or shirtless on the beach.
Summer brings bibliophiles and casual readers alike out of the woodwork–the sunshine and water are the perfect place to spend a day lounging with a book. Pond checked in with Charlee Brooks of Grandpa’s Book Club to ask what summer reading looks like for him, dream about warmer days, and discuss book recommendations.
Tell us the story of Grandpa’s Book Club–how did you get started?
I think there are many reasons why I started posting videos about books on the internet. But when you asked me this and I started following the roots back, every trail led me to community.
Growing up queer, I never really felt as though I had a community of people that I identified with, and when I began reading I again felt as though I lacked connection with those who shared my same passions. I think I started Grandpa’s Book Club to bridge that gap—to find other people with that same desire for stories, language, and creativity that I hold so dear.
What does summer mean to you?
Summer for me means long days. The kind that feel like they are never going to end. It’s freedom. The water. The body and the dripping of fruit down its front. It’s the ache of the all-consuming Australian sun—the ache that doesn’t give up, that burns and prevails long into the night. It’s full of words in the silences, and meaning given where meaning is scarce. It’s the romanticisation of the mundane. It’s the body, in conversation with the world around it, and the ocean reminding it that it will be okay.
What do you think people most want to read in the summer?
This is a question that I struggle to answer; reading is such a personal experience. I can’t decipher which book will speak to you—or the next person—at any given point in your life. What works for me may not for you, and I think that’s beautiful. That’s what makes art art.
In saying this, I think there are a few themes that people yearn for in their summer reading. For me, I continuously find myself seeking out books that typically feel like a fever dream. They are full of heat, tension, and inevitability. I think these feelings drive the summer narrative in a way that allows you to find meaning in the beating of the sun.
I also think that people tend to gravitate toward a book that doesn’t demand too much of them. A story that flows and tends to them with care. I think that’s fine. I don’t think there is a certain way people should be reading. Read whatever you please. Don’t give in to trends, or just read what’s on the bestseller table at the bookshop because you feel obliged to. If you are looking to develop a reading habit this summer, I implore you to read what you like and are interested in. When you do that, I promise reading will become a lot more fun.
How would you most enjoy reading in the summertime?
With social media, it’s hard not to feel as though I should be planning some grand adventure or attending events every other day. For so long, I felt as though to make the most of the season, I would have to be busy. But this year I realised that that is far from the truth, because in all honesty, my perfect summer is spent at home.
Picture long days that stretch on for what feels like forever. With hours spent by the water, oscillating between a book, napping until my skin is tender from the sun, and washing it off in the Australian sea.
It looks like speedos and tan lines. It’s the smell of sunscreen and dinner in the backyard as the sun sets. It’s laughter, and the shower as it soothes your burn. It’s the feeling of the linen sheets against your tired bones, and the faint smell of the salt still in your hair. A perpetual cycle of days without time and the opportunity to make it whatever you please. My ideal summer is days like these.
Charlee’s Summer Reading List
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Open Heaven by Seán Hewitt
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Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan
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Foster by Claire Keegan
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Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
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Paul by Daisy Lafarge
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Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
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Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna
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My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
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The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
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Devotions by Mary Oliver
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Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
