Summer picks: what are our associates reading?

Summer is a time when many of us are looking for moments of peace and quiet and a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Reading is one of the most pleasurable activities that is able to transport us to a world of dreams and imagination. With a book in hand, you can escape reality for a moment, travel to faraway places and immerse yourself in stories that are both enchanting and terrifying. 

"Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey," once said the renowned American author and journalist Anna Quindlen. Our associate Anja Kovačič Fornazarič, P&O People Partner, tells us that there are many studies on the magical world of books proving that reading fiction has a positive impact on brain development and functioning. The results of this research are summarized in the book How Literature Plays with the Brain by professor and author Paul B. Armstrong, and in a TEDx lecture by Rita Carter Why Reading Matters. 

Lek's summer reading tips 

We asked our associates for their summer reading recommendations, which authors have most inspired them, and which books they have just finished reading.   

Katja Kure , Mateja Vodlan , Gregor Makuc , Anja Kovačič Fornazarič and Bojan Mitrović shared their recommendations, one of which was Fredrik Backman's Britt-Marie Was Here, which has just the right mix of humor and life lessons. Other recommendations included Patrick Süskind: Perfume– The Story of a Murderer, Elena Ferrante: My Brilliant Friend, Charles Bukowski: Women, John Steinbeck: Tortilla Flat, Jaume Cabré: Les veus del Pamano, Ciril Kosmač: Pomladni dan, Carlos Ruiz Zafón: The Shadow of the Wind, Kathryn Stockett: The Help, and Simon McCleave: The Snowdonia Killings, which beautifully captures the Welsh countryside through a gripping crime story. 

A treasure trove of stories that made the biggest impact 

Katja singled out Feri Lainšček as one of her favorite authors, whose interesting content appeals to her, especially the uncovering of recent history and familiar places that appear in his books. Mateja loves the works of Dan Brown, whose literary masterpieces keep the reader guessing until the very last moment about how the story will unfold. Gregor's favorite author is Chris Carter, a Brazilian-born writer of Italian roots, who studied psychology and criminology in the US. As Gregor points out, the author stands out with his precision and coherence in describing criminal acts and the detective procedures that follow them. 

Anja's favorite authors are John Steinbeck, Charles Bukowski, Alexandre Dumas, Neža Maurer and Ciril Kosmač, and for topics such as leadership and personal growth she likes Stephen R. Covey and Brené Brown. Bojan is very enthusiastic about Simon Scarrow. "His works are characterized by very tense storylines. Sometimes I actually prefer not to start a new book because it is practically impossible to read them slowly." 

The most recent book Katja read was the crime novel Črni princ (“Black Prince”) by Irena Svetek, which is the third part in a trilogy. "The story was full of suspense right up until the end, and I found it very difficult to put down. I especially liked the accompanying story from the first two books of the trilogy," she explains.  

Mateja’s latest read is Sabina Štrubelj's book on altruism, Siva dama (“The Lady in Gray”). She describes the story as light-hearted, but one which makes you reflect on selfless acts. 

And Gregor's most recent read was Freida McFadden's The Teacher, which appeals to him above all for the writing style.  

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak made a big impression on Anja, and sometimes her thoughts return to a passage, a moment or an insight from this truly wonderful novel. 

Finally, Simon Scarrow's When the Eagle Hunts captivated Bojan, who was fascinated by the book's insight into the development of the Roman Empire, the historical battles, and the political games of the time. 

From the beach, a comfortable deckchair, and your home patio 

Our book lovers like to delve into the world of fiction on a deckchair on the patio, in a rocking chair or in a cozy lounger. "Ideally, it would be on a beach somewhere, in a hammock among pine trees, or with a coffee. But in reality, with two small children, I read when I can. Usually it's before bedtime," Anja says about her reading habits.   

Most of our associates still prefer the printed form for the pleasure of flipping through a brand new book and the smell of the ink. However, Mateja points out that due to space constraints, she has been opting for an e-reader over the last couple of years, which is extremely convenient, as she can take her entire library with her on holiday. 

May this summer bring you moments of peace, interspersed with the smell of freshly printed paper and the rustle of pages that will take you on unforgettable literary journeys.