Maltese summer nights — what do you read with the window open?

The distant thrum of a generator, the clink of ice in a glass from the flat downstairs, maybe the faint smell of jasmine if the wind is right. That’s a Maltese summer night for me, especially now that the collection of voting documents for the upcoming election has started and everyone’s a bit more animated than usual.

Now, this idea of reading with the window open, letting the night in, it's a bit of a romantic notion, isn't it? Like something from a film set somewhere else. Here, most of us are trying to keep the heat out, or the mosquitoes, or the sound of the neighbour’s dog that barks at nothing. Reading isn't some special ritual tied to the open window and the evening air. It's just what you do when you have a moment, perhaps in a cool room, or on the balcony if the breeze picks up. The kind of book you pick isn't necessarily dictated by the time of day or whether the window is open or shut. It’s more about what grabs you, what lets you escape the daily grind, the constant hustle, the heat itself. We're not usually curled up with a book when the festa fireworks are rattling the panes, that’s for sure. And the Gozo ferry is too short, too busy. So, what you read, it’s not some picturesque summer night experience, it's just… reading.

So, if you’re looking for something that genuinely takes you away, something to absorb you when the world outside your window is doing its usual summer night thing, here are a few titles I might hand you. Books that demand your attention, not just a casual glance.

Madame Bovary: Wordsworth Classics

Flaubert really dug into the desires and disappointments of provincial life with Emma Bovary. It’s a story about yearning for something more, a life beyond the mundane. You can get lost in her struggles, her ambition and her ultimately tragic fate. It's a classic for a reason, showing how our inner lives clash with the reality around us.

The Vegetarian

Han Kang's novel is unsettling, yes, but it absolutely demands your focus. It’s a powerful psychological drama about a woman who suddenly decides to stop eating meat, and the ripple effect that decision has on her family and her own sense of self. It's not a comfortable read, but it’s one that will stick with you and make you think.

The Count of Monte Cristo: Wordsworth Classics

If you want a truly epic escape, Dumas is your man. This is a story of adventure, betrayal and revenge on a grand scale. Edmond Dantès' transformation and his quest for justice is completely absorbing. It’s the kind of book you can get lost in for days, forgetting about the heat, the noise, everything outside your own little world.

There you have it. Books to pull you in, regardless of whether the window is open or shut.

Curated by BookClub.com.mt — Malta’s independent online bookshop.