Toronto is going through its usual series of summer heat waves, where temperatures reach well into the 40s (104F+). It’s hot, it’s sticky, it’s miserable. There’s an inescapable burning orb in the sky, buzzing insects in your face, and a pervasive smell of fake coconut (AKA suntan lotion, which is actually one of the pleasanter smells one encounters at this time of year). Summer can be rough, even intolerable, for a lot of people. Being of Greek descent you’d think I’d love the sun and heat. You’d be wrong. Born and raised in Canada, I’m far more tolerant of low temperatures than high ones, but even my ancestors had a word for people like me:
Ancient Greek Word of the Day: κακοθερής (kakotherēs), unfitted to endure summer heat (via Tumblr)
So what do you do when you and summer just don’t get along?
- stay inside as much as possible during the day
- when you have to go out, hats, parasols, and sunscreen are your friends
- if it’s hot and you can’t cool down at home, the library is perfect (by the way, Love Lies Bleeding is now available at the Toronto Public Library! If your local library doesn’t carry it, ask them to start 🙂 )
- movie theatres, coffee shops, museums, and art galleries are all good places to cool off for a few hours
- look for nighttime entertainment and activities, such as concerts and festivals
- reading is always a good (and portable) option. You’ll find endless articles about beach reads, but check out this article on alternatives to beach reading for sun haters.
Are you looking for books featuring characters that avoid the sun as much as you do? I’ve got you covered:
Get Love Lies Bleeding for only $1.50 (seriously!) until the end of July–and don’t forget your FREE copy of Blood Magic.
How do you feel about summer? Share your thoughts in the comments…
Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
Aspasía S. Bissas 
Summer and I do not get along. At. All. I limit my venturing out to the barest minimum and stay as cool as I can. If one were to run the air conditioning at the level I would prefer in the ungodly hot state of Tennessee, we would all be bankrupt.
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Same here. For the sake of our electric bills and the environment we’re keeping the AC off all day (the rates go down after 7pm). I’m not loving this situation during our latest heat wave. If I could handle the heat even slightly I’d be moving to southern Europe as we speak (if only).
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I would move to Scotland and live in a remote cottage freezing in the winter, but happy as can be in summer.
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Have you considered Canada? Freezing winters, remote cottages, and no need to cross an ocean 🙂 The Yukon is looking pretty tempting right now…
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