Summer Reading

Each summer I like to consume a years worth of books. I would prefer to read year around like I was able to during middle and high school but college gets in the way of that. So to stay sane I try to read a bunch of books during my summer vacation. Books are great in the cool air conditioning, they are great during Camp rest hours and they even work when I am laying out by the pool between 1 hour intervals of reapplying sunscreen.

I have been accumulating books to read all academic year and I tried to pick a mix of genres and ages for this summer. So here is my summer reading list: I am a tad late at getting this out and have already read some of them since my summer started a month ago.
 ✓ 1. Holes by Louis Sachar (description here)
I some how had made it through elementary and middle school without reading this staple. But it is never too late! I read this a couple days ago and it was a really fast page-turner. Though the reading level is pretty low, it touches on some pretty serious topics such as the power of honesty and unjust racism. 

✓ 2. Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis (description here)
This was a real tear jerker but it gave me a bunch of hope. Katie Davis is so amazing and strong, plus it is crazy that she was about my age when she moved to Africa and adopted multiple little girls!

✓ 3. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (description here)
Hosseini also wrote The Kite Runner which I read before my senior year of high school. He has the way of writing moving, deep books that let the readers into his memories and experiences in the Middle East. His stories are about the obstacles and difficult choices in life that transcend cultural borders. His writing is especially relevant when all the American media talks about are terrorists. 

✓4. 1984 by George Orwell (description here)
This is a classic that I was never assigned in high school but everyone should read it, plus it is on the BBC "Top 100 Books" list, which I am trying to read all the way through. Join me! Here is the list.
The book is definitely not a walk in the park flick. It is a tad disturbing but in an interesting, can't-look-away kind of way. Orwell is described as prophetic because of how many of his predictions came true and are applicable to today.

5. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (description here)
I started reading this book in the fall with my honors reading group but we never finished so hopefully I can finish this summer. I have seen the movie and the book is so far even better than the movie! I am going to have to back track a bit because I haven't read it in so long that I do not remember what is going on. It is really long with a bunch of details, so wish me luck!

6. On the Road by Jack Kerouac (description here)
This is another book on the BBC list plus it is on many books to read in your 20s lists and lists for those of us with wanderlust so this seemed like the summer to pull it off the shelf.


7. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery (description here)
I read this book a long time ago, so long that I can not really remember it at all except that I dressed up like Anne for a reading event. I am reading it over again because it is my camp friends favorite book. Plus as I was writing this article I realized it is also on the BBC list. I checked it off already but it should really only be half a check. 

8. A Church of Mercy  by Pope Francis (description here)
What can I say? I am obsessed with Pope Francis! So I am super excited about this book!

9. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (description here)
To be honest, I ordered this book because the cover won an award in 2012 and it glows in the dark. It has been sitting in my stack since then and I was looking through the stacks one day and remembered how interesting it sounded. Besides having a great cover and description it was also on the New York Times Bestsellers list in 2012.

10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (description here)
This is another classic on the BBC list. You are probably noticing the pattern.

This is my top 10. I'll keep you posted on how it goes!