10 BOOKS TO READ THIS SUMMER

This is a list that has been building over the years, a list that means a lot to me and that has shaped me in more ways than I thought possible. This is my ultimate summer reading list. In all honesty, I would find it quite impossible to finish all of these books in a summer. If you can, I would suggest you leave the house every once in a while. But there isn't anything wrong with spending a few days curled up with a nice book, escaping into the lavish life of Gatsby, or the terrifying situations that Katniss finds herself in. Stories are a way to make an ordinary day an adventure. This is a list of my favorite adventures that I've gone on. You can view the images here, and read a brief summary of why I chose these specific books below.

A Tale of Two Cities

If I stay

Perks

Harry Potter

One Flew Over

Great Gatsby

the-little-prince-cover

Two way street

whered-you-go-bernadette

Boyfriend

1. A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

Chances are, you've read this for some sort of english class in high school. For me, it was the tenth grade, and let me tell you, I hated it. Truly, I detested the characters, how they made me feel, their decisions, the plot, the whole damn thing. When I finished, I put the book away on my shelf swearing to never pick it up again. But as the year went on, I couldn't shake the emotion that the last 10 pages left me with (don't worry, I won't spoil it). Junior year started and I still thought about the love that one character showed another. This truly is an exploration into what it means to love another, to what extent we must go to save our family, and what is worth remembering and forgetting. Rereading it now, I love everything I thought I hated in the first place. It left an impression on me that I didn't think was possible.

2. If I Stay - Gayle Foreman

At this point, everyone has seen the movie. It pulled at everyone's heart strings and jerked many tears. But the movie, as well done as it was, is nothing in comparison to the novel. I mean, if you look at my copy, it is clear to see that it is a well loved book that has been read through many times (4 if I am remembering correctly). In case you haven't seen the movie or heard of it at all, it is a heart wrenching story about a young, Juilliard-Bound girl whose life changes after a horrific car accident. She is left in the hospital with an impossible decision; should I let myself die, or should I live for those I love? Told in an effortless balance between flashbacks and real time, the choice of Mia leaves everyone on edge, both of their seats and of tears.

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

Another book that many have probably already read or seen the movie. It is the story of Charlie, a boy who can't quite find his place in the world as he starts high school. As the year goes on he experiences friendship, drugs, family strife, and infinity. It is written through letters sent to an unidentified reader. Charlie comes into his own as he learns about love given and love returned. There was a twist at the end that left me feeling numb and broken, but in a way that taught me a lot about life. It is one of those books that I come back to every few years and that teaches me something new every time. If Charlie can make it through life, then I sure can too. (I know this is a book review, but the movie was an amazing rendition of it. As soon as you finish the last letter that Charlie sends, I recommend finding a copy of the movie)

4. The Harry Potter series - JK Rowling

If you know anything about me, this comes as no shock whatsoever. I mean seriously, one conversation and you'll know that I'm a Potterhead. There is nothing I don't love about these books. The magic is more than spells and potions, it is the family and the adventure that JK Rowling was able to convey throughout these 7 novels. A brief synopsis in case you've been living under a rock these past 18 years. Harry Potter, an orphan living with his abusive aunt and uncle, finds out that he is a wizard and goes to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here he meets his two best friends Ron and Hermione and the three of them work together to defeat any Dark Art that is thrown their direction. I will forever love these books. And if any of you readers are fellow Ravenclaws, we can bond over our superior intelligence and cunning skills.

5. Le Petit Prince - Antoine de St-Exupery

It's okay if you have to read it in English I guess that's okay. But if you're looking to sharpen your French skills, this is a great place to start. Everyone always talks about The Little Prince as if it is a children's book, but this book taught me more about life than any other. There is an entire world that adults are incapable of seeing, and it's tragic to grow up and to lose our sense of imagination. The Little Prince teaches us all how to find that innocence again, and how to love each other and the world around us with no limitations or fears of being hurt, the way a child is able. Finishing this book, I now know that a rose, a fox, and a snake can change my life forever. Oh how happy I am to have regained a piece of my childhood.

6. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey

I never understood how it was possible to simultaneously be in love with a character while hating his every action before I met McMurphy. There were truly points in the novel where I wanted to marry the man, and other points that I had a few choice words to write about him in the margins. Told from the point of view of a mentally "ill" (well, I guess I'll let you decide whether or not he is for yourselves) patient in an Oregon psychiatric ward, we see the events that transformed all of the patients on the ward into hopeful beings again. McMurphy's sudden appearance in the hospital changes everyone's opinion as to what it means to be sick, and what it means to help those around you. I found McMurphy to be the most frustrating, ludicrous, sacrificial, loving, selfish character I have ever met. If you think that sounds conflicting, imagine what it was like to have these thoughts flowing through my mind 24/7. It is a great read that will leave you uncertain of how to feel towards the characters you thought you loved.

7. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is a summer go-to. Every summer since freshman year I have reread this book, and it's pretty easy considering it's only about 175 pages. This is another book that many have probably read for some sort of class assignment. Quite different than my start with A Tale of Two Cities, I loved this piece from the very beginning. Jay Gatsby is a man that I try desperately to empathize with every time I pick it up, but simply cannot find a way to excuse his actions or his means of obtaining his goal. And Daisy, my gosh, do not get me started on Daisy. Somehow, when I begin the book, I always forget about the ending, and find myself loving Daisy. She is a beautiful representation of innocence and the pain of lost love. But by the end, I can't bring myself to maintain that image I had of her in the beginning. Every time I reread this book, it teaches me something new. I will probably continue to read it every summer until my copy falls apart, then I will buy a new one.

8. Two Way Street - Lauren Barnholdt

If you're searching for a summer romance novel, look no further. Romance, however doesn't seem to be where this book is headed when we first start out. It is whimsical and unexpected, and the twist at the end left me so angry I couldn't control it. Here, we follow Courtney and her ex-boyfriend Jordan as they take a summer road trip to their college. They are stuck together for days in a small car, listening to music Courtney hates, eating food Jordan detests, and both arguing constantly. But these days that they spend together forces them to realize why they broke up, and whether or not it can be fixed. It is told from both Jordan and Courtney's points of view, leaving us all to wonder who is in the right and who is in the wrong?

9. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? - Maria Semple

I'm gonna level with you all here; I haven't actually finished this book. I am in the process of reading it at this moment, but it's still so good that it's making the list a little prematurely. This is a novel that begins whimsical and just goes up from there. Bernadette Fox, a fearful, unique woman who is looked down upon by other Seattle private school mothers, is planning a trip for her daughter Bee. Bee wants one thing; to go to Antartica, and her mother is making that happen. Until she goes missing. This is a novel that has me laughing, but also wondering, "what happened to Bernadette Fox"

10. The Boyfriend League - Rachel Hawthorne

I read this for the first time when I was in the 7th grade, and I've only read it once since then, so I sincerely hope that my memory isn't fooling me. This is a sweet novel about summer romance between a softball-playing tom boy, and a college baseball player in town for the summer. This book sparked my obsession with all Rachel Hawthorne books. As a 12 year old girl reading about romance and love, it definitely made me want to grow up and experience all of those things. It's innocent, sweet, partially unexpected, and all around a cute read. This is a great book if you want to sit back and relax without having to exert your mental capacity to understand all the philosophy in it. Definitely a summer favorite, and Rachel Hawthorne has many more novels if you want the romance to keep coming.

As you know, I am a book fanatic, so I am anticipating an addendum to this list with books I finish in the near future. Please let me know if there are any books that you'd like to share with me, I'm always up for suggestions. Thanks for reading!

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