I had a love-hate relationship with my high school AP class summer reading lists. Books were my portal to much needed escapes (none better accepted than one that's school-mandated!), so I awaited the debut of these lists with conflicted anticipation. The lists promised great stories, new thoughts (er, new to me), proof that life could be different, and vicarious travel to all kinds of places. Some were excruciating to read (Moby Dick, The Stranger, Magic Mountain ... sorry, Mr. Williams!), while others comforted, enlightened, and emboldened. Whether they imposed epic plots or epic failures (in my then unseasoned opinion), these lists helped mold my favorite books collection. With a childhood that was cancelled after its first season, I am thankful for these books that filled-in like friends and family. As such, all summer reading lists were gifts.
Now that we're officially grown-up, we don't have the luxury of hand-picked reading lists. Not really. And so I'll offer one to consider. I'm a sucker for a good story in any genre or medium - poetry, biography, classics, young adult lit, fantasy, movie, visual art... you name it. What are your reading list picks? I'd love to know which stories lure you away from daily responsibilities.
1. Jane Austen Ruined My Life (Pattillo)
A fun, quick and light read. Best for Austen fans. Wouldn't you like to be traipsing about the grounds of Oxford in a red dress, too?
2. Shiver (Stiefvater)
You know it's a great story when you find yourself relating to a teen whose soul mate is a werewolf. Beautiful cover art, too.
3-4. The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian (Riordan)
These two are part of the Percy Jackson series so you should start with book one. Books four and five, however, were my favorite. They're kids books so they're light, fun, lightning-speed reads. Nonetheless, they're funny, smart and feisty.
5. Lament (Stiefvater)
It's clear that Lament predates Shiver. Not as good as Shiver, this novel is still an interesting story. The ending leaves you a bit unsatisfied, but the plot manages to transport you to Stiefvater's creative world. Should we all have a friend like James; funny, quick-witted and loyal to the core (but not blindly so)! He reminds me of a few guy friends I had in high school, one of whom I'd like to run into so I can pay him the $25 (plus interest) that I owed him after graduation!
6-8. Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse (Meyer)
Yes, the entire franchise is a teen fad, or that's how it debuted. Yes, the series is over-commercialized. Trim the fat surrounding these tomes and you're left with some great stories. Sure, they have their faults, but they're quite an achievement considering they're Meyer's first works. I never considered myself a sci-fi fan. Traditional vampire and werewolf stories never really held much appeal. Oddly enough, I still don't consider myself a fan of the genre, but I've been captivated by this series. Meyer manages to weave themes of image, prejudice, self-sufficiency, ethics, neglect, complicated love into an unconventional interpretation of the vampire world. It's about vampires, but it's not. There's some silliness and some fromage, but it's simply a great story. Meyer doesn't just take the traditional vampire format and drop in her own plot. She examines non-sensical assumptions of traditional vampire and mystical lore and changes them by injecting a good dose of logic. The characters are so well developed, they seem real (thus all the craze). My favorite characters are Alice and Jacob. I want a best friend like Alice: strong-willed, chic, gregarious and sweetly cunning but not overbearing. Jacob is a riot, endearingly annoying and great fun. You just have to read it, ok?
