For many students, reading is the last thing they're thinking about over the summer. For some, however, the free time is a wonderful opportunity to read more books than they get the chance to throughout the rest of the year. Where better to read then on the beach, laying on a towel in the sun, the waves lapping at your feet. A book is a lovely thing to have with you on vacation, and here are some good books to bring with you on you trips this summer.
1. "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart.
You’ve probably either already read this book or at least heard of it, and it’s quite the thriller. The Sinclair family is infamous for its wealth and power, and for the four “Liars” (Cadence, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat). Protagonist Cadence has suffered from amnesia and migraines two years after an accident at the family’s private island in Cape Cod. A summer secret about the accident, plagues all of the island's inhabitants when Cadence returns in order to decipher what happened to her. This book is “unputdownable.” It’s a mystery with one hell of a twist at the end.
2. "If You Find This Letter" by Hannah Brencher.
"If You Find This Letter" is Assumption College graduate, Hannah Brencher's heartwarming memoir on finding her purpose through hundreds of letters to strangers by letting them know that they are not alone in the world. Newly out of college, Brencher moved to New York and found herself surrounded by people who knew where they were going and what they were doing with their life, and didn't have time for a girl who was still trying to figure it all out while, also, wanting to change the world. Lonely and depressed, she noticed a woman on the subway who felt the same way.
Bencher wrote this woman a letter and scribbled, "If you find this letter, it's for you..." When she realized it made her feel better, Brencher began writing letters and leaving notes all over the city from doctor's offices to coat pockets, library books, and even bathroom stalls. She poured her heart out to strangers who only seemed focus on the screens in front of them. She believes there is something personal and warming when receiving a handwritten note in today's digital scene. Bencher attempts to bring more love into the world and talks about how she rediscovered her faith through the movement she started.
3. "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer.
"Into the Wild" is a non-fiction novel that has no final answer or solution. This is the story of Christopher McCandless, a man who, to put it simply, went into the wilderness of Alaska with no apparent motive and died. The novel tells the story of his journey from beginning to end, with interviews of family and friends, as well as with experts on the Alaskan wilderness and the things McCandless experienced throughout his journey. The overarching question is whether or not his death was an intentional suicide, or a mistake. Krakauer's writing makes the reader reflect on their own life in comparison to Chris's, leading to deep thought and retrospection.
4. "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher.
This was one of the first novels that I read during middle school, one that had a deep effect on me and does to this day. "Thirteen Reasons Why" is the story of Hannah Baker and Clay Jenson as well as 12 others; Hannah, having recorded 13 tapes, one for each person who led to her committing suicide, and Clay being reason number seven. Each side of the tape tells the story of one person and their effect on Hannah, and they all add together to tell the full story of her suicide. This book will leave the reader thinking about their relationship with others for years to come.
5. "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" by Cheryl Strayed.
“Alone had always felt like an actual place to me, as if it weren’t a state of being, but rather a room where I could retreat to be who I really was.” A compelling tell-all about one woman’s journey as she walks up the West Coast in a grand effort to piece back together the shattered remnants of her life. In her brutally honest memoir, Cheryl Strayed documents her path to spiritual rebirth. In an attempt to regain control of her life, Strayed sets out on 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Whether you love the outdoors or would never think to don a pair of hiking boots, this amazing book will leave you feeling empowered and adventurous.
6. "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch.
“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”
You’ll need a box of tissues for this one. Randy Pausch, professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer. As per Carnegie Mellon tradition, he delivered his last lecture and shared the key to achieving your childhood dreams. That lecture was later turned into this inspiring text that will leave you renewed, and ready to take on the world.
