Summer is the time of year where you want to kick your feet up, lay back, and relax. You'll probably hit up the beach, soak up the sun, hang out with friends you wouldn't necessary be able to see throughout the course of the school year, and of course, catch some well deserved shut eye. However, It may also be the time of year where fellow book lovers want to catch up on their reading, or add new additions to their endless list of 'must reads'.
If you're looking to read some good books this summer, start with these!
1. "Wuthering Heights" By Emily Bronte
"Wuthering Heights" is the only novel that was written by Emily Bronte before her death at age 30. The novel tells a tale of a Yorkshire farmer that brings home an orphan boy, and he grows to fall in love with his daughter, their tragic love story captures of the essence of the type of heartbreak one experiences when you can never truly be with the one you fall in love with.
2. "Thirteen Reasons Why" By Jay Asher
If this seems familiar, it should be! This book was recently adapted into a Netflix Original Series. It revolves around a teen named Hannah Baker that recorded 13 tapes to explain why she took her own life. Each tape is a reason why. Although, many people are now familiar with her story because of the show, I highly recommend reading the novel (even if you already seen it), so you can experience Jay Asher's phenomenal story telling first hand, and support the author that originally created this amazing work with such a powerful message. (fun fact! It's actually been a decade since the book has been released!)
3. "The Odyssey" By Homer
The epic of the mighty Odysseus and his long ten year journey to return home after the Trojan War. Not only must he must face mystical creatures, but the wrath of God's on this treacherous journey.This epic was originally written in the 8th century, it is truly an amazing piece to be able to withstand the test of time.
4. "Man Walks Into A Room" By Nicole Krauss
This novel by Nicole Krauss is about a man named Samson who loses his memory to a brain tumor. He must learn how to create relationships all over again, as well as discover who he really is and what he really wants from his life, now that everything he once cared about so dearly, now has no significance to him.
5. "It" By Steven King
Although this book is probably well known, it is actually getting a movie remake in September of 2017. A classic horror that is a must read! Try to make it a goal to read it before the movie comes out!
6. "The Tenth Of December" By George Saunders
This book is actually a collection of interesting and unique short stories that highlight the power of consumerism and how it can influence society. This is a read that gets you thinking for sure.
7. "Just Mercy" By Bryan Stevenson
Unlike all the other books listed so far, this book is actually non-fiction autobiography of Bryan Stevenson. He highlights his journey as a lawyer who is fighting the injustices of the American prison system. He writes about his own experiences with death penalty cases and juvenile cases. They will really make you question the morality, not only the prison system as a whole, but the morality of the people who run them and those who sentence these people to prison.
These are just some books that I feel like will get anyone's reading started this summer! Enjoy!
