Now that summer is beginning and most of us are done with school and (hopefully!) have a little more time on our hands, I am enjoying the luxury of having time to read again. In honor of the gift that literature is to us all, here's a list of seven books that I have read or am looking forward to reading this summer:
1. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
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"Fates and Furies" is a novel I've recently finished. In two parts, the novel provides an intimate depiction of the lives and marriage of the two protagonists, Lotto and Matilde. Fates, the first part, shows the reader life through Lotto's eyes, while the second part, Furies, gives the reader Matilde's perspective. Together, "Fates and Furies" is a testament to the adage that there are always 'two sides to every story.'
2. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
While I've been holding out on reading the recently published companion of the beloved classic "To Kill a Mockingbird," my curiosity has gotten the best of me. "Go Set a Watchman" has been subject to mixed reviews, and has been called 'more radical and politicized' than to "To Kill a Mockingbird" by theIndependent. The novel was written as an unedited first draft of "To Kill a Mockingbird," set a couple decades later, when Scout, the protagonist of both novels, is 26. While the newly published novel doesn't seem to be a literary work up to the caliber of To Kill a Mockingbird,I hope to see more of Lee's distinctive social commentary in Go Set a Watchman.
3. The Associations of Small Bombs: A Novel by Karan Mahajan
A New York Times editor's choice, "The Associations of Small Bombs: A Novel" takes a look at the impact of terrorism on individuals. The novel's focus on a small-scale bombing brings attention to an occurrence often over looked by the media - small bombings happen with great frequency, yet we hardly hear of them unless we are directly affected.
4. The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley
"The Loney" is British author Andrew Michael Hurley's debut novel. While originally published in the U.K. as a limited run of only 300 copies, it is now available in the United States. As the recipient of the Costa Book Awards First Novel Award, this novel contains a chilling, supernatural tale of 'Tonto' Smith and his family. In the words of The Guardian reviewer Sarah Perry, it is a "gothic masterpiece".
5. The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis
Pope Francis' most recent publication, his first as Pope, is a conversation on the subject of mercy, deepening his call for mercy before dogma. While not a member of the Catholic Church, I'm interested to hear the thoughts of perhaps the most progressive Pope yet on the concepts of forgiveness and a merciful God.
6. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
"The Girl on the Train" has been sitting on my bookshelf for a few months now, and given its success it is time I get around to reading it. The novel debuted in 2015 as No. 1 on the New York Times Fiction Bestsellers list, staying there for 13 consecutive weeks. In January of 2016, it jumped back to the top again for another two. A psychological thriller, the novel won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller. A film adaption of the novel is set to be released this October.
7. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany
While "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" does not quite fit with the rest of the books on this list, I couldn't help but include it. Like many of my peers who grew up with Harry Potter, I am waiting to read the script of this Harry Potter spin-off play with anticipation and excitement. While nothing will ever live up to the original seven books, I cannot wait to read the play once it is published on July 31st.
