Summer Reading List

  Ah, summer... summer means free time!  During the year, I don't have much time for pleasure reading (although I do plenty of not-for-pleasure reading for classes), but I intend to make the most of my free time this summer.  Currently, I'm reading Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita (above), and although it's incredibly interesting, it's a little heavy for summer.  So after I finish it, these other books are on my reading list this summer.  A little fun, a little serious thinking material, and a little fluff reading!

1. Water For Elephants (Sara Gruen)

  My mom used to have a rule in our house - you can't see the movie until you've read the book.  I've heard the Water for Elephants film is alright, but the book is supposed to be amazing!  So I'm putting mom's rule to work - I don't get to see the movie until I read the book.  A few hours of Robert Pattinson is plenty of motivation!

2. Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson)

  I believe that you're really never too old for children's literature - this and my next pick show that, I think.  Adventure on the high seas, pirates, buried treasure?  Sounds a heck of a lot better than Pirates of the Caribbean 4.  I've never grown out of this book; it never gets old.

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J. K. Rowling)

   Again, you never grow out of good children's books!  And I've got to read the book before I see the movie...  okay, maybe twice.  I may or may not have already read Harry Potter 7 at the beach, but there can never be enough Harry Potter.  And it may be kids literature, but any woman that can get millions of children to read has my respect.

4. Crazy Love (Francis Chan)

   I've heard good things about this one - it was a big hit in the Christian book world.  I've heard great things, and I think I need some substance in this list.  I don't get time to do much spiritual reading during the school year, so I hope this book will fill a big void.

5. Summer Rental (Mary Kay Andrews)

   This is my fluff reading!  It sounds kind of like the movie The Holiday, but three friends rent a house in the Outer Banks, North Carolina - not too far from my stomping grounds!  I've always wanted to visit the OBX (and I'm determined to do it senior year at the Colonial Campus), and a book about three women finding themselves seems to be a perfect fluff read for the summer.  Note: Summer Rental doesn't hit bookstores until Tuesday, June 7th.

Click on the images for the source.