With summer approaching, most of us can throw those boring textbooks aside and begin to read books that are actually enjoyable.
To read away your summer well, you need to read the right books. Nothing ruins a good three months of reading time better than wasting your time with dull and dry books that should be used as toilet paper (i.e. anything by Charles Dickens).
Every summer reading list needs to contain a book that possesses a nostalgic element that will bring you back to your childhood. The perfect book to meet this qualification is “Matilda” by author Roald Dahl. Published in 1988, this children’s novel is, perhaps, one of Dahl’s best works.
The charming “Matilda” describes how the extremely intelligent and gifted 5-year-old Matilda Wormwood outsmarts her dim-witted parents and her cruel elementary school principal Ms. Trunchbull. This book will empower readers to overcome their obstacles and reach their goals.
“The Little House on the Prairie” series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” by Judy Blume, “Walk Two Moons” by Sharon Creech and “When Pigs Fly” by June Rae Wood are also good selections to bring back memories of “the good old days.”
Classic novels with exciting plots and mature themes should also be read this summer, even though many of us consider these types of books “school books” that should be avoided like the plague. However, selection is vital in finding a great classic novel; just about anything written during the 20th century is a great choice.
“1984” by English author George Orwell provides a frightening narrative about living under an authoritative, repressive government who controls citizens by threats, lies and complete fear. This novel, with its twisting plotline, provides readers with thought-provoking subjects about governmental policies.
Other enjoyable classic novels to consider reading are “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath and “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger.
Biographies and autobiographies give an exclusive perspective about the lives of prominent people throughout history. A good read, which recently has been released in paperback, is Kurt Cobain’s “Journals.” This selection contains journal entries written by the Nirvana front man from the late ’80s to his suicide in 1994.
Not only does “Journals” contain Cobain’s thoughts about the music industry during that time, it also contains shopping lists, various letters and crude ballpoint pen drawings. For fans of the grunge rock band, “Journals” is a must-have bookshelf accessory, but to others, “Journals” serves as an enjoyable read about a rock star that died before his time.
Other biographies and autobiographies to consider reading are “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank, “FDR” by Jean Edward Smith and “Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela” by Nelson Mandela.
No novel list is complete without a touching story about furry friends. “Marley & Me” by Philadelphia Enquirer columnist John Grogan describes how a 97-pound Labrador Retriever affected the Grogan family in the 13 years he was alive.
From the time the Grogan family brought Marley home, Marley proved to be disobedient (he peed on his obedience instructor’s leg), destructive (the Grogans returned home one stormy day to find their home in complete shambles) and a lovable member of the family. The ending is especially heartwarming as well as tear jerking, for all pet lovers.
Sticking a wet nose in “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White, “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls and “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen is also a great idea for animal lovers.
With these book selections in hand, your summer readings will not be dull.