Whether you are busy going to the beach or planning an exclusive getaway trip, there are an endless number of novels to help move along the hot summer months just around the corner.
Here are just a few out of the millions of books that will definitely fill up any free time there might be in your summer vacation.
“Tuesdays with Morrie” is a non-fiction novel written by Mitch Albom that anyone can learn from. His memoir was later adapted by Thomas Rickman into a movie by Mick Jackson. It tells the true story of sociologist Morrie Schwartz, and the relationships he made with his students.
His former student, Albom, visits with the professor in his study every Tuesday, just like they used to back in college. This rekindled relationship turned into a final “class” on lessons on how to live, giving the reader a taste of what life is really worth.
Although Schwartz begins to lose control of his body due to Lou Gehrig’s disease, a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function, the reader gets to see how his last days are spent not in sorrow, but with love. The disease takes over his body and life, but he continues to share his wisdom on “The Meaning of Life.”
Since the summertime is the best time to take a breath, relax, and look at how far life has taken a person, this heart-wrenching memoir is the perfect match to help students reflect on how far they have come.
It also teaches one to never take for granted the time he or she has left in the world. Whether Schwartz’s lessons make sense now or later, they are important to think about.
Freshman Karalyn Viszoki said, “I think summer reading is really great when I’m stuck doing nothing. When I read ‘Tuesday’s with Morrie,’ I didn’t really understand all of the things he shared. Some of them took me while to grasp, while others were so clear and made me appreciate a lot more that I have. I guess it’s a book you have to reread to get the complete message.”
Moving along from a book full of life lessons, “The Night Circus” written by Erin Morgenstern is a fantasy novel about a magical Victorian circus that will have anyone sitting by the campfire all night long engrossed in the story.
This story mostly takes place where pretty magic is passed off as an illusion so that the readers will not be suspicious. This is meant for a reader that likes a lot of descriptions, does not mind a very slow story, and has a penchant for circuses.
In the novel, two ancient magicians set their two best pupils against one another in a magical contest – the mysterious circus that only appears at night.
The only problem is that the contestants do not really know the rules or how victory is determined. When the contestants start falling in love which each other, things get complicated.
Similar to “The Night Circus,” “Joyland” by Stephen King is mysterious. Set in an amusement park in North Carolina, it gives off so many warm summer vibes to its reader, but with a twist.
Freshman Gissel Vazquez said, “King’s books are always making me want to the finish it the day I pick them up. ‘Joyland’ was so creepy, yet comforting in a way that made me feel like I was out on a hot summer night going to a fair. Every character serves a purpose and adds to the story.”
The main character, Devin Jones, learns about a haunted park and the people he is to meet later in his summer job away from college. King’s novel makes the reader feel as if they are exploring an actual carnival with its cotton candy and noisy rides.
It is also filled with numerous side characters that the reader is able to feel connected to in some way. It feels like a summer friendship that disappears once vacation ends.
Last, but certainly not least, “Two Summers” by Aimee Friedman is a captivating read. Summer’s life is split up when in one situation she answers a phone call, and the other she declines. The book is filled with tons of what-if scenarios.
Since the summer is a time where almost everyone makes big decisions, “Two Summers” is a perfect example of how even a small decision can lead to very different outcomes.
What types of books do you think make good reads during the summer?