It’s summer! That means sleeping late, spending time with friends, and laying by the pool with a good book. During the school year I rarely have time to read for fun, so summer means I can finally tackle the pile of books I accumulate throughout the year.
If you are at a loss for new books this summer, here’s a little list of what I’m reading/what I love/what I recommend for the long, hot summer ahead!
I couldn’t put The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo down, and I found myself awake until 5 in the morning finishing it. I highly recommend the trilogy; maybe it’s the fact that one of the main characters is a journalist, but the mix of murder, mystery, technology, and politics makes for a thrilling read.
If you loved the Oscar-winner, are fascinated by the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, or just love history and politics, pick up Argo. It’s a quick read that gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the CIA gets people out of sticky situations, and how they pulled off rescuing six Americans in the middle of a revolution.
I have a
Malala obsession- I have been fascinated and inspired by her fight for girls’ education around the world, especially since I saw her speak at the
Social Good Summit. I downloaded her autobiography last semester and I’m excited to dive in!
I love the movie (anything with James McAvoy is a winner for me), and while I know I will probably cry my eyes out while reading this I can’t wait. I personally would rather read something beautifully written and sad than a sappy, Nicholas-Sparks-style novel (sorry for all the Sparks lovers out there but I just can’t).
I read this last summer after seeing the movie and it literally changed my outlook on life. While I’m not going to embark on a Christopher McCandless-style odyssey across America, I do have a greater appreciation for life and all the little luxuries that come with it. It’s a quick read, and while you’re bound to shed a few tears (the ending of the book is spoiled on the cover/the fact that it is based on a true story), find time for this little gem. The movie is worth it as well!
6. The Paris Wife
I am obsessed with this novel- I give it to everyone who wants a book recommendation!! I had been eyeing it at Barnes and Noble for a while, and my book-loving grandmother somehow read my mind and gave it to me for Christmas! It’s the story of Hemingway’s first marriage to Hadley Richardson, and is told from her point of view from the end of World War I to their divorce in 1927. It also features a cast of characters like the Fitzgeralds and highlights of Heminway’s life such as their trip to Spain where he wrote The Sun Also Rises.
7. A Fist in the Hornet’s Nest
This is the first of two novels by NBC’s chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel. Engel is probably half of the reason I want to be a journalist, and his daring adventures around the world and love of international affairs is a huge inspiration to me. Hornet’s Nest is half autobiography, half a retelling of the US invasion of Iraq, where Engel was the only American correspondent in the country. I tore through this in a few hours- if you do the same pick up his second book, War Journal.
These are just a few of the books I am reading/love right now. I could go on and on about books, but how many reviews can I write before you get bored? So, here’s a quick list of a few of my other favorites and what I plan on tackling this summer. Maybe this list will hold me accountable and see that I actually finish all of these!
Enjoy your summer reading!
