Summer Books

So, this summer I decided I wanted to feel wealthy in a way that I rarely feel with my impending student loans and hectic school/performing schedule. No summer job, no music festivals, just a summer of guilt-free relaxation.  Rich not with money, but with time.

First on my relaxation checklist was to read anything and everything that I came across.  Some were checked out from the book vending machine at the grocery store, some borrowed, some bought, some stolen (to be returned I promise), but all in their own way enjoyed.


Something I learned: the speed that you finish a book in makes a big impact on the overall impression.

Something else I learned: goodreads.com where you can keep a log of what books you have read/want to read, record favorite passages, and read or write reviews.  Perfect for any bookworm.

1. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
• why? - Who doesn't love Steinbeck?  After reading East of Eden this spring I can't seem to get enough.
2. The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
• why? - Polygamy is something people, especially Mormons, don't really talk about.  As something that Joseph Smith initially proposed I think it deserves some exploration (even if my idea of exploration is through fiction).  What is the relationship between a man, multiple wives, and God?  Was polygamy ever purely practical? And what does it mean in modern society? This book goes there, for better or worse.
3. One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
• why? - You've probably seen the movie, but the point of view that Ken Kesey uses really makes this book a masterpiece.  
4. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
• why? - Colloquial, tragic, and an epic glance into the history of not just one family but a culture. 
5. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
• why? - I'm not very well versed in non-fiction, but this book is a nice twist of both architectural textbook and serial killer thriller.
6. The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker
• why? - Recommended by Trish, entertaining read for Mormons and non-Mormons alike.  In a city like NY there are never clear lines or stereotypes (nor should there be).  
7. The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs
• why? - At this point I was probably going a little overboard with the religious themed literature, but this was really entertaining and insightful into just how selective all religions can be when it comes to which specific scriptures to follow and which to avoid.  One man's discovery of how, in the end, it comes down to tolerance and love.
8. Let the Great World Spin by Collum McCann
• why? - The perfect New York City novel.  I could hardly put it down.  An amazing account of how one event can intertwine so many lives.  Follow up by watching Man on Wire.
9. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
• why? - My favorite Murakami novels are the ones that read like surrealist paintings.  This is a bit different.  No monsters, except for those we create ourselves or have inflicted upon us by our relationships with others.  At the same time upsetting and beautiful.
10. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
• why? - Short but filled with importance.  Makes you wonder, where should you place your faith and energy.
11. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
• why? - I had very little fluff this summer, so out came my Sony eReader and I devoured these in a day or two.  Can any teenage sci-fi be complete without a love triangle?  At least this decision wasn't as difficult as Edward vs. Jacob.
12. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
• why? - My favorite book of the summer.  I'm so glad Zach finally convinced me to get into this.  I bought Cloud Atlas several years ago and after making a list of all the vocabulary words I didn't know in the first few pages I gave up.  And then I tried again.  And got side tracked.  But as you get through the first section it just gets better and better, and, as the book is really a sort of palindrome, by the time you return to where you started you'll wish you took more time to enjoy it the first time around.
13. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
• why? - I found this less upsetting than perhaps I should have.  Needless to say, Ishiguro is an amazing writer, and the world he creates is real enough to be taken seriously.
14. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
• why? - Like Grey's Anatomy (the tv show, not the medical text) in literary form.  But better.

Out of those my favorites were The Grapes of Wrath, Let the Great World Spin, The Remains of the Day, and Cloud Atlas.  Besides the stretch of books about  dystopian modern societies (11-13) in there, the theme of the summer seemed to be "how to look outside oneself".  How to put your faith in the right places, find harmony and focus in an ever-changing world,  and learn to appreciate the value of every soul.

Now help me out --- let me know your favorite book recommendations!