| Summer Reading List By: Tala Al-Husry Summer reading is typically light-the kind of reading you do while you’re sunbathing. But the lack of homework also gives people the chance to read more challenging books without being over- whelmed. For those who want to spend their time on the beach (or in parks) read- ing books other than the Twilight series and the Harry Potter series here are a few choices. Here are two classics and two modern novels for your summer reading pleasure! The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things: The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler is very relatable. It’s about Virginia Shreves, a high school sophomore who is overweight (hence the “big butt”) navigating her relationships with her parents, siblings and classmates. The story is told through Virginia’s e- mails and journal entries. Virginia is funny and spunky but very naïve. The book chronicles her disenchantment- especially with her big brother Byron- and her adaptation to the world she is in, which is both better and worse than the world in her head. The book tackles teen issues in a very honest way. Readers might be torn between wanting to hug Virginia, and wanting to scold her, but they will ultimately root for her just like a good friend. The Uglies: Scott Westerfeld’s The Uglies is about Tally Youngblood, who pulls pranks and breaks rules with her best friend Paris. But she lives in a society where once she hits 16 she turns into a beautifully proportioned version of herself and moves to a village full of beautiful teenagers whose main aim in life is to enjoy themselves. It sounds ideal doesn’t it? Not in The Uglies. Tally ends up discovering outsiders who remain “ugly” and discovers that life is not all about being beautiful. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The book is a collection of unabridged stories that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about famed fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, who solves complex crimes with his sidekick Watson. A huge part of the fun of reading these novels is watching how Sherlock Holmes picks up on the tiniest details and comes up with detailed (and usually accurate) conclusions from them. I recommend reading the unabridged series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle before the Guy Ritchie directed Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, comes out this December. Northanger Abbey: Jane Austen’s novels- classical chick lit- are always great reading. It’s summer, so reading the lengthy Emma or Sense and Sensibility may be a bit too much. Northanger Abbey is a short read compared to the other Austen novels. It follows Catherine Morland, a bookworm who takes too much stock in what she reads, as she makes her first trip to the seaside without her parents. The story is a romantic thriller, full of the witty Jane Austen social commentary and character analysis. I wouldn’t be surprised if Twilight’s Stephanie Meyer was influenced by Northanger Abbey. |
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