Summer Reading List
Whether you are relaxing by the pool or in the air conditioning, summer is a great time to catch up on reading. But with the multitude of available choices, it can be hard to choose. Below is The Echo’s comprehensive guide.
For the historian:
Historical fiction is a great category for those interested in immersing themselves in a different time and place.
Girl with a Pearl Earring, written by Tracy Chevalier
A vibrant novel about a 15- year- old girl, Griet , who is a maid in the Vemeer household of the 1600’s. Publisher’s Weekly called the book “a marvelously textured picture of 17th-century Delft.”
Memoirs of a Geisha, written by Arther Golden
The story of a geisha beginning at her roots in 1929, Memoirs of a Geisha was “highly recommended” by Library Journal and made into a 2005 movie of the same name.
Elizabeth Street: A Novel Based on True Events, written by Laurie Fabiano
Set in the early the early 1900’s, Elizabeth Street shows the life of an Italian woman, Giovanna Costa, who is to be married in Scilla, a little fishing town. Giovanna comes to New York, where she becomes entangled with the mafia. It is the story of author Fabiano’s great- grandmother. Tom Brokaw called Elizabeth Street “a great read, a fascinating account of the Italian immigrant experience at the turn of the century.”
From $10.85, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/1935597027/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
For the suspense- seeker:
If you are drawn to books that always keep you on your toes and your heart rapidly pumping, this is your set.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, written by Steig Larsson and translated by Reg Keeland
This originally Swedish novel was a huge hit in Europe long before it began hitting bookshelves in the states and was announced as a movie to come out in 2012. It has been called an intellectual crime novel and is about Mikael Blomkvist, a disgraced journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, an antisocial computer hacker. The bizarre couple comes together to investigate the forty- year- old disappearance of Harriet Vanger, the niece of Henrik Vanger, who is the former CEO of Vanger companies.
And Then There Were None, written by Agatha Cristie
A classic thriller, by a classic thriller writer, it reveals the stories of ten individuals who go to Indian Island under false pretenses only to be charged with past crimes.
From $5.95, http://www.amazon.com/Then-There-Were-None/dp/0312979479/ref=cm_lmf_tit_2
The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night-Time, written by Mark Haddon
The story begins with the murder of Wellington a dog. As Christopher, a 15-year-old with autism, investigates this murder he comes across more than he ever would have thought. A great book if you want a twist on the classic murder mystery.
From $10.08, http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Incident-Dog-Night-Time/dp/1400032717/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273797319&sr=1-1
For the pop culture expert:
Are you immediately drawn to the celebrity magazine covers when waiting in line at the super market? If the answer is yes, this all things celeb list will keep you interested.
Tell- All, written by Chuck Palahniuk
If the name Chuck Palahniuk sounds familiar to you, it’s likely because of his extremely successful 2005 novel Fight Club. Tell- All is the story of Katherine Keaton, a former celebrity who is looking for a way back into a life of fame. Although it was a disappointment to some loyal Palahniuk fans, booklist does reveal that the novel does have “some stunning scenes and pens some bawdily hilarious lines.” If that’s what you want in a summer read, this may be the one for you.
From $13.49, http://www.amazon.com/Tell-All-Chuck-Palahniuk/dp/0385526350/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Oprah: A Biography, written by Kitty Kelley
Oprah is yet another controversial biography penned by Kelley. For decades she has produced such books about famous figures from Sinatra to Nancy Reagan to the Bushes. It is not be the most honorable book one could choose to read, but if you’re looking for all the scandalous details about the woman who is likely America’s most well-known talk show host, then this one’s for you.
From $15.00, http://www.amazon.com/Oprah-A-Biography-ebook/dp/B0035FZJ6W/ref=pd_nr_b_3?ie=UTF8&s=books
Do you have your summer reading list planned out? What’s on it? Comment below!
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