Consider rereading Harper Lee’s classic before her anticipated sequel debuts in July. FLICKR/ANITHA.
By Annemarie Marconi
Ladies and gentlemen of Fordham University, allow the stress of finals to melt away for just a moment to realize that summer 2015 is closely coming upon us! And, trust the English major when she tells you that there is no better way to spend your summer than by reading some solidly good books.
Do not believe me? Think about this: sure, you may not have plans to backpack around Europe or travel to the peak of Machu Picchu, but the magic and richness of language can transport you there through the eyes of a character. Do not think you will find a fling this season? There are plenty of no-shame cheesy romance novels you can fall in love with. Whether you want a fantastic adventure, a stunning and life-changing revelation or just a quick escape from the commute to your internship, books will let you live more than one life this summer. So, get ready to lounge in a hammock, head down to the beach or curl up in bed, Fordham. Your 2015 summer reading list is here!
“Paper Towns,” John Green
Soon to be a major motion picture, “Paper Towns” is the lesser-known work of the American youths’ favorite tearjerker, John Green, famous for his mega-hit novel and movie The Fault in Our Stars. Simultaneously poignant and hilarious, this story is on the surface about a boy named Q who takes his friends on a treasure hunt to find his missing unrequited love Margo Roth Spiegelman. However, on a deeper level, it is about looking at people, particularly women, as whole, complicated human beings instead of as tropes or idealizations. Read this page-turner before the film hits theatres on July 24, that way you can roll your eyes and announce that “the book was better” with the best of them.
“Interpreter of Maladies,” Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri’s debut collection of short stories won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2000, and for good reason. The nine stories in this book are short but powerful, and Lahiri uses her characters to wrestle with ideas of culture, youth, love, grief and immigration. Each of the stories stands alone, but there is an effortless flow and order to them nonetheless. Easy to put down and come back to, it is the perfect beach companion — as long as you do not mind crying in public.
“Yes Please,” Amy Poehler
We’ve all read “Bossypants” already, right? As an actress, mother, comedian, writer and resident goofball, Amy Poehler slips in and out of many different roles. She describes it all with her signature wit in her written tell-all, “Yes Please.” This funny and empowering autobiography is the perfect cure for the bad case of “Parks and Recreation” withdrawal that has been going around.
“Cutting For Stone,” Abraham Verghese
For anyone looking for a longer adventure, search no further than this epic about Ethiopian doctors. The characters are dynamic and believable, and the vivid and gorgeous writing helps them to seem like they are breathing in the pages. Personally, I read the book last summer, and have since spent my days longing to return to the small Ethiopian city of Addis Ababa. Extra bonus: part of the book takes place in the Bronx!
“To Kill A Mockingbird,” Harper Lee
Even though this literary classic was assigned to you in high school, you possibly didn’t actually read it. Even if you did, pick it up again, this time for your own sake instead of your freshman English teacher’s. This timeless story about racism and growing up is regarded as one of the greatest books of all time for a reason. Plus, reading it will prepare you for the highly anticipated second novel from notorious recluse Harper Lee, “Go Set a Watchman,” set to hit bookstores on July 14.
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” Sherman Alexie
Do not let the novel’s length fool you — this book may be quick, but it is anything but easy. Alexie unashamedly tells the compelling story of Junior, a teenage boy living a double life between his home on a Native American reservation and his mostly-white high school. Funny, honest and punctuated with Junior’s comic strips, this book will change the way you think about poverty and challenge your ideas about what it means to be an American.
Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott
The subtitle of this non-fiction piece may be “Some Instructions on Writing and Life,” but Lamott’s humor, sensibility and candor makes the book hardly feel like a lecture. Perfect for both the budding, hopeful writer and anyone going through a hard-core quarter-life crisis, “Bird by Bird” offers reasonable and helpful advice that is neither preachy nor riddled with platitudes. You will walk away from this book feeling more optimistic and wanting Anne Lamott to be your new best friend.
“Eleanor and Park,” Rainbow Rowell
Of course, there is no better time to read a cute, fluffy romance novel than summer. “Eleanor and Park fulfills your need for a fun and casual young love story while also tackling some major issues like diversity, gender identity and the meaning of family. Rowell’s young adult novel works similarly to an ’80s teen movie — it will somehow make you nostalgic for a time in which you were not even alive.
