Summer Reading List

Eight books that will mix up your reading this summer

As a long-time lover of books, I have always eagerly awaited the freedom of summer. Even now that my elementary school days are over, and no longer get two months of pure vacation each year, summer always seems to be the time of year I find myself with the most opportunities, and the greatest motivation, to read for pleasure.

I always try to make the most of my summer reading, and one of the best ways that I have found to do this is by constantly mixing up the types of books I read. Reading books from a multitude of genres, and of varying lengths and styles helps to keep me eagerly awaiting my next read. I have compiled a list of different categories of books to try this summer, and for each category I have included a book that surpassed my expectations.

A Light-Hearted book

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell’s books are one of my ultimate guilty pleasures; her writing is cute, quirky, and fun, making her books easy to fly through. Despite being romantic and light-hearted, Rowell’s books include such real and relatable characters that they still manage to reach an unexpected level of depth. Fangirl centres around a sweet, socially awkward girl who is just starting her first year of university and it is filled with romance, familial love, and self-discovery.

A Classic

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

“Read more classics” is a familiar goal to just about any book lover. While summer is a good time to work on this goal, it is also a time for adventure and excitement. Gulliver’s Travels is a perfect summer read that meets both of these requirements. Just as it can be read for its literary merit and historical context, it is also easy to appreciate the creativity and exciting adventures in Gulliver’s Travels.

A Book That is Part of a Series

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

The Bear and the Nightingale is a perfect breath of fresh air for a stifling summer day. Set in the depth of a Russian winter, this folktale-inspired fantasy novel is equal parts chilling and enthralling. Even better, the story doesn’t end here. Arden’s two subsequent books heighten the stakes that are set in The Bear and the Nightingale and introduce readers to a wide array of magical creatures and dark mysteries.

A Long Book

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Have you ever wondered what would happen if magicians were involved in the Napoleonic war? If you have, Susanna Clarke has all of the answers you’ve been looking for. One of the best things about having extra time on your hands is being able to dive into an intricately developed fictional world. My edition of this book is just over 900 pages. While this book initially seemed like a daunting undertaking, the incredible world building and imaginative plot quickly drove all thoughts of the word count from my brain.

A Mystery

Endless Night by Agatha Christie

No summer is complete without at least once staying up with a book that you can’t tear your eyes away from, until the sun starts to sneak through the blinds. Agatha Christie is of course the quintessential mystery writer, so her books are bound to be page-turners. Endless Night, however, seems to be particularly underrated, as it does not receive nearly as much attention as some of her other books, such as Murder on the Orient Express. It is a book with a slightly darker tone than much of her writing, with a twist that completely blew my mind. It is quite possible that the darker elements in Endless Night are the reasons why the book is not more popular, yet, I feel that these elements are exactly what make it so fascinating.

A Translated Book

Ru by Kim Thuy

Originally written in French, Ru is a little gem of a novel by a Canadian author. Kim Thuy was born in Vietnam and immigrated to Canada as a child. Ru discusses the immigrant experience and uses a beautifully rhythmic stream-of-consciousness style to weave together cultural influences and narratives.

A Non-Fiction Book

The Englishman who Posted Himself by John Tingey

As someone who is not usually a huge fan of non-fiction, I can wholeheartedly say that The Englishman Who Posted Himself is not a typical non-fiction book. This is a strange biography of a man who, in the early 20th century, discovered that the British postal system allowed him to mail some very strange items, including an unwrapped turnip, a purse (with the mailing address and stamp contained inside), and a dog. The book documents the antics that ensued as a result of this discovery.

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Feature photo obtained via Unsplash