I don't know about you, but I love reading during the summer. Of course, I love to read year-round, but there's something special about summer ... Maybe it goes back to summer vacations, and staying up all night reading to the end of a book. Or maybe it's simply the fact that on hot, humid Southern summer afternoons, the only thing you want to do is be still with a cold drink and a good book, staying cool until the sun sets. Regardless, summer reading has a special place in my heart, and is a time for me to be particularly free in my reading selection. I have a tendency to reread old favorites, pick up fluffy contemporary "chick lit"-type novels, or explore the Classics. That's my plan for this summer as well, but I also think I'm going to experiment a little ... maybe try some new things.
To help you find some great reads for the summer (and entries into the giveaways!), I'm going to do a series of summer reading suggestions. Here's the first installment ...
Christopher Healy
Through some blogger connections I've made the last several years, I have discovered the untapped greatness of Middle Grades fiction. Don't let the "target age range" turn you off, some of these are definitely readable for adults too! Like Hero's Guide, the first in a series that turns classic fairy tales on their head. Featuring the Prince Charmings we all think we know, Healy spins a tale that has more twists and turns than a pretzel in a maze. Colorful characters, unexpected villains and conspiracies, and just plain hilarious storytelling makes this a quick, fun read. I loved it, and look forward to the rest of the series!
Amy Brill
Lovers of historical fiction will appreciate this one, as will the stargazers and those who love those stories that take a character through a hugely developmental journey. I'll be honest, the star-thing is what caught my attention, and when I realized this was a much more detailed and involved novel? So much the better. It's not a quick read, but it's a worthwhile read. Hannah has always been a stargazer, tracking and observing the heavens, searching for an undiscovered comet to call her own. As a woman, in conservative Quaker Nantucket, Hannah's passions make her something of an oddity, even as she strives desperately to blend in. Things start changing when Isaac Martin - seaman from the Azores - walks in and begins to take lessons in navigation and observation from Hannah. Suddenly, everything is questioned, challenged, and Hannah begins to find her own answers. She grows. And that, reading friends, is the most beautiful part of this whole lovely novel. Hannah's a character I think we can all relate to, and her journey to "self-discovery" and finding a way to make her dreams happen? As intriguing and inspiring as the stars themselves. (No, really, it's a beautifully written story, and Hannah undergoes a complete transformation over the course of the story). Inspired by the life and work of America's first professional female astronomer, Maria Mitchell, this is one of those historical novels that makes me want to dig up some 'actual' history and learn more.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Yes, that's an author and not a book. Intentionally. Some authors are just excellent summer reads, and Tolkien falls in that category! Sweeping, huge, elaborate fantasy - worlds unknown with languages and histories and characters to love and love-to-hate. I'll actually be reading my way through Tolkien starting in August, beginning with The Silmarillion and continuing the journey through The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
Maggie Stiefvater
Oh goodness. This is a YA read, but it is amazing. Another fantasy selection, but more realistic in nature. Except for the presence of flesh-eating water horses, this could easily take place on a remote island somewhere (I pictured Australia or New Zealand while reading). A dual-story, of a girl named Puck who's desperately trying to keep her family together on the island, and Sean - the reigning champion, racing again to win his horse. It's a beautifully woven, beautifully written story that captured my imagination from the very first page.
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