Summer has the reputation for being the time we can all take a chill pill, hang out with a beer, and most importantly, give our brains a rest. But, there's no time like free time to chop away at your reading list--you know, those books you told yourself you'd read, but they've been destitute on your bookshelf and/or nightstand. There's no time like the present, these glorious summer days to get your reading done. As Tyrion Lannister said, "...a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone if it is to keep its edge." Don't let your mind go to waste. I'm surely not going to, so I've got these 5 novels on my summer reading list.
1. Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace
This one's a doozy, wholly intimidating, and way outta this world, but I'm 75 pages in and I love it so far. Don't let it's gargantuan size turn you away. An actually easy, approachable read, Infinite Jest is a remarkable book set in an alternative future, when years are named after products (i.e The Year of the Depend Adult Undergarment). I never thought I'd learn so much about pharmaceuticals or tennis when I cracked this mammoth open.
2. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
Recommended to me by a good friend from school, Kingsolver's notable novel is the tale of a Southern missionary who moves his wife and four daughters to the Congo. Oprah raved about it, so I was somewhat skeptical about giving The Poisonwood Bible a chance, but each chapter is told through the first-person by a different family member. As a novice writer, I'm intrigued, yet also nervous, since such a feat requires deftness as a writer. My friend said it was great, and I trust his judgment.
3. Swing Time, Zadie Smith
Ever since I read White Teeth during my undergrad years, I've been a big fan of Zadie Smith, but I've been slacking. Her newest novel has gotten some pretty stellar reviews. I don't know much about Swing Time in regard to the plot, but from what I've gathered, the novel follows two childhood friends who yearn to be dancers. It's not my usual taste, but Smith is a goddess among contemporary writers, so I have her new book on my Amazon Wish List.
4. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
Shame on me, the English major who's never read Plath's most famous work. Of course, I've read her poems, and I know a great deal about her, as her name and life come up quite a bit in my academic setting. This summer, I promised myself I'd read The Bell Jar. Semi-autobiographic, the novel follows Esther Greenwood as she works an internship in New York City for the summer and struggles with her mental illness. Plath has a lot to say about gender role expectations, and I'm ready to be all ears (and eyes).
5. The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
Two of the smartest women I know decreed Roy's first novel their favorite, so I added it to my list. Small Things follows the childhood lives of Indian fraternal twins as children and adults and how laws surrounding love have affected their lives. The novel received rave reviews upon it's release, and it's style is non-sequential. Furthermore, Roy offers a glimpse into Indian history, and as someone who loves learning about new cultures, I'm sold.
