I am also guilty of spending hours on end on my phone like a robot doing absolutely nothing productive. I used to finish two books every summer because well, I just didn't have access to superfast wifi. I would specifically go to Half-Price Books or Barnes and Nobel and buy myself two books that I would make a goal to finish by the end of the summer. Finishing a book is a whole another level of satisfying.
What I'm trying to say is that I miss reading books and I decided to revive my love for reading with this article and hope to do the same for you.
"The Catcher in the Rye"
Photo by: Autriya Maneshni
I am sure that some of us read this book our junior year of high school, but it doesn't hurt to read it again and enjoy it rather than thinking "ugh it's for school." I personally didn't have the opportunity to finish this book in school because we were running out of time. We ended up reading a few chapters but the rest of the time we just read the summaries, so I decided to finish this book the summer of my senior year and may I say, it's quite a ride.
This novel was written by J.D. Salinger and depicts the life of 16-year-old Holden Caulfield who is the most troubled and relatable teenager. His story starts with being expelled from his school Pency Prep, once again, for failing most of his classes, yet this time it feels quite a bit different than all the other times. The book shows the ways Holden tries to fight the "phonies" in the world but in reality, he himself is a phony too. The book shows his fall from innocence and how he keeps hiding behind his red hunting hat which was his safety net.
To me, Holden is a representation of my inner thoughts. He went through hell and back in this book just so he could escape reality. He was scared of adulthood and it's clearly shown through the book and how he tries to act older but he just can't bring himself to do so. We see him slowly lose his sanity through the book and it really shows how much a person can go through just to want to escape another thing.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone. If I was asked to show one book to someone who wants to understand me deeper, I would for sure show "Catcher in the Rye."
"Looking for Alaska"
Photo by: Autriya Maneshni
This is possibly my favorite John Green book because the ending really got me. I personally connect with this book a lot more than any of his other books because the story is nothing like what you would expect.
The main character, Miles Halter, is the definition of an awkward teenager trying to be cooler than what he already is. When he leaves for boarding school, he is trying to give meaning to his sort of meaningless life. All his life he's been the goody goody and he had a very safe family life that he finally escapes when he goes to Culver Creek. Being the awkward guy that he is, Miles has never experienced anything beyond the ordinary until he meets Alaska Young and the Colonel (his roommate). His fall from innocence is seen through every page of the book as new things arise and he doesn't know how to act during all of them. He didn't even know how to flirt with a girl.
The way this book is set up was the reason I fell in love with it. The book starts with a "Before" and it keeps referencing an incident during that section. I won't say what for obvious reasons what the incident was, but the book also goes into an "After" and that really messed me up. I was always intrigued by this book when I would see it on the shelves and I am so happy I read it because it has become one of my top favorite books. I remember feeling so many emotions when I finished the book and immediately started looking up themes and hidden symbolism.
I hope that you enjoy the mystery of Alaska Young as much I did.
"Note To Self"
Photo by: Autriya Maneshni
Now you might be thinking, who is Connor Franta? Well, he is a YouTuber and before you get the wrong idea, he is one of the best ones out there. He is one of the few good OG YouTubers that are left and his books are honestly super inspiring.
The book pictured above is his second book and I never read his first one but I am sure it was just as good. This book isn't like the typical YouTuber book. It is a mix of diary-type entries, little short stories, poetry, and pictures that Franta took himself. I love this book so much because everything can be interpreted in some way. In a way, you feel entranced by some of the poems and you can really sense the emotions that he was going through as he was writing them. I've read this book twice and I would still read it again because I love it so much. He really wrote a masterpiece and I have so much respect for how raw he was while writing this.
I recommend this book for those long nights when you are feeling a little lonely. It really feels like there is another person you are connecting with, however, it's just beautifully crafted words on a page.
"The Girl on the Train"
Photo by: Autriya Maneshni
I am guilty of leaving this novel unfinished but my goal for the summer is to finish it. From what I've read so far, this book is everything you need for a subtle adrenaline rush. There is mystery, there is drama, there is everything you would hope for in good book in here. I also love how the chapters also have a month and a date, which I think gives it a bit more connection with the reader.
The story is about Rachel Watson, a girl who takes the same train route every day and has familiarized herself with a house she passes by. The house, her old house. The couple, her ex-husband and his new wife. Trying not to focus on the past, she focuses on another couple's house and in her mind, she makes up a dream life for them because she thinks that they are the most perfect couple...Until it is proven that they aren't and that is when the mystery of the book kicks in.
This book is also made into a movie so I am looking forward to watching that after I finish it. I think this book is perfect for someone who is looking for that extra rush feeling after every page.
So put down your phone (after you finish reading this article of course) and enjoy some new books this summer. Reading helps fuel your imagination, plus gives some rest to your scrolling fingers and burnt out phone.
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