To rectify accidentally going about two years without reading a book for pleasure, I have gotten myself motivated to take on a little challenge this summer. My goal is to read 25 books before I resume school on August 22nd. So far, I have read 3 books during this summer break. Before I get into more about them, I want to talk a little bit about modern day reading. I have read two books this summer that were physical books—you know, with pages, spines, you have to have a light on to use them, that sort of thing. The third book, however, I read using iBooks on my phone.
Reading a book on a digital device has never entirely pleased me. There’s something satisfying about marking your progress through a physical book and finally closing the last page that just doesn’t happen with a digital reader. Books don’t need to be charged up. Books don’t need batteries. Books don’t break when you drop them or get them wet. But the truth is, we live in a world where immediate-story-gratification is pretty much right in the palm of everyone’s hands. It’s incredibly easy for anyone with an Internet connection to obtain online copies of books.
And I myself certainly have made use of this technology. The only reason the first two books I read this summer were actual books is because they were copies I already owned. In the case of this third read, I had to specifically seek out a copy, and I opted for a digital download. I can’t remember the last time I went to a bookstore in search of a specific book. I still go to them, of course, because bookstores are universally pleasant environments. But when I encounter a specific title that piques my curiosity, I’ll usually go right for the digital copy rather than making a trip to the store. It’s quick. It’s effortless. It allows me to read more frequently. These pros apparently outweigh the cons of not having a physical book in my possession, because I keep buying and reading books on my phone and tablet.
I don’t know if I have a bottom line to reach here, I just wanted to throw some ideas out there for consumption. Basically though, I don’t think it matters whether people are staring at pages or screens—just as long as people are still reading books. So, without further ado, here are the first three books on my list of summer reads:
"Waiting for You" by Susane Colasanti is a novel for your inner angsty teen. This story is told from the point of view of a high school girl as she deals with issues of anxiety, depression, boys, friends, parents, and figuring out what’s real. While I read this book, there were moments when I screamed at it in frustration (like one might scream at a TV when movie characters are doing things) as the story unfolded. Some of it was silly, some of it was relatable, but overall it’s a sweet story and a good read. This same author has written a bunch of other books about teen girls and their dramatic lives, such as When it Happens and Take Me There. I, of course, own these titles and others by her, so this probably isn’t going to be the last time her name appears on my list.
"It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned
Vizzini is one of my favorite books of all time. It was also made into a movie
that wasn’t bad, but the book of course has a lot more included in the
narrative and is generally way better. This is the story of a boy getting into
his dream school, spiraling into depression, and being admitted to a hospital
for mental wellness. It sounds a lot heavier than it feels when you’re reading
it—the tone throughout the novel is light and humorous. This book is about
dealing with depression, but it will have you smiling from beginning to end. You should read it.
"Tweak" by Nic Sheff is an intense read from the get go. An autobiography about growing up while struggling with drug addiction, the writing is contemplative and honest--pulling no punches and disclosing all of the gnarly details. This book had my skin crawling, my mind turning, and my heart absolutely breaking; I could not put it down. Definitely worthy of an R rating and not for the faint of heart, Tweak is a gripping and consuming read. The author’s father also wrote a memoir called "Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction." This book will likely be next on my list.
As I mentioned earlier, these are the first 3 books I’ve
read on my endeavor to read 25 books before August 22nd. As I
continue reading, I will continue writing updates on my list and my progress. I
don’t know for sure how successful I’m going to be with this self-issued
challenge, but even if I don’t finish 25 books, I still will have spent all
summer reading.
