school's out, reading is in
Aaron wants to know what you are reading this summer.
I've started my "summer" reading already. Generally, during the winter months, I read non-fiction and, of course, graphic novels. Once spring comes, I catch up on whatever fiction I put aside during the previous months.
On Saturday, I started - and finished - The Jester. I enjoyed it enough that I've been speaking the language of the book without realizing it. That is, I'm talking like some ren faire geek. It's not a Pulitzer novel by any means, there are enough holes in the story to make even a second grader wince. But the storytelling itself is good. It's got knights and love and blood and guts and it reads like a tale that you would hear sitting around a tavern.
So what's on my list? Some books that are in the summer line-up:
Lucky Wander Boy: a novel about video game obsession.
I have a summer tradition of re-reading books from my childhood, as well as some newer children's books.
I'll flip my way through From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Half Magic once more before hitting the library for more current fare.
If you have an adolescent who needs books to read over the summer, I highly recommend the following:
Bud, Not Buddy
Because of Winn-Dixie
The Wanderer
Love That Dog (I truly loved this book).
I'll take suggestions of what to add to my summer list (I generally like to read one novel and one children's book a week). Criteria is important: Must be fiction (unless it's about baseball, then I'll read non-fiction) and it must be more entertaining than education. School's out in summer, you know.
Feel free to persuade me to pick up a non-fiction book this summer.
Comments
I just finished "Good Omen" - it's kinda like Hitchhikers Guide except it's about the apocolypse - very funny.
Posted by: Beth | June 2, 2003 01:48 PM
Two non-fiction I've just finished and recommend, but don't expect to persuade you to read (*lol*) are
Gulag: A History by Anne Applebaum, and
Nanocosm by William Atkinson
Gulag is a history of the Soviet prison camp system. Wonderfully done, and easy reading despite the depressing subject material. Comparisons and contrasts to the German concentration camps are informative (and makes you want to shove "Bush = Hitler" signs up the offending imbecile's ass).
Nanocosm helps explain some of the nanotechnology buzz and deflates some of the hype. As is quoted in the book, it makes you appreciate what nature has been doing all these years...
The only recent fiction I have lined up is "Waiting for April" by Scott Morris, who I have heard compared to a cross between John Kennedy Toole and Mark Twain. Just want to see what the buzz is about.
A few classics lined up for the summer as well, but was only focusing on recent releases. Enjoy! Sounds like you have some fun stuff.
Posted by: Chrees | June 2, 2003 01:53 PM
Beth, I read Good Omens the day it was released. I'm wait they call Gaiman-obsessed. Great read, highly recommended.
Posted by: michele | June 2, 2003 01:57 PM
I've got Pattern Reconition by William Gibson. It's sitting idling on the coffee table. I just started to read it. It's the first book that doesn't have How to Program ????? in 24 Hours as a title for a long time.
Posted by: jr | June 2, 2003 02:01 PM
gee..all these "sophicated" books yall read!!! I am happyly sitting on my "throne" reading the latest issue of "Jugs". If i get through it by next month, i feel i acomplished something....heh
Posted by: mike lawson | June 2, 2003 02:23 PM
Have you read the one by Patricia Cornwell about Jack the Ripper? It was very good...
Posted by: Tracie | June 2, 2003 02:23 PM
"Pattern Recognition" is awfully good. I would also suggest "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin deBoecker and a really awesome book about the San Antonio hurricane that killed thousands back in the early 1900's, "Issac's Storm".
Posted by: David Strain | June 2, 2003 03:30 PM
I'm reading Google Hacks (published by O'Reilly) and I'm also reading "An autumn of war" by Victor Davis Hanson, which collects his post September 11 essays. Both are recommended.
Posted by: Swerdloff | June 2, 2003 05:52 PM
Swerdloff, I recently finish Hanson's "Autumn" as well and was blown away by his writing and his ability to apply history to today's happenings. So I tore through "Carnage and Culture" immediately afterwards. Highly recommended as well.
Posted by: Chrees | June 2, 2003 06:54 PM
I'm on a non-fiction kick right now. I just finished reading We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families by Philip Gourevitch. It's written very well and I'd recommend it, but it's really heavy subject matter and it made me want to cry and scream. So maybe just ignore me and listen to the other people.
Posted by: Ermilla | June 2, 2003 09:27 PM
No "fun" reading for me ...Russian Lit class starts in a few days, and I'm currently mired in a 1000-page translation of Anna Karenina.
But I always recommend Lost Souls and Drawing Blood, both by Poppy Z. Brite. You'll probably enjoy the comics theme in Drawing Blood the most. Good homoerotica in both, though.
Posted by: AimeeC | June 2, 2003 11:23 PM
been reading the books i should have read in school over the years but decided to skip, right now I'm reading East of Eden... recently finished Lord of the Flies and have Catcher in the Rye around here somewhere... in between I'll be reading anything by Greg Rucka, Neil Gaiman, or Laurel K Hamilton... and the weekly comic supply.
Posted by: Seven-Five | June 3, 2003 12:57 AM
Right now, I'm on "From a Buick 8," but I wouldn't recommend it -- it's not all that good, really, but I'm determined to finish it anyway, hoping it might get better.
I'm also working on "The Matrix and Philosophy," bit by bit, and breaking it up with some stuff from The Onion.
Posted by: M | June 3, 2003 01:35 AM
Sorry, M, it doesn't.
I was VERY disappointed with the ending.
Am reading Dreamcatcher & so far, it is MUCH better than Buick 8
Rob
Posted by: Rob | June 3, 2003 07:28 AM
Well, anyone who liked Good Omens should try Terry Pratchett's Diskworld books. The man is a master of comedic timing and irony.
As for new reads, I'm reading The Visitant by Kathlee O'Neal Gear and W Michael Gear, as well as the newest book in their Frst North American Series.
Posted by: Shalegrey | June 3, 2003 08:59 AM
Seven-Five's comment is apt, because I've been reading two of Laurell Hamilton's books, after avoiding them for a while. Good reads, but now I have to catch 'em all!
Posted by: Jon | June 3, 2003 09:52 AM
Hey, Aimee C.-
Go to your copy of "Drawing Blood" and look at the dedication. To "Chris DeBarr and David Ferguson". That David Ferguson is none other than me. It's a small, small world. Thanks for recommending my friend's books. Wait until you read the new one when it comes out.
D
Posted by: David Strain | June 3, 2003 01:01 PM
In a book rut right now. Just finished The Mageborn Traitor, aka the EIGHTH Melanie Rawn book I've read in about 5 years (at 600-800 pages a pop). The woman has a knack for storytelling.
I'm debating what to pick up next, and I'm probably looking the nonfiction route, either Fareed Zakaria's new book, or Moneyball, the book about the Oakland A's.
Posted by: Josh Heit | June 3, 2003 11:39 PM
"My Life in Heavy Metal", a collection of short stories by Steve Almond. The story "Geek Player, Lo ve Slayer" is a riot.
Posted by: Mike | June 4, 2003 10:07 AM