If you are anything like me, you love to read but find it hard to do so during the school year. Every time I attempt to crack open the spine of a juicy novel I picked up in the bookstore, or even at Goodwill, I feel this nag inside, knowing that my eyes could be put to better use reading my Linguistics textbook. Summer is the perfect time to adjust your eyes to absorbing stories rather than statistics, and here are some perfect novels that I would recommend for those lazy beach days:
1) The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
This book is the story of Enzo—a dog who believes that if he works hard, he can be reincarnated as a human in his next life. Written entirely from the perspective of the dog, this novel is heart wrenching and hilarious at the same time. It is a must-read, and I am so glad that I picked this up years ago.
2) Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Jonathan Safran Foer will always be one of my favorite authors. He has a way with words that is hard to describe. I will not give anything away, but this is a story about a young man setting out on a quest to find who may have saved his grandfather from the Nazis.
3) House Rules by Jodi Picolt
House Rules tells the story of a young boy named Jacob with Asperger’s, an autism spectrum disorder, and a love of forensics and crime scene investigations. Jacob’s story may bring you to tears at times, but don’t let that deter you. There is much to learn from every child with disabilities, and this book proves the impact that one child can make on so many lives.
4) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Me Talk Pretty One Day is one of my favorite reads. It tells the story of Mr. Sedaris himself and the struggles that he underwent to become the hilarious and successful person he is today. This book is more than just the tale of a young boy. It contains a series of invaluable life lessons and hilarious memories.
5) Still Alice by Lisa Genova
This was one of the most surprising and touching novels I have ever read. Genova truly captures the mind and spirit of a brilliant scholar suffering from the trepidations of Alzheimer’s disease. The book is a little heavy. You will not want to put your tissues or this book down.