My personal summer reading list got to be a bit extensive this summer as I made an attempt to catch up on all the reading I didn’t have time for during my first year of college. But I made sure to make up for that by reading 22 books in the span of my 3 months break from school and I wanted to share some of my favorites and top recommendations. I’m an avid believer in no spoilers when it comes to reading new books, so I’ll do my best to keep my thoughts concise.
The Bone Clocks By: David Mitchell
I don’t know how to describe David Mitchell’s writing beyond saying it’s confusing, but always leaves you wanting more. Prior to reading The Bone Clocks, my favorite book was Cloud Atlas, another David Mitchell book, so that shows you how invested I am in his writing. The Bone Clocks is a weird ride of life, death, and some not so Earthly things that make you realize how important it is to live in the moment and enjoy your life.
Book Info:
Published: September 2014
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Page Count: 609 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20819685-the-bone-clocks
The Seven Husbands of evelyn hugo by: Taylor jenkins reid
This book absolutely tore my heart to pieces, but also made me proud that I’m a part of a generation working to make the world more inclusive to those in the LGBTQ+ community. This book opened my eyes to so many things I’ve never thought about or even realized others have to go through solely based on who they love. The amount of fear, determination, and love displayed in this book makes me believe it’s a worthy read for anyone, whether you specifically relate to the main characters at all or not.
Book Info:
Published: June 2017
Genre: Romance and Historical Fictiom
Page Count: 400 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32620332-the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo
Maddaddam Series by Margaret atwood
Orxy and Crake. The Year of the Flood. Maddaddam.
This series is one of the best I’ve read, which isn’t surprising because Margaret Atwood has yet to disappoint me with any of her books. This series is a much too real snapshot into a near post-apocalyptic world, where disease has ravaged the human population, animals have all been genetically engineered beyond recognition, and the planet is dead from lack of preservation. Each book follows a member(s) of the group of the last people left on Earth, how they survived and what they’re going to do to continue civilization. I’m not going to lie; this book was especially unsettling to me because it seemed all too real. A world depleted by a raging pandemic? People not taking care of and killing our planet? It was like I was taking a look into a very possible future for society.
Book Info:
Published: (1st) May 2003 (2nd) September 2009 (3rd) August 2013
Genre: Dystopian and Speculative Fiction
Page Count: (1st) 402 pages (2nd) 442 pages (3rd) 417 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46756.Oryx_and_Crake
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6080337-the-year-of-the-flood