16 Books to Read This Summer If You Want to Get Ahead in School Next Year
Hello, summer! It once seemed like the warmer weather might never arrive, but we’re finally immersed in the glorious season of iced coffee and sunglasses. This means that you should probably be stocking your tote bag full of books to keep you occupied while you’re lounging by the pool or beach. While there are plenty of new fiction and YA books on the shelves to choose from, you could also mix it up and throw it back to some all-time classics. Whether you’re still in school or you’ve already graduated, classic literature is classic for a reason. Here are 12 books you should try reading this summer — no five-paragraph essay required.
1/17Hello, summer! It once seemed like the warmer weather might never arrive, but we’re finally immersed in the glorious season of iced coffee and sunglasses. This means that you should probably be stocking your tote bag full of books to keep you occupied while you’re lounging by the pool or beach. While there are plenty of new fiction and YA books on the shelves to choose from, you could also mix it up and throw it back to some all-time classics. Whether you’re still in school or you’ve already graduated, classic literature is classic for a reason. Here are 12 books you should try reading this summer — no five-paragraph essay required.
2/17A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Trust us, this book is ten times better when you aren’t reading it for English class. A Tale of Two Cities takes place in both London and Paris around the time of the French Revolution. It tells the tale of Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat who has been exiled, and Sydney Carton, a lawyer from England, whose lives become intertwined.
3/17Twilight in Delhi by Ahmed Ali
This novel takes place in the early 1900s and tells a story that is rooted in India’s culture and history. It discusses the social and political changes that took place during that time. The protagonist, Mir Nihal, must navigate the new traditions of a world after the Mughal Empire, while simultaneously longing for the past.
4/17Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
If you’re looking to get lost in a love story, this is definitely the classic novel for you. Wuthering Heights tells of the ill-fated romance between Catherine, a wealthy young woman, and Heathcliff, a young man taken in by her father. When Heathcliff is driven out of town by Catherine’s bully of a brother Hindley, he returns several years later as a new man — wealthy, groomed, and confident. Heathcliff is then torn between his love for Catherine and his desire to seek revenge for the injustices dealt to him in his childhood.
5/17The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Although terribly flawed, it’s hard not to develop a soft spot for the characters in The Great Gatsby (especially when Leonardo DiCaprio is involved, in the film version). This novel is set at the height of the roaring '20s, and is centered around Jay Gatsby and his over-the-top parties in his Long Island mansion. You'll finally understand the popular Pinterest saying, “Ain’t no party like a Gatsby party!”
6/17Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet's interactions are essentially a how-to guide for flirting, even though this book was written in 1813. Set in the English countryside, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Elizabeth, who is the second-eldest of five daughters, and facing pressure from her parents to get married. When she meets Mr. Darcy, sparks fly right away, but it gets complicated pretty quickly.
7/17The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, is 16 years old and, when the novel begins, has just been expelled from his prep school. The story spans over just a couple of days, and the adventures and problems Holden faces as he cavorts solo around New York City will make you raise an eyebrow more than once.
8/17The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Bluest Eye is arguably one of the most powerful books in history, and is both heartbreaking and eye-opening. Set in the midwest during the 1940s, the novel's protagonist is a young black girl named Pecola Breedlove. Due to the racism in her town, she feels less worthy than the other girls in her class, and she prays that her eyes will turn blue like her classmates’. In addition to facing a racist society, Pecola is also navigating a world of abuse and the trauma that follows.
9/17The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
This novel is centered around four Chinese women who are recent immigrants to the U.S., and live in San Francisco. They begin meeting regularly, and begin to refer to themselves as “The Joy Luck Club.” They refuse to give in to the tragedy that occurs in their lives, and make a choice to lift their spirits, mood, and circumstances. The novel spans over several decades, and is an amazing story of family, identity, secrets, and history.
10/17The Once and Future King by T.H. White
If you’re a fantasy fanatic, you will become obsessed with this classic novel that is based on the King Arthur legends. The Once and Future King begins with a young boy called Wart who would eventually become King Arthur. Wart was trained as a child by a magician named Merlyn to prepare him for his future. The novel goes on to depict the world under King Arthur’s reign in the kingdom of Camelot.
11/17Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Mrs. Dalloway takes place in just one day, and follows a fictional character named Clarissa Dalloway who is preparing for a party in England, shortly after World War I. The novel is written in a nonlinear way that allows us to travel back and forth in time and learn about Clarissa through the perspectives of other characters. The book is both whimsical and sad, and if you like this book, check out the film The Hours, which intertwines this fictional story with Virgina Woolf’s actual life.
12/17Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Les Misérables is one of the longest novels ever written, clocking in at approx 655,000 words and 1,200 pages. The novel of Les Mis dives much further into everyone’s favorite characters, and gives way more detail about the battles at the barricades. P.S., try listening to the Les Mis cast recording while reading it for the ultimate experience.
13/17The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The House on Mango Street is a coming-of-age story that focuses on a young Latina girl named Esperanza Cordero. The structure of the book is just as interesting as its plot; it is comprised of short vignettes that are a blend of poetry and prose. As Esperanza grows up, she faces choices regarding friendship, and must come to terms with her community and sense of self.
14/17Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
As its title suggests, the protagonist of Invisible Man is nameless, and we don’t ever learn his name. The novel opens with him telling us that he is truly invisible — not physically, but he feels invisible in society. Invisible Man follows this narrator from his hometown in the south, to his college years, and to New York City where he lives as an adult. It's a powerful work, that discusses the racism, inequality, and hate that has marked our country’s history, and also addresses themes of identity and self-worth.
15/17Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein is also much more than a thriller. It’s a love story, a mystery, and a science fiction novel all at once. We all probably know the main plot: Dr. Frankenstein assembles a “human” creature from stolen body parts, but becomes frightened of it once it is brought to life. Beyond its main plot, Frankenstein makes us ask ourselves: What exactly constitutes humanity?
16/17On the Road by Jack Kerouac
On the Road narrates the many travels and journeys of author Jack Kerouac and his friends. It takes place between the years 1947 and 1950, and contains five parts, each describing several road trips around the country. The novel is mostly rooted in truth, and is based on the author’s life, although he uses pseudonyms for himself and his friends. This will certainly inspire you to seek out the open road and make an adventure of your own.
