The Broke and the Bookish ask us to list our top ten books we plan to read this summer. There are three that I have to read for work, but other than that, I hate to commit... Here's some guesses, but I make no promises!
1. Master Harold and the Boys by Athol Fugard- This was one of the books my students were assigned to read this summer, so I guess I better read it to (there's a prescribed curriculum, I don't just randomly pull books out of my ass for the student to read). I do know that this is a play about race and South Africa.
2. Antigone by Sophocles- Another for work; I read this in high school but definitely need to revisit it. To be honest, I'm not exactly, psyched, but it's short. Greek plays are like drinking wheat grass shots- not always easy to get down for most of us, but so good for you.
3. Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs- The last one for work. At times I think it's a tad counterproductive to teach kids to be better at arguing....
4. Luminous Airplanes by Paul LaFarge- I'm actually reading this right now am still undecided; it's a little rough around the edges but not bad (the story is about a man who returns to his hometown when his Grandfather dies). I am interested to see how the online component pans out.
5. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann- I've been meaning to read this for a few years.
6. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harsbach- I actually got the ARC to review from Amazon Vine (I know, I know) several months ago- I should probably get on that...
7. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver- I'm thinking this might be a nice read, as I continue my little "quest" for healthy eating.
8. Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman- This is for book club, which has been more of a drinking too much/planning fun things club lately, so we'll see when we get on this...
9. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese- This book seems so good, but also very dense. Summer is probably the best time.
10 Underworld by Don Delillo- I've actually started it again (see above post). Hopefully I'll hold myself accountable this time.
Cutting for Stone is absolutely amazing. It's so impressive how much it takes on without being overwhelming - and it seems really long - but it's one of those that could go on forever and you'd be happy.
ReplyDeleteArt of Fielding = FANTASTIC! One of the best books I've read this year.
ReplyDeleteYour book club sounds like fun. :-D Interesting reading, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently reading "Thinking in Pictures" by Temple Grandin as part of a book study for work. It is fascinating!*
ReplyDeleteCutting for Stone and Let the Great World Spin are two of my favorites. Each were read for Book Club and each had me enraptured. Both are pretty heavy though, so I wouldn't recommend them for your light, beach-type reading. Good luch with you Underworld challenge. I feel the same way about the Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. I've started that book so many times. Last time I actually got to a point where I liked the story and thought I'd made it over the hump. Wrong. Set it down and haven't picked it up again yet. Oh well, some books are not meant to be toiled over. Perhaps if I accidentally "lose" the book on one of my trips this summer I can take it off the list without guilt.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Art of Fielding, it is a great book!
ReplyDeleteI like the sounds of your book club :D
ReplyDeleteI want to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle too! I've heard Cutting for Stone is amazing too.
ReplyDeleteI really want to read The Art of Fielding! I was actually thinking about buying a copy the other day. I hope you get to read these!
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of the books that you aspire to read this summer! I read a Don Delillo book in university -- I think it was called White Noise, if I recall correctly. He is a great writer, but I haven't read anything else by him since.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, have fun with those books =) I read Sophocles back in my undergrad, I should get around to reading Oedious and Electra at some point too, lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my blog yesterday =)
I would still like to read The Art of Fielding. Isn't it hard to make a list like this? There are so many books that I want to read that it is difficult to limit it to ten, but it is unrealistic to have an endless list as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm on a quest for healthy eating too! Will have to check out Animal, Vegetable, Miracle!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to love Athol Fugard! He is wonderful, and his plays are great, and not complicated or superfluous. If you like him, you should also read "The Road to Mecca". It's his best work in my opinion.
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