Ideas For Summer Reading
It’s that time of year when a lot of us start to think about what books to take on holiday. Whether it’s for reading by the pool, over morning coffee or with a glass of wine at night, most people are after something which provides provide entertainment, enrichment, and relaxation. We did a little digging to find out what’s popular right now to cater to a variety of interests:
Fiction
- “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
- A fantastical tale of a magical competition between two young illusionists, set against the backdrop of a mysterious circus.
- “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
- A beautifully written mystery and coming-of-age story set in the marshes of North Carolina.
- “The Giver of Stars” by Jojo Moyes
- A historical novel based on the true story of the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky during the Great Depression.
Non-Fiction
- “Educated” by Tara Westover
- A memoir about a woman who grows up in a strict and abusive household in rural Idaho but eventually escapes to learn about the wider world through education.
- “Becoming” by Michelle Obama
- An intimate and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States, offering insights into her personal journey and public life
Biographies and Memoirs
- “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
- A memoir of resilience and redemption, detailing the author’s unconventional and impoverished upbringing.
- “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson
- A comprehensive biography of the iconic Apple co-founder, based on interviews with Jobs and those who knew him.
Mysteries and Thrillers
- “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides
- A gripping psychological thriller about a woman who shoots her husband and then stops speaking.
- “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty
- A darkly comedic novel about three women whose seemingly perfect lives unravel to the point of murder.
Historical Fiction
- “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr
- A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set during World War II, following the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France.
- “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
- A deeply moving story about a young girl living in Nazi Germany, narrated by Death.
Travel and Adventure
- “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson
- A humorous account of the author’s attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail.
- “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer
- The true story of Christopher McCandless and his journey into the Alaskan wilderness.
Personal Development and Philosophy
- “The Art of Happiness” by Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler
- Insights on how to achieve lasting happiness, combining the Dalai Lama’s teachings with modern psychological theories.
- “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl
- A powerful memoir about finding purpose in life, even in the most difficult circumstances, written by a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist.
These selections provide a range of engaging and thought-provoking reads that can make the summer holidays enjoyable and enriching.
