What Are You Reading?
Posted June 7th, 2008 by adminSummertime is sometimes equated with picking up a good book and losing yourself in another world; a bit of escape perhaps from the day-to-day rat race that is life. You may wish to delve into a classic, or you may be more interested in the newest thriller or romance novel. Whatever your fancy, the choices are endless!
Classics
A book is considered a classic if it is written over fifty years ago and many people enjoyed it. The book has stood the test of time regarding relevance, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Mark Twain said that “a classic is a book which everyone praises but no one reads.” Whatever the case, the choices are many…here are some to choose from:
- The Good Earth - Pearl Buck
- Don Quixote - Miquel de Cervantes
- Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
- Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
- Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
- To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
- Song of Solomon - Toni Morrison
Modern Classics
There is such a thing as a modern classic, which basically means that the book is not as old as a classic, but it’s significance is just as celebrated.
- Another Country - James Baldwin
- Cry The Beloved Country - Alan Paton
- Catcher In The Rye - J. D. Salinger
- The Color Purple - Alice Walker
- One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
source: http://www.wcl.govt.nz/popular/fiction-classics.html
New Releases
But maybe you are not up for going back in time…that’s alright. You have your choices of new books that are released weekly…too many to name here. From the latest James Patterson thriller to Randy Pausch’s motivational self-help book, you are sure to find something that will hold your interest. Check out your favorite bookstore and pick up a book (or a couple of books!) that you can lose yourself in. Give into the joy of reading a good book, and maybe learn something new in the process!
Happy learning!
And, of course, the library, which has the added bonus of being free. My library has particularly good AC, so it’s always a favorite summer trip.
Comment by maculate — April 6, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
I also think it’s important to talk about the importance of modeling the joy of reading to your kids. If you like to read, as you read, you are modeling for your kids how reading can be done for enjoyment and it’s not just a homework assignment. It can also be a stress relief strategy. Someone should do some research and post an article about the other benefits of reading.
Comment by greenman — April 7, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
I agree with greenman, a passion for reading, books and knowledge, or in my case obsession, is definitely the best way to get your kids reading. That’s how I ended up so info hungry, though I would add that I’ve never approved of books aimed solely at kids. Like a edible diet, a literary diet should be challenged often and early.
Comment by maculate — April 10, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
I’m reading Fight Club right now. Though the book may not be considered a modern classic as it’s movie counterpart.
Comment by elfenliedagain — June 24, 2009 @ 1:30 pm