Looking for a book to read this summer? Check out these five great options. Journey through an adventure across Middle Earth with Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” or experience the raw poetry of Kaur’s emotional “milk and honey”. There’s something for everyone, all for $10 or less.
“milk and honey” by Rupi Kaur
“milk and honey” is a collection of poems and sketches by Rupi Kaur. The book is divided into four chapters — the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing. The #1 New York Times Bestseller was published two years ago, yet remains on the Barnes and Noble Stores’ Bestsellers list. Kaur, a 24-year-old Canadian poet, explores her experience with hurt, abuse, love, family and femininity. Her second collection of poetry, “the sun and her flowers,” is described as a “celebration of love” and will be published in October. Who ever said that poetry was dead?
“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver
“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” is a collection of short stories about love and loss. It was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 1984. Carver’s style has been referenced many times for its poetic and enchanting prose. The Academy award-winning film, Birdman, centers around Carver’s story “Beginners”. One of the short stories focuses on four characters — Mel, Nick, Laura and Terri — who sit around the table and talk about love. This summer must read is perfect for readers who have never read a collection of short stories or are interested in style, figurative language and narrative.
“We All Looked Up” by Tommy Wallach
What would you do if you had two months to live? “We All Looked Up” is Tommy Wallach’s debut novel about four high school seniors dealing with their possible destruction as an asteroid hurtles toward Earth. Although it’s a young adult novel, people of all ages can relate to the themes. People who liked John Green’s style will probably enjoy Wallach’s voice. This New York Times Bestseller is just the beginning of Wallach’s career. Wallach, a Brooklyn-based novelist, will release the first book of a trilogy in October called Strange Fire.
“The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien
If you haven’t heard of “The Hobbit”, you might be living under a rock. “The Hobbit” is the prelude to Tolkien’s renowned series “Lord of the Rings”. “The Hobbit”, a modern classic, is one of the bestselling books of all time. Bilbo Baggins is hobbit perfectly comfortable living out his days in the Shire until adventure comes knocking on his doorstep. He accompanies 13 dwarves and a wizard, Gandalf, on a journey to reclaim their dwarven homeland from a greedy dragon. This book is for those who long for an adventure and is beloved by all generations. It’s perfect for the LOTR movie fans who have considered delving into the series but aren’t sure if they want to commit.
“In the Time of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez
“In the Time of the Butterflies” is a historical novel by Julia Alvarez about the Mirabal sisters during General Rafael Leonidas Trujillo’s dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. The novel tells the stories of four sisters — Minerva, Patria, María Teresa and Dedé — who were known as Las Mariposas. This true story is ideal for Latin American Studies majors or students interested in learning about an overlooked period of history in the Dominican Republic. The novel’s popularity led to a television movie which featured an award-winning performance by Mexican actress Salma Hayek.
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