Summer Reading for 2009

Once again, in an effort to feel useful over the course of the summer months, I have come up with a tentative reading list to keep me occupied and my mind from becoming a ball of mush. (Only an honors student would be mentally unstable enough to assign herself work…good Lord). Depending on my mood and time constraints, this list will in evitably change but since I enjoy the fun of making lists, why not give it a shot early?

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
I read Everything is Illuminated last summer and enjoyed it a great deal. I had meant to read this book for about a year so I finally stole it from Marisa and got it done. It was very good, in spite of my not being used to the post-modernist writing style. However, I admit that I was disappointed; I felt like the end was a cop-out and that nothing had really progressed. I’d recommend it, though. Maybe I missed something along the way…

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
I recently discovered the work of Neil Gaiman on the recommendation of a good friend who lent me Fragile Things. I read American Gods and Coraline a few weeks ago and, being captivated by his work and talent, have decided to read through his other things. I actually finished this last night and liked it a great deal. Lots of good and surprising plot twists!

Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
I’m curious. I want to live vicariously through one of the so-called lewdest books in the history of literature. Judge me. I don’t care.

Kim by Rudyard Kipling
Another thing I always meant to get to but never did. I feel like after my history class from this past semester, I will be much more interested in the mentality / portrayal of British Imperialism.

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
I picked this up at a library trash sale last summer and never got around to reading it. I read Wives and Daughters and Cranford last summer and loved both, so I am sure this will not disappoint.

Emma by Jane Austen
It’s disgraceful that I haven’t read this yet. I’m a terrible person.

Death in Venice and Other Stories by Thomas Mann
My lit class read “Tonio Kroger” this past semester, which I enjoyed immensely. I might as well red the other 6 stories in the book…

Out of Africa by Karen Blixen
The book that inspired the film Out of Africa, this is another book I have meant to read forever. I started it a few months ago and loved it so I need to get back to it.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
This is the only book that I actually have to read this summer. I have to abridge it for TOP by the fall and it would probably be a good idea if I were to read it beforehand. I’ve seen a modern (and frankly awful) production of it, but I never got around to reading it. Guess I will now.

This is just the bare bones list of what I'll probably end up reading, but it's a start!