Summer Reading

I have a multitude of blog post ideas floating around in my head, but many of them would require time to actually plan out, write out, edit...you know, how the writing process is actually supposed to work.  So instead I just decided to put something up that's quick and easy and won't require a whole lot of thought or planning.

One of my goals this summer is to try to read 8 books.  I used to read a lot for fun when I was younger, but as I got older and as reading became required for school the less I read for fun and the more I just kinda got lazy and my procrastination habits began to develop more and more.  Also developed habits of picking up on certain plot points and character traits while required books were discussed in class, so I was able to do decent on the tests and quizzes.  I have wanted to get back into reading for fun for a while, even though browsing the internet and playing on my iPhone or taking a nap are nice distractions as well.

Anyway, here's what I would like to read this summer:
1.  "The Great Gatsby" - F. Scott Fitzgerald
This WAS required reading for my High School senior year English class, but I never got around to actually reading the book.  I read SOME of the SparkNotes, but that was about it.  With the latest movie adaptation out in theaters (I'll be seeing it on Monday with a review will be posted shortly after), I decided I'll finally read the book that some people call "The Great American Novel".  Though with how the commercials and trailers are, it sounds like I'd get more out of the novel by reading it with 3D glasses over my eyes with some Jay-Z songs playing in the background.

2-4.  The Hunger Games Trilogy ("The Hunger Games"/"Catching Fire"/"Mockinjay") - Suzanne Collins
I had been meaning to read this trilogy ever since I saw the "Hunger Games" movie last year and liked it a lot.  I did borrow "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" from my eldest brother and read most of the former, but never got around to finishing it and I didn't read the latter at all.  So I figured I should probably just start with the first one and just read them in order.  From what I hear the first book is a little bit darker than the movie, but that doesn't bother me.  Liked the movie a lot, so I'm hoping the book is just as good if not better.  Let's face it:  The book is usually better than the movie.


5.  "Decision Points" - George W. Bush
Former President George W. Bush's memoirs.  I got this for Christmas a few years ago, and this sat on my shelf ever since.  This is one of those that I might as well just read it--it's been collecting dust on my desk for a year and a half.

6.  "The Lost Symbol" - Dan Brown
The sequel to "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons" thats set in the nation's Capital.  I bought this shortly after it came out....Fall 2009.  I've been meaning to read it since I liked both "Angels & Demons" (great mystery and quite thrilling) and "Da Vinci Code" (another good mystery, I like it as a work of fiction).  Another one that's been collecting dust on my shelf for far too long.


7.  "Les Miserables" - Victor Hugo
I loved the musical when it was performed at my high school during my freshmen year and I loved the movie adaptation of the musical that came out fairly recently.  Being a fan of the musical/movie, I wanted to read the source material.  I checked it out at the library freshmen year but never got around to reading it.  It is a little intimidating since the book is over 1,200 pages long and the longest book I've ever read is about 400 pages shorter than that (here's looking at you 'Harry Potter 5').  I got it for Christmas last year, and I have started it....but this one is definitely gonna take awhile to get through.



8.  "Inferno" - Dan Brown
The sequel to "The Da Vinci Code", "Angels & Demons", and "The Lost Symbol".  I have absolutely no idea what it's about, I'm just hoping it's good.


Hopefully I'll actually get around to reading most if not all of these instead of constantly watching TV or browsing the internet.