Summer Reading

I love reading in the summer.  If you are like me it is hard to find time to read.  Every year my husband and I go with my family to Oceanside, California and stay in a beach house.  Last year I spent the whole time reading on the beach and doing nothing.  This year I plan on doing the exact same thing.  We leave on July 8th and I already have a stack of books ready to go.  Today I thought I would share with you 10 of my favorite books as well as a few that I want to try.

The Hunger Games - Catching Fire - Mockingjay
by Suzanne Collins

I realize that the first book is actually three books, but I dare you to just read the first one without reading the rest.  If you haven't jumped on The Hunger Games band wagon yet you better get going.  They are making a movie that comes out sometime next year.  These books are so intense, I think I finished all three of them in a week and a half.

A Vision of Light
by Judith Merkle Riley

I am a total sucker for historical fiction novels.  A Vision of Light was written in 1988, by Judith Merkle Riley.  When I was in high school I needed a new book to read and my mom brought me this one.  I immediately loved it.  This book is about a woman in the 1300s named Margaret Kendall, a voice tells her to write a book about her life.  Since she is illiterate she goes in search of someone to write it for her.  The story goes back and forth between her telling her past story and her 'present day' story.  There is also a sequel to this book that is amazing as well. 

The Last Song
by Nicholas Sparks

I have read a few other Nicholas Sparks books and overall I haven't liked his writing style.  For some reason, I really enjoyed The Last Song.  I saw the movie first and liked it.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to give this author another try but in the end gave in.  The book is so much better than the movie, obviously right?  The book is always better.


Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!
by Fannie Flagg

I am sure most of you have seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.  I love the scene where Kathy Bates hauls off and smashes a car that cut her off.  Anyway Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! was written by the same author.  I have read a lot of Fannie Flagg's books but this one is my favorite by far.  It is about this news reporter in the 70s who is trying to find out about her past, while still trying to get ahead in her career.

Rebecca
by Daphne duMaurier

If you haven't read this classic you need to.  Rebecca was originally published in 1938.  I read this book back in high school, but it is on the list to read again.  It is all about this woman who is married quickly and whisked away to a beautiful and haunting estate called Manderley.  Once she arrives there she finds her husband changed and there is a secret in the house.

Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen

I just finished Water for Elephants a few weeks ago.  I haven't seen the movie yet, I will have to get it from Red box.  I really enjoyed this book.  I love the story telling, and point of view.  My only problem with this book was there were about three scenes that really weren't necessary, but other than those I really liked it. 



Girls in Trucks
by Katie Crouch

Girls in Trucks is a new book that I picked up for super cheap (notice the price tag!)  It looks really good and I am excited to try it out.  It is about a girl who was raised in the south as a debutante.  She struggles with this society and ends up going to New York and tries to find herself.  I hope this book is good but we will see.


Matched
by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie is amazing.  I know I have raved about a lot of different books today but this one is my new favorite.  It is kind of a combination of The Hunger Games and The Giver.  The writing in this book is so beautiful.  It kept me captivated from the very beginning, even though it isn't 'action' packed, I was still engrossed the whole time.  It is going to be part of a trilogy.  The second book comes out November 1st.


A Girl of the Limberlost
by Gene Stratton-Porter

A Girl of the Limberlost is a wonderful story about a girl, Elnora Comstock, and her relationship with nature.  The descriptions in this book are gorgeous.  There is also a movie that I used to watch all the time when I was little.  I always thought she was so cool because she worked hard for what she wanted.


The Host
by Stephenie Meyer

Yes, I am one of  those people who really liked the Twilight series.  I am going to be totally honest in saying that I actually liked The Host better.  I felt like it was geared towards a little older age group.  Plus it is a really cute romance novel. 

Well now that I have rambled on about some of my favorite books and intended reads this summer, what are you reading?  I am always up for new recommendations.  I hope this has inspired you to forget about your to do list and spend some time curled up in your favorite reading spot!