Top Five Summer Reads for College Students

…that was a smashing read!

Summer is here and the time is right…for reading books?

Yes, you read correctly! While some of you may be using your splendid summer taking courses to advance towards your degree, (or some may actually be using the time to move from school to home or to the next chapter in life), others, like myself, have the blessed curse of idle time. While idle time is great, it can become rather daunting and drab in a matter of seconds. So with the free time allotted, I have taken the liberty of suggesting five books that would be stimulating for your mind, or just for the free time that you have been blessed with. The following list is in no particular order, and from what I ascertain, there is something for everyone on this list! If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave comments so that the list can grow and help in the fight against idle time!

Again…these are not in any type of order; yet, it’s still pretty awesome!

(1) First on the list, if you want to know how one man essentially changed the entire world with only an apple, you should definitely delve into Walter Issacson’s authorized biography of “Steve Jobs” . Issacson spent an ample amount of time with the creative genius back in 2009, they even visited Jobs’s childhood home, where Issacson noticed very early that Jobs learned a lot about his own work ethic from his father, Paul Jobs. The book is definitely an inspirational one and I immediately began to read it the instant idleness became incorporated into my day! But if you’re not looking to change the world and want to escape somewhere, besides Hogwarts, I may have just the series for you.

(2)The next novel on the list, the newest, fan-crazed, trilogy that is sweeping the nation, EL James’s “50 Shades of Grey”. Now before I go any further, I must preface my description by saying: *THIS BOOK IS FOR THOSE 18 AND UP* (or for those that don’t mind a “graphic” novel)!!! The trilogy is picking up steam faster than little Thomas and The Magic Railway. At first, when the description of the novel was explained to me, I simply wrote it off. Yet after the incessant praise that came from others, I broke down and picked the novel up…and I’m not upset! This novel follows the lovely interactions and on-goings of a relationship between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Simply put, that’s all there is to that summation folks! If you want a novel to just pass the time,(i.e. and has no educational value at all), this is the one!!!

If wanting to change the world, or being a fly on a very insatiable wall, but still want a suspenseful page turner, I’ve got you covered!!!

(3)The third installment on this list is one that I chose randomly one day while perusing the aisles of Barnes & Nobel, and is coincidentally on their top ten list as well. The novel I speak of is Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl”. “Gone Girl” is Flynn’s third successful attempt at a suspense novel. After conducting some research on Flynn, I noticed very quickly that I had came across a bright and shiny gem, and the perfect accessory for the pool. Flynn has received multiple awards for her first two suspense novels, “Sharp Objects” and “Dark Places”. The novel focuses on a relationship that starts off with the greatest intent and all of the love in the world. Yet, as the saying goes, “all good things, must come to an end”…and boy does it ever! If you’re looking for suspense, this will sufficiently suffice, guarantee!

If changing the world, being a fly on a very scandalous wall, or just plain suspense, than you’re either new to the whole concept of summer reading or you’re not impressed just yet! For those new to the idea of summer reading, you’ll definitely get a kick out of my next entry!

(4) “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell”, yes your read the title correctly, by Tucker Max is definitely a “bro’s” bible and is essentially the “guy’s girls should stay away from, but normally don’t” guide! Yet, amidst all of the antics of Tucker Max and his friend’s, but mostly Max, the book is seriously laugh out loud funny, and with it’s first person delivery you feel as if Max is talking right to you about his wild and crazy weekend…well, weekend’s. And if you’d rather not read it during your idle time, there is a movie! *Hazzah!*

And now for those who aren’t impressed, the following is for you!

(5) Steven King’s “The Dark Tower; The Gunslinger”! Need I say anymore?! Steven King is an author that, yes, may take five to six pages to describe a rock, but the simple craft of description (be it in literature or just in normal conversation) is lost. This seven novel series is one that is a combination of many genre’s of literature. You have suspense, you have romance, you have action, you even have sci-fi and the list goes on. I’m currently on the the third book of this series and I just started last year, (*hint* I haven’t even finished Harry Potter and I started it back in eighth grade! That’s how awesome this series is).

Hopefully there is a novel on this list that will intrigue you enough to read them. If not, at least one that you can suggest to a friend! Thanks for reading this blog and continue to come back all summer long (I should have listed this blog as a summer read). Take care and until next time…