I’ve just got home from uni for summer so I thought I’d share my private collection of favourite books to everyone. These are perfect sun-bathing reads for any of you lucky ducks going on holiday this year!
Light Reads
1. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
This is a very popular read by an intelligent youtuber which happens to also be a upcoming film! This is a story about a girl who meets a boy in a “cancer kid” support group. This is a moving book that really did make me cry and laugh multiple times. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a soppy, emotional read.
2. Looking For Alaska by John Green
This is my favourite book by John Green so far as it has so many plot twists! I spent the whole time on edge, wondering what Alaska and the gang would be up to next. It left me feeling kind of lost afterwards because it ends with such a bang! I don’t want to spoil this for anyone who hasn’t read this but I definitely think that it should be on everyone’s summer bucket list!
3. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This is now a popular film, however, I definitely prefer the book! I think anyone can relate to Charlie, a boy who feels left out from the world. However, as the books goes on you begin to realise that Charlie’s past is much more devastating than the normal teenager’s life. Have you read this yet?
4. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
A very different book to all my other top reads as this is more of a cultured book than any of the others. This follows a boy from India who build himself up to be a successful entrepreneur in Bangalore. It’s a very moving story as it really is a culture shock to imagine what life is like for people from other countries that are not as privileged as ourselves.
Clever Reads
5. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
An old fashioned book which was published in 1813! This is a harder book to read due to the style of language that is used (what can you expect from such an old book). It explores the rich vs. poor lifestyle where daughters are practically forced to marry into richer households. Even though it is a hard read I feel that it is really interesting to be able to put yourself into the shoes of a girl in this time period.
6. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
I have the biggest love/hate relationship with this book. I studied this as part of my A Level Literature and at the beginning I could not stand it! I found it incredibly hard to understand, however I am not a very skilled reader as I like to read light books that don’t require much concentration. However, once I had got into this book it was amazing! It is such an insightful read into the twenties with the glamorous party lifestyle!
7. Words, Words, Words by David Crystal
I read this at the beginning of my A Level education, before I had decided to do a degree in English Language. It is highly educating without being too boring to read, making it my first step into loving the subject. It’s a great insight into language in the way that we learn it, the way it has changed over time and so much more! If you’re a bit of a language geek like me or you just want to learn something new this summer I definitely recommend this book.
8. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
This was my favourite book I studied for A Level Literature about a dystopian world where women are put into breeding farms (pretty much so!) to provide for those who can’t have children. It is a very action packed book that requires a lot of thought due to its sick, mind-twisting plot. However, out of all the “clever books” I would say that this is the easiest book to read.
Thank you for looking at my favourite books, I hope this has given people ideas of what to read this summer. Comment and let me know what you think I should read this summer!
Lindsay x
In Lindsay's Shoes 