Though life after finals may seem too distant to even contemplate, summer and its opportunities are just around the corner. For some, reading is going to be a last resort. But if you are anything like me, you are turning with glee toward the stack of books that have been waiting patiently to be devoured since your last real vacation eons ago. In the hope of lending a helping hand to those out there who are lost in a sea of titles, here's a brief list.
If you know you are going to be spending long hours in one place, I recommend a lengthy novel or two. At the top of my list of hefty novels that I guarantee you will plow through are "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley and "Shogun" by James Clavell. Both are packed with intrigue, death, and ritual. "The Mists of Avalon" tells the story of King Arthur through the eyes of the women on the outskirts of Camelot. In addition to the standard love affairs, there is a compelling exploration of the Church's replacement of goddess lore. For a taste of Japan, pick up "Shogun," in which you will learn about seppuku, geishas, and the truly barbaric hygiene habits of 17th-century Englishmen.
Although you may have covered John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway in high school and perhaps gotten a taste of Kurt Vonnegut with "Slaughterhouse Five," I would advocate a thorough perusal of these authors' works. My favorites, respectively, are "Cannery Row," "A Farewell to Arms," and "Bagombo Snuff Box." If you have never read Vonnegut's short stories, the latter is a must. I guarantee both laughter and astonishment. "A Farewell to Arms" is much more somber but beautifully written. The appeal of "Cannery Row" lies in a wonderful immersion in California and also in its manageable length.
Another small slip of a book that I can't resist mentioning is Susan Minot's "Monkeys." It is her first novel and a haunting illustration of a larger-than-life American family.
For a more timely taste of the literature floating around, dive into "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini, "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides, or "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. I am sure you have seen these on display in a number of different bookstores. For this reason, I snobbishly hesitated to pick them up. But when I gave in to popular opinion, I didn't regret it and in fact shudder to think what I would have missed. Each of these novels gives the reader a taste, if not a full portion, of another culture to ingest.
Finally, if the novels are too much for you to stomach, there is a glorious quantity of short fiction to revel in, which will provide ideal interludes of consciousness between your sun-soaked naps. The current collection of "Best American Short Stories" is one method of assuaging your thirst for fiction. Another would be any of William Trevor's collections, particularly "After Rain." I highly recommend John Updike's "Museums and Women." There is the most fantastic story about plankton at cocktail party that will hook the bio majors.
So without further ado, I'm turning you loose with what is, I hope, a manageable and appealing guide to the bookshelves.