Summer Reading

I'm trying to compile a summer reading list at the moment- by trying, I mean fantasizing about all the wonderful books that I could read but probably won't. Unfortunately, it takes me a very long time to get through a book. I tend to read in short, sporadic bursts, because I have trouble sitting still and focusing on one subject for any extended period of time.

I've divided my current list into fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. (This is probably the most organized thing I've done today.)

Fiction:

Howl's Moving Castle: Diana Wynne Jones

-The Studio Ghibli film version of this book was one of my most hardcore obsessions as a pre-teen. I'm actually almost finished with the book, and I'm enjoying it muchly. It places fantasy into a charming Victorian atmosphere, two things that I always appreciate. There are quite a few major differences between book and film so far, which oddly enough hasn't altered my opinion of the film. Though I think I really do prefer book-Howl, even though film-Howl has such fabulous hair.  

                                            

                                                                 
                                                          (Image from dvdbeaver.com)

Name of the Wind- Patrick Rothfuss 

-I'm about a quarter of the way into this one. It's another fantasy, a lot more serious than Howl's Moving Castle. My boyfriend lent it to me last August, but for reasons listed above I still haven't finished it. I'm hoping to be able to give it back to him by the end of the summer!

The Fountainhead- Ayn Rand

-I don't exactly know why, but I've gotten it into my head that I have to read something by Ayn Rand. I first heard of her when I was trying to learn more about Rush, a favourite band of mine. I read that the drummer and main lyricist, Neil Peart, was greatly influenced by her work. The Fountainhead was described to me at an impromptu gathering one evening at a dimly lit Vietnamese restaurant (perhaps this added somewhat to the book's allure), and it seemed like an interesting story. Mostly because I understood from the description that the protagonist believes that his art is more important than anything else, and that is something I respect.

The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls- Emilie Autumn

-I am not actually quite sure if I want to read this one or not. I've always been attracted to the idea of asylums, and this one blends modern asylum experiences with Victorian ones. Emilie Autumn is also an amazing over-the-top musician, and I really enjoyed the concept album (Fight Like a Girl) based off her book.

                                                 

                                                                         (fanpop.com)

In addition to these, I've decided to begin the Harry Potter series again from the beginning. I've read the first two books numerous times, and the third book once. I never finished the fourth book, and I started the fifth book anyway, so I suppose I should try to read them through properly this time.

Nonfiction:

Structure and Surprise: Michael Teune

-I was actually supposed to have read this book for a poetry writing class last semester. It presents a number of different rhetorical structures used in poetry, and gives examples to help the reader better comprehend them. I think this might be useful in my own writing. I believe there are some writing prompts in the book, as well; I might try my hand at a few of them and share the results here. The Ironic structure looks particularly fun.

Ten Days in a Madhouse: Nellie Bly

-This is the experience of a young journalist who pretended to be insane in order to get inside a mental institution and report on the treatment of the patients. Apparently they were very poorly cared for, and after publishing her report, conditions were improved.

Poetry:

Enough Rope: Dorothy Parker

-I've been meaning to read more by Dorothy Parker for some time. She's a wonderfully snarky writer. Most of the poems that I've read of hers evoke a kind of tragic cynicism. I might do a post about her sometime; from what I've read about her life, she was a fascinating person.

Elegy for the Departure and other poems: Zbigniew Herbert

-This book of poems was given to me by a professor. I know very little about it, except that it's a collection of poems written by a prominent figure of the anti-communist movement in Poland.

I'm hoping to get through a good number of these this summer. We'll see, because I've just discovered a new obsession: The Addams Family tv show from the 1960s. I'll be posting on that soon, as well.

Is there anything you are planning to read this summer?