Summer is ideal for traveling. Warm temperatures and ample free time combine to create the perfect excuse for a short escape. This summer, whether you are journeying hundreds of miles to a tropical paradise or simply relaxing at home by the pool, the most indispensable accessory to your leisure is a great book. Although you will likely come across dozens of summer reading lists this season, the following books are essentials as they portray the subject of travel in bold and imaginative ways that will augment your summer wanderlust no matter the locale.
“The Awakening” by Kate Chopin
After its publication in 1899, Chopin’s second novel was met with a flurry of controversy. Dealing with subject matters such as adultery, passion and feminine independence, the book was all but banned in the US, thus crippling Chopin’s career as a respected female writer. Not until many years later did the novel emerge from obscurity to be hailed as a beacon of feminist literature.
The story follows southern beauty, Edna Pontellier, as she travels between her New Orleans mansion and her gorgeous vacation home in Grande Isle where she blossoms as an artist and intellectual. Uncomfortable in her assigned roles as wife and mother, Edna rebels and immerses herself in a scandalous exploration of sexuality and independence. Although written over 100 years ago, the book is a haunting and savory summer read that maintains relevance in a 21st century setting.
“The Ocean at the End of the Lane” by Neil Gaiman
Gaiman’s latest novel and the first he has written for adults since 2005, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a chillingly beautiful fairy tale that succinctly captures the timeless essence of childhood. With striking imagery, the book recounts the magical and dream-like memories of an unnamed boy narrator who long ago embarked on a terrifying journey with his young, uncanny neighbor, Lettie Hempstock. Together, they face unknown dangers amid the ordinary backdrop of summer on an English country farm.
Blurring the line between the real and the imaginary, this book easily engrosses its readers, leaving them to question the palpability of human existence and whether or not we ever really grow up.
“Kindred” by Octavia Butler
A page-turning historical science fiction novel, Kindred tells the story of a young, modern black woman who is suddenly thrust back in time to the antebellum South where she has been summoned to save the young son of a white plantation owner. Throughout the book, she unwillingly travels from the past to the present in a dizzying and unstable succession, forcing her to learn about her familial past and ultimately play a crucial role in the stability of her future. Butler’s writing is effortless yet enthralling, making for a thrilling summer novel that leaves readers on the edge until the very last page.
“The Mortal Instruments” series by Cassandra Clare
Every summer reading list should contain at least one laudable book series. Managing to escape the whirlwind of young adult literature fandom, The Mortal Instruments series has maintained a decent amount of credibility with both critics and readers. The series chronicles the adventures of Clary Fray, an ordinary girl propelled into the world of the Shadowhunters, an ancient alliance that protects Earth from demons. Well-written and uniquely interesting, the series contains its fair amount of love, war, and of course, werewolves and vampires. Although there are six books in the series, they read fast and serve as perfect beach bag paperbacks.
“And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie
Christie, the Queen of Crime, is at her prime in her most well-known mystery novel, “And Then There Were None.” Under a myriad of false pretenses, ten strangers are lured to a beautiful island vacation home and, one by one, murdered to the theme of the nursery rhyme “Ten Little Soldiers.” As they scramble to figure out who among them is the killer, each of the group is forced to come to terms with the sins of their past and slowly realize that they may never return home again. Eerie and complex, this novel is a whodunit that will baffle even the most observant summer sleuth.
