GO TO SUMMER READS

[Dani]

Hi. I'm new to this group but absolutely love books. I love collecting them and reading them. I have a Kindle but still like some good paperbacks too (especially because E-books can get expensive!) Anyway, I am a soon to be graduating college student who will be graduating with a bachelor's in education with the hopes to teach special education in the upcoming months. Summer is a perfect time for me to catch up on leisure reading that often gets pushed aside. While my to read shelf has over 1000 on it, I am wondering if any of you have any MUST READ summer reads? I always keep adding books to my shelf. I have a life goal to read at least 1,000 YA or adult books. I tend to read a lot of memoirs, fantasy (harry potter, hunger games types) anything with education or disabilities as it is a professional interest. My currently favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, JK Rowling to name a few. Let me know of any of your summer reads, I am looking forward to getting to my local library or if not to expensive on Kindle to download them. THANKS!

[Nancy from NJ]

I too have a very extensive collection of books although these days with my I PAD I also have a ton of books I download almost daily.

I am very much of a mood reader and don't cointinue with a book I either don't like or is moving along slowly. My feeling is that life is too short to be wasting time on something I don't like. In my lifetime and I am a senior I have read over 3,000 books.

I read a great deal in the winter but not as much in the summer - not sure why. But I do have some books to recommend.

The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit
The Arrogant Years
The Giver
Tuck Everlasting
Bridge to Terabithia
The Tea Rose
Only Time Will Tell
Skeletons at the Feast
Room
anything by Luanne Rice, Elizabeth Berg, Alice Hoffman and Jodi Picoult.

Good luck in your pursuit of a job. I am a fomer teacher who thinks there is no nobler profession than teaching.

[Nicole]

Sarah Addison Allen - Anything by her, it's beautifully written.

V.C. Andrews - You can't really go wrong with her books, depending on the story. I'm a really big fan of her newer stuff, not so much of the other stuff.
- Orphans Series
- Wildflowers Series
- Shooting Stars Series

Libba Bray - Her stuff is geared more towards the young adult genre but still good stories. Well written.
- Gemma Doyle Series
- Going Bovine (This one is weird and trippy)

Orson Scott Card - I took a Science Fiction Lit class this pass semester. It's science fiction but he's an engaging author. His earlier stuff is much better.
- Ender's Game (to test the waters)

Diana Gabaldon - Really Really long, but a very very wonderfully written book.
- Outlander

Neil Gaimen
- American Gods (SImply engaging, I couldn't put it down.)

Charlaine Harris
- Sookie Stackhouse Series (If you like Vampires and other supernatural things.
- Harper Connelly (If you like supernatural things)
- Aurora Teagarden (If you like murder/mystery, no supernatural here.)

Robert Jordan - His books are really long, a little hard to get into because they are fantasy and generally over written, but the story is good once you get into it.
- Wheel of Time Series

Gregory McGuire
- Wicked Series

Christopher Paolini - Fantasy Writer….
- Eragon (I really liked the first one, the second one was harder for me to get through, and I still have two more to read. But give it a whirl if you want.)

Nicholas Sparks - Any book by him is wonderful. I always end up crying.

Audrey Neffinegger
- Time Traveler's Wife. (So much better than the movie….)

Books I Don't Recall the Authors:
- Water for Elephants
- Heart of Ice
- Prep
- Cross My Heart
- 13 Reasons Why (YA. Read the synopsis beforehand. This one sorta touched me on a personal level. )

[Charlotte]

Ian McEwan - the Cement Garden.

It takes place amidst a sweltering summer and will have you hooked throughout :)