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Stunning Stories in Summer Settings
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Hey, now!
It’s finally summer! And what better way to spend this glorious season than by immersing yourself in the world of some of your favorite authors? Summertime and the reading’s easy. Whether you’re in the mood to read on the beach or just lounging by the pool, summer offers plenty of options for escaping with a book.
Throughout history, many writers have set their books during summer—or at least in an obvious summer setting (such as beach towns or tropical islands). Whether they’re romantic dramas, scary mysteries, thrilling adventures, or tear-jerking tragedies, these stories will keep you reading late into the night, which makes them perfect for relaxing nights spent by the fire pit. Pick up one of these page-turners and set out to enjoy some summer fun!
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The setting of The Great Gatsby is probably one of its most famous aspects, along with its twisting plot. The novel takes place mostly in Long Island, New York and describes a time before air conditioning was common. Nick Carraway is a Wall Street trader who rents a house next door to his old college buddy, Jay Gatsby. Their homes face each other over a small body of water that had once been an attractive part of the North American coastline but has since filled with factories, shipyards and slums. While there are many characters in The Great Gatsby, it’s F. Scott Fitzgerald’s descriptions of life on Long Island during summer that make it such a memorable read.
Besides being set during summer, The Great Gatsby also deals with themes related to summer: hope for better times ahead (the Jazz Age), overcoming personal tragedy (Gatsby lost Daisy years ago) and making bad decisions because you don’t want to wait for something good (Gatsby pursues Daisy even though she’s married).
Watership Down by Richard Adams
In Richard Adams’ classic adventure tale, Watership Down, a group of rabbits trek through England during what should be a carefree summer. However, as rabbit society collapses around them, their future and well-being become uncertain. This novel is a hauntingly vivid portrayal of life’s fragility and how quickly it can change for those we hold dear to us. A beautiful book that remains an all-time favorite for children and adults alike!
After reading Watership Down, you’ll never look at your backyard in quite the same way again. A timeless story full of heartbreak, love, hope and resilience. What more could you ask for? An incredible read that is sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for nature and its creatures! Summer is fleeting like life, like the buttery popcorn on top. Read all that you can.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Life of Pi is a survival story of Piscine Molitor Pi Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry who explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. His story takes place on a lifeboat where he shares his time with Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. The third person narrative and unfolds on two levels: one detailing events occurring during Pi’s lifeboat ordeal, and another centered on telling his story to the Japanese authorities investigating his shipwreck.
It won’t take you long to notice that author Yann Martel drew heavily upon some unusual sources for inspiration. For example, many of Pi’s animal companions are references to Hindu deities. This adds depth and complexity to a simple tale. Life of Pi is worth reading, if only because it will make you think twice about whether animals really have human qualities… or if humans really have animal qualities.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The Old Man and the Sea is a perfect example of Ernest Hemingway’s style. The novel features Santiago, an old fisherman who has gone 85 days without catching a fish. On his 86th day, he reels in a giant marlin but after harpooning it. It escapes and causes him to be stranded alone on his small boat at sea for two days before he can reach land. The old man is a true symbol of life and hope.
Hemingway’s Nobel Prize-winning book about Santiago struggling against great odds may not seem like a beach read at first glance—but it totally is! The Old Man and The Sea is as much about man versus nature as it is about man versus himself. There are plenty of beautiful passages that capture summer perfectly. You can almost smell the salt water and feel those summer breezes whipping through your hair. It’s truly one of those books you can’t help but get lost in. And if you haven’t read it yet, what better time than now?
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s shortest and most comedy-driven play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is also one of his funniest. When a group of four Athenian lovers stumble upon a pair of feuding fairies, chaos ensues, with magic and romance around every corner. The play is set during summer, although it is often not clear which season… and all kinds of other things are less than obvious as well. You’ll have fun trying to figure out what’s going on—and rewarded with lots of laughs along the way.
If you’re looking for a light read for your next beach trip or road trip, try A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It will leave you feeling just as happy and carefree as its characters. (And if you’ve never seen it performed live before, check out some local theater companies near you.)
Holes by Louis Sachar
Under a longstanding curse, generations of the Yelnats family have been sentenced to various sorts of bad luck and struggles. When Stanley finds himself at Camp Green Lake after being wrongly convicted, he stumbles onto a secret that might finally bring about the end of the family’s suffering.
Holes is an adventure story with just enough darkness to keep things interesting. It’s also a coming-of-age tale about overcoming personal challenges. Plus, it’s got a great ending. It’s one of those books you won’t be able to put down until you finish it, but once you do, you’ll want to pick it up again immediately and read it all over again. It has enough suspense for adults but is still appropriate for younger readers.
Regardless of age, while digging through this story in the blistering sun, readers may wish for an ice-cold drink or two.
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Dandelion Wine is a classic American coming-of-age novel. Ray Bradbury wrote it when he was only twenty-one years old and remains one of his most loved works today. The story follows a young boy named Douglas Spalding as he wends his way through summer in Green Town, Illinois, meeting new friends, learning lessons, and experiencing life’s special moments. Filled with warmth and nostalgia, it’s easy to see why Dandelion Wine is considered a modern classic. For anyone who has ever loved summer, or wished they could live forever within its warm embrace, it’s a book you must read.
The Body by Stephen King
Stephen King is probably most famous for his horror stories, but he has several outstanding books that are more drama-leaning. The Body is one of his most famous and beloved works and follows four boys from an area outside Portland, Oregon as they investigate a dead body and learn how to stand up for themselves. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of summer is sunshine, but it’s really those long days with nothing else to do that makes it stand out. Stephen King understands these days.
His novella follows the boys who decide to walk twenty-four miles through a humid Maine summer just to get away from their troubles. But trouble follows them wherever they go. The book is almost entirely set during summer and captures many beautiful images of Maine that may make you want to grab your pack and jump on a train yourself!
This is definitely a must-read if you’re going to be spending any time in Maine over the next few months! The Body was made into a movie in 1986 starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, and Corey Feldman called Stand By Me. The movie has been one of the most beloved coming-of-age films of all time.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
This acclaimed novel is set on a deserted island, where a group of British schoolboys fend for themselves. It’s about society and how human nature can be shaped by what we’re exposed to at a young age. This book takes place in one of my favorite settings: summer! What better time than summer to read about being stranded on an island?
There’s also lots of water—important for islands—and there’s plenty of opportunity for fun outdoor activities… as well as dangerous ones. The result? Lord of Flies! And with that, one of modern literature’s most-referenced books about children and society was born. If you like reading dystopian novels or are looking for something new to read (and don’t mind being scared by vicious little boys) try it.
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Despite its name, Paulette Jiles’s 2017 novel isn’t set during your typical run-of-the-mill news cycle. News of The World is a beautifully written coming-of-age story with an action thriller twist—which makes it perfect for summer reading. The book begins in Fort Richardson, Texas on June 13, 1871, as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd sets out on horseback to deliver news of President Lincoln’s assassination to army outposts throughout Texas and beyond. As we soon learn, though, not every outpost is eager to receive this news. In fact, many have gone so far as to burn newspapers or deny newspaper delivery altogether — forcing our protagonist into treacherous terrain.
Don’t let that description scare you away from what is actually a delightful read! The pace of News of The World is slow and steady, making it easy to pick up and put down, losing no momentum. It also has a few surprising twists that are sure to keep you turning pages well past bedtime. If you love historical fiction, adventure stories or just want something new to read while relaxing by the water, then I highly recommend giving News of The World a try!
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Tuck Everlasting is one of those summer books that stays with you. It follows a girl who gets mixed up with a family of immortals and learns that immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. If you loved fantasy as a child, give it another read now that you’re older. Natalie Babbitt’s novel will surely take you back to your childhood summers—even if your summers weren’t anything like Winnie Foster’s.
While reading, you’ll likely think about what you would do with eternal life (or even an endless summer). You might even reminisce about all of your favorite childhood reads. Just don’t forget to come back down to earth once in a while; that way, when summer comes around again next year, you can really enjoy it!
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row is about a group of individuals living together on a sunny California street. This is about summer, life, and loss. It’s one of my favorite books. It has some of Steinbeck’s most famous characters (Doc, Hazel), some grand descriptions of Monterey Bay, and it shows how lovable and funny people can be even when they’re down on their luck. Steinbeck recounts an adventure set during summer in a hub of American marine culture.
In order to escape their responsibilities, Mack and his friends decide to get themselves into an array of trouble with unexpected consequences. Summer heat and willful unruliness pepper this town thanks to the author’s penchant for noble characters. The book is full of people that can be beautiful even when they’re not perfect. Steinbeck shows us we don’t have to be a hero, or even good, to make a difference. We just have to try.
-R.E.