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#1

Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:42am

So I saw that there's already a thread about this, but I wanted to get fresh comments from you guys. I have 3 months of break ahead of me before starting college, and wanted a good book to read. I want something that will make me cry [I'm a guy], and with a great message. Please let me know your suggestions. Thanks in advance!
"I'm strong enough to fight and win" -Michael Arden
#2

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:52am

The most I've ever cried when reading a book was at the end of Of Mice and Men.

On a related note, I just finished reading Lord of the Flies for the first time and loved it. It might make you cry, and it's message could be said to be "great," if you mean for "great" to mean remarkable and important. But not if you mean for "great" to be mean inspiring and uplifting. Cause it certainly isn't that.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#3

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:58am

Thanks sticktopriest! For some reason, I'm in the mood of a good cry over a book. lol Could you tell me a bit about Lord of the Flies without giving too much info? And yes, I meant "great" as in remarkable and important. =]
"I'm strong enough to fight and win" -Michael Arden
#4

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:01am

Oooh yayness, an opportunity to pimp the book that we just read in AP English that I absolutely ADORE!!

A Widow For One Year, by John Irving :)

It's SO SO SO good. It's one of those long intricate novels that's definitely not a QUICK read, but an easy one in the sense that you'll be drawn into it the very first second you start reading.

It will VERY very likely make you cry, as it is an extremely dark and heavy book, and pretty twisted too in a way. But there's just something about it and Irving's writing style. It's captivating. And it's definitely got a really nice message as well


So yeah, go get it!

I am actually hoping to pick up Cider House Rules soon myself- I've become a big Irving fan now :)



Also, Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich is fantastic

I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.

Updated On: 6/19/08 at 02:01 AM

#5

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:08am

It's an allegorical story about a group of British school boys who are stranded on an island and must learn to survive by themselves. It's absolutely fascinating and terrifying what the novel says about humanity and the human heart. I don't want to say too much, because a lot of the power come from discovering as you go. And, whatever edition you get, don't read the Introduction until after you read the novel. My edition of the novel comes with a lot of critical essays including Introductions from other editions of the book and some of the Introductions give a way SO MUCH. I would have been livid had I read one of them before devouring the novel.

It's a pretty terrifying book the more and more you think about it.

But it is absolutely wonderful. I've always meant to read it as it is one of those classics that you feel you 'have to" read, but I had never gotten around to it. And with the "have to" books, it's hit or miss, and this was a definite hit for me.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#6

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:09am

Thanks snl89! Don't you just LOVE how you can share about your past reading experiences from AP English!?!? I have actually heard of John Irving and his unique style for writing. I am actually going to Barnes and Noble tomorrow, and will make my decision. I will deeply take your suggestion into consideration!!!
"I'm strong enough to fight and win" -Michael Arden
#7

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:11am

John Irving is fantastic.

I haven't read Widow, but The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules are both wonderful.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#8

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:14am

Lord of the Flies sounds truly interesting! For some reason, your synopsis reminded me of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley-which I totally loved! Yeah, my previous AP Literature teacher told us to NEVER read an Introduction before the book because it will ruin it and confuse you. lol Do you happen to know who the author is for this one? I may just have to buy two books tomorrow lol
"I'm strong enough to fight and win" -Michael Arden
#9

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:32am

I've read Lord of the Flies as well, and I will agree it is terrific. It's extremely well-written, and one of my favorites.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#10

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:35am

Thanks wonderfulwizard11 for your input!
"I'm strong enough to fight and win" -Michael Arden
#11

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:43am

No problem!

What did you think of Brave New World? I'm reading it this summer for class and I'm interested about it.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#12

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:53am

I absolutely LOVED it!!! It has a great message, and a good book to analyze as well! The first couple of chapters might be a bit confusing, but the farther you get, the more you'll be hooked to it. Huxley really did an amazing job with his predictions.
"I'm strong enough to fight and win" -Michael Arden
#13

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:54am

Lord of the Flies is a great book. Everyone should read it.

I'm not exactly sure if this will make you cry, but you should definitely read 1984 if you haven't yet.
#14

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 2:59am

Ahhh hopefully it will make me cry! lol No, I haven't! But I read Brave New World, which I heard it's a bit like 1984?
"I'm strong enough to fight and win" -Michael Arden
#15

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 5:33am

I have a question about 1984. Why did Orwell spell Connections as 'Connexions'? Confusing.

On Orwell, read Animal Farm. great little book. But if you haven't read Lord of the Flies, get to that first.

I've mentioned before the books I'm reading this summer, but I'm thinking of reading 'The Confusions of Young Torless' by Robert Musil. Anyone read it?
The rain we knew is a thing of the past -
deep-delving, dark, deliberate you would say
browsing on spire and bogland; but today
our sky-blue slates are steaming in the sun,
our yachts tinkling and dancing in the bay
like racehorses. We contemplate at last
shining windows, a future forbidden to no one.

Derek Mahon

"Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets."

Arthur Miller
#16

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 6:29am

william golding is the author for lord of the flies.


*eta* ok, i know it's golding... but what do you expect from me before like 9? it was early!

Updated On: 6/19/08 at 06:29 AM

#17

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 7:03am

Golding.
The rain we knew is a thing of the past -
deep-delving, dark, deliberate you would say
browsing on spire and bogland; but today
our sky-blue slates are steaming in the sun,
our yachts tinkling and dancing in the bay
like racehorses. We contemplate at last
shining windows, a future forbidden to no one.

Derek Mahon

"Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets."

Arthur Miller
#18

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 7:17am

I didn't know the guy from SUNSET BOULEVARD wrote novels.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
#19

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 9:51am

I want something that will make me cry [I'm a guy], and with a great message.

These are books I've read recently that seem to meet these criteria:
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Kite Runner by Kaled Hosseini
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

The Road, especially, is one of the most wrenching, beautiful things I've ever read.
#20

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 10:48am

I'm in the minority here I know, but I *loathed* Lord of the Flies.

It didn't make me cry, but if you want to read a Jane Austen novel that most classes will skip, I highly reccomend her final book Persuasion. The novel centers around Anne Elliot, who's 29 and almost into the age of being a spinster (remember this is the 1800s). Eight years prior her father and a friend talked her out of marrying the man she loved because he was beneath her station...however the tables have turned and he's also come back into the picture. There's a good bit of romance, a bit of suspense, more sexual tension than any other Austen novel ever and another well-written hypochondriac. It's also Austen's last novel, and since she releaized the end for her was coming, it's thinner and trimmer, making it easier to get through than a lot of her others.

http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#21

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 11:28am

On the questiong of 1984, I'd say avoid it. It is soooo depressing.

But, a book can make you cry without being depressing. Some I've read are:

The Five People You Meet in Heave (great but pretentious)
Gone With the Wind (not exactly light reading)
For One More Day (again, really pretentious)
I know you. I know you. I know you.
#22

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 11:47am

Don't know if anyone answered this, but "connexions" is a cheifly British variant spelling.
#23

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/19/08 at 11:09pm

Middlesex, I just finished reading it and couldnt stop crying, I dont know why, its just epic

and I am loving the Brave New World praise! My favorite book of all time
Fear no more the heat o' the sun, Nor the furious winter's rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone and ta'en thy wages: Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust. ~Cymbeline
#24

re: Summer reading!!

Posted: 6/20/08 at 1:56am

Thank you everyone for your suggestions!!! I am going to write down all the book titles, and see which one I buy tomorrow.
"I'm strong enough to fight and win" -Michael Arden

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