Creating a Summer Reading List for Adults

For many people, summer is the perfect time to relax with a few good books and catch up on reading. However, some potential readers are not quite sure where to start when it comes to selecting books to read. One easy way to get a suggestion is to ask the local library's librarian for a suggestion, but if that idea is for some reason unappealing, you can always follow a reading list cycle. You follow through the suggestions and then start over again once you are finished. Here is a very basic cycle to get you started for the summer reading months.

First, pick out a classic work of fiction. Books such as The Time Machine, Jane Eyre, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Three Musketeers. Books by authors such as Charles Dickens, Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas, and Mary Shelley. These types of books and authors easily fit the bill.

Next, read a work of contemporary nonfiction. Memoirs, political analysis, and modern history books will do, and there are also other genres available. Currently popular books include Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox. A work of nonfiction does not have to be dry and boring.

Next, read a contemporary novel. There are many books to choose from in this category, some better known than others. Books in this category include The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas.

Next, consider reading a play. This sounds unappealing to many, but plays offer just as much action, drama, and learning as other types of literature. Consider the works of William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller.

Finally, read a classical work of nonfiction. Again, these works are not required to be dry and boring. This category includes works such as Common Sense by Thomase Paine, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass, and The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx.

When you have finished with the cycle, simply start over again. This will create a well-rounded reading list for the summer. The books listed are merely suggestions and can easily be replaced with another book. Reading can be equally stimulating and relaxing, so it makes the perfect activity for the hot summer months. Enjoy your reading, using this very basic reading cycle.

All of the books listed above can be found at the Barnes & Noble website. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/