Summer Reading Isn't Just for Kids

Kids are always encouraged to read during the summer. Teachers send lists of book suggestions home at the end of the school year in many schools. And, most libraries (and even some bookstores) offer some kind of summer reading program for kids, complete with incentives and prizes for finishing a certain number of books.

But, what about parents? Shouldn't we be reading during the summertime as well? Of course we should-and not just for our own benefit. Kids who see adults enjoying reading are more likely to want to read themselves. If parents take time out this summer to do some reading, chances are they won't have to nag their kids to break open a book to read.

What should you read? Magazines are a good choice, as is the daily newspaper. But, if you want your child to read and learn to enjoy books, perhaps you should try reading a few books this summer. You don't have to grab a tome of Shakespeare or one of the classic literature novels that is taught in school-any book will suffice.

Some adults simply aren't book lovers and may find the task of choosing an enjoyable book somewhat daunting. So, I have compiled a listing here of books that are sure to please most anyone. These books have interesting characters, compelling plot lines, and are rather fast-paced-you won't get bored with any of these choices. Each of these books will draw you in and make you want to find out what will happen in the story, which is key to enjoying a book. Try any of these:

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Think these books are just for children? Well, perhaps the author initially intended for children to want to read this series-but, adults find these characters and the situations in which they find themselves to be quite compelling. Sure, the movies for these novels are very well done, but the books add so much more to the stories. Be sure to start with the first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

You have probably heard of The Da Vinci Code, right? This novel is by the same author and actually takes place before The Da Vinci Code. Robert Langdon is, again, the main character, and at the heart of this novel is a conspiracy involving a secret organization. This is one novel I had a hard time putting down!

Hornet Flight by Ken Follet

This is an espionage thriller set during World War 2. Don't get scared away by the subject, though-all of Follet's novels are filled with interesting characters to which anyone can relate. Because this book has so much excitement and tension, you will definitely want to keep on reading once you start.

The Attorney by Steve Martini

There are dozens of authors who write legal thrillers, but Steve Martini is one of the best, in my opinion. The Attorney has several unexpected plot turns, which keep the reader glued to the book. If you enjoy watching television shows based upon the legal system, you may want to give this book a try.

Coffin Dancerby Jeffery Deaver

This novel, as well as several others written by Deaver, has one of the most unique main characters I have seen in a thriller novel. Lincoln Rhyme is confined to his wheelchair due to quadriplegia, so he has to have his protégé, Amelia Sachs, do all of his crime investigation for him. This twist makes for some very compelling reading, to be sure!

Prey by Michael Crichton

Prey is a techno-thriller, about a way in which technology has gone very wrong. Sounds dry, but this book is anything but boring. The suspense will have you on the edge of your seat, and the way Crichton writes will make you wonder if his novel could hold some truth-it all sounds very credible.

Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell

One of Cornwell's strengths in writing is her ability to make the reader care about the characters in her novels, and Cause of Death is no exception. This book, like most of Cornwell's works, is a medical forensic thriller. She includes cutting edge forensic technologies in the solving of the crimes in her book. If forensic television shows are among your interests, you will likely enjoy this novel.

You may notice that most of the books on this list are not the newest novels that these authors have written-this was a purposeful choice on my part. That is actually the best thing about this listing, because I wanted to show that all of these authors have more than one book available. So, if you enjoy, for example, Hornet Flight, you can look into reading some of the other novels that Ken Follet has written, such as Night Over Water and Jackdaws. I hope you do experiment in that way and try out the other novels of these authors, because they are all quite good-it was actually difficult for me to choose just one favorite from each author. Enjoy your summertime reading!