Updated: August 3, 2023
Originally Published: June 28, 2015
Last summer, I promised my two older children that I would take them to the bookstore to select their first summer reading books. At seven, Lucy asked if there would be any rewards involved. “Absolutely,” I replied. “If you consider books as rewards.” She frowned, “But what if we read a lot? What do we get then?” “You get to visit the library multiple times!” Poor kid was hoping for a trip to a toy store instead.
Jack, who was nine at the time, looked puzzled. “Is this a competition?” he inquired. “Will there be money involved?” He thought it was unfair since the Harry Potter series he planned to dive into was considerably longer than whatever Lucy would likely pick. I assured Jack that there was no competitive angle. “Just read what you enjoy,” I encouraged. “Share your thoughts with me and choose another one.”
Fostering a love for reading in my kids is essential. I want them to always have a book in hand or be on the brink of starting a new one. While they typically have some freedom to choose their reading material during the school year, the leisurely summer atmosphere allows for even more exploration of the literary world.
I aim for my own summer reading to be just as free-spirited. Throughout the rest of the year, I often feel chained to my to-be-read lists—whether the stack on my nightstand or the digital lists on my Kindle and library queue. There’s a pressure to stick to those titles, especially if I’ve invested money, waited for a library hold, or committed to writing a review for an author or editor. However, during the summer, I allow myself the latitude to choose books based on a whim—to wander through a bookstore or dive into a novel a friend insists I must read. My book club takes a break too, leading to three months of delightful chaos in my reading life.
Certain titles from past summers remain vividly etched in my memory, much like songs that evoke specific years or moments. For example, after my junior year of high school, I spent a summer in Barcelona, where I devoured Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence. Now, whenever I hear that title, I picture the cozy apartment I shared with a Spanish family for six weeks. Memories of Countess Olenska and Newland Archer blend with recollections of my host mother, Maria, who prepared unique meals and handed me letters from my boyfriend, Tom. I remember confiding in her about my worries regarding our relationship. “I’m afraid everything will change when I return,” I expressed. “Love can be tricky from afar,” she replied, though her words didn’t bring me much comfort. As she predicted, my fears came true when Tom and I broke up early in our senior year.
The Flowers in the Attic series brings me back to when I was fourteen, visiting Toronto with my grandparents. That summer, I was reading one of the books in the series when my grandmother, clearly having a tough day, snapped at me to hurry up with my suitcase and threw a pencil across the room. Her outburst was nothing like the horrendous grandmother in V.C. Andrews’ story, yet I can’t help but remember that pencil bouncing off the wall whenever someone mentions the book.
My college years also brought significant reading moments. During a semester abroad in Santiago, Chile, I arrived just as summer break was starting. With classes not beginning until March, my friends and I took a trip south. Instead of selecting books by Chilean authors to immerse myself in the language, I opted for English novels from a used bookstore. I read East of Eden, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Chosen, and The Fountainhead, all of which left a lasting impact. In fact, I recall those stories and characters more vividly than the beautiful coastal towns I visited.
So, how will I approach my summer reading this year? I’ll start with my to-read piles and lists, but I’ll remain open to the unexpected and intriguing. I hope my kids will embrace this spirit too, cherishing their extra reading time before the busy school year kicks in. For additional insights into home insemination and fertility, check out this informative resource here. Also, for more on pregnancy and home insemination, WebMD offers an excellent resource here.
In conclusion, summer is a time for exploration and joy in reading, allowing both children and adults to freely discover new stories and dive into worlds that enrich their lives.