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5 fabulous summer reads for the lover of literature
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photo courtesy of theage.com
With the usual trend of entertainment magazines to publish lists of trashy fiction, and dime a dozen grocery store novels (not saying those aren’t fun to read too), as the must read content for the poolside fare, I thought it might be interesting to look at some heavy literary classics that scream summer to me. Here goes nothing:
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- I don’t know what it is about this best loved Austen novel, detailing the personal growth and relationship development between the lovable Elizabeth Bennett, and the rather debonair Mr. Darcy, but you can bet that I read it once every summer. Perhaps, it’s the lackadaisical pace that this novel of manners sets for the domestic affairs of the Bennett women, or, perhaps it is the serene setting of rural Victorian England, but I adore it. Of course, this is the perfect book for the romantic, but I challenge you to appreciate Austen’s uncanny wit in using seemingly unimportant details to expose the underbelly of injustice of English society, especially women’s issues, class struggles, and even definitions of masculinity. There is always a lot more to Austen than meets the eye. Of course, you can always fall in love with Darcy and Lizzy all over again.
2. A Passage to India by E.M Forster- Obviously the setting, which takes place in early 1900’s India, specifically the city of Chandrapore, has a lot to do with the inclusion on a list of summer reads. But, the way in which Forster describes native India, which attempts to transcend the usual motif of the patriarchal conqueror, and sets the feminine India as a place of mystery, where anything is possible, as opposed to an object to be ravaged, makes for some lovely passages. The plot itself is also very engaging, as the friendship between Fielding and Aziz, an Englishman and an Indian, develops and then unravels to the monumental question of can two people of separate races be friends. The events of the Marabar caves and their sexual, and social, repercussions, as well as the obvious homoerotic undertones (as Forster himself was a homosexual) in the relationship between the two men, make this a rich text for the literary critic in us all.
3. A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean- This modern American classic about two brothers, fly fishing, and the regret of memory is a fantastic read for the summer hobbyist. While having a knowledge about fly fishing might heighten the enjoyment for the reader, the utter poetry of the way in which Norman describes the casting techniques of his brother Paul, as he reflects on his life and tragic death, are absolutely stunning. The novel itself raises some interesting questions about memory, storytelling, and narrative, and the way it all connects to the flowing waters of the river, seem very in tune with the ease of summer days.
4. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys- This incredible novel, based on the infamous Bertha in Bronte’s Jane Eyre (Rochester’s supposedly crazy first wife), is not only set in the beautiful and tropic 1840’s Jamaica, but the sensuality of Antoinette Cosway, and the world she is a part of, makes this a perfect summer read. The plot brings to light several feminist issues with the inclusion of the signature Rhys woman in Antoinette, but also serves as a lovely and powerful critique of British colonialism, and capitalism in general. It is tragic, but engaging, and sure to be a fast read.
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald- There is something about the free and easy decadence of Jay Gatsby, and his band of socialites, in this novel that many critics hail as a nearly perfectly constructed piece of fiction, that makes me feel like lying out in the sun. This monumental rags to riches to tragic tale of a man who has to pretend to be something more to win the woman he loves, who is never really good enough for him, is both heartbreaking and wonderfully profound in its implications. Also, dissecting the sexuality and narrative reliability of the story’s narrator, Nicholas Carraway, can certainly keep one busy for a long time.
Hope this gives you literary adventurers out there some possibilities for a few classic picks to add to your summer reading list. Any opinions on these books? Any good ones I missed? Feel free to comment!
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