Summer is the perfect time to lounge back in the sun and catch up on any books you’ve missed during the school year. In this article, we will talk about the process of picking reading up as a hobby, the most popular books out right now and reading suggestions from our very own Fenwick community.
With so many options regarding different genres and authors it may be a little intimidating to pick up reading as a hobby. But not to worry! The beauty of reading is that you can choose your own pace and start off slow. Mr. Perry, an English teacher at Fenwick, also notes that “Short stories can be great because you can sneak in a quick story and then be on your way to the rest of your summer activities! Summer reading is about finding something that you’ll enjoy.” Finding a genre that interests you is a learning experience. It may take a few failed attempts to really understand what you most enjoy reading, but once you discover it, it will definitely be worth it.
Fiction books often provide an escape from reality, but also provide the opportunity to gain helpful insight on real life events. Under the umbrella term of fiction there are genres such as Science Fiction (Sci-Fi), Fantasy, Thriller, and even Historical Fiction. Non-fiction books are great for brushing up on your history, listening to other people’s stories, and picking up pieces of life advice. When asked which genres are the most popular now Ms. Tichacek, Fenwick’s librarian, commented, “I’ve found that our students like reading a wide variety of genres…with diverse characters, so it really depends on the individual reader.” She also mentioned that Madeline Miller, Holly Jackson, Rebecca Ross, and Taylor Jenkins Reid seem to be some of the most popular authors at the moment.
If you are interested in Mystery and Thriller novels, Karen M. McManus is the author of several excellently mysterious books, including The Cousins and One of Us Is Lying. Her stories are unpredictable and well established, being sure to leave you on the edge of your seat up until the very last page. If you are searching for the perfect read to transport you to exciting adventures Mr. Perry recommends “anything by Clive Cussler.” Clive Cussler is the author of nearly 90 Adventure/Thriller novels and has been a New York Times Fiction best-seller more than 20 times. If History and Nonfiction appeal to you, Ms. Tichacek recommends checking out Erik Larson’s The Demon of Unrest, coming out by the end of April. She says that Erik Larson is “a master of narrative nonfiction, so this book will be very popular (and not just with history buffs either!)”
Reading is an important part of everyday life, especially as a Fenwick student. However, it is worth mentioning that reading can be used in more ways outside of just an academic setting. Mr. Perry explains, “I find that reading often reduces my stress. The world seems to be moving very fast most of the time and sometimes feels like sensory overload. Sitting down to read a book allows me to slow down and tune out all that worldly ‘noise.’” There are studies that prove this to be true. In addition to reading calming the mind, it also “allows for growth of emotional intelligence and empathy,” according to 95 Percent Group, a program dedicated to the advancement of the science behind reading.
With the book recommendations provided in this article, I hope that you will consider exploring reading in your free time. Who knows? You might even just discover a hidden passion for reading!
