Last summer, I promised my two oldest children that we would visit the bookstore so they could pick out their first summer reads. At the time, Lily was 7 and immediately inquired about prizes. “Yes,” I replied, “if by prizes you mean books.” She frowned. “But if we finish lots of books, what do we get?” “You get multiple trips to the library!” I said. Poor kid was probably hoping for a toy store visit instead.
Ethan, 9, was equally perplexed. “Is this a competition?” he asked. “Will we earn money?” He found the whole idea unfair, convinced that the Harry Potter series he planned to dive into was significantly lengthier than whatever Lily would choose. I reassured him there was no reading contest at play.
“Read whatever you like,” I encouraged. “Tell me about it. Grab another if you want!” It’s crucial for me that my kids engage with books, always having one in progress or another lined up. They have some freedom in their choices during the school year, but the laid-back summer schedule offers a prime opportunity to explore the shelves without the academic pressure.
I aim to keep my own summer reading unstructured, too. Throughout the year, I find myself tethered to my to-be-read lists—both the pile next to my bed and the digital lists on my Kindle and library queue. There’s often a sense of obligation to stick to these titles, especially if I’ve invested money, anxiously awaited my library turn, or committed to reviewing a book. However, during the summer, I relish the liberty to choose based on intuition, to wander through a bookstore, or to immediately delve into a novel that a friend enthusiastically hands me. My book club also takes a break for three glorious months of reading freedom.
I can still recall some of the books I read in past summers, even those I tackled two decades ago. Just as certain songs evoke memories of specific times or people, a book title can transport me back to the moments I spent with it and the emotions I experienced.
For example, after my junior year of high school, I spent a summer in Sevilla, Spain, and read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Now, whenever I hear that title, I envision the quaint apartment on Calle Nueva where I lived with a local family for six weeks. Interwoven with the tale of Gatsby and Daisy is the memory of my host mother, Maria, who prepared delightful meals like paella and occasionally handed me letters from my boyfriend, Jake. I vividly remember sharing my fears about our relationship with Maria, who offered advice that echoed with wisdom, even if it wasn’t always comforting.
The Twilight series takes me back to when I was 14, during a trip to Vancouver with my grandparents. I remember reading one of the books while my grandmother, in a moment of frustration, urged me to get my suitcase into the car and threw a pencil at me from across the room. Although her outburst was in no way similar to the dramatic events in the novels, that pencil bouncing off the wall remains a quirky memory tied to those pages.
The novels I read during my college years while traveling through Peru left a significant mark on me. Arriving for a semester abroad in Lima in January, which coincides with summer there, I found myself with ample reading time before classes began in March. Instead of diving into Spanish literature, I scoured a used English bookstore and discovered Brave New World, The Catcher in the Rye, and Pride and Prejudice. I adored them all, particularly Brave New World, which felt like a thrilling twist on reality. In fact, I recall those characters more vividly than some of the beautiful cities I visited.
So, how will I decide what to read this summer? I’ll start with my to-be-read piles and lists, but as always, I’ll remain open to chance encounters and newfound interests. I hope my children will embrace the same approach, cherishing their extra time to read before the school year’s chaos resumes.
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Summary:
In the summer, the author encourages her children to choose their own reading materials, emphasizing the joy of reading without the pressure of competition. Reflecting on her own summer reading experiences, she recalls how certain books evoke powerful memories tied to specific moments in her life. The article advocates for a relaxed approach to reading during the summer, both for parents and children.
Keyphrase: summer reading choices
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