Five Hot Reads For The Summer
Whatever surprises Mother Nature has in store for us this summer, it's always nice to set aside a few books for some fun recreational reading.
So whether you enjoy soaking up the UV's, hiding in the shade, or simply lounging about indoors, it's beneficial to choose a selection of books that offer some serious entertainment for the up and coming months.
Here's a few of my favourite books that have helped me escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life:
1. Bored Of The Rings (The Harvard Lampoon 1969)
This hilarious parody of JRR Tolkien's heroic epic is a great way to see the summer in with a smile. Ingenious word wizardry and stimulating modifications to the original storyline see The Harvard Lampoon take a relatively serious story, roll it up into a little ball, bake it up real good, and serve it up as a revolutionary treat smothered with comical bliss.
2. In His Own Write/A Spaniard In The Works (John Lennon 1964/65)
Most of us only acknowledge Liverpool's finest son as a rock pioneer at the helm of one of the world's greatest bands, but it seems Mr Lennon was also quite instrumental with the pen and paper. 'In His Own Write' and 'A Spaniard in the Works' are two very comical books that are not only highly inventive, but absolutely remarkable at the same time. Lunatic humour, outrageous illustrations and quirky poetry allow the reader to concede to Lennon's brilliance through the sheer inventiveness of some of these short narratives.
...take a relatively serious story, roll it up into a little ball, bake it up real good, and serve it up as a revolutionary treat smothered with comical bliss.Jon Ellis
3. American Psycho (Bret Easton Ellis 1991)
Now if you enjoyed the movie, then you'll absolutely love this. Ellis' depiction of the psychopathic Wall Street high flier is extraordinarily gripping as his troubled protagonist Patrick Bateman propels his way through late eighties America. Moments of obscure hilarity are counteracted by the dark reality of Bateman's brutal encounters. The use of language is fantastic throughout the novel as Ellis allows his reader to engage into the idea of the American Dream and the dark realism behind it.
4. The Mammoth Book Of on the Road (Edited by Maxim Jakubowski & M. Christian 2002 )
When you have half an hour to kill, there's nothing better than pulling out a short story to pass the time. Exercepts from John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' and Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road' are a great accompaniment for any readers who are fumbling for time or don't have the motivation to plough through a full scale novel. Mark Timlin's 'That'll be the day' tells the story of a lost rock drifter who travels back in time and bumps into the one and only Buddy Holly, but when things go wrong, he is left considering his own role in Holly's fatal plane crash. A must read.
5. Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck 1937)
Quite Possibly John Steinbeck's greatest effort, 'Of Mice and Men' reflects the role of the conventional drifter in Post-depression America. George and Lenny struggle to make ends meet as they travel from place to place in search of work, but inevitably Lenny's simple-mindedness disrupts their seemingly futile dream of one day 'living off the fat of the land.' Compelling and very moving, this novel is an exceptional read.
