Summer Reading 2024

The Bell Jar is a novel by Sylvia Plath. It’s a timeless coming-of-age classic, following a main character labeled gifted as she struggles to decide what to do with her future. Featuring the famous fig tree analogy where the main character sees her future lives sprawling before her, painfully relatable, The Bell Jar is an ultimately hopeful narrative. Explore how social pressures impact our protagonist's mental health and how mental health was treated in the 1950s from a first person perspective. With a captivating storyline that's beautifully written, The Bell Jar is a classic for a reason, and a great use of your summer reading.

Content warning: Depression, Suicide Attempt, Brief description of sexual assault (but I will tell you the page number and I think that Sylvia does a great job talking about it, its not graphic and I think its really well done)

What do murderers, heart transplants and religion have in common? Should a dying man’s wish be granted? What if he’s a murderer? Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult balances right vs. wrong in a thought provoking novel about a man on death row, a young girl needing a heart transplant, the legal system and religion.

The Life of Pi is about a boy trying to survive at sea with nothing but a fading spiritual connection and a tiger. I believe this book is truly the whole package. With so many ups and downs it keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing. I highly recommend it!

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous since it is one of the only books I've ever read where the author's voice feels incredibly unique and authentic. The novel explores sensitive topics like poverty, sexuality, and mental illness in a way that can be relatable for people of all backgrounds. It beautifully captures the human spirit and the strength of its capabilities.

Play As It Lays by Joan Didion tells the story of Maria Wyeth, a former actress living in 1960s Los Angeles. Recently divorced from a famous Hollywood director, the novel follows Maria through her mental health struggles through a series of flashbacks and stream of consciousness sequences. The novel contrasts the usual, glamorized view that is traditional for media set in Los Angeles and Hollywood and instead explores the idea of the city as a "broken paradise."

After June Hayward witnesses the death of renowned author (and her sort-of friend) Athena Liu, June steals Athena's unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the name Juniper Song. "Yellowface" follows the backlash against June's novel and publishing industry drama that ensues as a result while also exploring ideas of white privilege, the impact of social media in the 21st century, and themes of racial diversity and cultural appropriation.

Content warning: This novel references sexual assault. For a complete list, please visit storygraph.com which has user-submitted reviews and content warnings.

I personally chose this book because I read it a couple years ago and it's one of those stories that never really leaves your mind. Since the story feels so natural, it's easy to find yourself relating to the characters. It's raw, real, and filled with so many emotions that would be really investing to break down over a summer reading conversation!