Tuesday Favorites: Summer & My Top Ten Classics For Those Who Do Not Like Classics

Each week Maureen from Maureen's Books asks participants to share a favorite on the weekly designated topic.

This week's topic is my favorite thing about summer.

Summer is my fourth favorite season. Although spring sometimes seems to want to compete for that spot (thanks to my allergies).

My favorite part of summer is late summer, when we all pretend it is already fall. It's the start of school and soccer season for many and there is a feeling of starting fresh. The evenings are just beginning to get a little cooler, but the sun is still shining late in the day.

As for summer itself, I think most of all I love the idea of summer. The beach, sunshine, vacations, sitting by the pool, and good books . . . But really, it means working in an office that is like a refrigerator and walking outside into an oven; my reading time doesn't really change; and smokey air full from the fires--it is fire season after all. Still, there is sunshine. And glorious thunderstorms from time to time. And there is a more relaxed atmosphere, less traffic, and no homework. Not to mention leisurely walks in the evening (if it's cool enough) with the sun still out and, of course, camping in the mountains.

What is your favorite thing about summer? 

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Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This week's  Top Ten Tuesday is my Top Ten Book Recommendations of Classics for Those Who Do Not Like Classics. Here's the thing. I am not in school anymore and all of my reading I do for pleasure (with the occasional exception for work). I enjoy a wide variety of books, old and new. And, yes, that includes the Classics. If I am going to devote my time to reading a novel classified as a Classic, I want it to be readable and one I will enjoy. It's as simple as that. There are Classics out there like that, even among those that aren't.

I hate hearing someone say they don't read the Classics at all and never will, lumping them all together as if they were equal. Just because you did not like the Classics you were required to read in school, does not mean you will not like ALL Classics. Maybe none you've come across yet appeal to you, and that's okay. I am a big proponent of a person reading what he or she wants to read. All I ask is that you do not shut the door completely on reading the Classics. Or any other type of book, for that matter. Never say never. That contemporary novel you are reading right now, in fact, might one day be a Classic! Classics don't start out with that label, after all.

1. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle ~ Now is the perfect time to read this one with the movie coming out later this year. Yes, it's a children's book, but it's a good one. Especially if you like time and space travel.

2. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie ~ People seem to forget genre fiction can fall into the Classic category too. If you are a mystery lover, consider giving the Queen of Mystery a try if you haven't already.

3. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood ~ A modern Classic to be sure, but one that has already proven it stands the test of time and is still very relevant today.

4. Dracula by Bram Stoker ~ I admit I was surprised how much I enjoyed this Classic. It was subtle in its horror, but creepy just the same. Not to mention, if you are a fan of the old Dracula movies, you really should see where they all started.

5. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins ~Although the writing may take a little time to settle into, this really is a great thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat at times.

6. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote ~ Capote's true crime book reads more like a novel, and is quite a compelling read.

7. The Color Purple by Alice Walker ~ Another modern Classic which tells the story of how love and independence can triumph even in the most dire of situations.

8. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis ~ Who among us hasn't sometimes wished we could step outside our own world into another? Or, in this case, into a wardrobe.

9. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle ~ As much of an institution Sherlock Holmes is in our culture, it wouldn't hurt to check out where he got his start.

10. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams ~ I found this and the other books in the series to be funny and easy to read. This series was actually my first venture into Science Fiction, and genre I've come to enjoy quite a bit.

What other Classics would you recommend to those who do not read the Classics?

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