Last Call for Summer Adventures: 5 Books to Dive into Before Autumn

People in the northern hemisphere experience summer during the months of June, July, and August, while people in the southern hemisphere experience winter. On the other hand, during the months of December, January, and February, people in the northern hemisphere experience winter, and people in the southern hemisphere experience summer. So! Whether or not you are enjoying your last few days of sun, beach, and mountain excursions that make you sweat from the heat, some members of our team have collaborated on this blog to recommend new books that you can start reading in what’s left of the season. 

  

David – Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro  

Not what you might expect from the title, but a bittersweet easy read that will work alongside your vacation plans to get you thinking about another place and time. Also useful to fuel opinions for those deep and meaningful chats we’re all having about AI these days. 

 

Sohail – Such a Fun Age by Kylie Reid 

I would recommend reading the book without reading too much about it. It’s a very nuanced interrogation of privilege, morality, and youth. In today’s age, we have a clear view of who is right and who is wrong. Kylie Reid brings all of this into question by feeding you each character’s self-perception and then annihilating it with how they are perceived. 

 

Bea – Armor by John Steakley 

 “Armor” was published in 1984 and it’s a highly noted science fiction novel. So, if you are a sci-fi geek like me, and you haven’t read this book, I really recommend it! This novel explores the emotional price of warfare, exposing themes of identity, survival, the impact of war on the human psyche, and the coping mechanisms individuals develop in response to their trauma. The story is known for its gritty, realistic portrayal of war and its effects on individuals, following two main narratives that eventually converge.  

 

Carmen – The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien 

These stories are simply timeless, and a proper representation of the constant battle between good and evil. And rightfully so, after many unexpected adventures, struggles, and losses, the good always prevails.  

 

John – the Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

 First released over a decade ago, ‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller stormed the bestsellers lists. This retelling of the story of Achilles and Patroclus is written from the point of view of Patroclus, and this itself lends the tale a completely new angle. Although the story focusses on the human relationship between Patroclus and Achilles, it strays into the realm of magical realism – in this re-imagining of the Greek classic, gods are very much real, and they affect the material world. Achilles’s struggle to balance his human and divine natures is a central element of the book. I also recommend Miller’s more recent novel, Circe.

 

 

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