Parenting
Last summer, I promised my two older children a trip to the bookstore to help them select their summer reading materials for the first time. At just 7 years old, Lily asked if they would receive any rewards.
“Absolutely,” I replied. “If by rewards, you mean books.”
She frowned, “But what do we get if we read a lot?”
“You’ll get plenty of visits to the library!” Poor girl was hoping I’d mention a toy store.
Meanwhile, Jake, who was 9 at the time, seemed puzzled. “Is it some sort of contest?” he inquired. “Will we earn money or something?” He thought it was unfair since the Harry Potter series he intended to continue reading was significantly longer than whatever Lily would choose.
I reassured Jake that I had no competitive reading challenge in mind. “Read whatever interests you,” I encouraged. “Tell me all about it, and then pick another one.”
It’s important to me that my kids develop a love for reading, always engaging with a book or starting a new one. However, I also want them to exercise their own judgment in selecting what to read. During the school year, they often have the freedom to choose, but summer’s leisurely pace is perfect for exploring different options on the shelves.
I aim to keep my own summer reading equally unstructured. Throughout the year, I feel tied to my to-be-read lists—both the physical stack on my nightstand and the curated digital lists on my Kindle. There’s often pressure to stick to those titles, especially if I’ve invested money, waited for a library copy, or committed to a review for an author or editor. Yet, in summer, I embrace the liberty to choose books based on instinct, wander through bookstores, or dive into a novel a friend insists I absolutely must read. My book club also takes a break for the summer, resulting in three months of reading freedom.
I can still recall specific books from summers past, even those I read twenty years ago. Just as certain songs evoke memories of specific times and places, book titles can trigger vivid recollections of my surroundings and emotions while reading them.
For instance, after my junior year in high school, I spent a summer in Seville, Spain, and read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Now, whenever I hear that title, I’m transported back to my small apartment on Calle Nueva, where I lived with a Spanish family. Memories of my host mother, Maria, preparing traditional dishes like paella intermingle with images of Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. She often handed me letters from my boyfriend, Alex, and comforted me as I read through them, searching for any hint that he missed me. “I’m concerned things will change when I return,” I confided. “You’re too young to let distance dictate love,” she replied softly, though her words didn’t ease my worries. Tragically, her prediction came true, as did my fears—Alex and I broke up shortly into our senior year.
The Twilight series brings me back to the summer I turned 14 when I traveled to Montreal with my grandparents. I was in the midst of reading one of the books in that series the weekend my grandmother, irritated over something trivial, shouted for me to hurry up with my suitcase, tossing a pencil across the room in frustration. Though her outburst was nothing like the dramatic scenes in Stephenie Meyer’s novels, that pencil incident comes to mind whenever anyone mentions that series.
My college years also sparked memorable reading experiences while I traveled through Argentina. I arrived in Buenos Aires in January, which is summer in that part of the world, and classes didn’t begin until March. Instead of immersing myself in local literature, I found myself at a used English bookstore, selecting Pride and Prejudice, The Bell Jar, The Catcher in the Rye, and Moby Dick. I cherished every one of them, especially Pride and Prejudice, which felt like a complex family drama. In fact, I can recall those characters and their stories more vividly than the cities I visited along my journey.
So, how will I choose my summer reading this year? I’ll start with my to-be-read piles and lists, but as with every summer, I’ll remain open to spontaneity and curiosity. I hope my children will embrace the same spirit this year, cherishing their time to read before the hectic school schedule resumes. If you’re interested in learning more about home insemination, be sure to check out this informative article. For those curious about a vegan lifestyle, this resource is invaluable. And for an excellent overview of in vitro fertilization, visit this Wikipedia page.
Summary
This article reflects on the joys of summer reading, both for children and adults, emphasizing the importance of choice and freedom in selecting books. It shares personal anecdotes about past summer reads that evoke vivid memories and emotions, while also encouraging readers to explore literature without rigid constraints.