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In Review: Summer Reading Recommendations
By Macy Walsh
The long, hot days of summer are here, and for those of you who insist on frying yourselves to that perfect shade of golden brown at the beach or by the pool, don’t forget to pack a good book or two in that beach bag. If you need help, here are some recommendations that I’ve enjoyed:
At the top of my list is a trilogy: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The story takes place in Panem, a nation built on the ruins of North America, where the wealthy and cruel capital city keeps the 12 outlying districts in line by forcing them to send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen believes that her fate is sealed when she’s forced to represent her own District 12 in the Games. But Katniss knows how to hunt and survive – and soon learns how to fight back against the tyrannical government.
In the ‘Believe It or Not’ category, we have the New York Times bestseller Escape From Camp 14 by Blaine Harden, the shocking story of Shin Dong-hyuk, the only person born in a North Korean prison labor camp to have escaped and survived. Shin knew nothing of civilized existence; he viewed his mother as a competitor for food and witnessed the execution of his brother and sister when their escape plan was discovered. Don’t read this one if you have a weak stomach. Through the lens of Shin’s life, Harden unlocks the secrets of the world’s most repressive totalitarian state.
For those who prefer a more action packed read, check out The Command: Deep Inside the President’s Secret Army by Marc Ambinder & D.B. Grady. The U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) has proven to be the most lethal weapon in the President’s arsenal. Shrouded in secrecy, the Command has done more to fight the terrorist threat than any other single entity. Because of such high profile missions as Operation Neptune’s Spear, which resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden, JSOC has attracted much attention, but most only know a fraction of the real story.
For the sports enthusiast, my top pick is The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods by Hank Haney. Hank’s tenure with the gifted golfer began in 2004, and this is a candid and surprisingly insightful account of a celebrated journey during which Tiger collected six major championships and rewrote golf history. Hank was one of the few people allowed behind the curtain, spending countless days with Tiger, often staying at his home and accompanying him at golf tournaments. The result is an intimate portrait of one of the sport’s enduring legends.
If you’re a political junkie like me, don’t miss The Presidents Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibs and Michael Duffy, a candid history of the private relationships, secret alliances and enduring rivalries of modern American presidents. Established by Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover at Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration, the club is a complicated place where its members share the Oval Office experience but remain rivals for history’s favor. You’ll read about how JFK tried to blame Ike for the Bay of Pigs, how Eisenhower helped Reagan win his first race in 1966, the letter from Nixon that Bill Clinton rereads every year and the rivalry between Clinton and Obama. Fascinating stuff!
Whether your tastes run to fiction or non-fiction, history or sports or something in between, having your favorite book by your side helps provide a great escape from the sweltering heat. Pick one that suits your fancy and dive into a captivating story before you take a dive into the swimming pool this summer.
