About Books & Literature: Plan Your Summer Reading List!

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor I find that I read a lot more books in the summer if I plan out my reading list, a la 8th grade. I mean, if I don't have a list and a goal, I just sit around watching The Price is Right and experimenting with new hairstyles and lamenting the, like, total uncoolness of my parents until somebody, like, totally calls me inviting me to yet another rad pool party. (Okay, there's less complaining about my parents and more yard work, but I still don't get enough reading done.) How to Plan Your Summer Reading List Sitting down to plan a summer reading list is part of the fun. I like to mix it up, myself, and throw in a couple of classics, some heavy contemporary literature, one or two things I've read already, and naturally, a little something trashy -- a blowzy whodunit or a scandalous tell-all -- for days when I don't feel like thinking so hard. See More About:  how to plan  how to  reading lists Summer Reading Lists for Kids I joke about 8th grade reading lists, but the fact of the matter is that most of us lose some of our motivation to read important books once we've finished high school or college, so checking out some reading lists for the younger set can actually be a great way to fill out your summer reading list. Plus, juvenile literature is actually really great sometimes. And if you've got a teenager of your own who you're trying to keep motivated to read this summer? We can help you with that, too. See More About:  recommended reading lists  summer reading  libraries Contemporary Classics Reading List Okay, so you want to include a classic or two on your reading list, but you're not quite ready to commit to Dostoevsky? Perhaps a contemporary classic is more your speed. It's certainly summerier. (I just learned, right this very second, that summerier is a word. Fair warning: you will be seeing much more of it around here in the coming months.) See More About:  book lists  recommended reading  classic literature Book Club Reading Lists I have this really great idea that involves starting a book club. The Really Cool Poolside Book Club, more specifically, where the gals and I sit around by (or in) a pool, reading and chatting about literature. I'm just coming up a little bit short on one thing: a friend with a pool. Oh, well. I can still read the books. See More About:  book clubs  reading lists  Books & Literature Ads Books Children Story Books Top 100 Books Best Fiction Books Kids Reading Books Featured Articles RIP Gil Scott-Heron The Harried Parents' Book Club How to Get a Tax Deduction for Donating Comics Coming Soon: Twilight Vol. 2 Graphic Novel The 5 Most Romantic Sonnets   More from About.com Backyard Chickens 101 Dabble in the self-sufficient, eco-friendly life with these essential chicken-raising tips. More> 24 Amazing Container Gardens These gorgeous and creative gardens prove it doesn't take a lot of space to create something special. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Buzzworthy Memoirs Tina Fey's "Bossypants" Amy Chua's "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" Joyce Carol Oates's "A Widow's Story" Advertisement