Summer Reading List (2024)
Once again, summer has rolled around, and I find myself looking for ways to escape the heat. Thankfully, reading provides the perfect indoor activity. In case you are also looking for some great summer reads, here is my list of books I have read/am planning to read this summer. Enjoy!
A Grief Observed - C.S. Lewis
Written in the aftermath of his wife’s death, Lewis explores the experience of grief, as well as its purpose and its compatibility with a good God. I read this on the heels of my sweet foster sister leaving, and I have never read anything that so rawly and accurately describes what it is to grieve and deeply miss someone you love. This is definitely not a light read, but there is much to be gained through observing Lewis’s approach to life, death, and loss. While it is heavy and deeply sad, Lewis demonstrates how to mourn with hope, according to Paul’s admonition in 1 Thessalonians 4:13: “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” This book perfectly captures the tension of hopeful grieving, and I cannot recommend it enough, both to those who have experienced loss, and those who will someday.
1984 - George Orwell
This book is just as harrowing and thought-provoking as people say. Constantly referenced in today’s political sphere, this is definitely worth a read. Exploring themes such as corruption, absolute power, loss of individuality, and widespread deception, this book warns against the concentration of power and blindly following any regime. It is also extremely applicable to today’s society. That said, it is heavy, depressing, and a little demoralizing. A Christian should read it with the dual purpose of understanding man’s sin nature and the importance of fighting evil in this world, while still remembering that in the end, we have the hope of Christ’s perfect kingship over the earth someday, and must not despair.
Coming Home - Rosamunde Pilcher
A historical fiction set in World War II-era Cornwall, Coming Home follows a young girl as she grows up in war-torn England. Filled with complex, relatable characters, this book provides a bridge between yesterday’s youth and today’s, focusing both on the universal experience of getting older, as well as the unique circumstances that shape each generation. As far as I know, Pilcher is not a believer, and so doesn’t write from a believer’s perspective, but there is still much to be learned about the importance of community and purpose, as well as looking out for the least of these. This is definitely a good vacation read!
The Four Winds - Kristen Hannah
Kristen Hannah is one of my favorite novelists. Her books are filled with rich characters, gripping storylines, and a fascinating description of historical events. The Four Winds tells the story of one woman’s life during the tragedy of the Dust Bowl. Shedding light on the struggles faced by yesterday’s Americans, Hannah provides a window into the warring classes, extreme poverty, and conflicting political ideals that characterized this time period. Likewise, she emphasizes the importance of the family unit, the finality of choices, and a mother’s love for her children. This would make a great beach read.
The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Brothers Karamazov follows the lives of one disfunctional Russian family living in a time of turmoil and changing ideals. While focusing on some pretty heavy topics, Dostoevsky manages to be both lighthearted and hilarious as he delves into the characters of Fyodor Pavlovich, a ridiculous and corrupt self-proclaimed “buffoon,” and his three sons: Dmitri, angry and reactionary, Ivan, the perfect Enlightenment scholar, and Alexei, pure, loving, and deeply religious. Throughout the novel, Dostoevsky focuses on the difference between theoretical and “active” love, and the superiority of the latter, as well as describing the conflict between traditional faith and Englightenment rationalism. Deeply philosophical while remaining a gripping drama, this has been one of my favorite books this summer.
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers - Dane Ortland
This is one of my favorite books. I’ve read it once before, but this is one of those unique reads that you can pick up annually and still learn something. Studying the heart of Christ, Ortland attempts to describe Christ as He is at His very core - and what He is defies all expectations. This is the perfect book for everyone - beliver or still searching - because to truly know Christ and His heart is to need nothing else. This book has been a great comfort to me amidst struggles, sins, and doubts, and I pray that it is to you as well.
That’s the end of my list for now! A quick disclaimer - because not all of these books were written by Christian authors, not all of them abide by Christian standards. There were a few scenes that I skimmed or skipped past :) However, none of them are too descriptive or graphic, and none of them include anything for shock value or to glorify it, but simply to tell a story or make a point. This is an important distinction for me, but I will let you draw the line where you will. That said, happy reading!