What I Would Read if I Had Time to Read

Here's a bit of a wistful post in anticipation of the end of exams. I love reading, but I feel like the only thing I manage to read while at school are assigned readings from articles and textbooks. As a result, I'm really looking forward to when I have time to read for fun again, and there are quite a few things on my reading list:

1. Paper Towns  by John Green - Mark let me borrow this over Christmas and I still haven't gotten past the first chapter. I know, I'm horrible. In my defence, I've been super busy! I'm a little iffy about this one because I don't remember liking An Abundance of Katherines, but I'm willing to give the book a try because I loved The Fault in our Stars so much (that's on my list of favourites for sure). Anyway, I'm looking forward to a fun and quick read.

2. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin - I read the first of the Game of Thrones books over the summer and enjoyed it (if "enjoyed" is the right word). Anyway, I'm frightened because I grow attached to characters - pathetically so - but fortunately, Julia has spoiled most of the deaths for me. Still, these books are pretty addicting if you like fantasy of any sort, so I'm excited to keep reading.

3. My four poetry books - It takes me a while to get through poetry books because I really like to take my time to understand each poem. Still, I have four books on my waiting list, including a book of Eavan Boland's work, Emily Dickinson's work, poems from the world wars (I'm saving that for when I feel able to handle something so depressing), and a general anthology that I got at Chapters for something ridiculously cheap; I really can't resist poetry books when they're on sale. Anyway, I need to get through these guys for sure.

4. Equus by Peter Schaffer - I've read this one before, but it's my favourite play so I want to read it again (and again, and again, and again...).

5. My book on Joan of Arc - Eep, I'm a bit out of it on the details of this book, but it looks so interesting. I am in love with Joan of Arc, and I can't wait to read all about her!

6. The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld - this one keeps tempting me whenever I walk into chapters. It looks so interesting. I imagine it might be a bit sad too, but aren't all of the best books at least a little bit sad?

7. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - I just want to read the famous "rock books" as my sister called them. The story behind that is that my grandmother told my sister when she was young about a book in which a woman traveled back in time through a magical rock. Ever since, Julia was obsessed, and our grandmother promised to give her the book as soon as she was eighteen. However, once she turned eighteen, our grandmother had conveniently forgotten about it and deemed it too inappropriate to give to Julia, so Julia found it on her own. Anyway, since we didn't know the title, they've always been the "rock books" to us.

8. The 100-Year-Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson - look at the title. Who wouldn't want to read this? Just from the description it sounds hilarious, profound, and deeply moving. Here's hoping I'm not disappointed.

I feel like I'm forgetting one, but here's it for now. Hopefully I can inspire some of you with your own summer reading! (Yes, that means you, Russian robot)

-Laura