Here’s what I’d like to read this summer. I say “like” because I don’t want to be legalistic about it. And, let’s face it, the list will change by the time school’s over in June.
- The New Testament and the People of God by N.T. Wright
- The Moral Vision of the New Testament by Richard B. Hays
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places by Eugene Peterson
- The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen
- The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
- Three by Flannery O’Connor by Flannery O’Connor (a collection of 3 of her books)
- Something by Salman Rushdie — either The Moor’s Last Sigh or Midnight’s Children
I can already see this list is unreasonable. The only realistic thing on the list is the Greene and the Nouwen. But I really do need and want to read the Wright and the Hays. And the Peterson. And the others.
Perhaps the more important question is, which book should I take with me to England in August? I’m thinking either Greene or O’Connor. But then it might be nice to read a British author on his or her own soil, so perhaps something by P.G. Wodehouse or perhaps Pride and Prejudice, which I haven’t read but am told is clever (the various film adaptations certainly are and the books are always better, aren’t they?). Or there’s Rushdie. He’s British isn’t he?
Dunno. Will mull.
I really enjoyed Midnight’s Children, so that would be my recommendation. I haven’t read The Moor’s Last Sigh… I have faith that they will both be brilliant and enjoyable.
Yeah…I really should read the Rushdie. I’ve been meaning to for some years now.
Knowing your schedule, I wouldn’t take too much – you don’t have a lot of slack time in there.
Graham Greene was English, so take it with you.
I’d say don’t take anything with you, and when you are there hit the Oxfam shops in the villages for good used books.
And I understand you are to be in Charing Cross Road right? That’s like the mother load of used books shops. Then you’ll have treasures to bring home and whenever you read them you will remember your trip.
Good idea, Randall! But what about for the long flight across the Atlantic?
Marc, for the flight, take a book you are willing to leave behind or gift to someone else in your travels and replace it with one you pickup on the way.
Not that I would likely take my own advice but it might work for you. 🙂
Sounds kind of heavy for a SUMMER reading list.
You are exactly right, Phil. However, my reasoning is this: I’m not likely to read the heavier books during the school year, but they may well be beneficial to my studies.
Maybe you need to be thinking in terms of beneficial to your health and wellbeing, as well as your studies?
Graham Greene is not really heavy reading. It’s a terrific book – on my top 10 all time favourite novels. Move it up to #1 on your list.
How about some Tolkien or C.S. Lewis while in England? I always try to read something “fun” while on vacation (Bill Bryson comes to mind) so something not too heavy so that it doesn’t feel like work whilst on my getaway. It’s a good list though.
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