How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Baker, J. A. The Hill of Summer QH B1
B24 1969b Essays describing summer in
England.

Brashares, A. The Sisterhood of the Trav
eling Pants PZ7.B653 Sis 2001. A pair
of “magic” jeans changes the summer of
four friends.

Buell, F. Full Summer PS3552.U37 F8
A collection of poems, one of which is the
name of the book.

Byars, Betsy The Summer of the Swans.
PZ7.B98396 Su “A teenage girl gains new
insight into herself and her family when
her mentally retarded brother gets lost.”

Callaghan. M. That Summer in Paris.
PS3505.A4342 Z52 True account of a
summer in Paris with Hemingway, Fitger-
ald, and other literati

Cormier, Robert. Frenchtown Summer.
PZ7.C81634 Fr 1999. A young boy
describes his the summer of his first paper
route.

Enright, E. Thimble Summer PZ7.E724
Th A summer spent on a Wisconsin farm

Gift, P. Lily’s Crossing PZ7.G3626 Li
1997. Summer at Rockaway Beach 1944.

Godden, Rumer. The Greengage Sum
mer. PR6013.O2 G7 1996
Summer adventure and romance in
France.

Greene, Bette. Summer of My German
Soldier PZ7.G8283 Su 1999.
Set in World War II in Arkansas, this tale
deals with an encounter between a young
girl and a German POW.

Haas, B. The Troubled Summer PZ7
H1122 Tr

Hesse, H. Klingsor’s Last Summer
PT2617.E85 K55 1974
Three short stories by one of the great
European writers of the Twentieth Century

Holt, K. When Zachary Beaver came to
Town. PZ7.R7402 Wh 1999. Compare
this book to One Fat Summer

LaMarche, J. The Raft PZ7.L15957 Raf
2000. What could be a more American
summer than a raft, a boy, and a river?

L’Engle, M. A Ring of Endless Light.
PZ7.L5385 Ri 1980.

L’Engle,M. The Summer of the Great
Grandmother. PS3523.E55 Z52 1995.
The true story of the author’s mother just
before she developed senility.

Larsen Summer of the Gods KF224.S3
L37 1997. The Story of the Scopes Trial,
often called the Trial of the Century.

Lipsyte, Robert One Fat Summer. PZ7.
L67 On 1991 Bobby hates summer be
cause he can no longer hide his 200
pounds. This summer proves to be different.

O’Neal, Zibby. In Summer Light. PZ7.
O552 In1986 “With the help of an attra-
ctive graduate student, Kate endures a
summer with her overpowering artist father
and gains the courage to pursue her own
artistic goals.”

Paulsen, Gary. The Beet Fields. PS3557.
A834 Z4633 2000. When he was sixteen,
the author ran away from home and worked
as a migrant laborer and in a carnival

Paulsen, Gary. Harris and Me PS3556.
A834.H37 1993. Sent to spend a summer
on his Uncle’s farm, a young boy meets his
cousin, Harris, and discovers adventure in
places he never dreamed, including an 800
lb pig, an electric fence, and an angry bob
cat.

Rylant, C. Missing May. PZ7.R982 Mj
1992 Summer is the main character who
must come to grips with the death of her
mother May.

Sabatini, R. Saint Martin’s Summer.
PR6037.A2 S2 Sabatini is known for
his action-adventury novels set in
France.

Soto, G. Pacific Crossing PZ7.S7242
Pac 1992
A young Mexican American spends
the summer with a family in Japan.

Teal, Edwin Way. Journey into Sum-
mer. QH104.T39
A journey across the United States in
Summer by a naturalist.

Warren,C. My Summer in a Garden.
PS3152.M6 1885 Essays about gar
dening and nature.

White, Ruth. Memories of Summer.
PZ7.W58446 Me 2000
Summer is the sister of the narrator
who chronicles her mental illness.

Books to Read on Vacation 2002

This is the season for trips, leisurely walks on the beach, softball, and picnics. In other words: vacation. These books are either good reading for those idle days or books about people traveling either in imaginary spaces or real adventurers. While some of the books are not available at the Sprague Library (*), they are definitely “summer stock.”




Philip, N. & Moxley, S. The Arabian Nights. PZ8.A8525

If you like short exotic stories, try these favorite tales from the Near East. Includes Aladdin and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.




Adams, Douglas. The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. PR6051.D3352 H5 1989

A humorous account of traveling throughout the galaxy with Arthur Dent and Ford Perfect to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

Cahill, Thomas:

The Hinges of History. BM165 .C25 1998
How the Irish saved civilization. DA930.5 .C34 1996
The Gifts of the Jews. BM165.C25 1998
These three books give a picture of some great and small events which changed the course of history.

Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood. HV6533. K3 C3
Set in Kansas this docudrama chronicles the murder of the Clutter family and the investigation and capture of the murderers. This is the forerunner of the true crime stories now dominating television.

*Collins, Wilkie. The Moonstone.
Travel back to a “First.” Written in the 19th century, this novel is considered to be the first great mystery novel, and it set the standard for those to follow. A fabulous diamond has disappeared. No one is who they seem and nothing can be taken for granted in this classic who dunit.

Flagg, Fannie. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café. PS3556.L26 F7 1988. Yes, people really do eat fried green tomatoes. Whistle Stop Alabama isn’t the only place to serve them, but no one else has the story of four women, two in the 1980’s and two in the1930’s with a little murder tossed in for a piquant flavor.

Gallico, Paul. Coronation. PS3513.A413 C6
Travel to London in 1952 to see the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth with the Claggs.

Girzone, Joseph F.:

Joshua. PS3557.I77 J6 1986
Joshua and the children. PS3557.I77 J64 1989
Two parables about a stranger who changes all around him.

Karon, Jan:

At Home in Mitford. PS3562.A678 A92 1994
A New Song. PS3561.A678 N49 1999
*In This Mountain.
Out to Canaan. PS3561.A678 O78 1997

Perhaps North Carolina is your favorite spot. Jan Karon has created a town people really believe exists and often take trips to the area looking for it. Meet Father Tim and his neighbors and friends in these light hearted books and learn about the prayer that never fails.


Lewis, C. S. The Chronicles of Narnia series in reading order:
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. PZ7.L58474 Li 1994
Prince Caspian. PZ7.L58474 Pr1994

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. PZ7.L58474 Vo 1994

The Silver Chair. PZ7.L58474 Si 1994

The Horse and His Boy. PZ7. L58474 Ho1994
The Magician’s Nephew. PZ7. L58474 Mag 1994
The Last Battle. PZ7.L58474 Las 1994
Narnia is an intriguing kingdom to explore alone or with a child in tow.

Manguel, Alberto. The Dictionary of Imaginary Places. Ref.GR650.M36 1999.

This reference work is a travel guide to those places conceived and developed in literature.

Sandburg, Carl. Rootabaga Stories and More Rootabaga Stories. PZ8.S25 Ros 1988.

A collection of fairy tales with such villages as Liver-and-Onions and Cream Puffs.

Santmyer, Helen. "---And Ladies of the Club." PS3537.A775 A82 1985.

This is a “thick book” perfect for lazy days. It chronicles the lives of ladies in WaynesBoro Women’s Club in Waynesboro,Ohio from the post Civil War Days to the 50’s, and in particular, the Evans and Tucker families.

Sleator, William. Interstellar Pig. PZ7.S6313 ik 1995.

How Barney spent his summer vacation and saved the universe.

*Smith, Dodie. I Capture the Castle.

A funny coming of age story about a young girl in England and her rather eccentric family who has lost everything and must move to a “castle.”

Tolkien, J. R.R. The Hobbit. PZ7. T5744 Ho 1984

Always great summer reading. A good series to read again since the books have been turned in to motion pictures. Travel to Middle Earth and reacquaint yourselves with Bilbo Baggins and Gollum.

*Wells, Rebecca. Divine Secrets of the Ya—Ya Sisterhood.

Travel to Louisiana and the close friendship of four women in mid-century.

Willis, Connie:

Doomsday Book. PS3573.I4562 D66 1993.
To Say Nothing of the Dog. PS3673. J45652 T6 1998x
Travel back in time to another world set in England.

New Year's Resolutions 2003

If your desire is to read more this year, the following bibliography, a mix of books from faculty, staff, students and Internet reading groups, will give you a good start!

Fiction:

Atwood, Margaret. Cats Eye. PR9199.3.A8 C38 1989.
A book about friendships among women.

Buechner, Frederick. The Storm. PS3552.U35 S76 1998.
“Set on wealthy Plantation Island in South Florida, The Storm is the story of a family and the interconnections that tie their past to the present.”

Coetzee, Jim. Disgrace. PR9369.3.C58 D5 2000.
“A heartbreak­ing novel about a man and his daughter, Disgrace is a portrait of the new South Africa that is ultimately about grace and love.”

Cunningham, Michael. The Hours. PS3553.U484 H68 1998.
The Hours intertwines the lives of three women around the party one of them is planning for a friend.

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. PZ7.L9673 Gi 1993.
How does one live in a perfect world?

Martz, Sandra. When I am an Old Woman I shall Wear Purple. PS509.W6 W47 1991.
An anthology on the topic of aging and women told with insight and much humor.

Munro, Alice. The Love of a Good Woman. PR9199.3.M8 L68 1998.
“In these eight stories, a master of the form extends and magni­fies her great themes — the vagaries of love, the passion that leads down unexpected paths, the chaos hovering just under the surface of things, and the strange, often comical desires of the human heart.”

Oke, Janette. A Quiet Strength. PR9199.3.O38 Q54 1999.

Oke, Janette. A Searching Heart. PR9199.3.O38 S43 1998.

Orcutt, Jane. The Living Stone. PS3568.R37 L58 2000.

Price, Reynolds. A Whole new life. PS3566.R542 A477 1994.
“A Whole New Life is an extraordinary chronicle of illness and transformation, an eloquent and moving account of the author’s long struggle to withstand and recover from severe cancer of the spine.”

Power, Susan. Grass Dancer. PS3566.O83578 G73 1995.
A story about the Sioux in North Dakota.

Rivers, Francine. As sure as the Dawn. PS3569.I83165 A9 1995.

Rivers, Francine. An Echo in the Darkness. PS3568.I83165 E24 1994.

Rivers, Francine. A Voice in the Wind. PS3568.I83165 V65 1993.

Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. PS3570.A48 J6 1990.
The story of Chinese women in America who relate their secrets through their club.

Non Fiction:

Bernall, Misty. She Said Yes. HV6250.4.S78 B47 1999.
The Columbine High School martyr.

Chaleff, Ira. The Courageous Follower. HM131.C65 1998.
The ability to follow a leader is as important as the ability to lead.

Fadiman, Anne. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. RA518.5.T73 F33 1997.

Kozol, Jonathan. Amazing Grace: The lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation. HV875.57.N47 K69.

Lott, Deborah A. In Session: The Bond Between Women and Their Therapists. RC480.8.L68 1999.

McBride, James. Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother. F130.N4 M38 1996.

McCourt, Frank. Angela’s Ashes. E184.I6 M117 1999.

Ridley, Matt. Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 chapters. QH431.R475 1999
Anyone interested in health and medicine should read this!

Norris, Kathleen. A Cloister Walk. BX2435.N57 1996.

Nuland, Sherwin B. How We die: Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter. BD444.N85 1994

Biography:

Dillard, Annie. An American Childhood. PS3554.I398 Z464 1987.

Frank, Anne. Diary of a Young Girl. DS135.N6 F73313 1995.

MacDonald, Michael P. All Souls: A family Story from Southie. F73.68.S7 M33 1999.
How one family’s life chronicles the violent issues of the late 20th century.

Williams, Donna. Nobody Nowhere. RC553 A88 W55 1992.
The autobiography of an autistic person.

Websites for good reading suggestions:
http://www.readersclub.org/default.asp
http://www.readinggroupchoices.com/