This will be the first half of a two part post. This half will contain my summer reads and the second will consist of other forms of entertainment media I indulge.

While I don’t have loads of leisure time, whenever I’m available I take to reading. If I had it my way, and by “my way” I mean “more money,” I would have read more by way of audio books (way easier to multi-task with). Note to self: procure a library card with haste! As a result though, I think what I have on this small list is a decent set of books that range in a variety of interest and taste. I might go as far to say that there’s something for everyone in my recommendations.

Without further ado:

Summer Reading Recommendations, by Megan Frau

(In no particular order)

1.) When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris

This is the latest book by David Sedaris. He’s mostly known for his nonfiction memoir writing and this book is no exception. My favorite by him is Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, but I’ve only just started this book (two pages in). His audio books are highly praised, if you’re able to get those instead of the books, you would be glad doing so. I almost bought a cassette version that was in the bargain bin, but realized I lacked a cassette player and spent five minutes convincing myself not to buy it regardless. A small part of me still regrets that.

Getting back to the books, my favorite subject matter he writes about is his family, who are altogether very strange, but always familiar. There’s a really hilarious segment about his sister, actress Amy Sedaris, wearing a fat suit in Me Talk Pretty One Day. All and all, read this book and then continue with the rest of his series.

Edit: I just bought and listened to my first audiobook by him (Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim)! What a treat!

2.) Ready Made: How to Make {Almost} Everything, A Do-It-Yourself Primer

This book kick-started my green craze of late. Ready Made is a magazine that promotes reusing everyday disposables and turning it into functional and unique products. This is a book that compiles a great list of projects like dog beds, wine bottle hangers, and bird feeders. It sections these projects by type of material (such as paper, plastic, metal, and wood) then gives a detailed introduction to each of the resources it takes to produce said product and how much each year they go to waste. Really insightful, made me swear off ever buying bottled water and refrain from plastic to-go flatware.

Still not convinced to check it out? Then be ensnared by its slick design and and biting wit. This book is quite polished and a playground for the eyes and mind. It also doesn’t take itself too seriously. The book includes funny, non sequitur pieces like, “Ready-Made Conversations,” or a section on wrinkle prevention (don’t want smile lines? frown more!). If you’re in the market for an entertaining “coffee table” book, this one is worth it.

3.) Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style by Christie Matheson

I’m allowed to have one super-girlie book here, right? Seriously though, this book is great. It’s informative and instructive on living more “green”, which is difficult to find the latter at times with this genre. Another point in my defense is that it’s really aimed for me: a young female that’s not an all out treehugger. To elaborate: I want to do what I can to help, but I’m not going to quit using toilet paper. This book helps me take those baby steps. Not enough? Well, the writing is quite snappy. The author is a magazine writer and manages to take on a potentially boring subject and keeps it injected with flavorful language. Also the book is completely recycled and recyclable and printed with vegetable ink. Who knew?

4.) Y: The Last Man written by Brian K. Vaughn and drawn by Pia Guerra

Love the show LOST? I know I do. One of the writers is Brian K. Vaughn and he penned this amazing series. I recently finished the last installment and was literally in tears by its ending. Books almost never do that with me, even the most sappy ones. I might chalk those reasons to the amazing way the narrative and art created this cinematic/television feel, instantly immersing you into the story and characters.

To give you a brief synopsis: Yorick Brown, the main hero, finds himself to be the last surviving male after a mysterious “gendercide.” A guy’s biggest dream? Not so much for him. The story then begins as he must travel alongside a secret agent and scientist across the world in order to find his girlfriend and seek out the possible cause of the incident. Oh, I guess I should also mention that these are not your teenage brother’s comics/graphic novels, so be advise that these are aimed for adults to read, not kids.

5.) Ex Machina written by Brian K. Vaughn and drawn by Tony Harris

I imagine that #4 and 5 are what would qualify my “sheer geekery” title. I would argue that a good story should be universally accepted no matter what form it takes. This one is no exception. A friend let me barrow his collection and I imagine that I’ll continue to read it while away at school. This is another of Vaughn’s but completely different from his previously mentioned series. It’s technically a “superhero” comic, but it’s gotten a postmodern makeover to become a political drama. Think The West Wing meets Superman.

The hero of Ex Machina is “The Great Machine,” a man with the ability to communicate and control machines. He decides to forgo his superpowers and instead runs for mayor, which is where the narrative picks up. The story cleverly juxtaposes his superhero past in flashbacks (Hm, kind of like LOST) with his mayor present, clearly foretelling that he’ll one day have to return to the suit and jetpack.

6.) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World? A classic? Seems like an obvious choice, but I finally read it after six or seven years of putting it off. I started reading it in my “modern” novel class, but never finished it due to spending most of the semester on both The Great Gatsby and When Things Fall Apart. I’m convinced that high school English classes made me hate classics. No way should you spend an hour, three times a week dissecting ten pages to a room of apathetic teenagers. PURE TORTURE.

Thankfully, my stigma didn’t linger forever. The book was surprisingly straightforward and a page turner, seems silly that we had to crawl through with reading this book. The novel was written in the 1930s, but it still is relevant, if not more so, to the current situations of today. My only complaint was that it seemed like the women were all stupid and incredibly vapid, more than necessary for the plot. However, it’s only a minor critique considering it was written so long ago.

That’s it for part 1. Part 2 will commence next week at the earliest.

(Edit: It took forever to get around the proofreading, but I finally did. I’m amazed at how unpolished some of my stuff can be and will be sure to make future posts edited better in the future.)