In many cultures, reading is irresistibly attractive, a sign of breeding and intelligence. Next week, Madison students will take to the world's beaches and unsuccessfully try to impress whoever's running along the shore in that extra-hot speedo. It is something with which most people could use a little bit of help.
Lucky thing the Cardinal staff compiled a list of worthwhile vacation reads so that you too can sound suave and smart. Sure, you may look like a lobster, but Cardinal Lit wasn't the one who forgot the SPF 75.
(Putnam)
The book that became a major motion picture is the perfect and appropriate read for a college student heading south for spring break.??
Equal parts Hemingway and Generation X, the book gives voice to a postmodern \lost generation"" by centering around a hedonistic and narcissistic American as he stumbles onto a hidden island paradise off the coast of Thailand.
Much of the book's critical and entertainment value comes from Garland's heavy-handed commentary on the impacts of Westernization and Americanism on the world.??
While much of the book is filled with sex, drugs and video game references, a tale about an American in modern-day Eden should keep you entertained while you work on your tan and pose for the MTV cameras.
(Houghton Mifflin)
For those of you raised on reality television and Adam Sandler movies, sitting down to read a book might be a chore, especially a book that requires you to think about what you've read.??
That said, ""Everything Is Illuminated"" by Jonathan Safran Foer is a thought-provoking novel for the MTV generation (and for those of you that actually read books on a regular basis, you'd like it too).??
Half the book is a hilarious account of the American author (Foyer) as he searches for his roots in the Ukraine, narrated through the broken English of his guide, Alexander Perchov.??The other half is a recount of the author's family history in Europe, starting in the late 18th century and continuing on to World War II.??This part is told through the voice of the author, and it gets a little philosophical, as the author's ancestors struggle with the meaning of life and happiness.??
But even if that isn't your thing, the scenes described by Alexander will keep your interest.??They are too good to miss.
(Hyperion)
(De Capo Press)
Here are a few ""informative"" book titles so students can have a firm grounding in Rock Partying 101. Those interested in the best way to toss a TV set into a pool or how to screw until it hurts can do no better than David Lee Roth's autobiographical tale ""Crazy from the Heat.""
Another worthwhile read in the rock-party genre is Victor Bockris' ""Keith Richards: The Autobiography."" It's fascinating to read all about Richards' life-threatening chemical abuses. Even more riveting is the fact that he lived to tell about it.
Let's hope we can all be a little more like Diamond Dave and Mr. Richards this spring break, but not too much so. It's fun to party like a rocker, but one must never underestimate the value of a good education.
(Gale Group)
It may be surprising, but if you look past the Old Testament's lengthy genealogy lines (Enoch begot Inad, Inad begot Shem, etc.), it can actually be a good read. It's full of interesting characters that make up a good epic.
""The Red Tent"" by Anita Diamant fictionally fills in the gaps of the lives of the Old Testament's women. It is told from the perspective of Dinah, daughter of Jacob, who was notoriously raped by Shalem. This led her brothers to destroy his city and bring their sister home. Diamant gives an alternative, where Dinah wasn't raped at all, but instead fell in love with Shalem.
You don't have to be familiar with the Old Testament to enjoy this story of a woman's life, and it isn't plastered with Christianity, if that turns you off. Rather, it's an important book that celebrates women and their role in ancient times, which is overlooked all too often.
(Little, Brown)
Meet Astrid: a scarred survivor, a pensive artist, a love-starved daughter. Meet Ingrid: her selfish mother, an intelligent poet, a scornful lover.
Astrid writes about their bond as she is pushed through the foster care system, constantly striving for, but never really receiving, her mother's love and approval. Ingrid, undeniably self-righteous and self-serving, continually fails to meet her motherly expectations and ultimately betrays her daughter by murdering her ex-lover, leaving Astrid behind for the confines of prison.
Here, Ingrid's hold over her daughter becomes evident, as Astrid is torn between maintaining her love for her mother and realizing that her mother does not deserve her love. The reading flows well and Fitch effortlessly spins beautiful prose. The one drawback is the waning ending, which leaves the reader wanting more.
While this is an extremely hard-to-put-down novel, it is also very thought-provoking and, at times, depressing. If you are visiting a sunny beach for spring break, you may wish to read it when you come home.
