I started teaching second year high school literature at the TD summer program yesterday. With the job comes the responsibility to actually do just as much work as my students do like re-reading the materials that I make them to read. Second year literature (for the AHS at the very least) requires one to read George Orwell’s Animal Farm and it’s a book that i haven’t touched in ages.

Though I haven’t gone through the entire book again, I do remember enjoying this book quite a lot. It’s weird how the first image that pops into your head when you here the title “Animal Farm” is Sesame Street simply because having animals as main characters sound so kiddie. Though this was my initial impression, I loved animal farm because I like reading about dark shady government conspiracy stories (which is probably why I like Metal Gear Solid so much).

Though Animal Farm is the only actual novel I need to read this summer, I am planning to read a couple more novels when and if I get the time. College academic life usually makes it impossible for me to read for pleasure during the regular school year and summer is just that right time of year to pick up a book while sitting next to the pool on a hot summer day.

Here are some of the novels I want to, at the very least, start reading this summer.

• Atonement
  by Ian McEwan
  Actually, I did get to read this before but I never got to finish and the release of the movie really made me want to find my copy again.
• Gathering Blue
  by Lois Lowry
  The Giver was one of the best required school readings I ever had to read. I simply love the whole conspiracy and dystopian/utopian future setting but the ending has always made me want to know more. Gathering Blue is the 2nd part in the loose-knit trilogy that starts with The Giver and ends with The Messenger.