Summer Reads

I love summer.  Not because of the sunshine, the nice weather, or being able to spend time at the pool (because honestly, living in California, I can enjoy all of those things for about 9 months out of the year).  I love summer time because summer is when I get to spend hours upon hours curled up on the couch, A/C cranked, with a good book.  And this summer, unlike last summer, there is no boring textbook or class reading assignment calling my name.  This is strictly pleasure reading, and I love it.  Here's a few of the books on my summer reading list:

I read Water for Elephants en route to Jamaica, and on the beach.  :)  This book was awesome.  My only complaint is that now I won't be able to see the movie (I have a personal rule about not seeing movies that were adapted from books I've read; my general consensus is that the movie can NEVER compare).  But that's alright, I don't care much for that Twilight actor anyway. 

I received this book from a coworker as a thank you for some work I did last school year.  This is a good book to have sitting on your coffee table to pick up and flip open on those days when you feel like nothing is going right.  It's full of short chapters (sometimes only a sentence but up to a few pages), of things that are, well, awesome.  The author even has a blog that is updated daily with awesome things.  [Burps that taste good really are awesome!!!]

Onto a more serious note.  The Invitation was a gift from a friend, mentor, and fellow social worker.  If you're into spiritual self-help books along the lines of The Four Agreements and The Secret, you will love this book.  This is one of those books in which I've flagged several pages, to re-read and refer to in the future.  Here's one of my favorite excerpts:

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

And speaking of The Four Agreements, this book was also a gift from a colleague.  I haven't started this one yet, because the student in me feels the need to go back and review The Four Agreements before I move onto The Fifth Agreement. 

I keep hearing rave reviews about this book, but I'm waiting to borrow it from a coworker.  I can't wait to start reading it! 

And of course, I have to have a few junkie memoirs thrown in (I'm a junkie memoir junkie, ha!).  Fall to Pieces was written by the now ex-wife of Scott Weiland, of the Stone Temple Pilots.  Very interesting read about an average girl who gets caught up in the crazy rock n' roll lifestyle. 

And on the opposite end of the spectrum, Russell Brand's Booky Wook.  One word: boring.  Maybe it's just because I don't understand British humor, but when I finished reading this book, I felt like I must be stupid, because surely I should be able to see the humor in the stories he told (or at the very least understand what the hell he was talking about).  I'm grateful I bought this book used, but a little sad that I will never see that $7 again. 

Since I only have two books left on my list to read, and it's only mid-summer, I would welcome suggestions from my fellow bookworms.  What are you reading???