One of the best things about summer is a good summer read. Whether it’s laying out by the pool on your vacation devouring page after page or sitting on your balcony wrapped up in a novel during the loud cracks of a summer storm, the season and reading go together like s’mores and a campfire.
The weather in Toronto lately has reminded us that fall is fast approaching. We’ve decided to compile a list of our office’s favourite books.
Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
A fictional tale involving a tragedy, a boy and a piece of art. Goldfinch is a new-age odyssey, following Theo Decker from home to home, city to city, all pieced together by a secret that both haunts and defines him. We won’t give away any details because every single one counts in this work of fiction but we can say this book by Donna Tartt touches on all the themes we love from family, love, and grief to obsession, identity and fate.
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Alice is a Harvard psychology professor, a woman in her fifties, a mother, a wife and a person living with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. This book follows Alice through the denial, diagnosis, challenges and acceptance that come with the disease. Bonus: this book was so good the folks in Hollywood have turned it into a movie starring Julianne Moore, Kate Bosworth, Kristen Stewart and Alec Baldwin that is set to be released in 2015.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The first in a series of 13 related books, Outlander begins in the post-WWII era as Claire and Frank Randall are reunited in the Scottish countryside. Through a strange encounter with some of Scotland’s folklore, Claire finds herself transported back in time to the 18th century Scottish highlands. More specifically in the middle of a struggle between the English and the Highland Scots. Romance,war and drama ensue.
With the popularity of shows like Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey, we’re not surprised that Starz picked Outlander up as a TV show. You can check out the first episode on Starz website.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Following the theme of books turned upcoming movies/TV shows, The Giver is a classic we were all taught in school. Personally, in the sea of Shakespeare, we remember The Giver as a favourite so it might be time to dust off your old copy and give it another read. The novel follows a boy named Jonas who lives in a self-proclaimed utopian society that begins to appear more and more dystopian with the suggestions and observations of The Giver.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Written in 1943, this novel by Betty Smith still has relevance today. Centered around the protagonist Mary Frances “Francie” Nolan, the story focuses on an impoverished but aspirational third-generation-American family who is the epitome of the ethnically-blended family living in Brooklyn at the time.
Need some reading inspiration? We like to compile our “to-read” list from a variety of sources but these celebrity instagram accounts and websites are big on books and always have something new to suggest:
Tweet us what your eyes are feasting on these days, we’re always looking for suggestions!
