Summer Reading

I was just wondering if anyone has summer reading this summer. I love reading and it is one of my favorite things to do but I think summer reading is pointless because no matter what school systems and teachers do those who read will read and those who don't won't. We are told that this is put in place to keep us from forgetting the fundamentals of whatever class summer reading is assigned and for the school to make sure that we are placed correctly. At my school we are given a list of what books to read. However, it wasn't always this way; the old requirements for summer reading was that we could read whatever three books we wanted as long it was of the appropriate reading level for our grade and level of english class and when we would return to school we were assigned an essay and project. I feel that the school system should never have changed that. Anyway, my point is we should not be forced to read certain books over the summer because this makes summer less enjoyable and it makes it harder for those who don't want to read and also in my opinion I would be okay with summer reading if i could read what I want to. I think the only time we should be assigned books is when school is in session. What do you think?

Tags: books, reading, summer

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chaelin Weasley on July 22, 2012 at 1:03pm

I don't know, I'm normally given summer reading (this year we have The Kite Runner) which is really only given so we don't lose the skills we learned last year and whatnot. Personally, I don't mind it but that may just be because my school normally gives us really good books. But I understand your point completely.

Permalink Reply by Desperado (Adam) on July 22, 2012 at 2:16pm

i have to read A Separate Peace, and either The Art of Racing in the Rain or The Help. I chose The Art of Racing in the Rain. I hate summer reading, but this book is surprisingly gripping for a Catholic School mandate.

Permalink Reply by Calbert Sheridan on July 30, 2012 at 3:26am

I also had to read that for school, I really liked it

Permalink Reply by Chaelin Weasley on July 22, 2012 at 4:23pm

I've read Life of Pi and I thought it was rather good. :) The first part is rather slow but once you get into it it's really fascinating.

Permalink Reply by Oliver Toasterfish on July 22, 2012 at 9:09pm

Read that fucking book. I had to for my summer reading and I loved every second of it. I don't understand how anyone could like it. It's just so beautiful.

Permalink Reply by Oliver Toasterfish on July 29, 2012 at 10:43pm

It's not at all. Every second of that book, even when he was describing the actions of animals and his childhood were immensely entertaining. I think you should read the book and form your own opinions about it.

Permalink Reply by Priyanka Gulati on July 23, 2012 at 10:25am

Life of Pi was ok. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. I feel like its a better book to read in session because you have to analyze it.

Permalink Reply by Maddie Cooper on July 22, 2012 at 3:04pm

I was assigned 6 books and 5 of them are nonfiction. I am only interested in half of them the rest i don't really want to read because they are poorly written and i guess I'm kind of a snob about writing style. I think that 6 books is too many because my schedule this summer is quite busy. I really wouldn't have a problem if i was A: given like 1-3 books to read or B: able to read a certain amount of books but they could be of my choice.

Permalink Reply by Farzana Haque on July 22, 2012 at 5:14pm

I go to a science and math school so we get non-fic science books for summer reading. For freshman year it was microbe hunters (very ehh) and this year it's the Disappearing Spoon which I hear is a lot better. Each book gives background for each year's science course. Microbe hunters was about different biologists and the Disappearing Spoon is about chemistry which I'm taking in the fall. Last year (but weirdly not this year), sophomores taking AP world had to read The world in 6 glasses which is actually interesting. After reading each of these books we're required to do an assignment and hand it in the first day of school. Personally I didn't find Microbe Hunters that helpful for bio, but hopefully Disappearing Spoon will be different.

Permalink Reply by Oliver Toasterfish on July 22, 2012 at 9:07pm

I'm probably gonna be the only person who say this... but I fucking love summer reading. It really gets on my nerves when people say that they don't like to be forced to read. Maybe I'm just spoiled because I've been blessed with amazing english teachers, but most of the time the books your teachers want you to read AREN'T bad books. This summer I have to read Life of Pi by Yann Martel and various Greek myths. I'm enjoying the shit out of it.

Permalink Reply by Chaelin Weasley on July 23, 2012 at 10:43am

:) Summer Reading is fun because it gives me books I wouldn't normally pick up... like Pi (which is now sitting proudly on my bookshelf after having been bought for a quarter.)

Permalink Reply by Maddie Cooper on July 22, 2012 at 10:19pm

The books I've been assigned are mostly boring and sleep inducing. I read all the time and I love it so this is weird for me, I mean for the past 2 years I've enjoyed the books I've been assigned but half of the ones i have to read this year are either a total bore or i highly disagree with the political standpoints of the authors. It is utterly terrible and I'm not the only one in my class that feels this way. Especially because we are AP students and we read frequently anyway.