I have summer reading to do for school? Which 2 books should I read?

Question

I'm entering 10th grade honors English next year and I have to read 2 books over the summer because we're going to do essays and projects with them.

There are 4 to choose from:

Brave New World - by Aldous Huxley
Kitchen God's Wife - by Amy Tan
Quicksand - by Nella Larsen
Love in the Time of Cholera - by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I don't know anything about any of these books and I'd like to hear some of your opinions on these because I don't want to end up reading a boring book that I puts me to sleep every time I start.

I'd really appreciate any help anyone can give me.

Answer 1

I just love Amy Tan and, in my opinion, the Kitchen God's Wife was one of her best books. I would definitely choose this one.

I have also read Brave New World and would recommend choosing that one as well - a really interesting take on society, etc.

While I haven't read Love in the Time of Cholera, I have read books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and, personally, I find them very intensieve and difficult to read. Unless you are looking for some deep reading this summer, I'd pass on this one.

Answer 2

Kitchen God's Wife
Love in the Time of Cholera

If you're into learning about different cultures, I'd say these two. Amy Tan is generally easier to read, and more straightforward than Marquez, but Marquez is more deeply satisfying. Just a heads up.

Brave New World is kind of blah. Though, it's safe to say most people in your class will choose that one. But believe me, you'll read plenty of those dystopian type books by the time you're done with high school. I know I was sick of them.

Answer 3

The only one that I've read is Brave New World - it's a 'dystopia' book (a story about an imperfect future) that looks at how technological advances don't always make a society 'better' or 'happy.' It would give a lot of options for essays, but it's kind of pessimistic so it would depend on your tastes.

I've heard that Gabriel Garcia Marquez writes books with incredibly beautiful language, but I have no idea what the stories are like or what they would offer to an essay.

For more information, you might want to check out book descriptions and user reviews at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Brave-New-World-Aldous-Huxley/dp/0060929871/

http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Gods-Wife-Amy-Tan/dp/0143038109/

http://www.amazon.com/Quicksand-Five-Paperback-Nella-Larsen/dp/1852427450/

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Cholera-Gabriel-Garcia-Marquez/dp/0141023473/

Hope that helps - good luck!

Answer 4

are you male or female;
male: Brave New World and Quicksand
Female . Love in the time of Cholera and Quicksand

Personally I find Amy Tan's work too self important and narrowly focused and boring. But, if you are of Chinese heritage you might understand it more than I do.

Anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez will be exhilerating and enlightening, and I guarantee if you focus on the writing you will never forget it ... in 50 years you will still remember reading it and what it was about.

Good luck with your essays and good luck in10th grade. My Granddaughter was an Honors Student who just graduated summa *** laude from San Jose University with honors and will begin her Masters in September. You are on the right path.

Answer 5

You should read 'Love in the Time of Cholera' Great book, GREAT writer.

And... well, Amy Tan is good too, so i'd recommend Kitchen God's Wife

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I read some of Brave New World. I happened to be super busy at the time, so I wasn't able to finish it, but it's really interesting...I read it my sophomore year too, so it's a pretty good idea I'd say.

Answer 8

Brave New World is a terrific read and it's become such a part of our culture, you really should read it at some point. It's the only one I'd say is a "must" from your list.

Answer 9

Brave new world
love in the time of cholera

Answer 10

Here are some reviews of these books that may help you decide

Brave New World http://www.librarything.com/work/1977

The Kitchen God's Wife http://www.librarything.com/work/853566

Love in the Time of Cholera
http://www.librarything.com/work/10105

Quiksand
http://www.amazon.com/Quicksand-Penguin-Twentieth-Century-Classics-Larsen/dp/0141181273/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-7830280-3359259?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181511690&sr=8-2