Great summer reads

You know that calculus textbook that's been sitting on your desk all semester? I bet you're sick of looking at it aren't you? Your English anthology is getting heavier by the minute. The chapters, the spreadsheets, the short stories, the biographies, the ethnographies, the dictionaries… we get so much assigned reading over a semester it's enough to make your eyes bleed. Maybe leisure reading doesn't sound too leisurely to you, but check out these easy summery reads and your eyes and mind might enjoy a vacation.

"She's Come Undone"

by Wally Lamb

"She's Come Undone" is the simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of Dolores Price, a smart-mouthed child who grows up on television and junk food to avoid the hurt of the unkind world she lives in. Dolores herself presents her story as "a story of craving: an unreliable account of lusts and troubles that began, somehow, in 1956 on the day our first television was delivered." The writing is witty, clever, detailed and easy to follow. "It was definitely a fast read because I couldn't put it down! It was also kind of amazing that the details of Dolores' life and insecurities were so intricate. It's hard to believe Wally is a man for that reason," said Lina Ronk, a 2nd-semester pre-teaching major. A University of Connecticut alumnus Wally Lamb also wrote the critically acclaimed novel "I Know This Much is True", and presented his new novel, "The Hour I First Believed," at the UConn Co-op earlier this year.

"I Hope They

Serve Beer in Hell"

by Tucker Max

This book is not for the faint of heart. Tucker Max, Internet personality-turned-author, chronicles his most bizarre, hilarious escapades with booze, babes and assorted lubricants in this best-selling novel. You thought your spring break was wild? This man has committed more deplorable, insensitive and wildly comical acts in his 34 years than most could dream of accomplishing in their whole lives. The book has made the New York Times Best Seller List every year since 2006, and a movie is in the works.

"If the movie is true to the book, then its going to be extremely graphic and therefore awesome," said Richard Amato, a 6th-semester biology major. Feminists beware: this man degrades women in heinous, unspeakable ways. But you might forgive him after laughing so hard your whole body hurts.

"Nine Stories"

by J.D. Salinger

The creator of the beloved Holden Caulfield also released a collection of short stories in April of 1953. Salinger's ability to create a whole world within a few masterfully detailed lines shines through in this compilation of strange, witty stories. Beware to readers searching for logical construct and definitive conclusions: the stories end abruptly, and leave you wondering what actually happened. But if you favor open-ended questions and the chance to create your own meaning from the text, these stories will serve to give your imagination a considerable workout.

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

This book offers the first-person perspective of Christopher John Francis Boone, an autistic teenager who has been accused of murdering a neighbor's dog. He embarks on a mission to investigate the murder and clear his name, but has to face many obstacles and fears when dealing with the world around him.

"It was the best portrayal of an autistic mind since 'Rain Man'," said Chris Marcniak, a 6th-semester English major, "The simplicity of the book makes it very accessible. It's a quick read, but its brevity does not take away from its profundity."