Emily Hepner
Features Writer

In the upcoming weeks, a familiar sound will echo throughout campus. What might this sound be? Well, it is the seasonal noise of students breathing a sigh of relief that a three month long summer break is just around the corner. So with all of that time on your hands, what should you do?

You should read! It seems like the very last thing on your mind after cramming for finals, but reading recreationally is extremely important for the mind. According to the Huffington Post, reading can keep a person calm, keep the brain sharp, and allow for better sleep.

To college students, these benefits from reading have tremendous value. With millions of books out there, where should one even begin? So, while laying on the beach or just chilling in the backyard, check out this list of five solid books to read.

if you have ever read J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, you may like Nine Stories, a collection of short stories.
if you have ever read J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, you may like Nine Stories, a collection of short stories.

1. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
It seems that Catcher in the Rye was a mandatory read for everyone in their high school English class, so this collection of nine short stories, hence the title, is a perfect follow-up if you enjoyed Salinger’s style of writing. With each story just as engaging as the rest, it’s amazing to read how developed a story can become in just a few short pages.

2. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
We’ve all seen the movie or at least heard the quote, “The first rule of fight club is you do not talk about fight club,” so this summer is the perfect time to actually read the book. The most interesting aspect of reading a book by Palahniuk is how diversely he develops each character in the process of telling the story and Fight Club is a prime example of how well he does this.

3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Lovely Bones is a dark and uplifting story that provides a new perspective on what happens when people die. This book keeps the mystery alive all the way to the very end.

4. The Shining by Stephen King
Come take a stay with Jack Torrance and his wife, Wendy, and son, Danny, as they become the new caretakers of the Overlook Hotel and its guests who have yet to leave one brutal winter in the Colorado Rockies. 

Steven Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower will make you reflect upon the ups and downs of your high school experience.
Steven Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower will make you reflect upon the ups and downs of your high school experience.

5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
If you’ve ever wondered where the quote, “in that moment, I swear we were infinite” came from, it’s time to read Perks. One of the most interesting characteristics of this story is that it takes place in the suburbs outside of Pittsburgh and mentions other Pennsylvania landmarks, like Penn State. In addition to that, reading this can make one reminisce on what it was like to be a kid going through high school.