<p>For a rising senior to read this summer, which book would it be, and why? Could it be a book that he or she could write an application essay about?</p>
<p>The book that comes immediately to mind is A Hope in the Unseen, by Ron Suskind. It's the story of a inner-city boy who overcomes tremendous obstacles on his way to the Ivy League, and who continues to struggle at Brown. The book is very well-written, and a real window into a world that most of us don't know. It's inspiring and thought-provoking.</p>
<p>NYMom - That book looks great. I just ordered it on Amazon. Thanks.</p>
<p>Reading Lolita in Tehran. Fascinating true account of a book club in Iran. Extremely well written.</p>
<p>I think you'll enjoy it, weenie. After I finished it, I was so concerned about the young man that I looked him up on the web to see how things had turned out.</p>
<p>Stay away from books that talk about college, especially ivies... I mean don't these kids deserve a break from that?</p>
<p>I suggest: 100 Years of Solitude by G. Garcia Marquez</p>
<p>I'm not a parent, but one of my absolute favorite books is The Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas. It's a collection of short, interesting, and humbling essays written by Thomas about various topics, ranging from aliens to music. It was like having a conversation. I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>I've tried to read 100 years of Solitude three or four times. Blech!</p>
<p>But if you are looking for something for an admissions essay - I'd be more honest. What does the kid REALLY enjoy reading. That's what they should write about. </p>
<p>(Not that *Hope in Things Unseen *shouldn't be read, I wish every kid who whined about AA here on CC would be forced to read it.)</p>
<p>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime demonstrates that voice (what we see and how we describe what we see) is ultimately more distinctive than what we choose to talk about.</p>
<p>Kite Runner-the best contemporary novel I've ever read (and I read a lot!)</p>
<p>I'm a teen, and I would just say to encourage them to read, generally. Don't force them to read a book for their admissions essay-what message does that send your kid? Reading is only good for getting what you want? Reading should be a pleasure.</p>
<p>The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck</p>
<p>"Essays and Aphorisms" by Arthur Schopenhauer.</p>
<p>What kind of books are you (or your son or daughter) looking for? What do you like to read? What are you interested in?</p>
<p>Read War and Peace</p>
<p>What a better way to spend your summer than tackling one of those? :b</p>
<p>Yeah, War and Peace is a winner. But there are so many more.</p>
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Yeah, War and Peace is a winner. But there are so many more.
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<p>Indeed. I can't imagine my Ss reading only one book over the summer. Which is why I'm not recommending any single one.</p>
<p>As for a source of ideas for writing essays, adcoms want to know about the applicant, not get a book report.</p>
<p>Another vote for One Hundred Years of Solitude. Then again, reading it in Spanish (I'm fluent; I read it in English first and still needed an English translation close by throughout the Spanish) was an entirely different (and infinitely better) experience. Otherwise, any short stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez...although for some reason they lose a little bit of their magic in English.</p>
<p>Guess that was a bad suggestion.
Read Lolita, by Nabokov, because, in my mind, it made me grow up a bit, in a literary and..."seeing the world" sense.</p>
<p>I second Lolita.</p>
<p>I will also add-- DARKNESS AT NOON by Koestler, (historical fiction dealing with the Stalinist Purges---- but its an EXCELLENT easy read, very psychological and makes you think )</p>
<p>I am just getting into reading, and i am a junior in college, next on my list is "of human bondage"</p>
<p>Anyways check out this list</p>
<p>pick things that look interesting</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Yeah, War and Peace is a winner. <<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>Tried reading that in high school. Loved the Peace part, but couldn't get through the War part. Never finished the book...</p>
<p>Harry Potter!</p>