<p>First off, I'm pretty new to this site and I'm trying to figure out how everything works. So pardon me if I do anything out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>I recently finished a book that was assigned to read over the summer (The Power of One). I have to say I absolutely loved it! The story was very interesting and it helped depict what another culture, South Africa, was like before, during, and after world war II. </p>
<p>What I'd like to know, is what others thought of their summer reading. What book was it? How many were assigned? What did you think about it/them? etc.</p>
<p>The Emperor of China: A Self-Portrait of K’hang-Hsi. It’s, well, about the late 1600s to mid 1700s emperor. It details his views about corruption in the Chinese system, different wars, and his various acts as an emperor. 200 pages.</p>
<p>East of Eden. A classic, but not done yet though as it is some 700 pages. Very good.</p>
<p>No summer reading assignments for Exeter. We instead are encouraged to read a variety of books that challenge and interest us, which I have been doing. It’s really terrific as a student and avid reader to be able to choose my own reading material. :)</p>
<p>Hmm…for Choate, all third formers had to read Black Boy by Richard Wright. It was pretty good. Then, we chose two other books from the list of books. Black Boy isn’t something I’d normally choose, but it was an excellent book! Two other books I read were Guns, Germs, and Steel (by Jared Diamond), and New Worlds Lost Worlds (by Susan Brigden). Guns, Germs, and Steel was simply superb! I’d highly recommend this book to everyone. It is really eye-opening. However, as a history buff, especially for someone who likes the history of the Tudor era, NWLW was a big disappointment. Very dry. It was as if really boring person lecturing you about a gush of facts.</p>
<p>I’m going to Deerfield and we (freshman at least) are required to read 4 books. The only one that is required to read by all freshman is The Glass Castle, which was a really good book. The other books you can pick from a list that they provide for you.</p>
<p>@ Howyoudern: Hey I have to read that book as well. You’re from Taft, right? I have only read a few pages of it though, but it sounds interesting :D</p>
<p>I have one assigned book of summer reading: The Color of Water. My reading list for Freshman English looks a little weak. I think I start off reading Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird. Don’t get me wrong, those are great books, but Of Mice and Men is like 90 pages, and I’m pretty sure most kids read To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school…</p>
<p>@circlemidnight,
My dad loves Guns, Germs, and Steel! He talks about it a bit, actually.</p>
<p>I noticed that I forgot to include 200 pages from American Colonies. Whoops :/</p>
<p>I’m surprised that exeter didn’t assign any reading! If I were in that scenario, I WOULD NOT take that for granted. I’d probably brush up on some of the topics that would be in my future classes. </p>
<p>@ circlemidnight and deerfield15, looks like you had the most with 3 and 4, respectively</p>
<p>@chikeekawe I’m going to be a new sophomore next year at Taft!! ridiculously excited.</p>
<p>@ ifax108 The Color of Water looks good! I wouldn’t worry too much about your reading list. If you’re paying thousands of dollars for an education, I’m sure you’ll get your moneys worth! May I ask what school you are going to attend?</p>
<p>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (by Mark Haddon)</p>
<p>OH MY GOSH. I’m addicted. I’m not done yet so I really shouldn’t be commenting yet (haha) but I can’t contain my looooove for this book. The wording in this book is really straightforward because the main character is autistic (hence the stark title). He is extremely intelligent and funny, though he doesn’t understand humor himself. His whole “murder mystery adventure” is from his point of view, and in all it really makes me think deeply!</p>
<p>To anyone reading The Color of Water-it’s phenomenal. We read it on my English class this year, and it was absolutely spectacular. I’ve reread it twice since we first read it in March.</p>
<p>I think my daughter (Class of 2015) had to read 1 all-form book, 1 all-school book, and 2 books of her choosing from a diverse and lengthy list. Then additional book in a foreign language and a “recommended” one for history. So six in all…plus some extra work for her foreign language and math classes (she placed relatively high for both).</p>
<p>@howyoudern and chikeekawe: I have to read that book to what grade are you guys going into? I’m entering Taft as a new sophomore. I have only read the first chapter so far, haha.</p>
<p>gonna be a senior in public hs, have to read four books, The Odyssey, The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling (800 pages, hell yeah), Grendel, and finally for bio, Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution.</p>
I have only read a few pages of it though, but it sounds interesting :D</p>
ridiculously excited.</p>