Summer Reading List Part 5: Inspirational

Simmer down, kids. Take a seat. It's time for Professor Whitfield to reveal the final section of your summer reading list. Inspiration!
(Don't miss Part 1: Humor or Part 2: Learn Something or Part 3: Fiction or Part 4: Art or Part 5: Pop Culture.)

1. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin – A tale about a year of achievement.
2. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller – Thoughts on Christianity. Thouhts that are far more readable than you might imagine. And thoughts that I need to be thinking about myself to grow in my beliefs. (Confession: I’m only about 50 pages into this so far. It told me something I needed to hear. My heart is currently hurting. That happens to everyone. I’m not special in this regard. Thanks for the tough love, Don.)
3. You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins – Check out my review here.
4. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer – Based on the true story of a college student who walked away from his life, hitchhiked to and died in Alaska. Doesn’t quite sound inspirational, but it somehow manages to be.
5. Robert's Rules of Writing by Robert Masello - Rules about ignoring rules. Also, 3 guesses as to what I want to be when I grow up.

Summer Reading List Part 5: Pop Culture

Simmer down, kids. Take a seat. It's time for Professor Whitfield to reveal part 5 of your summer reading list. Today's list is all about pop culture!
(Don't miss Part 1: Humor or Part 2: Learn Something or Part 3: Fiction or Part 4: Art.)

1. Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman – This  witty collection of essays covers aspects of pop culture from Saved by the Bell to Timothy McVeigh. I think Chuck and I could be friends. 
2. Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story by Chuck Klosterman – I’m allowed to have two books by the same author on one list. It’s my list. This time Chuck, my dear friend, goes on a road trip exploring rock and roll deaths.
3. Advanced Style by Ari Seth Cohen – To be released May 22. Advanced Style is based on Ari’s blog devoted to “capturing the sartorial savvy of the senior set.” This video makes me want to at least peruse this book in a store.
4. PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives by Frank Warren – I love postcards and secrets. This book brings them together.
5. My Life in France by Julia Child – Julia is a pistol! Here you will learn about her love for food and her funny husband Paul. Plus, photos!

Summer Reading List Part 4: Art

Simmer down, kids. Take a seat. It's time for Professor Whitfield to reveal part 4 of your summer reading list. I'll be revealing one category at a time throughout April. Today: Art!
(Don't miss Part 1: Humor or Part 2: Learn Something or Part 3: Fiction.)

1. The Tree Show by Mark Ryden - Ryden is one of my favorite artists. This book collects pieces from his 2007 solo exhibit. 
2. Newspaper Blackout by Austin Kleon - Kleon creates poetry from news. Literally. He uses a sharpie to black out words in newspaper articles, leaving a poem. This book arrived on my doorstep during an actual blackout - I read it by candlelight. 
3. The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle - Because sometimes you need to go back to the beginning.
4. Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith - A collection of prompts to get your creative juices flowing. 
5. What It Is by Lynda Barry - This book may seem a little chaotic upon first glance, but it is full of wonderful collages and challenges to inspire writing. 

Your turn: What are your favorite artsy books?

Summer Reading List Part 3: Fiction

Simmer down, kids. Take a seat. It's time for Professor Whitfield to reveal part 3 of your summer reading list. I'll be revealing one category at a time throughout April. Today: Fiction!
(Don't miss Part 1: Humor or Part 2: Learn Something.)

1. The Complete Stories by Franz Kafka – So surreal a new adjective was created – Kafkaesque. I love Kafka’s writing style. And I will not be able to contain the Gregor Samsa references for much longer. Might as well be familiar.
2. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende – One of my all-time favorite books (and movie based on a book) ever. Pure magic. A boy named Bastian must save Fantastica from the nothing. Through a book! When I believed in fairy tales, I was going to marry Atreyu and we were going to name our son Bastian Balthazar Bux Whitfield (Atreyu would take my last name, obviously).
3. The Death Note series by Tsugumi Ohba – any human whose name is written in the notebook dies. Do I need to say more? (Manga, btw.)
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett – I did not expect to enjoy The Help. I read it because my book club was reading it. But I love it. It’s funny and touching.
5. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith – Honest Abe’s mom is killed by a vampire and then… Bonus: I accidentally learned a few true historical facts along the way.

Your turn. What's some of your favorite fiction?