Unpacking a Summer of Lit, Music, and Movies: My Take on the Ultimate Summer Reading List

Summer is wrapping up, U of T students, so I thought I would share some the great reads I have enjoyed over the past few months.

Picture this: the sun's blazing, the AC's humming, and I've got a stack of books just calling my name. Yep, that's my summer vibe. I dove into a bunch of reads that took me on a rollercoaster through words, beats, and some serious cinematic magic. Let me break it down for you.

1. "Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee
   First up, "Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee. Now, you might've heard of "To Kill a Mockingbird," right? Well, think of this books as its older sister. It's all about revisiting characters we know and love but in a totally different light. Atticus Finch isn't the saintly hero here, and that twist had me doing double takes. Lee stirs up a storm of questions about race, family, and growing up that left my mind buzzing.

2. "The Golden Age of Jazz" by William P. Gottlieb
Then, I took a detour to the jazz era with "The Golden Age of Jazz" by William P. Gottlieb. I didn't know a lot about jazz, but Gottlieb gave me a backstage pass to its history. From smoky clubs to legendary musicians, it's like I time-traveled with the coldest soundtrack ever. This book's a jazzy crash course that had me swaying to the rhythms as I flipped the pages.

3. "The Rest Is Noise" by Alex Ross
Ever wondered how music shapes the world? "The Rest Is Noise" by Alex Ross is your answer. Ross takes you on a wild ride through 20th-century music, linking it to the political and cultural vibes of the time. From Stravinsky's scandalous ballet to Shostakovich's survival symphonies, Ross makes the connection between tunes and history crystal clear. I never thought taking the time to understand music through literature could be so enlightening!

4. "Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harari
Next stop, "Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harari. This admittedly dense but surprisingly smooth read took me on a whirlwind tour of human history. Harari dishes up the whole scoop on our species, from ancient foragers to the tech-obsessed creatures we are now. It's like having a time machine in book form. Plus, Harari's witty style makes even the heavy stuff a breeze to read.

5. "Masters of Cinema: Tim Burton" by Aurélien Ferenczi
Oh, but the real blockbuster? "Masters of Cinema: Tim Burton" by Aurélien Ferenczi. Burton's twisted and whimsical worlds are laid bare in this book. It's like peeking into his creative brain—part wonderland, part haunted house. Ferenczi spills the beans on Burton's inspirations, challenges, and his journey from a misfit kid to a movie maestro. If you're a bit of a film geek like me, this one's pure gold.

So, that's my summer wrap up! From thought-provoking novels to toe-tapping jazz, mind-bending music history to behind-the-scenes cinema secrets, I've been on a wild ride through pages and pixels. Now, as fall approaches and classes sneak up on us, I'm armed with fresh insights, killer stories, and a deeper appreciation for the arts.

Until next summer!
– Crystal