The Books, Movies, and Music of Summer

Alex’s Summertime Picks

Movie – National Lampoon’s Vacation

I’m a sucker for the Griswolds and their exploits, and the original Vacation tops my list of summertime films. Everything, from its soundtrack (nothing says summer vacation like “Holiday Road”) to its plot (what father wouldn’t do anything to give his children the perfect family vacation?), fits perfectly in my summer narrative. Plus, the Griswolds remind me a bit of my family. What that says about us, I don’t know.

Music – Brand New’s Your Favorite Weapon

Nothing screams summer like music from my school days, when summer actually meant something other than long days and hot suns. You’ll usually find Brand New’s Your Favorite Weapon, Saves the Day’s Through Being Cool, or some other form of fast-paced pop-punk on my playlist during the summer months.

Book – A Song of Ice and Fire

Back in high school, summer always meant summer reading. No book from my past summers jumps out at me as the quintessential summer novel, but I have started a reading project that should keep me occupied for most of this summer. Having become a fan of the series through the HBO show, I recently read the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire saga (that’s Game of Thrones for those unfamiliar). If you’re a fan of the show or fantasy stories in general, or if you appreciate character development and world building in your reading, it’s definitely a must-read. The writing itself can be a bit off at times, but the storytelling is top-notch.

I tore through the first book’s 800 pages in a few days, and book two’s 1000 leaves are at my fingers now. By the time summer is over, I should be down with book five and eagerly awaiting more.