Homeschool Moms Need to Read, Too! My Classic Summer Reading List

One thing I’ve noticed as a homeschool mom is that I am extremely diligent about my kids reading quality literature but pretty lax about what I read myself.

Don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t spend all my time- or any time, for that matter- reading romance novels (yuck) or celebrity magazines, but I do read quite a bit of what some may consider to be “fluff.”

To my defense, I do devour endless literature selections on education and homeschooling, buuut…okay, I’ll admit it. The rest of my reading selections usually come from the young adult section of the library. Yes, I do like to read many of the same books as my teenage daughters. 😛 

To be honest, they’re simply easy, yet interesting, reads for when I’m running around like a madwoman in the midst of the homeschool year. So, this year I’ve resolved that I am going to read as many classics as I can during our six week break. After all, it’s pretty hypocritical for me to expect my kids to read them when I don’t read them myself, right?

Today I’m going to share my summer reading list with you in the hopes that it will motivate me to finish it and, hopefully, to inspire some of you, as well. Just be forewarned. I am not a Jane Austen kinda gal. I know there are people who will gasp when they read this. Sorry, but it’s the truth.

My Classic Summer Reading List

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Since our last day of homeschool was last Friday, I set out to reading right away, so I am already done with this book. It only took me about two days to finish it because it’s a pretty quick read, but it’s riveting. (And pretty scary to see the similarities between this dystopian future and our own society today…)

Not to give away too much, but, in this novel, books are banned and firemen don’t put out fires. They set them. Enough said.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Right now I’m about a quarter of the way through this book. Not only is it interesting, but it’s quite disturbing, as well. In this “utopian” future (are you getting an idea of my preferred reading genre?), babies are no longer born but are manufactured and “conditioned.”

I can’t wait to finish it.

1984 by George Orwell

Another dystopian future novel, I actually started reading this several months ago but had to return it to the library before I could finish it. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time for serious reading during the homeschool year. I’ll probably start all over again since I don’t remember much, but I will say one thing.

It felt eerily familiar.

 

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Now this one I actually have read already. It was required reading for me in 9th grade, and I remember it as possibly the only book I ever read for school that I actually enjoyed.

I don’t remember much of it, but I do know it was written as an allegory about communism. I’m excited to read it from an adult point-of-view. I’ve a feeling this one may also seem unsettlingly familiar.

 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

This is another book that I did read back in high school, but at that time I had no interest in it and don’t remember any of it at all. Since I hear so many references to it nowadays, though, I’m going to try it again. We shall see!

 

As homeschool moms, we can forget that we also need to feed ourselves with “nutritious” literature, if you will. What better example can we give our kids than to show them that we, too, understand the importance of being well read and of taking time to enjoy ourselves?

What books are you reading this summer? I’d love to read them in the comments!