In this page, I'm going to write up short brief summary (very brief) and a bit longer feeling that I got from reading various books. I tried to find Google for "Summer List" or "College Bound List" and maybe some explanations, but nine out of ten, they either only give you a list or an explanation of only one book or nothing.  Sometimes, they give you a list of books that are not even needed for college bound! That is so not practical! As I said in the Home Page, that's why you're here for. To find the knowledge, right? I'm going to really get my gears and read a lot and hopefully, be able to put up the information for some good literatures.
Just for side note, during my high school years, I had to do this project called Author Books where I read two or three books (number is chosen by school) and write several papers. My author was Arthur C. Clarke, who I'll give three books (maybe more if I read them).

Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Author: Clarke, Arthur C.
Summary: The book is actually a combination of three stories, two of which each take up a unit of chapter, and last story takes up the rest of four chapters. This third story is essentially the main plot of the book.  The plot starts off from the beginning of man, supposedly the man-apes, and proceed to the future. The main character, or the idea, of the story is unknown slate known as TMA-1 (Tycho Magnetic Anomaly One), which is supposed to be another intelligence. It's another yet not same classic science fiction about the future.
My Feelings: I personally think that this is a fascinating book mainly because until I really put myself to read this book, I hated it.  I didn't consider it to be a classic at all because it wasn't written by someone famous like Wells, and thought that it would be another boring science fiction book. How wrong I was! The story's relatively fast-paced until near the end when the main character undergoes an interesting (yet very descriptive and hard to follow) travel through space. I especially liked the beginning because it made me feel like I was "going back through the beginning of the time."  There is a movie version of this book, and probably much more famous, and I highly recommend you watch it.  I watched the movie version and then read the book (movie didn't make sense until I read the book), but I think regardless of order you watch them, it'll definitely enhance your understanding. This is a definitely must-read classic for upcoming future (if it's not here already....)
Level of Difficulty: 7/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418VR2TTCRL.jpg and belong there.  I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: 2010: Odyssey Two
Author: Clarke, Arthur C.
Summary: This book is the sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey in this series (there are total four books in the series). It picks up where the first book ended and starts to see why the US spacecraft Discovery never came back and what Dave Bowman meant when he said "It's full of stars!" The book has two narrators, which are Dr. Heywood Floyd (he was introduced in the first book but was not placed a major emphasis like this one) and Dave Bowman, who in this case, however, is a celestial object.  Interestingly, there is a discussion with Dave Bowman so you'll not just read tedious descriptions about him. The book will answer how the journey, no longer only US since Soviet Union gets involved as well, will end and further enhance the information about the mysterious monolith...
My Feelings: Most people speak that the first book is the masterpiece. While I agree to that to certain extent, I prefer this book more than the first one. There is much less confusing description (like Bowman's 'time travel' on the first book) on this book and the book moves fast. I'm telling you, fast from the moment you pick it up to the end. It is pretty satisfying book that somewhat doesn't want you to read the next one though... Because you can be disappointed! (From what I"ve seen in Amazon, I think you might be disappointed with the third and last one! I haven't read them yet). It is less symbolizing and just good entertaining book to read... But as I said, read the first one and read it because it makes SO much more sense.
Level of Difficulty: 6/10 (if you read the first one; otherwise, 7/10)
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/2010.jpg and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: Childhood's End
Author: Clarke, Arthur C.
Summary: Humans are engaged in nuclear war. Aliens. They. Will. Land. So you get the picture now. The aliens named Overlords one day decide to land on Earth (main HQ is at New York City) and begin to rule the world to produce utopia. Now there are some issues like limitation to explore space but overall, everything turns out to be good.. Well, somewhat. People don't know what Overlords look like and some oppositions called Freedom League rise. But will they last? What is the true purpose of Overlords? Philanthropic or sinister? Read it! Find it out!
My Feelings: Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!! Best Arthur C. Clarke book I've ever read! The Odyssey series have more hard information and themes, but this book is just so much better and fun to read. I finished this book within two days because it was just that good. Other Clarke books took me at least one week and this one, I'm serious, is a masterpiece. For those people who've watched any sci-fi movies, read this because it is interesting how the book'll progress. I won't tell you more because it is so good but like... If you want to know answer to this question, read it: Why would any alien land on Earth? WHY WILL THEY?!! Any idea? Clarke has a REALLY GOOD ONE!
Level of Difficulty: 6/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://www.geotamil.com/pathivukal/images/ARTHURCALRKE_CHILDHOODS_END.jpg and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: As I Lay Dying
Author: Faulkner, William
Summary: The actual story plot is relatively simple. It all starts off with family of Bundren and a very sick mother named Addie. The family consists of Addie, her husband Anse, and children Darl, Cash, Jewel, Dewey Dell (only girl), and Vardaman (youngest son). There is something special about Jewel (I won't tell it because it spoils an important part of the story). Anyway, Addie eventually dies, and the family goes into journey to Jefferson, where Addie is initially from, to bury her. Now, the key point of all these is that the journey is not the ordinary journey (as the image of book indicates)... Especially with the coffin of Addie Bundren!
My Feelings: This book deserves 10/10 because why? It is only 182 pages and took me an entire day! Faulkner basically shifts back and forth numerous characters in the story (each chapter or section is only maximum of like 4 pages) and it is very hard to understand the story until you get used to it. Furthermore, because the story repeats itself in different perspective, the story doesn't just progress forward. To add to that, the characters speak in Southern accent, and Faulkner combines use of choppy sentences and insanely long sentences to talk. There are also italicized words and sometimes, one character knows what's happening even if he's not actually at the scene! (This happens in the early part of the book). Nevertheless, I recommend this book to anyone who has time to go thorough and understand the book. It will be a very good preparation for college!
Level of Difficulty: 10/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/As_I_Lay_Dying_Faulkner/cover.jpg and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: Lord of the Flies
Author: Golding, William
Summary: Young English boys during World War II are stranded on an island with no adults.  They try to set up civilization but not everything goes as expected.  There are several prominent characters that symbolize various types of people (i.e. intellectual person versus greedy person for power), and basically, a book that focuses on what Golding believes to be human instinct.
My Feelings:  This is one of my best books ever! I think that although the book is easy to read, the symbolism is so deep that I had to use internet to understand full of it. The transformation from civilization to savagery is a gradual but powerful one as seen in this story.  It makes me to wonder how humans, despite our arrogance on being the greatest living things after God, can fall into pieces without laws so easily.  It also surprises me that in every human being, there is a devil living! I especially liked the fact that book had many symbolisms that could've been religious but the author never made it religious.  Thus, it is not bunch of religious ideas between good and evil.  No, it's a true analysis of what human beings are and can become.
Level of Difficulty: 7/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n0/n520.jpg and belong there.  I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: Brave New World
Author: Huxley, Aldous
Summary: In this world, everything that is censored (such as drugs and human desires) are considered as natural and must-to-do. Furthermore, the society clones people and while doing so, divides people into different classes. The conflict arises when the character who is not from this society, but from an outside world called Savage Reservation, comes into face the society.
My Feelings: This was very interesting book. In a way, this makes you realize although how different this book is compared to reality, how similar the reality is to the book in some aspects as well. That is, even the censorship exists, there are aspects of this society that is considered to be wrong and yet unjustified. Huxley does a wonderful job of condemning the society (not the current society though), and there are many similarities. For instance, the name World State reminded me of United States, and unlike Jesus Christ to be used for time period (i.e. B.C. ###), the World State goes by Ford and applies Ford's method of mass production in human beings.
Level of Difficulty: 6/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://www.huxley.net/ and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: Metamorphosis
Author: Kafka, Franz
Summary: The story is very simple and short, but powerfully moving. It begins on one ordinary-like morning of Gregor Samsa except he finds himself changed into a giant insect.  This is a pivotal fact since the book never will tell you how or why he was turned into this insect (in fact, you don't even know what it exactly is). The plot moves around him and his family's reaction to him, and again, it's no surprise why this book, although very short, is on College Board's List ----- there is no simple word to describe it.
My Feelings: I originally picked up this book for two reasons ----- 1) it's on College Board's List and 2) I wanted to read the book to help my exchange student from Spain with his English paper. Whatever the reason that you will get, I highly recommend reading this book.  I didn't honestly expect this book to be anything great because the plot seems so... ordinary.  Man turning into an insect? There isn't anything that appeared extremely to me compared to other classics I read.  How wrong I was! When I put down the book, my thoughts wandered over many difficulties that society faces because someone looks different. Why, I personally think that the theme of Metamorphosis does not stop to just an insect... It is extended to anyone who does not look like "us" ("us" being the clique that creates discrimination)
Level of Difficulty: 6/10 *NOTE: The concept behind is 8/10*
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/images/big/76.jpg and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: 1984
Author: Orwell, George
Summary: The story is very similar to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World  in the fact that it presents another dystopia called Oceania under the control of the Party and unknown yet powerful character Big Brother. The protagonist named Winston Smith holds strong hatred towards this society and takes actions against the Party even though he knows that he'll clearly get shot for committing this crime.  The story unfolds with his violent actions and culminates when the Party faces him. The question is, what happens to the Party and himself? Or did the battle already have the victor even before it started?
My Feelings: I personally found this book to be more enjoying than Huxley's book.  Although both are political novels, 1984  is much more difficult to understand, and its longest chapter actually talks about the political aspect of the novel.  But that's not the main reason why it influenced me so much.  From current view, Huxley's book appeared to be bit distant and not possible to occur, at least any time soon.  However, Orwell's presentation of Oceania seems to be very plausible, and actually, I was able to find some characteristics of today in the book.  My favorite concept of the book was doublethink, which means that person holds contradictory thoughts and believe on them while knowing on the inside that it's false but still believing in the inside as well. I highly recommend this book for any college bound student.
Level of Difficulty: 8/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://library.umf.maine.edu/1984/1984.jpg and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: The Fountainhead
Author: Rand, Ayn
Summary: This book concentrates on Ayn Rand's philosophy and works to present her philosophy called objectivism. As with plot itself, the book is about very talented architect named Howard Roark struggling through the society's opposition and battling his way through. There are very many symbolisms, and each character should be considered more as a symbol than a character.
My Feelings: This book has to be one of my favorite books even though I do not necessarily agree with Rand's philosophy. I think that the characters presented in the book are rather extreme versions of humans today. For instance, many entrepreneurs have undergone the struggle that Howard Roark have (maybe not that extreme), but they also have desire for profit and need for recognition from others as Peter Keating hopes.  Ellsworth Toohey is also an interesting character, who I think does exist in the real society. It is a really good book to make you think but is not one of the most recommended book for college (mainly because the concept is not really needed). It's, however, a modern classic.
Level of Difficulty: 8/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://objectivist.union.rpi.edu/0451191153_l.gif and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: The Catcher in the Rye
Author: Salinger, J.D.
Summary: The story is told by a student named Holden Caulfield, who is at rest home and explains his brief portion of life starting from the moment that he got kicked out of prep school named Pencey Prep. The story starts from the day that he was kicked out from this school, and follows to his travel in New York City, meeting numerous girls and guys, and seriously, very large number of recalling memories. The ending of the story is not quite clear as to whether it was a positive one or negative one (so read it and find it out!).
My Feelings: I think that this book is really a must-read for psychology majors. Holden Caulfield's 1st person narrative is not hard to understand (compared to what I read so far), but the sentences are choppy and not well written to mimic the actual words of adolescents. So, having said that, this book thoroughly discusses what would be going on a person's head when he is suffering through a nerve breakdown. To me, this book was quite odd because I had more interest on it at the beginning than the end (as the book started to progress to the end, I started to get bored... The story wasn't just fast pacing then!). Overall, I recommend this book to anyone if you're looking for easy-mild modern classic with A LOT of swearings. Now, don't expect too much deep philosophy stuff from this book though (that's just how I view it; psychologically, yes, but philosophically, no, because this is just a story of an extremely cynical boy...)
Level of Difficulty: 5/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/BOOK/BD018~The-Catcher-in-the-Rye-by-J-D-Salinger-Posters.jpg and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purposes.*

Title: The Pearl
Author: Steinbeck, John
Summary: This is a classic novel that shows the transformation of man with desire and greed.  It takes place in La Paz, Mexico, with the protagonist named Kino, and his wife, Juana, and son, Coyotito.  The main event occurs when Kino finds the pearl, and not just the pearl, but the Pearl of the World.  What will happen to Kino, Juana, and Coyotito as this discovery will lead to... happiness or.... eternal despair?
My Feelings: This is the first Steinbeck book that I've read in my entire life, and it was not in vain. The plot was easily expected, but his writings are what made the story so beautiful.  This is a simple read (took me only like two hours), but nevertheless, it is an enduring classic. I think this book still lives today because it is constant lesson to humankind ----- consequences of greed.  The book actually focuses more on what happens to Kino than what Kino wants to happen.  It is opposite to people today because they always wonder, "What will I do with this money?" Rarely, they worry, "What will happen AFTER I spend this money?" This is the difference, and you'll find it out in this book.
Level of Difficulty: 5/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n0/n1236.jpg and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*

Title: Slaughterhouse-Five
Author: Vonnegut, Kurt
Summary: The book's summary is somewhat hard to tell because the plot goes back and forth the time during every couple pages of the book.  Vonnegut uses term "unstuck in time" to allow this.  The story is told by Kurt Vonnegut himself and starts with first chapter about himself.  Then he tells the story about Billy Pilgrim, who travels time to learn about his life.  He first starts off in the Battle of Bulge and eventually goes far as to meet the aliens named Trafalmadorian.
My Feelings: This book wasn't very hard to read as far as vocabulary went.  The sentence structure was easy as well because many sentences were choppy (for example, "So it goes.").  Nevertheless, it was a difficult book because of continuing time travel (it made hard to follow the story sometimes) and its literary symbolism.  The book contains a lot of many black humor and vulgar expressions (you'll know what I mean once you start reading the book), and at the glance, it only appears like a risible book to read.  But in the inside, it is Vonnegut's sad story about the war.  The expression "Poo-tee-weet" shows that there is nothing ordered about the mass killing like Bombing of the Dresden.
Level of Difficulty: 8/10
*The picture of this book has been taken from http://thebookblogger.com/sfbc/images/Slaughterhouse.jpg and belong there. I am only using the link for educational purpose.*