Dandelion Wine

Written by: Ray Bradbury

First line: It was a quiet morning, the town covered over with darkness and at ease in bed.

Why you should read this book: The classic tale of a magical summer in which Douglas Spaulding, age twelve, is astonished to realize that he is really, truly alive and, therefore, that he must by necessity, one day die. In between, he makes a careful accounting of everything that is wonderful, confusing, and infuriating in his world. This perfect novel offers nostalgia, love, fantasy, horror, realism, history, and the full breadth of human experience, all unfurling in Bradbury's luscious prose.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You don't think there's anything better than spending an entire day glued to a monitor.