Out of the three books I read for summer reading, Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility was the most interesting.  This being said, I will describe what makes a book interesting to me.  It must have some kind of intrigue to keep my intention.  This may be through action, suspense or romance.  Sense and Sensibility has the latter.  The story of the two Dashwood sisters and their trials of love could come straight off a sitcom of today.  This is the second element to making a book interesting--it must be applicable.  I can sympathize with the sisters' plight and therefore find an interest in their outcome.  Finally, the storyline is sound.  Austen takes the readers through unexpected twists and turns that are both believable and refreshingly new, even though they are more than 200 years old.  That is what makes Sense and Sensibility the most interesting of my summer reading books--its intrigue of a well-plotted romance story is relatable, yet new to me.  

     Other reading over the summer was based on a different scale than the three books.  I based my interest in overall literature on its importance to my summer and future.  The  AP government-assigned book, The Post-American World,  was read for that reason.  However, I have not yet finished it, because while The Post-American World was interesting in its importance, the numerous facts lost my attention.  I have read the manual for my summer job at Bandana's Barbeque, which held my attention because it enabled me to perform my best and make the most money.  The college information I read about was important for my future and initially exciting, but its novelty wore off quickly.  Different fashion and celebrity magazines caught my attention for only short periods, as they didn't have much value.  Finally, I read  Joyce Meyers' novel The Penny.  It was a good read and probably the literature that best kept my attention.

** Well, you'll be pleased to know Austen's work is not quite as old as you first thought. Just a bit over 150 years old... but I am glad you enjoyed her. Of the two Dashwood sisters, I would be interested to know with which one you most identified... that always makes for interesting discussion! You said you "sympathized" with their plight... which I find more than a little interesting as we don't see widows and their families kicked to the curb in quite the same manner these days... but maybe you meant something different about that. :-) I think Edward was a bit of a wimp in dealing with what he REALLY wanted in life, don't you?

     I read Fahrenheit 451 because I thought it was on the reading list for the category of self-discovery.  Even though it happened to not be on the list--and therefore not under the category--the book had a strong theme of self-discovery.  Guy Montag, the main character, was complacent with his modern society and the role he played in it.  He was a fireman, but in the future that meant he set fire to houses that illegally held books.  He did not question the violence and immorality of his job until a young woman told him of a past when firemen did respectable work.  This opened his eyes, leading to the self-discovery that he could come up with his own ideas--the government didn't have to supply them.  After this, Guy underwent a miraculous change.  He was no longer happy to let his vindictive fire chief rule his life, and he started to discover courage in himself when he hid books.  His mentor, Faber, helped him escape the government's clutches at the end of the book, when Guy set off on a journey of freedom.  He ends up traveling with other book-loving renegades, holding the strength of conviction that comes with making one's own choices.

     This personal discovery, that one may make one's own decisions, is an integral part of the novel's core.  The novel is based around the premise that the government has censored the people's lives to a minute point, and that they follow the rules blindly, turning to their different technologies as a way to escape the real world.  Montag's illumination in the area of personal choice is the novel's main theme--it follows his reawakening.  As a reader, I can associate with this choice.  I have grown up having parents, teachers, and elders determining my path.  However, as I mature, I begin to discover a broader spectrum of options and the growing ability for me to make my own decisions.  This was a perfect time for me to read Fahrenheit 451.  However, readers of any age can benefit from the book; its theme of opening one's eyes and deciding on issues for one's self is always a good lesson to learn.  For, even Aristotle said that, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."  This is probably the key thing that I learned from the novel.  I should decide for myself if I agree with other's ideas--even if they are being forced upon me--and act on my convictions.