This Independence Day weekend we’re looking forward to curling up with a good book. So whether the next few days have you near or far, here are a few reads recommended by Diane and the rest of the DVF team.

Diane: A few that I am reading this summer…Madame de Stael by Francine de Plessix Gray, The Bolter by Frances Osborne, Chicago by Alaa El Aswany and Gloria Vanderbilt’s new book, Obsession: An Erotic Tale.

Abigail: Snow by Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk.  I read it last summer but have picked it up again because it is so beautiful and so timely as it deals with the clash of radical Islam and western ideals. Work Hard. Be Nice. by Washington Post education writer Jay Mathews.  Mathews follows two young teachers as they pioneer KIPP, one of the most successful charter school programs in America.  An honest view of these two young teachers who are changing the way we think about education.  As a board member of KIPP, I was especially excited to see the KIPP program chronicled by Jay Mathews!

Luisella: Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book shows that one ordinary person with a strong determination and vision can really make a difference and contribute to change the world.

April: Mine is not glamorous or a trashy beach read, but The Wonder of Boys by Michael Gurian. It is about what parents/mentors/educators can do to shape boys into exceptional men.

Colleen: The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho – He is one of my favorite authors.  He is usually very spiritual in his writing (i.e. The Alchemist) and I am very interested to see how he folds fashion and cinema into his repertoire.

Daniela: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. It’s a quick read and is so inspiring.  It reminds us to follow our dreams and achieve them, as life is so precious. It’s one of those books that you’ll want to keep around and read once in a while.

César: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. The best pieces in here are funny to the point that I almost needed an oxygen tank to restore normal breathing after laughing so hard for so long. The only possible reason not to read this book is if you’d rather hear the author’s intrinsically funny speaking voice narrating his story. In that case, get Me Talk Pretty One Day on audio.

Katie: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Pulitzer Prize winner!  A lot of Junot Diaz’s writing seems to stem from his personal experience of growing up as a Dominican-American. This novel recounts the history of one family while also recounting the history of the island itself.  It’s both tragic and hilarious at the same time.   Best book EVER!