How about do a little reading for pleasure? You know what I’m talking about, right? The kind of reading you can do without a highlighter. Without making annotations. Without a 12lb textbook that hurts your arms as you attempt to read it in bed.

Yeah, that’s right. The good kind. For a reader like me, winter break means catching up on all those books I’ve been missing out on thanks to the hundreds of pages of History reading my professors assign nightly. If you’re looking for some good books to pass that time at home (or on a warm beach somewhere) with the parentals, allow me to recommend a few of my favorites. If you do anything over this break (besides watch TV and eat leftovers) you must pick up at least one of these:

1. Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
Anyone living in North America has had some experience with Native Americans and the hardships that they face. But how much do we really know about their lives, their world and their culture? “Ceremony” tells the tale of a young Native American war veteran who returns to the reservation where he grew up. To help him cope with the trauma surrounding his experiences, the elders of the community decide to conduct traditional ceremonies and healing rituals. This book provides great insight into the ancient traditions of Native Americans, which is incredibly interesting (who said you can’t learn for pleasure?). It also happens to be a “Penguin Classic” so the writing is most definitely exceptional.

2. What is the What by Dave Eggers
This recommendation comes straight from CollegeCandy’s wonderful editor. She is also probably the tenth person to recommend it, so I decided I had to give it a go. “What is the What” is a fictionalized memoir of Valentino Achak Deng, a real hero and refugee of the Sudanese civil war. After years trying to piece a life together in refugee camps, Valentino makes his way to America, where he finds that perhaps the hardships of making a life there may be greater than his time in Africa. Most people believe that once a refugee is in America or another “safe” land, their life becomes a fairytale; as we see in this story, that not the case. “What is the What” is a fascinating story and a powerful read; definitely a good one to sink your teeth into over the break.

3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Everyone is familiar with the Wizard of Oz and, of course, the mysterious villain, the Wicked Witch of the West. But, just like any other villain, the Wicked Witch has her own story. Gregory Maguire has taken this strange, misunderstood character and weaved an entire biography, explaining every evil thing she does. I just love the creativity of the author and how he leaves no stone unturned, from her strange color to her capture of Dorothy and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch. The musical “Wicked,” which was inspired by the book, is probably more well-known than the book and certainly a lot “brighter” as far as storyline goes, but the book is captivating. From the way Maguire addresses social issues to creative way he weaves in the story of Oz as we know it, you won’t be able to put this down.

4. Get into a SERIES!
This one is a bit more general, but with all the free time you’ve got for the next few weeks it’s the perfect time to get into a series. There are so many out there, but here are a few recommendations:
Twilight: Duh. The books aren’t worthy of a Pulitzer, but the story will definitely suck you in.
Harry Potter: If you haven’t picked up a HP book, now’s the time. Regardless of the audience these books were intended for, anyone and everyone will enjoy this series.
Something Borrowed: It’s a total beach read. Your typical “girl in New York on her quest for love,” but they’re good. And quick. And really, really good.

There are tons more out there, so get to that bookstore and search!

4 & 1/2. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
I don’t care if I reviewed this one a month ago (that’s why it’s only a half).  YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. I find myself still thinking of it and how wonderfully it is written. The lesson in this book is just so absolutely profound. I don’t think I can even write down in words how awesome it is and the feeling I got while reading the ending. Just read it. Do it,.

This year’s Beijing Olympics are possibly the most politicized Olympics to go down on the planet in decades. It’s always ugly when politics enter into something supposed to be as pure an ideal as the excellence of sport, but the polluted skies over Beijing aren’t the only source of dirt and grime these days.

Everyone knows about the furious and polarizing debates and protests over Tibet. It’s hardly news anymore that there are monks on the march, and Chinese police cracking down on them. What I find even more disturbing, however, is the crushing influence of the Chinese government over people’s free speech. When so-called public opinion polls emerge saying that over 90% of all Chinese people are wholeheartedly in favor of every aspect of the Chinese government, as I’ve been reading about in the New York Times, you know something’s wrong.

No country likes their government that much, unless they’re too frightened to say differently. And now, this strong tendency to crack down on opposing opinions has gone one step further: it entered the olympics.

Princeton student Joey Cheek, class of 2011, a world champion speed skater and former Olympian (who was only going to the Olympics to support his team) has had his visa revoked by the Chinese government. The reason? Cheek is an outspoken activist for the genocide in Darfur, and has been critical of China’s many investments in the Sudan. Cheek had no intention of bringing his politics to the arena, but the Chinese government won’t tolerate any opposition, including the mere possibility. Meanwhile, the official dudes of the Olympic committee are refusing to defend the student, basically saying it’s out of their jurisdiction.

So much for the spirit of the Olympics.

I always used to think that cities were granted the privilage of hosting the Olympics for good behavior — having a well-developed nation with well-cared for citizens and a clear position supporting human rights and all that good stuff. Hence, the olympics that I’ve seen in my lifetime have all taken place in relatively developed nations — the U.S., Italy, Greece, Australia, and the upcoming Great Britain.

China, however, still has many troubling issues to address in terms of its position on human rights. Why has it been given the gift of the Olympics if it’s still bullying anyone who speaks critically of it? Here’s hoping the coming Olympics will be a showcase of athletic prowess and not governmental might.

While some group members hide, you and a few others escape into what appears to be a jungle of sorts. Still in disbelief at this turn of events, you stumble on into what looks like a desert… full of land mines. You successfully avoid the explosions and make it to a border crossing. The guards hassle your group ruthlessly, you get pulled aside for questioning, but, finally, after what seems like an eternity, they allow you into the country.

Just beyond the border is a refugee camp where you are told you will be able to stay temporarily. At the entrance you register and formally ask the government for asylum… unreality hits—you are a refugee, no home, no nationality, and most likely not even a complete family.

Freaky right? To be honest I’m not sure I would be able to deal with it. But according to the project’s director Stephanie Cousins, that is the desired effect;

“The idea in this space is to give people a sense of how unsettling it would feel fleeing in a dangerous setting where they can’t be sure of their footing. It’s based on the true stories of former refugees now living in Australia.”

The exhibit, entitled, “Refugee Realities”, debuted this past week in Melbourne, Australia, as an effort by Oxfam to raise awareness of the plight of refugees across the globe.

When I think of international conflict, I immediately imagine scenes from “Hotel Rwanda,” with children crying, tempers flaring, food and water shortages, and the constant fear of discovery. Like me, you probably breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the movie when Paul, his wife, and their nieces boarded a bus out of Rwanda.

But, as the Oxfam exhibit points out, often the thousands of people displaced by international conflicts leave one abusive situation for another that is only slightly better. The camp set up is inspired by conditions of camps in Burma, Pakistan, Sudan, and Kenya where, according to Oxfam, refugees spend an average of 17 years.

Leaving the theater following “Hotel Rwanda”, my intense sense of anger at injustice quickly turned to feelings of helplessness. While following Rwanda, the world vowed “never again” to stand by in silence, Darfur has revealed the emptiness of such promises. Unfortunately, if genocide is not enough to get international governments to take action, refugee issues hardly seem to stand a chance.

Such attitudes motivate groups like Oxfam Australia (a subsidiary of Oxfam International) to turn to the public. Using interactive educational exhibits such as Refugee Realities, Oxfam hopes to mobilize current and future generations to fight for rights of the marginalized and displaced.

As of the time of this posting, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) places the number of refugees world wide at 9.9 million.

Check out these ways in which you can take action:

Feeling adventurous? Not sure what to do this summer? Volunteer in a Liberian Refugee Camp through the global volunteer network.

State-side, check out the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants to help refugees resettle into your locality.

Raise awareness in your community with Refugees International.

For more ideas, check out the rest of Oxfam International’s activities.