Fresyes includes Saroyan’s “Human Comedy” in summer reading list

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS. The way you feel about summer reading probably depends on how you feel about reading in general. Some of us love nothing more than curling up with a good book—bonus points if it’s beside the pool or on the beach. Others prefer to leave the books at school once it lets out for the summer. Whether you’re looking for a book to take on your next vacation or just want to keep your kids engaged over the summer, “Fresyes” offers a summer reading list to literature lovers. Fresno and the surrounding areas have been home to many writers who have made their mark in the literary arena, including the newly-appointed U.S. Poet Laureate, Juan Felipe Herrera. World-famous William Saroyan’s work “Human Comedy” has also been included in the list. Moreover, Saroyan tops the list.

William Saroyan is arguably the most beloved writer to come out of the Valley. If you were fortunate enough to grow up attending school in the Fresno, there’s a good chance you had to read his autobiographical novel,The Human Comedy, at some point. First published in 1943,The Human Comedy(which was adapted into a movie starring Mickey Rooney) is the story of 14-year old bicycle messenger Homer Macauley, who comes of age against the backdrop of World War II. It’s also the story of the people and places that make up a small town, one that many may recognize as the Fresno of a bygone era.

Need another reason to read it? A new film adaptation of the novel, directed by and starring Meg Ryan and produced by Tom Hanks’ production company, is in the works. RenamedIthaca, after the book’s fictionalized version of Fresno, the film is in post-production and scheduled for an end-of-year release. I’m normally a little wary of book-to-film adaptations and remakes of classic movies, but the last time Ryan and Hanks teamed up we gotYou’ve Got Mail, which itself was a remake ofThe Shop Around the Corner, so we should be cautiously optimistic about this one.