Best beach read for 2004
 

I know we did this thread last year and I got some great ideas then. Since I have'nt seen this discussed in a while and I leave for sunny Mexico next week, what new books should I take along?

The best book I took with me to read on the beach this past summer in Hawaii was the newly (then) released John Grisham - "The King of Torts." If you haven't read this one, it's a great book.

Last week in Mexico, the Dan Brown books were most visible around the pool and on the beach (DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons). I read All He Ever Wanted, The Patron Saint of Liars (by the author of Bel Canto), The Life of Pi, and Ellen Foster.

Protect and Defend by Richard North Patterson

oh...and his new one...Balance of Power

DaVinci codes!

What difference does it make what's new & popular with the masses? The world is full of great literature - pick something that interests YOU.

I'm taking 'The Time Traveler's Wife" and 'Life of Pi'with me for my week in Cuba.
Just finished reading 'The Red Tent' and it was great.
Don't know if you're male or female though jette. The Red Tent would probably not be enjoyed if you were male. Likewise, if you haven't read 'Girl With a Pearl Earring'yet, it's also a good read.

Ditto for the Davinci Code, The Red Tent ( if you are female) & Girl with Pearl Earring, also Memoirs of A Geisha and if you haven't seen the movie - Mystic River. An older one but still a fun read - Divine Secrets of The Ya Ya Sisterhood.

Sometimes it's fun to read something that has references to where you are.
I read 'All the Pretty Horses' while I was in Mexico.

I have never missed a Grisham novel. I give them to my dad for presents after I read them or keep them up at our condo for the renters.

He has a new one out again. I love all the Nicholas Sparks novels, also. The latest one, The Wedding was a very good read.

I read Cold Mountain, The Girl With The Pearl Earring and Secret Storm many years ago. James Patterson The Beach House was very good read.

Also enjoy the Nora Roberts books and Jude Deveraux novels. Am currently reading High Tide.

Also just finished reading The Purpose Drive Life and A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado. His recent book It's Not About Me is on my list. ***kim***

one more rant: the whole rigamorole post this week from the mother who wanted to take her kids with her to a place where she could either: 1) get a drink w/some food; 2) get a drink while waiting for some food; 3) drink herself silly while waiting to get picked up in a bar to go to a motel while the kids waited at the bar; 4) order drinks for the kids; 5) set them up to be alcoholics; 6) and so on.
It got pretty silly, and it sure got people going.

Great stuff, Thanks! I read "All the Pretty Horses" several years ago and thought is was magical.
BTW, I am female but hopefully there are still some men who read out there that will find something of interest here also.

I second Mystic River, even though it's not my favorite by Lehane. He's great.

If you want funny satire on Florida, I love Carl Hiassen and Tim Dorsey. I'm currently reading Dorsey's latest and it's hysterical.

If you haven't read them, The Vampire Cronicles by Anne Rice are excellent. It is actually three books.

Definitely not the new Ellen Degeneres book, what a DUD!

For very light reading the Big Stone Gap series by Andrian Trigiana are good. So is her book Lucia, Lucia.

I recently read "In Revere, In Those Days" - a depiction of working class life in Revere, Massachusetts in the 1960s. Its also a beautifully written coming of age story. Not well known but definately worth finding.

Just finished "The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint," which I enjoyed. "Life of Pi" is a great read. I am one of the few who preferred "Angels and Demons" (by Dan Brown) to "DaVinci Code." The Jane Evanovich books are funny and easy reading, sort of along the lines of the Sue Grafton series but a bit raunchier. "Running With Scissors" and "Dry" by Augustin Burroughs are wonderful, they are his memoirs and are disturbing and funny. More depth than David Sedaris. Don't read "Wicked" at the beach, it's interesting but a bit heavy-handed. Bill Bryson writes hilarious travelogues, he hasn't done Mexico (yet) but there are plenty others.

Oh yes, Bill Bryson is great! Also, Dave Barry is funny - both his humor books and his 2 fiction ones.

"Good in Bed" by Jennifer Weiner. As they say "I laughed ... I cried".