Books for the Beach
 

Out with it. What are your recommendations for beach reading? I go in one week. I try to read one Patrick O'Brian a summer so I'm bringing Nutmeg of Consolation. As my youngest child has Down Syndrome, I'm also bringing Coach Gene Stalling's (Alabama, Texas A & M, pro Cardinals) book another season, a stroy about his son.

The great old standby is John D MacDonald's Travis McGee series. I believe there's 18 or 19 of them. An appreciation can be found here: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~mwa...pf18/intro.htm .

I'm a bit Cal-centric in my entertainment reading, so my beach read this year will be (finally) "A Year in Van Nuys" by Sandra Tsing Loh (LA-area actress and Queen of the Forty-Something Slacker Moms). I may take "Postcards from the Edge" to re-read, since Carrie Fisher is the last remaining writer that makes me laugh out loud (NOTE: her writing style is wonderfully witty, but not very visual). I also have to polish off some David Sedaris essays.

For more serious reading, anything by brilliant Indian novelist/essayist Arundhati Roy that I can get my hands on. And that great essay collection "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat", by neurologist Oliver Sacks MD, is due for a re-read. And Norma Barzman's memoir of the HUAC Communist witchhunt, "The Red and the Blacklist".

I'm gonna have to start reading now...!!

I like the Janet Evanovich books for a good laugh, as long as I don't have to explain why I'm laughing to one of my kids.

I have never been much of a fan of
mystery stories. However, after reading one of John D. Mac Donalds,I am hooked--now on #10.
Then are light, not long tales and not a lot of characters...
Also favorite are the ones about cats--can't remember author but the titles all have Cat in the title as "The Cat who ate the cheese"etc.
Good reading...

If you haven't read The Nanny Diaries yet, you should! And Old Dogs and Children by Robert Inman is wonderful.

Anything by David Sedaris. He cracks me up!

Henry Miller, who grew up in my neighborhood in NYC. Most anything by Cheever.

Well, do you like mindless beach reading -- you know, the guilty pleasure stuff? Then I'd recommend any of the Kinsey Milhone mysteries by Sue Grafton. These are the literary equivalent of empty calories -- and you can just leave the paperback behind for someone else, no need to lug it home in your bag. :) I think the Mary Higgins Clark books are about the same.
If you want something slightly meatier but still titillating, read Void Moon by Michael Connelley.
Books that you'll remember long beyond the vacation are Blindness by Jose Saramago amd Father and Son by Larry Brown.

I'm reading -

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdan

just finished King of Torts- it was okay.

There is a new novel in the view of an autistic person I have been meaning to read. You may find similar issues addressed. I can't remember the name.

Here it is The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon

Harry Potter!!!

If you really want to be scared to death read Intensity by Dean Koontz. It is good beach reading since you won't want to read it late at night in bed, even with kids and spouse in the same or next room. Hair raising, literally. Other than that, unfortunately my tastes run rather mainstream....only because I love a good fast read that I can kill off in 2 days or less. Mary Higgins Clarke, Sue Grafton (as already mentioned), also Robin Cook, John Grisham just to name a few.

My summer reading varies from Stephen King for a good intense scare or when I feel like something trashy, Jackie Collins...

"Back Bay" by William Martin. So far, everyone I've recommended it to, hasn't been able to put it down until finishing. Pretty unique approach to writing historical fiction.

I' d like to throw in Swedish author (and bestseller throughout Europe with almost every book he brings to the market) Henning Mankell.
Try "Dogs of Riga" for example- it is No. 2 out of a series of crime stories the "hero" of which being Police Detective Kurt Wallander. The books are real gripping, page- turners that you won't put down until you're finished!
Enjoy
hsv

I'm in the middle of "Living History" -- by Hillary Clinton. I am learning a great deal about this often misunderstood woman. Enlightening reading.

Just finished John Grisham's, "A Time To Kill." Never read it when it first came out. If you haven't read it yet, go for it - I loved it. {Dittos to islandmom on "King of Torts" --just okay.}

Two books I just finished reading--library copies--and loved so much I bought them for me!

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Starts with a party in a South American country. A famous opera star is the entertainment. Guerrilas break into party and things go very wrong. It's a compelling story about the interplay among people. And there are some very funny little bits, too. I didn't think I'd care for this book, but I could hardly put it down.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. A story set in the South, through the eyes of a fourteen year old girl. So convincingly told that I felt fourteen again, with all the torment and insight that the young possess.

Oh, and two others! Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen. So funny you'll bust a gut reading it. And it even takes place in one of the beachiest places of all--Miami.

And the new Harry Potter. Teenage daughter is reading it right now, having picked it up from Borders last night. I mean last morning. DH and I carted darling daughter and almost half a dozen friends to Borders at midnight to get book. Didn't get to bed until 2:30 am because there were 449 other Potter fans ahead of us... Anyway, you can see how late it is, but DD is on a reading marathon and there are tears streaming down her cheeks because someone has died. I couldn't get anything out of her but the fact that it's not Hagrid.

Sorry post so long, but I am a voracious reader and once you get me started on books, I CAN'T STOP!!!

Well, I actually just read a jerry seinfeld book. (really small) a couple of days ago. It was funny so it kept my mind off the frikin heat. Also A Pirate Looks at Fifty by Jimmy Buffett is good. Also The old man and the sea and Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk.

dln, just finished Bel Canto last night and really liked it. You should read Blindness if you haven't already.

The Great Santini by Pat Conroy is a good read, or Prince of Tides (DON'T judge the book based on the movie, EEK!)

The Mystery Roast is a fun, engaging summer read. I read it years ago but I still think about it from time to time --it's not "deep," just a good read and a great setting.

Right now I am reading the Devine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood (the movie was alright, but did not do the book justice). I also just finished reading Little Alters Everywhere which is by the same author.

This summer I've also read The Summons by John Grisham and Cane River by Lalita Tademy.

Another vote for Bel Canto. I'm just starting Attonement and it's already taken over! I, long ago, read "Yellow Raft in Blue Water" by Michael Dorris. It is a great beach book! Try short stories by Lorrie Moore or anything by Laurie Colwin.

Whoops...almost forgot any short stories by Ellen Gilchrist. And..for serious but inspiring reading "Fugitive Pieces"..sorry forgot the author.

Harry Potter--was absolutly wonderful! My husband hasn't read any of the books, but is going to, since he has no idea what my sister and I are talking about.

Little Alters Everywhere and Ya Ya Sisterhood--great books, movie didn't come close to how great the book is.

Nanny Diaries--more sad than funny. I couldn't stand the way the parents treated the nanny or the child.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Second Summer of the Sisterhood--great books about teen girls coming to age.

Any of the Callahan books by Spider Robinson--si-fi that take place in a bar, and the patrons who save the world.

The Devil Wears Prada--just got it, and I'm saving it for my vacation. I hope it's as good as the reviews I've read.

Chicken Soup for the Soul--I have nurse's soul and sister's soul, both have moved me to tears.

I cant think of any more, even though I was just at the book store.

^ My parents got me Chicken soup for the teenage soul when I was in high school and I thought it sucked. Then I read C.S. for the Pet Lovers soul my freshman year in college and I wet the pages I cried so hard

Golly, Paul, don't you know that Hillary didn't even write her own book. She essentially admits that on the acknowledgement pages. To be fair, few of these political types do. Moynihan did. Ex-Sen. Paul Simon did. Buchanan and Nader write their own books. But Mr. Morals, William "Mr. Vegas" Bennett, has his books ghost-written. General Powell's was ghosted. Limbaugh and Hannity (who might have a hard time writing a coherent paragraph) had their books ghosted. Tom Brokaw's book on the "Greatest Generation" was ghosted.

Just finished Kitchen Confidential and I think it qualifies!(Anthony Bourdain)I think I will pick up his mysteries and see if they are as entertaining. I wish Dianne Mott-Davidson would write some more of her series (Death by Chocolate, Killer Pancake ,etc). They are light and the recipes are great.

I'm starting the 5th Harry Potter tomorrow. My 2 kids each read it in about a day and a half. My son finished last night and passed it on to me. I'm putting off starting it until the weekend, because I'll likely stay up past my bedtime and mess myself up for work otherwise. I think if I read it at the beach, I'd never go into the water.

Just finished reading, "Seabiscuit, An American Legend." Good book.

I am currently reading, "Secret Lives of Bees." Good so far.

For a quick read anything by Nicholas Sparks. And if you are going to the Keys or Florida, anything by Shames or Hiiasen.

That's Carl Hiaasen sorry for the typo.

I just finished Three Junes and enjoyed that. I'll second Seabiscuit. I thought that was fantastic. Also just read Queen Noor's autobiography. It provides a very different perspective to our recent mideast history.

James Patterson's Beach House!

A very guilty pleasure book: Butterfly by Kathryn Harvey
I admit I blush in parts but once you get past some of the "scenes" teh plot is very intriguing and It is hard to put down....

I also love all of Sydney Sheldon's books, they always make for great Summer reads! He hasnt put out a book since 2000, if anyone knows of an author like him I'd love to hear it!

Enjoy!
Carib_Ruby

Birdie, did you enjoy Queen Noor's autobiography?

Gee, HuwMorgan... thanks for the insight - yes, I did know some of what you told me, but some of it was news as well. Sounds as if you enjoy a good read at times.

I would bet my right ankle that Queen Nor did not write her autobiography.

Beach Music by Pat Conroy. Been around a while, but a great read.

One more here, who just finished Bel Canto and loved it. Next is the new Harry Potter book and after that....Travellyn, tell me more about the Evanovich books. I'm intrigued.

Jette, Janet Evanovich writes mysteries about a character named Stephanie Plum, who is a bumbling bounty hunter with an interesting crew of friends. The stories are hilariously written, not at all deep, and the humor is often quite bawdy. Her books always make me laugh out loud, but it's usually about a sexual situation, or has language in it that I wouldn't want to read aloud to my kids.

The books are numbered. The first is One For the Money; the last one I read was Hard Eight. You don't want to skip around because each book builds on the previous ones, and you'll mess up some surprises if you read them out of order.

Richard North Patterson - good mystery/lawyer books...
Like Maeve Binchy books - easy and interesting reads
One of the most memorable books I've read lately is "Prodigal Summer" by Kingsolver-it was absolutely beautiful and an easy read too!
Wally Lamb has a few - I Know this Much is True and another one....

applejaxs, I loved Kitchen Confidential so I picked up Bone in the Throat (one of A. Bourdain's mysteries) and it was so-so.
Just got back from a short trip and read The Sheltering Sky and Nanny Diaries. Sheltering Sky is a classic and very good for travelers. Nanny Diaries was funny but depressing. Very fast read, which is not always good on vacation (since you can't lug too many books with you!).

I'd also like to recommend any of Bill Bryson's books. Very funny and many are great for people who like to travel.