Can anyone recommend some good "beach" books for my vacation?
 

Hi! preparing for a hopefully relaxing vacation where much time will be spent on a lounge chair reading. Can anyone recommend some good authors/novels for beach reading (you know the kind I mean, nothing heavy but still interesting). I love mysteries, suspense or humorous books. Thanks a lot for your recommendations!

Carl Hiaasen! Most of his books take place in Florida, particularly South Florida, and they are very funny. I wouldn't really call his books mysteries, although you'll find them in the mystery section, but they're a great read. My favorite is called Native Tongue, but you'll do well to start with any of them.

"The Killer Angels." I was reluctant to read it but my husband's persistence finally won out. It is about the battle of Gettysburg but is more of a dramatized account focusing on the lives and thoughts of key characters. It focuses on them as people so it is not overly a history book. <BR>Also, "Time and Again." A great book about a person from modern day that mentally transports himself into 1880's New York. Again, not a history book. An interesting suspense story involving a murder is part of the plot.

Two suggestions. For fiction, try any of Patrick O'Brian's nautical series featuring British sea captain Jack Aubrey and his companion Dr. Stephen Maturin, who also doubles as a British intelligence officer. The setting is the Napoleonic Wars. There are about twenty books in the series. For non-fiction, you might try Lawrence Kusche's BERMUDA TRIANGLE- SOLVED. Not only does Mr. Kusche demolish the legend of mysterious disappearances in the "Bermuda Triangle" through diligent research, it has a nautical theme to it.

Any of the Fletch books by Gregory McDonald. Very, very funny. Much more so than the Chevy Chase movies based on the character. They are all mysteries told with tongue firmly placed in cheek. <BR>By the way, if you go to Amazon.COM they oftentimes have reader reviews of books. Though everyone's opinion is different, it's still interesting to read other people's impressions.

Hi Curious, I envy you. My favorite vacation-a beach, an umbrella, a book. sigh....I highly recommend any Donald Westlake book in the Dortmunder series, funniest books on my bookshelves by far. If you live in the South, any Anne George "Murder" books, i.e. Murder on a Bad Hair Day, Murder on a Girl's Night Out, etc. A beach and books.... I may not concentrate the rest of the day! Have fun!

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I really enjoy all of the Kay Scarpetta mysteries by Patricia Cornwell.

Well, I'm not sure if you are male or female, but some humerous books I absolutely loved are Bridget Jones' Diary and the sequel, Bridget Jones, the Edge of Reason. Another set of funny books that came out a few years ago are Little Alters Everywhere and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. They are about mothers and daughters who are trying to be gentile ladies in the South. These are all what my husband would call "chic books" but all are funny and great summer reading.

"Don't Stop the Carnival" - Herman Wouk <BR>"A Pirate Looks At 50" - Jimmy Buffett <BR>"Islands In The Stream" - Ernest Hemingway <BR>"The Old Man & the Sea" - Ernest Hemingway <BR>

The Dr. Alex Cross series by James Patterson. <BR>"Night Sins" and "Guilty as Sin" by Tami Hoag. <BR>Books by Nicholas Sparks.

Like a previous poster said, if you like the Bridget Jones' genre, you may also really enjoy: <BR> <BR>Getting Over It by Anna Maxted <BR>Running in Heels by Anna Maxted <BR>Icy Sparks <BR>The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (I agree with above poster)

Thanks so much for the great suggestions! The "chick books" sound like a lot of fun. I'm writing my list now. Thanks again everyone!

For light reading, I recently been reading the David Baldacci books Total Control, Absolute Power, Saving Faith, Simple Truth. <BR> <BR>Chrichton works for me, too. <BR> <BR>"Killer Angels" was good as mentioned above. I'd still love to live in Gettysburg. I hear there is a "pre-quel" out??? <BR> <BR>Hiaasen, Buffett and Tom Corcoran are musts if you're on a beach or on an island. Elmore Leonard and wacky, off-beat mysteries by Kinky Friedman, too. <BR> <BR>The Alienest and The Angel of Darkness by Carr were borderline heavy but still do-able. <BR> <BR>The "Worldwar" trilogy by Turtledove was very intersting and I'm still working my way thru it. <BR> <BR>I did ruin one beach vacation when I read "The Vision of the Anointed" and <BR>"The Death of Common Sense" on the same trip. Increased the bar tab 20%! What was I thinkin'? <BR> <BR>160 mo' days until I'm plugged into KONG fm radio readin' away waiting for a tee-time! <BR>Mahalo, <BR>Kal <BR>

My absolute favorite "beach book" was the three novels by Nora Roberts. You can buy them all contained in one complete book. They are called - "Born In Fire," "Born in Ice," and "Born In Shame."

More great "chick" novels in the Bridget Jones genre: <BR> <BR>"Jemima J" by Jane Green, about an overweight British woman who loses 100 pounds to meet an American man she met on the internet. Funny, poignant, enjoyable.

Also: "Confessions of a Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella, about a London financial reporter humorously struggling to control her own addiction to shopping. Quick, bright read.

If you want to laugh out loud, try author Janet Evanovich. Her Stephanie Plum, Bounty Hunter, series is a hoot, especially book #2 - "Two For the Dough". I work in a bookstore & we can't keep the series on the shelf!

Just finished "Chocolat" and it was delicious! A light and easy read - I couldn't put it down. I had thought it would be heavy and full of foreign words I'd have to look up, but it was delightful. <BR> <BR>I did, however, end up going for chocolate ice cream and candy on a couple of occasions while reading. It's impossible not to :-)

I second the motions for both Elmore Leonard and Janet Evanovich. You will want to read every one of their novels! I also adore John Irving and Larry McMurtry, but they're not exactly "light" reading. <BR> <BR>Check out half.com -- people sell used books, many as good as new, for half price or less. I've been both buyer and seller and have never had a bad experience. <BR> <BR>Enjoy!

Hope I'm not to late to add to your list, but I have 3 doozies. They are not literature, but they are great beach books, and I know you can buy them at used book stores. 1. "The Dieter" I laughed and cried. 2. "The Genesis Code" Very exciting and disturbing. 3. "The Big Picture" A thriller that is very thought provoking. Take them all and you've got romance, humor, mystery and suspense covered.

Hi Curious, Loved "Bridget Jones Diary" and ADORE a lot of the British "neurotica" type books. I love Isobel Wolff's "Trials of Tiffany Trott" and "Making Minty Malone". If you love Bridget, you will love these books! I GAURANTEE it. Also want to read Jane Green's new book too! Jane Mansell is good also! <BR>Also loved "On Bear Mountain", by Deborah Smith, and "Firefly Beach", by Luanne Rice. Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum is a hoot! I love to read light fun stuff for summer too! <BR>Happy reading, All! Judy :-)

Captain Corelli's Mandolin. <BR>Girl with a Pearl Earring. <BR>My husband likes anything by Clive Cussler. <BR>A.M.

Like many of the other posters, I would highly recommend the Bridget Jones books, as well as Jemima J for humorous light beach reading. <BR> <BR>As for more suspense mysteries, while in Dublin earlier this year, I picked up a Tami Hoag book for the flight home. I got so hooked that I've been picking up a new one for each plane ride that I take. <BR> <BR>For another good book, try The Quiet Game by Greg Iles.

The Witness by Sandra Brown. A good mixture of mystery, thriller, plot twists and turns, and a bit of romance. My very favorite book of all time is Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. I've read it countless times and never tire of it.

hy... <BR>I just love the books from Marian Keyes - an irish writer. <BR>

If you like mysteries, try the Sue Grafton alphabet series (A is for Alibi, B is for ...). She's up to P now, I think. I first read these on a beach, and they were perfect - not too heavy. Also, they take place in a fictional town based on Santa Barbara.

If what you are looking for is an "easy reading, entertaining, mystery you absolutely need to get something by Mary Higgins Clark. They are fun, easy, and good. A few of the titles I enjoyed were Loves Music, Loves to Dance; While my Pretty One Sleeps; and Weep no More My Lady.

Just finished "Storm Warning" by Carl Hiiasen. Good book! It's about Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to read more of his books.

Anything by Kay Scarpetta, Mary Higgins Clark or Sue Grafton, all of which have been recommended. How about Jaws? :)

Sorry to be a nitpicker, Ginny, but it's called Stormy Weather. And you're right, it's great!

I don't know if they are still in print but the funniest books <BR>i have read are the Topper series by Thortan Smith they made a series of movies based on these books years ago. Topper is an older married man and he alone sees the ghosts, Marion who is always trying to seduce topper{i.e. he'll find himself in the tub with three feet) the husband and the dog (all three, heavy martini drinkers) One of my favorite in the series takes place in Nice where topper and his wife are on vacation.

Great travel read--"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris. It's a combination of essays in the first half and an almost novella-like second half. Absolutely laugh-out-loud funny stories about Sedaris' odd family, his observations about life (the riff on NY restaurants is hilarious), and a series on his efforts to learn the French language and culture. Not your typical beach book, but a clever vacation diversion. Also, a couple years old, but I read "A Widow for One Year" by John Irving and loved the vivid, intertwining stories. <BR> <BR>

Mary Higgins Clark and Nora Roberts are writers for idiots. Only read them if you want to confirm your own stupidity.

Well xx, I've read Dostoyevsky and I've read Mary Higgons Clark. Somehow I find Clark to be the better choice when lounging at the beach, sipping a corona and keeping an eye on the kids, don't you?

Christopher Moore's "Island of the Sequined Love Nun". It is soooooooo funny!

I thought Straight Man by Richard Russo was hilarious. It's about a college prof going through a mid-life crisis. Also loved Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry...good, thick book with great characters, plot. Funny as well as touching. Have a great vacation!

Second for Christopher Moore. _IotSLN_ <BR>is a great read, but all his books are fun. _Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove_ is <BR>great as well. <BR> <BR>I also really enjoy Elmore Leonard. <BR>Jimmy Buffet's Joe Merchant book is a fun read. <BR>_Confederacy of Dunces_ is fun read.

I definitely recommend "World Of Pies" (can't think of the author right now, but it's fairly new, so you shouldn't have to search). It's a very summery book and I absolutely loved it!

My wife, who read and listens to book very frequently, couldn't put down Luann Rice's Firefly Beach. <BR> <BR>We went to the 3/ $4.50 used bookstore at the beach and bought other Luann Rice's books. They were read during the 3 weeks at the beach. Her vacation was spent reading 6 books [ I only did 1.5, sadly ] <BR> <BR>Now we are home.. and she picked up two more Luann Rice books at the Library. <BR> <BR>She must have been 'discovered' as all the books on tape and other of her books are checked out. <BR> <BR>