There are very few things I enjoy more than getting lost between the covers of a book on a summer vacation. I still remember reading Stephen King's The Shining on a family vacation to Pennsylvania Dutch Country when I was 15, racing back from the pool and past Room 217 (the scene of intense creepiness in the book) at top speed, scared silly but exhilarated.
I can remember other hotels, other beach houses, shady hammocks, sandy-white beaches...and for all of those places, I remember the books I was reading while I was there.
Because summertime isn't just about the sand and the surf, it's about the books!
This summer, instead of being that person at the beach who is talking too loudly on the cell phone, unplug and read. Here are 20 books that I've enjoyed in summers past or read recently, all highly recommended for your summer 2014 reading list:
Modern Fiction: Drama
- A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. At times hilarious and at times heart-breaking, this is pretty darn close to the perfect novel, all told from a dog's point of view. (And I really loved that dog!)
- Atonement by Ian McEwan. I saw the blockbuster movie before I read the best-selling book. (I love Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, and they rocked it!) This book helped me to better understand the main character, a thirteen-year-old girl who makes a highly questionable decision that irrevocably alters two people's lives during World War II. (Adult content and language)
- The Tree-Sitter by Suzanne Matson. This book made me think long and hard about the logging industry and the real-life people who go to dangerous and sometimes radical extremes to fight the clear-cutting of old-growth forests. I don't buy any paper now unless it's marked "100% recycled" on the package, and this book is the reason why. (Adult content and language)
- The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. Aside from the original characters and engaging story, this book made me re-evaluate the simple act of walking. (Yep, walking.) It's not just a way to get from one place to another, it's a chance to deeply absorb the world, including your own inner world.
- She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. Wally Lamb is brilliant, plain and simple. He made me really think about the way our society treats people who struggle with obesity. (Adult content and language)
- Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I always love books told from a kid's point-of-view, and the precocious nine-year-old who narrates this story has a captivating (and really sad) tale to tell.
- I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn. This book is dream-like and poetic, an island reverie.
- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. I cried throughout the last chapter. That's the mark of a good book!
Classic Fiction
I'm not going to add any notes about these choices because they're classics. If you don't already know the stories, I'm not giving away anything here!
- Washington Square by Henry James
- The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
- The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
- Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
Non-Fiction
- Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman. I laughed a lot, I cried a little, and I totally loved this book.
- Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh. Edgy and hilarious. Allie Brosh really understands dogs! (Adult language)
- We Learn Nothing by Tim Kreider, my favorite essayist from The New York Times. He's funny, smart, and insightful, and I wish I knew him in real life so we could hang out and discuss everything under the sun. (Adult language and content)
- Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman. I remain fascinated by how the French manage to raise a nation of unfussy eaters with sophisticated palates.
- The Daily Spark: Poetry by Spark Publishing. Technically, these 180 prompts are designed for students to explore the craft of poetry, but adults also will be inspired to pick up a pen and try their hand at some verse.
- Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn. "Mindfulness" is one of the biggest buzz words around, but being a mindful parent in the age of 24/7 streaming technology is a formidable challenge, no?
- Trees Make the Best Mobiles by Jessica Teich and Brandel France de Bravo. I tend to shy away from parenting advice books because every child is different, but this book shares low-key wisdom about how to relax into parenthood and stop fretting about all the stuff your child supposedly "needs."
- Silence: How to Find Inner Peace in a Busy World by Christina Feldman. Soul-soothing. On nearly every page, I found something that resonated with me about seeking out the quiet moments and learning from them.
How's that for overloading your beach tote?
Your turn: What book would you add to this summer reading list? Let's hear it in the comments section!
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- All digital cameras welcome (any type, including smart phones).
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