Today I embark on my annual trip to Lake Pleasant in the Adirondacks. Here’s to reconnecting with good friends, no cooking for a week, and plenty of activities to keep my family happy. Think putt-putt golf, white water rafting, and hiking. But the thing I look forward to the most: spending time on the beach and READING!
In years past I toted Pillars of the Earth and Great Expectations up to the lake. My traveling companions laughed at me. This summer, I want something more “beachy”.
What makes a good beach read?
Here are my criteria for a good vacation book; let me know if you agree.
- Nix the non-fiction– I struggle with non-fiction on a good day, but when I’m supposed to indulge in relaxation, no way!
- Keep it light– I don’t want anything too deep, depressing, or complicated. Vacation is the perfect time for fluffy entertainment.
- Make me laugh– I’ve recently realized how important humor is to me. As my writing buddy Jeannine Bergers Everett says, it’s much better to laugh at the absurdities of life than to get mad.
- Keep it light, part two (literally!)- Who wants to get a hand cramp while relaxing? Pillars of the Earth is three inches thick and weighs, seriously, five pounds. No fun in a beach chair. Of course, one could eliminate this problem with an e reader.
Suggested beach reads
A few weeks ago, I finished Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank. What conjures up a coastal breeze better than a novel set in South Carolina? The story: Cate Cooper returns to her childhood home after her husband’s suicide leaves her homeless, broke and emotionally shattered. Besides including lovely description of Folly Beach, Ms. Frank weaves in historical information about Dubose and Dorothy Heyward and their collaboration with the famous composer George Gershwin.
Folly Beach got me in the mood for summer and gave me a few laughs. Ms. Frank has a reputation for “saucy wit.” But the dialogue and tone seemed targeted for an “older” audience. Perhaps that’s just because I’m immersed in the world of YA these days.
Although it breaks my “no non-fiction” rule, I’d also recommend Stories I Only Tell My Friends, Rob Lowe’s autobiography. In full disclosure, I haven’t read it myself, but my friend Kristen really enjoyed it on our trip a few years ago. And not just for the pictures. I loved hearing her say after dinner one night, “I’m gonna go crawl into bed with Rob Lowe.”
If you prefer audio books, Mr. Lowe read this one himself, and apparently he does a great Cary Grant impression.
My choice for this summer is Looking for Alaska, by John Green. Mr. Green always delivers wit, but I’m also sure he’ll wow me with thoughtful prose. Hopefully nothing too deep.
What have been some of your favorite beach reads? What qualities do you look for in a vacation book?
Share your suggestions in the comments, and thanks for stopping by!
P.S. Since I’ll be at the lake, I’m taking a blog vacation as well. Look for new tips on vocabulary and reading starting July 17.
Julia
I LOVE Rob Lowe’s “Stories I Only Tell My Friends.” That would be a fantastic beach read, especially if you grew up with him like I did. The part of the book about filming “The Outsiders” was riveting because all those young actors getting their start wound up becoming famous in their own right. “West Wing”, a favorite TV series of mine, is covered, along with his relationship with Martin Sheen and some interesting tidbits about “Apocalypse Now.” Lowe has an engaging style, and I have heard that the only thing better than reading this book is listening to him whisper it in your ear via an audiobook!
Hi Julia! I hope you’re having a great time with the family. I am a huge Dorothea Benton Frank fan, too. I think I’ve read them all. Being that you’re in SW VA, I’m sure you’ve read plenty of Lee Smith. I think I’ve read all of hers too.
The things I’m plowing through now aren’t as breezy, such as “Because They Hate” about the rise radical Islam. I’m determined to finish, but might have to take a little beach breather soon!
Have a great vacation! I think you have really good criteria for a beach read, although I find myself reading all types of books throughout the year. My recent ones have been: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, and The Third Son by Julie Wu. For a breezy book, I’ve got my name on the wait list at the local library for Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella.
I’ll have to put those books on my summer reading list. Too funny about crawling into bed with Rob Lowe! Have a great trip & enjoy the R&R!