It just seems too hot to do much of anything this time of year — anything, that is, except pour a tall, cool drink and crack that stack of books you’ve been saving up for the lazy days of summer.
Unless you’re a student facing long days of Tolstoy from the required list, doing some light reading is such a treat, bookstores sell a specific type of book to satisfy that need: Dedicated readers call them “beach reads” –books just perfect for putting in a beach bag while you soak up the sun.
Here are some beach reads recommended by local book store owners and book club enthusiasts:
Carolyn Chesser of Bayou Book Co., in NicevilleAlthough hardback books are a little more of an investment, some authors are so popular, people are willing to shell out the $20-$30 just to get their latest.
James Patterson is one of those authors, and he cashes in on his cachet for producing beach-worthy thrillers with this year’s “Beach House.” Don’t think it’s a coincidence he uses “Beach” in some of his titles, nor that they tend to be released just as the temperature starts to heat up.
“Beach House” makes the top of Chesser’s list of hardbacks, along with “Swapping Lives” by Jane Green, “The Rapture” by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, “Marley and Me” by John Grogan and “Miss Julia Stands Her Ground,” by Ann B. Ross.
Chesser is a fan of taking paperback mysteries to the beach. They’re perfect for slipping into a beach bag, and you don’t have to worry about sand and salt water damaging an expensive read.
Her list of paperback mysteries includes “A Dinner to Die For” by Claudia Bishop, “Tale of Hill Top Farm” by Susan Wittig Albert, “To the Nines” and “Ten Big Ones” by Janet Evanovich, “The Innocent” by Harden Coven, “Murder by the Book” by D.R. Meredith, “Paid in Blood” by Mel Odom, “Quilt Game” and “Footprints of God” by Greg Iles and “Murder in Foggy Bottom” by Margaret Truman.
As far as paperback fiction, Chesser breaks her suggested books into two types: ones that are so undemanding that you can keep an eye on the kids, and those that are so engrossing you should only read when you have no distractions.
The less demanding titles include “Carolina Isle” by Jude Deveraux, “Blue Smoke” and “Black Rose” by Nora Roberts, “Shop in Blossom Street” by Debbie Macomber, “Return Engagement” by Lyn Michaels, “Home to Harmony” by Philip Gilley and “Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet?” by Charlene Ann Baumbich.
Those books that you can’t put down include “Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd, “When Crickets Die” by Charles Martin, “Lady Justice” and “Lady Liberty” by Vicki Hinze, “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon and “September” by Rosamund Pilcher.
She has recommendations, too, for young adult readers who need a break from their required summer reading: “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” by Ann Brashares, “Big Mouth and Ugly Girl” by Joyce Carol Oates and “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini.
Richard Johnson at “Books N More” in Niceville
Johnson looks to bestselling authors to predict what will be hot this summer for beach reading.
“There are a number of mysteries by the super-popular authors coming out, or being released in paperback, and summer or beach reading is a big reason why,” Johnson said.
New books coming out this summer to catch that wave are “Twelve Sharp” by Janet Evanovich, “Dangerous Tides” by Christine Feehan and “The Lincoln Lawyer” by Michael Connelly.
But fiction isn’t the only thing that sells, and sells well, when people want to relax with a good book.
One of the biggest hits this season, Johnson predicts, will be Ann Coulter’s new book, “Godless: The Church of Liberalism.”
“Even though it was just released last week, it’s already got a lot of controversy surrounding it,” Johnson said. “And, controversy sells books.”
That book will be plenty popular in this area, he said, following a certain regional bent for conservatism. Along with that, there’s a strong interest in the area with things military, which fuels book sales with some popular authors like W.E.B. Griffin.
“Griffin has a new book in the ‘Man of War’ series, so that will be popular this summer,” he said.
At his book shop, which heavily features used books, he sees a lot of interest in mysteries and romance novels during beach season, as well as a big demand for cheap copies of the classics from students doing summer reading.
“A lot of times, people will buy the big popular book of the season, like the author and then come here to find more that that author has written,” he said.
Cathy Stauskas of Shalimar, member of a local book club
Stauskas is member of a 9-year-old book club made up of about 20 to 40 diverse women who are “quite vocal with their opinions.”
Over the past few summers, these books have been their favorite “beach reads:”
- “Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood,” by Rebecca Wells.
- “Chocolat” by Joanne Harris.
- “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd.
- “The Boy Next Door” by Meg Cabot.
- “Three Junes” by Julia Glass.
- “The DaVinci Code” by Dan Brown.
- “The Bean Trees” by Barbara Kingsolver.
- “Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc” by Lorraine Despres.
- “The Devil Wears Prada” by Lauren Welsberger.
- “The Mermaid Chair” by Sue Monk Kidd.
- “Skinny Dip” by Carl Hiaasen.
Staff Writer Angie Toole can be reached at 863-1111, Ext. 438.