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Entertainment Blog
Most recent posting below. See other blog postings in the column to the right.
Beach Reads
I can't sit still on a beach. I have to go for a walk, or a run/jog (if under duress), or a bike ride if a bike can slog through sand and wind. But with the right conditions - umbrella, cool breeze, cold drink, and a good beach read, all bets are off.
What's under my umbrella this summer? I've tackled a variety of good reads, some worthwhile, some questionable, but all evoke sun, sand, relaxation. Summertime is not the time to tackle War and Peace (at least not for me - I tackled that a few years ago with my book club, and liked the Peace aka party part).
On my bookshelf in the comfort of AC and a cozy bed is a variety of serious fiction, but for the beach (or lake, river or mountains), here are a few recommendations and/or insights:
The Help - OK I may be the last person (woman) on the planet who had not read this novel by now, but I finished it (thank you Leslie) a month ago and loved it. I'm from the South and had help way back when, so can relate to the era, the people, the dialogue (spot on, especially of the Help), and the gap between rich and poor, educated and not, haves and have nots, and the angst a smart white girl has when she discovers much of her past and history is a lie. This is a great read and well told story.
A Little Cape Magic (Richard Russo) - a quick fun read but disappointing compared with Empire Falls, which I and many others loved. Am reading The Sportswriter (Richard Ford) at the same time, and in comparison, felt that Russo rushed his way through a potential beach best seller. Strange focus on backstories without fully fleshed out characters, with the exception of the protagonist Griffin's parents. The best part of the novel is the short story within (sort of like John Irving or AS Byatt's story within a story approach).
Too Much Happiness (Alice Munro) - Her latest collection (2009) of short stories much set in Canada, are gloomy yet intriguing, and make beach reading feel smarter... the stories are varied, touching, memorable, not unlike Carver's (another favorite).
Next up – A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore, and The Emperor of Ocean Park (Stephen Carter) – both of which seem like good beach reads, if I can find another beach!
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