The Books of Summer

Ahhhh, spring. Although I am still complaining that is entirely too cold still, I am happy to see the trees turn green again. Summer seems like a time for people to pick up those books they never got around to during the rest of the year. I think I read less in the summer. I much prefer to be outside, and I get way too distracted, what with the wind, and the random bugs flying around, and, oh listen, the ice cream truck’s coming to…what was I saying? Oh yes, I get too distracted sitting outside to read. But the thought of cracking open a book with all the possibilities it contains while sitting on the beach is quite romantic (you can always tell a library book has been to the beach because it still has a sunscreen smell, and some sand). Here is a list of some books that just might fit perfectly into your beach bag/ hammock/ airplane chair/ comfy couch with the AC on. I will call it “the books of summer” (not to be confused with The Boys of Summer, the Roger Kahn book that didn’t go over too well at my Monday night book discussion).

As I prefer not to cry while at the beach, let’s go for something funny, no? How ‘bout David Sedaris, the dude everyone is talking about. Or Michael Ian Black, perhaps the anti-Sedaris as is quite apparent by one of his chapters in his book.

Relaxing on the hammock, there’s nothing sweeter. Unless you prefer to swing and do crazy tricks on the hammock like I used to as a kid. Come to think of it, I’ve never actually used a hammock the correct way in my life. But if I did, I would certainly read a book like The Thirteenth Tale while swinging lazily and appropriately on my hammock.

The airplane is a perfect chance to read, catch up on a few chapters of, say, a travel book, while hurtling through the skies. Why not try The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen? This is a great book to distract you from the fact that you are 30,000 feet in the air and is the perfect accompaniment to airplane food (well, not really, but what is?).

And now my favorite. Let’s admit it; we may not all ride on an airplane this summer, or sit on the beach. Maybe hammocks only existed in 1950’s suburbia, but we’ll always have a comfy couch, right? And what better way to avoid the bugs and distracting wind than by staying in the house and pretending you’re outside with Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block. I must say, I have been quite the fan of Ms. Block’s works lately. The writing is imaginative and amazing. And perfect alongside fireflies and night blooming jasmine--as seen from your window.