Wednesday, June 22, 2005

The Suggestion Box Is Now Open

Folks, I'm gearing up to hit the beach this weekend. I plan on sleeping on the sand, drinking on the sand and, of course, reading on the sand.

That said, I'm looking for some summer reading.

Remember when we were in school and they gave us a list of, like, 20 books to read over summer so that we had something to talk about when we got back to school? Books like "Across Five Aprils", "Flowers for Algernon", "The Great Gatsby", "The Crucible", "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish"?

Well, this time you get to come up with my Summer reading list.

Already on my list:
"The DaVinci Code" (yes, I am so behind the times)

I'm not into science fiction (sorry, guys) and I hate trashy romance novels. Other than that, I'm pretty wide open. I am specifically looking for books that make for a quick read, something entertaining.

Oh, and please, no porn. I'm more manually stimulated.

8 comments:

spydrz said...

DaVinci's a quick read, and probably something you won't want to put down...Gatsby and the Crucible I read in high school, so I probably didn't like them because they were assignments...although Gatsby I found to be more enjoyable. As for sci-fi, I avoid it as well.

Micah said...

There's one summer book you HAVE to read:

Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk. It's a quick read, it's funny, and takes place in the Caribbean. Then you can listen to Jimmy Buffett's musical adaption afterwards. Voila! Perfect summer reading.

I read it while chillin' at Hilton Head two years ago.

While there I also read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. Given your love of cooking, I'd recommend this. It's quite interesting to take a peek at what you don't normally see in regards to the restaurant business. Plus, it's being turned into a TV show this fall, so you gotta be prepared. (I'll likely re-read this one at HH this year)

If you want to stick with the classics, A Farewell to Arms is my favorite Hemingway book and has a little something for everyone (war, romance).

Something funny? Pretty much anything by David Sedaris. His essays are hilarious. Me Talk Pretty One Day is his best, IMO. But, if you'd rather just listen, I can hook you up with the CD books...if I'm feeling generous.

Last year I picked up Dave Barry Hit's Below the Beltway super cheap at a used/overprint bookstore and read it in a day. Funny. Really, you can't go wrong with any of his books.

And then it all comes back to Parliament of Whores which is just an excellent, funny dissection of the US government. I recently found a first printing hardcover copy at a used bookstore and snatched it up. (Not that I think it's worth will grow; I just think hardcovers look better on the shelf.)

Whew! Hope that gives you some help.

Micah said...

Oh, and if you don't want to read my selections, there's always...I don't know...Superfudge.

Hasselback said...

To continue with the nautical theme, and again to give me an excuse to brag about where I now live, you should check out The Pirate Hunter. Honestly one of the best books that I have ever read, and Micah can attest to the fact that considering the size of my library, that's saying something.

Micah said...

Yes, George's library is large. Chock full of fantasy and military books. And fantasy military books.

Kate The Great said...

Spydrz,,, I am on the hunt for the paperback DaVinci! I went to the local independent, and they've run out. I guess I'll have to go to a Borders or something comparable.

And Gatsby is an awesome read. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that era.

Micah: I find so many coincidences in your post. I was just checking out Sedaris today. He was on Letterman tonight, which freaked me out b/c I was drooling over his book titled something to the effect of "Dress Your Family in Cordoroy". He is supposed to be a riot.

And "Parliament of Whores" is sitting in my bookcase in a pile of books I've been neglecting. A good GOP friend (not the GOP Big Wig) gave that copy to me as well as another book by PJ O'Rourke (Republican Party Reptile).

And what's so bad about Judy Blume? I was always a fan of "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret", but you probably didn't read THAT one.

George: The Pirate Hunter? Hmm, I'll have to look that one up. There's some old pirate lore back where I live (they say Captain Kidd hid his booty in the Thimble Islands).

Kate The Great said...

Zut alor! I googled DaVinci Code paperback and discovered it's not even out in the soft version. I guess they're still making hand over fist on the hard cover. That means I'll have to whore myself out on the corner just a little bit longer.

Michael Hickerson said...

It may be too late for you to get this....but hey, I will suggest books anyway.

The Lynley and Havers series by Elizabeth George. Start with A Great Deliverance. Good mysteries, better on-going characters. Up to about 10 or so books by now...but all good.

Songbird by Lisa Sampson. Read it last summer and wow..it was good.

The Harmony novels by Philip Gulley. Contempoary Chrisitan Lake Wobegon like stories.

Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman. One of the best books I've read in the past year.