Summer Reading List?

[PrincessFiona]

Does anyone have some good suggestions for a fun summer reading list? I'm looking to find some books for myself to read while the kids play at the park/swim at our local park...

kris

[Rapunzel]

Jon and I are reading "Enders Game" at the moment. It's pretty cool! It turns out that a resident in his program and his wife are also currently reading this book and really like it.

[mommax3]

These are *very* light reads, but I enjoyed them (shallow person that I am!)

"Babyville" by Jane Green (I got it at Target -- she has written others that I am going to try to find at the library)

anything by Marian Keyes (I have read all of her books -- the one I read on vacation is called "Sushi for Beginners".)

anything by Rosamunde (or is it Rosalinde) Pilcher

I think these may all be Irish authors -- I know for sure that two of them are -- so you may have already read them, or they may really be up your alley due to the time you spent there.

Sally

[Meenah]

My husband has enjoyed all of the Ender books.
Luanne

Well, my summer reading plans were dashed by the availability of the books at the library. I'm sure I'll find some back-ups!
I want to read:
The Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman. It's about Alice, a Harvard-educated first year surgery resident who is severly lacking in social graces. Sounds like a nice light read. I am #49 on the wait list and the library only has one copy of the book! I know the library has been hard up for $$$....maybe there are more copies on the way.

Libby, Montana: Asbestos and Deadly Silence of an American Corporation by Andrea Peacock. Sounds cheery, huh? This is about the Grace corporation in Libby, Montana knowingly exposing its workers and citizens to asbestos but not doing a thing about it -- actually covering it up. (The high school track was paved with mine tailings loaded with asbestos 8O ). Sounds like an interesting read with an interesting cast of characters. And it's only 250 pages -- sometimes non-fiction books get too long to keep my interest. The library doesn't have this book....yet.

I think I'll start on My Antonia while I'm waiting.

[Cumberland]

i just finished The Secret Life of Bees( about a girl who runs away from home and is taken in by a beekeeper) and after that, Bel Canto( about a group of important political figures taken hostage in South America). Both were highly reviewed and good qiuck reads. Next on my list is Leopold's Ghost ( about the Belgian occupation of the Congo) and East of Eden ( it is Oprah's pick for her new classics book club)

I read both The Secret Life of Bees and Bel Canto about a month ago. Both were great but Bel Canto was definitely my favorite -- Eric enjoyed it too. Both would be perfect summer reads.

I saw my uncle for dinner tonight and he loaned Einstein's Dreams to me. Each chapter is its own story is only a few pages long. On the Einstein theme, has anyone read Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America with Einstein's Brain? It is non-fiction that reads like fiction and is very entertaining.

[DCJenn]

I read The Cranberry Queen in about a day. It's a great light read about a woman who is dealing with a horrible family tragedy and how she gets through it. It sounds really serious and there are some serious moments but she's a very funny character.

Jenn

[houseelf]

I went to Halfpriced books today. Sadly, Nietzche remains unread. But I plan to read Jarhead over the next few weeks. It is the memoirs of an enlisted marine soldier from the first Iraqi conflict. Kind of like the Red Badge of Courage told from a gritty, pornographic, post modern world.

Also, I plan to read Hornet Flight by Ken Follett. I normally rip through his novels in a day or two. I love his sweeping stories of WWII, spies, Nazi Germany, and the like. He always entertains.

I have a stack of interesting reads that I hope to eventually pick up. My night stand serves as a holding area for the books that I hope to get to but haven't yet. It is starting to look a little overwhelming.

Kelly

I think a Carl Hiassen (sp?) novel would make for good summer reading. They are light, funny, and quick to read. I usually have a hard time putting down his books after I get started. Two favorites are Baket Case and Lucky You, and add Sick Puppy, too.

They all take place in Florida, usually the Miami area and have some sort of environmental commentary (so if you are far from being a tree-hugger you might find it less enjoyable).

Jon and I are reading "Enders Game" at the moment. It's pretty cool! It turns out that a resident in his program and his wife are also currently reading this book and really like it.

He's one of my favorite authors, and "Ender's Game" is a total classic. If you liked it, try "Ender's Shadow" which is a parallel--some of the events from a different characters point of view. I liked "Speaker for the Dead" and "Xenocide", but not as much as the first one. I've got "Shadow of the Hegemon" on the to-read pile.

I also liked his Women of Genesis series "Sarah" and "Rebekah", and "Stone Tables". He's incredibly versatile.

[Rapunzel]

I read "Sarah" and "Rebekah" last year and absolutely loved them. Orson Scott Card is so great. His books are so easy to read but far from mind candy (they give you something to think about). Fun stuff!

Life of Pi was a great quick read that also had some weight to it.

David Sedaris has a new one coming out next month I think. I'm really looking forward to having free time to read again. I'm excited to hit the book fair next week to find some bargains.