Book Report: Summer Reading List

I recently received a copy of chick-lit author Jane Green’s latest: Second Chance (Plume, 2008). It’s a frothy beach read about four former school mates reunited by a friend’s untimely death. That sounds all serious, but Green is known for her romantic leanings and quirky, Bridget Jones’ Diary-type characters. I immediately snapped that one up for my pile of escapist free-time reading.

But that got me thinking. We’re a couple weeks out from the official start of summer (though today’s balmy temp has me completely distracted by thoughts of lawn chairs and Mai Tais) and that means it’s time to break out the less academic, more fun books. (Or, if you like, the hefty, toothsome tome perfect for those sprawling days of vacation.)  Here’s a suggested reading list from local bookstores — what will you be reading this summer?

From Alsace at Malaprop’s:
• The Host (Little, Brown and Company, 2008), an adult book by YA author Breaking Dawn, is set to release Aug. 2, look for a midnight party to be held at Malaprop’s on Aug. 1.)
• Unaccustomed Earth (Knopf, 2008) by Jhumpa Lahiri.
• David Sedaris’ newest: When You Are Engulfed in Flames (Little, Brown and Company, 2008).

From David at Barnes and Nobel:
• Journalist Barbara Walter’s autobiographical Audition: A Memoir (Knopf, 2008).

From Chris at City Lights Books:
• Local author Vicki Lane just published In A Dark Season (Dell, 2008), the fourth in her Goodweather mystery series. The book is available in a beach-friendly pocket paperback.
• The Blue Star (Little, Brown and Company, 2008), set in Rutherford County, is Tony Earley’s long awaited sequel to Jim and the Boy.

From Allison at Osondu Booksellers:
• Garden of Last Days (W.W.Norton, 2008) by Andre Dubus III (author of House of Sand and Fog).
• Devil May Care: The New James Bond Novel (Doubleday, 2008) by Sebastian Faulks, writing as Ian Fleming.
• The Sugar Queen (Bantam, 2008) by local author Sarah Addison Allen.
• Local author Susan Reinhardt’s Dishing with the Kitchen Virgin (Kensington, 2008).

—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter