Loungechair Reading

As I get ready for tonight's bookclub meeting, I ponder the role of books in our lives. Now, I am the kind of girl who grew up with the flashlight under the covers or sneaking into the bathroom in the middle of the night with a favorite tome. I am a quick read; I spent my adolescence reading "People" cover to cover before my dad brought the latest issue to his office waiting room. I have read through the entire self-help section of Barnes & Noble in three hours, while nursing a nonfat latte! My bookshelves are filled with an extensive collection of cookbooks, British chick lit, and fashion guide books.

I am a fan of the short story, especially by O. Henry and John Cheever. I have read the complete works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen, Philip Roth, Tom Wolfe, and J.D. Salinger, among others. But, my taste is not so high brow as to preclude an extensive collection of paperbacks which pay homage to "Bridget Jones Diary," including "The Devil Wears Prada" and a host of other books about single girls in the city. These books are the equivalent of crispy, hot french fries. I cannot stop at just one!

Today, I asked a friend for a beach read. He suggested "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman. I stopped at Border's and searched in the g's. I figured I would need to do a Barnes & Noble run or at least an Amazon booty call. I did find two paperbacks which caught my eye. These books would be impervious to sunscreen and a poolside cocktail. "Beginner's Greek," by James Collins, promises to be "as charming as it is enthralling" according to Entertainment Weekly. I have never relied upon the book reviews of Entertainment Weekly or People. But, Elissa Schappell of Vanity Fair claims this is "a satire of modern love that will charm both sexes equally." And the cover was kind of snazzy. My second pick was "A Summer Affair" by Elin Hilderbrand. "She was the perfect wife and mother and he was the perfect temptation." "A perfect summer cocktail of sex, sun, and scandal." Sounds promising! I approached the cash register where I asked about "Stardust" and was directed to the science fiction section. I haven't really read anything from this section since "The Andromeda Strain" in the early 70s. But lately, I have been inspired to go outside my comfort zone. I turned in my thirty percent off coupon and paid for my purchase.

Summer is the time for lounging by the pool with a page-turner, a cool drink, and armchair travel. These books will carry me to New York, Nantucket, and Wall. A quick peruse promises romance and excitement, at least on the written page! Among my summer's resolutions (why stop at New Year's?) is to revisit the classics and the concept of our life's journey changing our experience. The events in our lives do seem to alter the meaning or at least our perception of a song's lyrics or a best loved book. I will visit this idea in a future blog.

I will leave you for now with the smell of sunscreen, French fries, and chlorine. Here's to beach reads and the endless days of summer! Just remember to apply the SPF! And wait for an hour after eating before you jump in the pool!