Reader Crystal passed along a recent article from NPR soliciting nominations for the best beach reads ever, which they then narrowed down to 100.
What’s a beach read? NPR defines:
“When you read one, your surroundings recede, time bends and you’re transported, mesmerized, enthralled. These are page turners to be sure, but that doesn’t mean they’re brainless. This year’s list will be fiction only; any genre, any period.”
Personally I feel like the key is the page-turning part. You’re at the beach! You’re relaxing! There are distractions! The brain should not be overly taxed, but the book should still be really fun and engaging to read.
Which is why I was a littttle surprised to see NPR’s choices for the top 100, including such literary heavyweights as Dostoyevsky’s THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV and Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet.
Don’t get me wrong – I love me some Lawrence Durrell (I represent his estate in the US for crying out loud) and you should absolutely buy JUSTINE and take it to the beach or wherever else you want to read it because it’s incredible. It’s just not quite what I’d think of as a “beach” read. It’s a great literary masterpiece after all, and thus I see it more in the “lounging by the fireplace in cold weather” arena.
I think we can do better than NPR.
So. What are your favorite beach reads of all time?
I’ll start with SPHERE by Michael Crichton, CRYPTONOMICON by Neal Stephenson (NPR got that one right), and anything by Jane Austen.
What are your favorites?
Any of the John Sanford "Prey" novels featuring Lucas Davenport. They're easy to absorb, require little to no concentration, and filled with fast-packed page-turning action.
Oh, and James Lee Burke would be another fav, maybe even more than John Sanford, because Burke has a talent for those beautiful passages describing nature. What better than being out in nature and absorbing it through the written word as well.
"The Beach" by Alex Garland – about backpackers in Thailand… we've all seen the movie with Leo.
I write for children and young adults, and that is what I read for pleasure. I love Riordan's Percy Jackson series, starting with The Lightning Thief. Scholastic's 39 Steps series is fun, and the book I'm reading now, Masterpiece by Broach, makes the list, as well.
I could name my own top 100, but I'll stop here.
I'm going to go with something funny that I can share with my equally obnoxious friends but still put down when a game of sand volleyball picks up and don't care if I never see it again (just in case of you know, a giant tidal wave hits while we're playing sand volleyball or something…) and go with Tucker Max.
I'll list the books that I've read that I couldn't put down once I started:
The Lost Legends of New Jersey by Frederick Reiken
The Da Vinci Code (Brown)
His Dark Materials trilogy (Pullman)
The Time Traveler's Wife
Also, I tried this at the beach last year: Bring some of your own writing to share with those around you. There's no better feeling than knowing that people are reading your work (although, there's no worse feeling than if they put down your work for James Patterson).
I definitely agree with some of classics- I love Jane Austen and Dumas. Sometimes I just want pure entertainment for a "beach read" though. New author John Lacombe's Winter Games was the last fast-paced adventure I read.
Can I plug Alien Hand Syndrome (https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Hand-Syndrome-Alan-Bellows/dp/0761152253/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248322251&sr=8-1) as I helped write and edit it?
It would be good on beaches …
Maarten Troost's "Sex Lives of Cannibals"
The best 'beach-read' I've ever read was a novel that, at the time, was generating a tremendous amount of buzz, and which, foolishly, I assumed I was going to detest – this novel, at the time, was being cut to pieces in most literary circles, and for that reason I had actually allowed a part of my mind to be made up for me before I had even set eyes on the first page.
It was being cut to pieces of course because it was selling well, and because it was an easy-read.
The funny thing is that I actually did read this book at the beach. I can remember it well, because I was the designated driver that day, and while my friends proceeded to get goosed, I sat there, sober, and read this novel.
It was The Firm, by John… something, I can't remember his last name.
Goodman, or something like that.
I've often wondered what happened to that guy? He just vanished, as typically happens with authors.
How many writers do we know of who wrote a best-seller, but had no idea how they had managed to do it, and so never wrote again.
Too many!
Can anybody say Robert John Waller!
That guy, of course, wrote the best-selling novel: "The Brides Of Madison County". Ah, but then after his success there we never heard from the fellow again.
So typical. So typical.
If I had to choose a second great 'beach-read' I would probably name a book authored by a novelist whose name, funnily enough, has completely escaped me: the book was titled "The Pelican Brief" and it was a damned fine book.
Here, I'm going to sign my name now. People seem to hate it that I've posted, like, two comments here anonymously.
The Goose.
(I'll try to register if I can figure out how to do it.)
@anon 11:59 PM Not sure if you're serious or I missed your beach dry sense of humour – both books you mention (The Firm and Pelican Brief) and had forgotten the surname – "I've often wondered what happened to that guy? He just vanished, as typically happens with authors" – are John Grisham, who definitely didn't fall into obscurity.
Have to agree with some of the others:
Melissa's – The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon (heavy to carry though, more of a garden summer read than beach read for me)
Ink – Christie mysteries – oh yes, how many of those did I read as a teen on summer holidays!?
But I too (like WendyC and MysteryRobin), spend more time on beaches looking after and playing with my three under three, so what do I take to read? Anything that's not too heavy (can you possibly imagine before you do it, how much stuff you need to carry with three kids to a beach?) and stories that I can read in short snaps and still follow who is who and what happens (ie: a page or two at a a time) which is not very satisfactory but sometimes the only reading I can get done.
Every Summer needs some Jane Austen. It just happens. I wind up with a Jane Austen book and it always turns out to be the medicine I need.
Lately, though, I've been enjoying Murakami books. I've already read Kafka on the Shore and now I'm loaded with Norwegian Wood for my 14 hour flight from Japan. I'm excited about Norwegian Wood, but I don't think it could top Kafka on the Shore for me–but I'm always open to the unexpected.
Oh, and I have this theory that Miyazaki Hayao will be on my flight. That theory really had nothing to do with summer reads, so it's time to go back to my corner.
Totally agree with Time Traveller's Wife, but I also love to read anything by Ben Elton when on holidays. I live on the south east coast of Australia, so heaps of beautiful beach time! Mind you – Ben's dry English wit and clever plots works when I go to thew Snowy Mountains on holidays, too!
Oops two typos in one sentence. not cool. Sometimes I can blame crazy Aussie spelling/grammar (colour, neighbour, realise etc), but not this time!
Mind you – Ben's dry English wit and clever plots work when I go to the Snowy Mountains on holidays, too!
Two Flights Down,
Have you read Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles? Masterpiece.
Island by Gordon Korman.
Whale Season by NM Kelby, Bleachers by John Grisham.
Chick lit, definitely. Preferably Sophie Kinsella (Remember Me, Undomestic Goddess) or some of the other British authors (Wendy Holden, Helen Fielding). Light and humorous, but with surprisingly insightful themes.
If I had a week at the beach with nothing to do but read, I'd take Susan Whittig Albert's Beatrix Potter mystery series or Laura Child's Tea Shop mysteries.
Ah…blissful beach week. Where have you gone?
~Jen
Anything that takes place in Paris with those lovable lost generation types. Ah, Hemingway. I also read The Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham every summer.
Sphere. Good choice, Nathan. Crichton is one of my all-time favorites. I would throw Timeline by him in the mix. That's my number one choice out of all of his novels. If you haven't read it, pick it up and give it a try. As well as Prey. Another great read.
A couple of years ago on vacation I feigned sickness and hid in the bathroom to finish New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.
I ain't lyin', neither.
This year, I purposefully left my ARC of Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver at home so I wouldn't do it again.
It was a good choice. I would've been in the bathroom the whole trip.
I've noticed THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE on a number of lists. I bought this book in an airport bookstore thinking it would be the perfect "airplane read," but I got so confused by the plot after a couple of chapters I had to put it down. I think it might be a challenging beach read (at least for me!).
I do agree that THE DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD should be on the list–perfect beach book. If you haven't read this one, definitely stick it in your beach bag this summer.
Wodehouse, P. G. Wodehouse.
Homer's Odyssey. I read it every summer.
I totally second Harry Potter and Dan Brown books. I move that series make good beach books, because you can extend the magic through the summer.
The Little Lady Agency books
Not yet read them, but I bet Jeeves & Wooster would be nice
Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
Stand alone reads:
The Awakening if you are in good mental health
The Chyrsalids by John Wyndham – fun sci-fi from the 50s
Travelogues like the Kindness of Strangers or Holy Cow
I read two fantastic young adult novels at the beach this summer:
Savvy
Poison Study
I actually finished the first and then re-read it again immediately.
On The Road. Beatnik fun on the beach.
The best beach read is my blog: marjorie-digest. I just did a phenomenal interview with the legendary actress, Anna Berger.
Yes, you do know who Anna Berger is. She started her career (in 1954) on the Goodyear Television Playhouse and most recently appeared as "Cookie" on "The Sopranos."
I was thrilled to interview her and listen to her talk about her work.
Bukowski is always good for the beach, particularly "Women" or any collection of short stories.
Mists of Avalon, Plainsong by Kent Haurf, The Historian and a favorite of mine, Jane Eyre
I would for for 'Jaws' by Peter Benchley, especially if your goal at the beach was to enjoy the sand and the sun and not so much the surf.
Whoa!
Chuck!
Yes!
That's a great suggestion there! Wodehouse. Man, that's the best answer so far.
I wish that I had written that.
Wodehouse, unfortunately – and maybe a bit shockingly – has fallen off the map in recent years. It's incredibly depressing when I think about how many people of my age group have no idea who Wodehouse even is.
Which of the Wodehouse novels is your favorite? – if I had to choose one, I'd have to go with 'Right-ho, Jeeves'.
This was the novel in which Gussie Fink-nottle (not too sure about the spelling there) got liquored up before reading a speech and distributing the prizes at Market-Snodsbury Grammar school – Bertie's aunt subsequently referred to Gussie as being that 'inebriated newt-fancier'.
That's beach material – no question about it.
Great answer, guy.
The Goose.
marym – I love THE RAZOR'S EDGE! What an amazing book.
Pam – And I just have to second your passion for James Lee Burke. I'm from Louisiana, and I love the way he describes the southern part of the state in his Robicheaux books. In fact, I've begun re-reading the entire series. I'm so happy to hear that someone else appreciates him, too!
I'll weigh in with A Civil Action (Jonathan Harr) and Snow in August (Pete Hamill)!
Micki Ginsberg
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DUNGEON — Greg Costikyan
Wow, this is a great thread, you guys – I've written some stuff down in my little black book.
So many great books, but such little time to read them.
I'm also a computer-gaming enthusiast, and right now there are a lot of great games to be played as well (such as The Sims 3, and Empire: Total War).
But does anybody here read in the bathtub?
I'm more into reading books in the bathtub than I am at the beach.
The Goose.
Godfather, Jaws, Shogun, Taipan, LOTR, Hobbit, Harry Potter, Hawaii, From Here To Eternity, Clan Of The Cave Bear
@anon 10:21
All of 'em. I like the PBS series with Steven Fry and Hugh Laurie also.
First, I agree with Nathan completely regarding the proper definition of a beach read. Only NPR would attempt to call War and Peace a beach read. As for my votes, I'm definitely in the Hiaasen camp. Commenter David put it particularly well. The Island of the Sequined Love Nun, by Christopher Moore, is another great beach read. And The Beach, by Alex Garland, and I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith, both of which actually made the NPR list.
You know, with all the time I've spent on beaches in my life–and I know the coast between Monterey and about Point Reyes pretty well–I have to admit I've never read anything on a beach. There's too much to do at the beach to spend the day sitting in one place reading.
I love reading whenever possible when I'm indoors, but if I'm outdoors, I'm moving around doing stuff.
I totally understand Sphere. Frankly, anything Michael Crichton (RIP) constitutes a good beach read. i.e. the vastly under appreciated Jurassic Park and The Lost World which is simultaneously intelligent and terrifying.
You know that the other day I found out that my friends didn't know who he WAS? sigh…
White Gardenia by Belinda Alexandra
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
All addictive and intelligent reads no matter what the season!
Ciao,
Ozwriter
Since I live in Colorado, I don't get the chance to sit by a beach and read, but here are my mountain stream reads:
I had no idea what to expect when I picked it up, but Water For Elephants was a great read.
I'd also recommend Someday My Prince Will Come and The Ivy Chronicles–both were very funny.
My top three this summer:
The time traveler's wife
Water for elephants
Outlander series
I've just this afternoon finished a book by Douglas Adams titled "Last Chance To See".
The highlight of the book involves an 'international transit lounge', two 'transit authorities', three weary and angry transit passengers, and a refreshment-kiosk.
A search to buy a condom in China was also rather astonishing – the condom was meant for a microphone, to water-proof it for recording the sounds that a dolphin might hear while swimming in the Yangtze river.
The Chinese merchant, unable to understand English, but understanding a little mime, which Douglas had plucked up the nerve to perform, wanted to sell them some birth control pills.
What an amazing book – I can't believe that it took me so long to get around to reading that?
I think I might start reading it again tonight? I can't believe how quickly I advanced through that?
Michael Younger
Bel Canto, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, East of Eden, More Than You Know, Love Walked In, Jane Eyre, Emma, Washington Square..that's my short-list…books I finished and thought immediately, "I HAVE to read that again!"
When we went on our honeymoon, I took Every Boy's Got One, by Meg Cabot and my husband sat by the pool in Puerto Rico reading Common Wealth. 🙂
Austenland by Shannon Hale!