Summer Reading List

This issue Gwen and I have switched places in that she found a really great interview and I told her to go for it, that left me to do the book review... I just couldn't find a good book to read and feel good about reviewing.  I was hoping the Drew Berrymore book Wildflower would have been just more...
It wasn't.  I also wasn't too keen on Loving Amy, a Mother's story (Amy Winehouse).  It wasn't all I was hoping for either.

Then I thought perhaps I would go in a different direction - give a summer reading list, good books to take on vacation or just for reading around the house.  I searched far and wide, compared lists from books stores and all that Google could offer me.  The first four of these books were on multiple lists, the fifth book is my personal pick... Because if you have been a reader of our little site for a while you would know that many issues ago, I got the privilege to interview Marie.  She is a very down-to-earth person and if I remember correctly, either she or her husband has family in the Pittsburgh area.

I will list the book title, author and a brief description for you... and please note that all books can be purchased via Amazon.com and are not listed in any particular order.

1.  The Vacationers: A Novel  by Emma Straub - This book is about a Manhattan family's two week stay in Mallorca.  The parents (Jim and Franny) are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary and their daughter Sylvia has graduated from high school.  During the two week vacation secrets come out (some old some new) and new humiliations are the result.
2. Where'd you Go, Bernadette:  A Novel by Maria Semple  -  This book is about a woman named Bernadette Fox, a fearless and strongly opinionated woman would is a revolutionary in the field of architecture.  She goes missing and her daughter is on a mission to find her mother.
3. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler - This book is a coming of age book about a young girl named Tess.  It starts off with Tess renting a room in Williamsburg in the summer of 2006 and followers her into womanhood.
4. Jonathan Unleashed by Meg Rosoff - This is a book about Jonathan who is juggling a half-crazed boss, a girlfriend with unrealistic expectations and a blah apartment.  His brother asks him to dog sit for him and that is when Jonathan starts to contemplate the meaning of his life.
5. Desire After Dark: A Gansett Island Novel by Marie Force - This is book 15 in the Gansett series and takes a look at the budding romance between Slim (Tobias Jackson) and Erin and the trials and tribulations she is going through after losing her twin brother and how Slim helps her with her loss and doing the things she hasn't been able to do since her twins death (like flying in a plane).  

That is just a very small list of some of the great books out there for summer reading.  A little lighter reading than usual, vacation worthy, if you will.  

Whatever you decide to read this summer, enjoy!

Nicole Leckenby is the driving force behind the Holiday Café blog spot.  She also works full-time and runs after two very energetic boys at home.