I've received a few requests for book suggestions to take away on holiday so I came up with a few great reads according to your mood or favourite genre. I hope these picks will please whether you're looking to grab something at the bookstore or feed your reader before you venture off on your vacay!
FICTION
Born Weird by Andrew Kaufman
Born Weird should be in a category all on its own and it's definitely magical realism at its best! I had the opportunity to met the author and I have to say, he was a blast and a half! The Weird family's five grandchildren were each given different super powers courtesy of their grandmother. She promises to lift their blessings-turned-curses upon her death. This creative story inspires the imagination, endears and entertains. If you were born with a super human trait and given the chance to have it disappear one day, would you take it away? Well, would you?
BIOGRAPHY
A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert “Believe It or Not!” Ripley by Neal Thompson
Who hasn't heard of Ripley and his collection of everything that is weird and wonderful? Have you ever wondered about the man behind the Ripley collection? I've been intrigued since way back when I read my first Ripley's comic book and of course a number of visits to the Ripley's attractions in Niagara Falls, Canada. If you're the curious kind, then step right up and, believe it or not, Neal Thompson's collection of facts and stories won't disappoint!
BOOK CLUB
The End Of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
This is the author's touching tale about his relationship with his mother during her battle with terminal cancer. Sharing books can create a bond and this is clearly the case when it comes to Will and his mother Mary Anne. They start a book club together and learn to listen, experience gratitude and rediscover their lives through the power of books. This story is a true testament to the bond between a mother and son and a lesson in love and loss. If you love to share books with friends or enjoy suggesting books for your book club then this one's for you, but fair warning, you may want to have a tissue box at the ready.
ROMANCE
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Steadman
Vacation and romance tend to go hand in hand don't they? If you're looking for a book to take you away from the everyday then check out The Light Between Oceans. After 4 years on the Western Front, Tom returns to his wife Isabel in Australia. They live an isolated existence on an island where Tom is the lighthouse keeper. After years of trying unsuccessfully to have a child, a "gift from God" appears. This miracle is in the form of a boat washing up on shore with a dead man and a living baby inside. You know when good people make bad decisions? Yah, that! I won't say anymore. Just take it from me that this is a must-read!
HISTORICAL FICTION
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan
I met Cathy Marie Buchanan at a book reading for her novel The Day The Falls Stood Still and it was apparent from her slideshow presentation that she had a passion for researching as well as writing. Set in 1978 Paris, The Painted Girls is the tale behind the young ballet figure in the famous Degas sculpture "Little Dancer Aged 14." The two Van Goethem sisters have lost their father and their mother is drinking away her money earned as a laundress. Marie and Antoinette enter the worlds of ballet and theatre of Belle Epoque Paris. The sisters learn to sacrifice, survive and thrive in the seedy Parisian underworld. This is a must read for history, theatre, dance, and art buffs alike!
Here's a list of YA books for you or your teen to consider taking on your getaway. What books would you suggest for a beach day or a summer holiday? Please feel free to share in the comments below!
Relish reading,
"Reading a book at the beach" photo credit Flickr Creative Commons: Simon Cocks.
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