Sunday, July 6, 2014

Authentic Summer Beach List, It’s Not What You May Have Guessed

Tell me what you read and I’ll tell you who you are.
No, I’m not a fortune teller but like the saying goes about friends, books say a lot about who we are and what kind of mood we are in or perhaps how much thought we took when packing. I, for one spend more time picking books for my trip than clothes. It’s a beach, I’ll bring a bathing suit but what books am I going to read?! At least 3-4 for a week with some backups, just in case. Recently, on a Caribbean vacation at an upscale International resort I conducted a small survey and even though I couldn’t bring the gorgeous beach home, I will share the surprising results with you, my reader friends.

Most books being read are not on the current bestseller or summer lists. Out of 55 people surveyed only 4 were on Kindles, everyone else, still an old fashioned actual book! Two repeats in the whole bunch with Mary Higgins Clark in French and 3 books in German, one a top seller in Germany and not available in the US for another year. And most interesting, participants were extremely nervous when approached and I am not that scary in a bikini! Readers were more embarrassed than secretive. If what they were reading seemed frivolous or too “fun” they felt the need to explain, as if this is not the “real” book I’m reading, that’s in the room, this one here with the heartthrob on the cover is just to pass the time. Oh, the vampires? Someone left that at my house. A little easier for e-readers, they hide behind their Kindle rather than showing the world their true covers.
Reading is very personal. Even though I share with the world on a regular basis my current read (though I did somewhat hesitate with Fifty Shades), most people became very nervous, men and women alike. And, I must say to the joy of my heart, there were equal parts men reading, which I adore, as I keep prodding my husband that reading is sexy!
So here it is, my list of 55 books people were actually physically reading on a beach, during summer. For some, vacation may be the only time they read a book all year and others, like myself, just the start to a huge reading list summer! Perhaps I need to further my research. Yes, I must go back right away. There are so many questions unanswered.
The Hunger Games  by Suzanne Collins
Agatha Raisin by M.C. Beaton
The Science of Fear by Daniel Gardner
The Book of Secrets by Tom Harper
The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson
One Thing by Gary Keller
Now You See Her by James Patterson *Kindle
The One and Only by Emily Giffin
Paper Towns by John Green
The Fixed Trilogy by Laurelin Paige *Kindle
Capital Crimes by Stuart Woods *Kindle
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy  by Helen Fielding (2)
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander M.D. (2)
The Pilgrimage by Paul Coelho
Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark (French)
Voll Speed by Moritz Matthies (German)
1491 by Charles Mann
A Walk on the Beach by Joan Anderson
Delikatesa by David Foenkinos (Albanian)
The Kingmakers Daughter by Phillipa Gregory
Revelations by Elaine Pagels
Die Trying by Lee Child
He’s Back by Timur Vermes (German) *Kindle
The Twelve by Justin Cronin
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Inferno by Dan Brown
A Feast for Crows by George Martin
11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
Power by Joyce Meyer
The Dance by Oriah
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
Follow Me by David Platt
The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe
Love You More by Lisa Gardner
Hawaiian Escape by Debbie Flint
How to Be Good by Nick Hornby
Shut Up, You’re Welcome by Annie Choi
Drinking and Dating by Brandi Glanville
The Strain by Guillermo DelToro & Chuck Hogan
Shadow Secret by Nora Roberts
The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru
The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom
Fly Away by Kristin Hannah
The Cutting Room by Louise Welsh
Das Falsche In Mir by Christa Bernuth (German)
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff
Lucky Us by Amy Bloom
Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch

1 comment:

  1. What fun! I always check to see what people are reading on the beach, but only by checking their covers. I don't have the nerve to actually question everybody...

    ReplyDelete