FOLIO
by erin thursby
Summer in Florida brings out the reader in me. Whether it’s the sweltering days–so hot you just can’t bear the thought of moving, or the afternoon rains, nothing makes me want to pick up a book more than this season. Here, for your reading pleasure I’ve assembled best-sellers, off-beat books and classic reads that just might whet your reading appetite.
for the bibliophile
While the unusual format of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has garnered the most attention (it’s all told through letters and a few diary entries) it’s the spirit of this book that will catch you. It begins just after WWII, with the correspondence of a female humor writer who eventually starts writing to the inhabitants of one of the English Channel Islands, located between France and England and captured by the Germans during the war. But the story isn’t just about WWII and it’s impact. It’s about how the written word can lift and connect us.
self-help for the man-hungry
Thrice married Steve Harvey dains to give women advice on getting a man in his best-seller, Act Like a Woman Think Like a Man. As usual it’s up to the woman to do the work. You might want to ask yourself–how many self-help books are out there for men on how to get a woman? If you are looking for a man and need to revisit this sort of thing, his advice isn’t bad, it’s just a bit trite. (Don’t have sex immediately, give a man what he needs so he doesn’t stray, etc.)
for design lovers with a taste for the whimsical
Doorbells of Florence is more than just pictures of doorbells in Florence. Although that by itself would make a charming coffee table tome, each picture is accompanied by the author’s fictional account of the people he imagines are the owners of the doorbell. It’s quirky and beautiful in the same way the film Amelie was. The stories are short, perfect for putting down and picking up between summer activities.
for zombie fans with a literary bent
The title is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It is what it sounds like. Take a beloved Jane Austen novel, add an author with a sense of humor and a penchant for zombie mayhem. In between the romance of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, expect the bodies to pile up, as Elizabeth now has combat training to deal with the zombie horde invading the quaint English countryside.
for a mystery novel lover
Why not grab a classic if you’re into the murder mystery genre? It’s surprising that many who love reading mysteries on their beach towel haven’t picked up Murder on the Orient Express or Death on the Nile. Even though Agatha Christie is a bit dated these days, it’s part of her charm. She published over 80 books in her lifetime. We suggest you stick to the early ones, first published from the 1920s through the 1940s.
for a new Western in the old style
Eventually, you’re going to run out of Louie L’amour books. When you do, check out Trail Hand: A Western Story. Instead of concentrating on “updating” the genre, the author simply tells the tale of a loner driving cattle. When one of the other hands with a grudge convinces the boss the loner is responsible for some cattle rustling, it’s up to him to find the real culprits before the posse catches up to him!
to feel good about humanity again
There are good people doing good things for others every day. Most of those things aren’t as sensationalistic as the murder on the 6 o’clock. That’s why you might feel the need to pick up Three Cups of Tea, which is about the instinct for altruism–and it’s a true story. When Greg Mortenson fell ill after attempting to climb the second tallest mountain, he was nursed back to health by Pakistani villagers. In return, he promised to help them build a school. But he built more than just one school–he’s still building them.
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