Beach reading, by definition, is not very heavy. It is difficult to contemplate weighty content with sand between your toes and a frisbee flying over your head. But just because you need a fun book for the beach, doesn't mean you have to read something completely fluffy. These five books were some of the best from the past year, but they are also light enough to throw in your beach bag.
*Looking for romance & thrillers for your beach reading? Check out this list of lighter beach reads.
Body Surfing spans three summers in the life of a woman named Sydney. The beach house in this story functions as a character itself, playing a large role in the story and providing the novel with an intoxicating air of summer vacations and sandy feet.
Body Surfing would make a great beach book, but it's also emotionally satisfying enough to stand up to anytime of year.
The pages of
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen turn themselves with their rich descriptions and action. You will be drawn into the world of ringmasters, elephants and sideshows during the Great Depression. You will not want to put
Water for Elephants down, and when it is over, you will want more.
Heat is a fascinating and surprising story of one man's journey from journalist to kitchen slave to culinary apprentice. Bill Buford's memoir covers his time working in a first-class New York restaurant and repeated journeys to Italy to apprentice with the country's best chefs. The narrative is complemented by research into culinary history back to ancient times.
Heat is a page-turner you can take to the beach, but also interesting enough for readers with an appetite for a meatier experience.
Digging to America by Anne Tyler tells the story of two families who meet at the airport when they are adopting Korean infants. The Donaldson family is as all-American as they come. The Yazdans are Iranian immigrants.
Digging to America uses the story of the families' growing friendship to explore what it means to be American.
