Beach Reads 2019- fiction

                                                 HOT READS IN THE SUMMERTIME: Portable & Affordable

Although summer officially kicked off a couple weeks ago, there are still plenty of hot, long days left, with most people getting their vacation on. That will involve traveling far and way as well as lounging on local beaches for many. As such, I’ve compiled my now annual list of recommended titles for “Summer Reads,” and I’ve got something for everybody, so don’t think this is for the ladies who lunch … or rather lounge. I’ve got you covered for mixing up the genres too, including a mystery thriller and a dramedy) For the most part I’m keeping it light, regarding content and physically speaking (paperbacks rule!). That goes for both categories, fiction and non-fiction. There are a couple of exceptions as two of the novels have heavier story lines (“American Marriage” and “Washington Black”), and one is in hardback. Obviously, I thought these two were worth making an exception for, and you should too. Trust me on this.

• “Washington Black” by Esi Edugyan - This is an incredibly creative take on a slave story centered on two main characters, Washington Black, a young slave who’s talent for science gets noticed by his slave owner’s scientist brother. The brother frees Washington, taking him away to help on projects and to live where he can be free, so to speak. Along the way, a friendship is formed and broken, they lose each other, and Washington finds his way to other lands and makes new and interesting connections. I felt as if on an adventure the whole time, and the characters and unique story stays with you.

• “The Wife Between Us” by Greer Hendricks & SarahPekkanen - This is a delicious thrill-filled debut novel from a dynamic mystery writing duo. In judging a book by its cover (and title), I didn’t want to like this. I didn’t think I would like it, but the reality is that once I started, I couldn’t put it down. There is a relatable protagonist, a compelling mystery, and about three twists. All that equals, a page-turner with a big pay off.

• “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones - This made my “Best Of Fiction 2018” list and for good reasons. This is a stunning story about an average young newly wed couple from Atlanta. They seem headed for the upwardly mobile middle-class track until one fateful night in a hotel when they are traveling to rural Georgia to visit her parents, he gets falsely accused of raping a white woman who is staying down the hall from their room. Their marriage and world is turned upside down during and after his imprisonment. “American Marriage” is beautifully written, with characters that will stay with you long after the last page. It’s now in paperback, so there’s no excuse to not experience what will become an American classic.

• “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Take a ride down musical memory lane with the 70s rock band that make up this story. It’s a novel of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, with a lot of drama and even more heart. The story is done in a unique interview style throughout, but reads like a novel. It’s the only one on this list in hardbound, but as a quintessential summer read, it’s worth it. Plus, you want to read it before it becomes a movie. See my full review here: http://www.paulafarmer.com/books-blog/daisy-jones-the-six-book-review

• “The House of Broken Angels” by Luis Alberto Urrea - From the prolific writer and master storyteller, his latest is now in paperback. It is a novel coming from Urrea’s real life experiences as a product of an immigrant family. When the legendary patriarch of the family has been given only a few more months to live, all his relatives and friends gather to say their goodbyes and party. Although Urrea’s goal with this was pure drama, his inherent sense of humor couldn’t help but get in the way, and we are better off for it. The result is a poignant family story, laced with undeniable humor.