Summertime ? and the reading is easy

Anna Sowa

Jun. 17, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- One of the biggest debates in my household is which books to bring on vacation.

You want enough to last you through the airport layovers, long flights and lazy days on the beach. But you don't want so many that they weigh down your luggage; such things will cost you these days.

When on vacation, I find myself craving the literary equivalent of a fruity blended beverage with a little umbrella on top. Books in a series are always good, and I tend to prefer fiction.

But I always fail in the pre-vacation book planning. I'm known for finishing my sole book before reaching the vacation destination, which forces me to head to the airport gift store for backup. There, I seek books that are in paperback and small enough to fit in my purse. They also must be inexpensive, because who knows how many pools I'll drop them in.

Airports typically stock best-sellers of all varieties with bright, glossy covers that promise fun, light reading. I'm attracted to these books because the saturated colors and clever designs look as if they belong on a lounge chair with cheap flip-flops nearby. But too often, I find myself rolling my eyes after the second page, wondering how such fluff gets published. I want something light and fun, but not that light.

How nice it would be if local published authors and bookstore owners could offer their 2 cents before you head to the airport.

In their own words, here are our literary community's best beach book picks.

Hayley Wright

Owner, Between the Covers, Bend

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Set in early 1960s Jackson, Miss., the characters in this book were so real that they seemed like friends, and the voices were so true that it was hard to believe they were fictional. This was one of my favorite books of the past decade.

"On the Divinity of Second Chances" by Kaya McLaren

Insightful and touching, this book will make you laugh, cry and reflect. This is a compulsively readable book about a family grappling with the fears and disappointments in their lives, and their realizations that second chances can present themselves in various forms. It is an absolute pleasure to read.

"The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon" by David Grann

An AMAZING book in which David Grann tries to solve the mystery of what happened to British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z. Filled with infectious adventure (and lots of infectious diseases), Percy Fawcett was the nonfiction "Indiana Jones."

"Misfits and Other Heroes" by Suzanne Burns

Beautiful fringe fiction, which is inexplicably attractive to all readers, Suzanne writes with a warm sweetness about things that are stark and ominous. An amazing book of short stories by what I believe to be Central Oregon's most promising young writer.

Suzanne Burns

Local author

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I see summer as a time to read or re-read classics. I almost never read new fiction in the summer, but I do have summer reading rituals. Every summer I re-read the same two books -- "The Great Gatsby" and "The Illustrated Man" by Ray Bradbury.

"The Great Gatsby" is the ultimate summer read that follows the affluent lives of people partying in West Egg (the Hamptons). These characters are wild for life, for love, for jazz. With a quote like, "In two weeks it'll be the longest day of the year ... Do you always watch for it then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it," this story is meant for summer.

"The Illustrated Man" by Ray Bradbury

This is the book teenagers fall in love with and then abandon for more "grown-up" stories. But it sings with the slow rhythm of summer, with carnivals, a sideshow, day trips to African veldts, Mars and small-town America. It is the perfect, perfect summer book.

Ellen Waterston

Local author, founder and director of The Nature of Words

"Mudbound" by Hillary Jordan

The story of a family's struggles while living on a farm on the Mississippi Delta. A blockbuster first novel!

The quality of writing is reminiscent of Barbara Kingsolver's. Jordan's sense of story and use of language is truly impressive.

Jamie Houghton

Local author

"Zorba the Greek" by Nikos Kazantzakis

This novel tells the story of a writer who befriends a hedonistic layman (Zorba) and takes him to Crete to find fortune in an old family mine. Zorba's love for the pleasures of the world permeate the prose. It is a perfect summer read here in Central Oregon, where you blink and summer is over. Zorba teaches us all to savor life in the present moment. There is a great movie you can watch after you read it, with Anthony Quinn portraying Zorba.

"The Diaries of Anaïs Nin, Volume V: 1947-1955" by Anaïs Nin

I read all her earlier diaries when I was younger, and never could get through the later, more mature volumes. Now, returning to this volume, I am swept away by her descriptions of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Mexico. Her struggle to publish her work and gain recognition, her absorption in the people around her, and her philosophies on psychology and culture are charismatically written, yet contain painstakingly well-thought-out logic. Perfect for reading and sipping on a glass of white wine while watching the garden grow!

Deon Stonehouse

Owner, Sunriver Books and Music

"Foolscap" by Michael Malone

Professor Ryan's life is complicated when his play is passed off as a newly discovered work by Sir Walter Raleigh. This book is a hilarious romp in the world of academia and theater. Michael Malone is a wonderfully gifted, award-winning author. I love his use of language. "Foolscap" is light, short and very funny.

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Julia and Dawsey start a correspondence after World War II that burgeons to include a host of quirky characters. By the end, they feel like old friends; you do not want to bid them goodbye. This is one of those special books that come along every once in a while that you do not want to end. It is short, engaging and will leave the reader feeling good.

"The Inn at Lake Devine" by Elinor Lipman

Natalie falls for Kris, but complications exist. She worries that she is a bit zaftig (too curvy) and he is serious eye candy. The bigger hurdle might be his father's dislike for her Jewish family. Elinor Lipman writes with a light touch. This book is a romantic comedy but does not lack social commentary. It is fun, with a conscience.

Tina Davis

Owner, Camalli Book Co., Bend

"One Ring Circus: Dispatches From the World of Boxing" by Katherine Dunn

Dunn developed a cult following with "Geek Love," but few admirers of that novel know that Dunn has been writing and reporting about boxing since 1981. This collection of essays and articles pulls from much of her award-winning journalism on boxing. Whether you're a fan of boxing or a fan of Dunn, "One Ring Circus" is an essential addition to your library.

"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Preserving 85 percent of Jane Austen's classic and infusing it with "ultra-violent zombie mayhem," this quirky best-seller gives readers a new perspective on a beloved piece of literature. Grahame-Smith's twisted take on Austen should provide summertime levity for those who don't take their Austen too seriously, as well as fans of zombie culture.

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

This is a must-read for any fan of the Harry Potter series. Gaiman weaves a delightful tale about Nobody Owens, a boy raised in a graveyard by ghosts. The beginning is scary -- much like in the first Harry Potter book -- but from there, the book develops into a memorable tale of friendship and magic, with just the right amount of fright for readers from 10 and up.

"Portland Noir" by Kevin Sampsell

Exploring the dark, rainy underbelly of our state's largest city, "Portland Noir" is a collection of 16 stories by other writers, all edited by Kevin Sampsell. From police controversies to hippie artist punk houses, this collection explores the people and the parts of the city that you don't necessarily see when driving through or stopping in the shopping districts.

Anna Sowa can be reached at 541-383-0304 or asowa@bendbulletin.com.

Newstex ID: 35817671