Summer Reading!!

Well, it’s that time of year again; time to don the sunglasses, the sandals, a sun hat and head on over to your little oasis spot with a book in hand. I always get rather excited by this prospect.  At the first sign of sun I have logged onto Amazon and am embarking on a penny-spending spree! The thrill of buying books for a penny just never gets old!

I like to choose carefully so that I have something for all eventualities. Something light for those beach-y, sunny days. Something with a bit of depth and history – normally for that stage in summer when my brain grows nostalgic      for the

So what’s on my list this year? In no particular order…

Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie

This one has been on the list for a while, and indeed I’ve given it a go before. I attempted this one while travelling around the US last summer, but when the book seeks to tackle themes relating to identity and India’s national independence, this proved too active a trip for this book. So with a week off ahead, I plan on settling down and enjoying this one! Fingers crossed.

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail – Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter S. Thompson reports straight from the 1972 US presidential campaign trial. I’m hoping for one large helping of political infighting and journalistic grit with this one. Fingers crossed!

Great House – Nicole Krauss

Having really enjoyed Krauss’ former offerings ‘Man Walks into a Room’ and ‘The History of Love’ I have high hopes and expectations for this one. With a style that is simple and candid, Krauss is an expert at hitting the right emotions, at creating characters that are real and at spinning a tale that is entirely believable and captivating. I highly reccmonend any of his titles for your summer reading lists.

One Day - David Nicholls

Cue my read of choice to be enjoyed in the sun. There was so much hype around this one initially that I didn’t bother for fear of being disappointed. Now the hype has died down though and the reviews have remained strong. I’m feeling it’s time to give this one a chance. Speak now or forever hold your peace!

Inferno – Dan Brown

Mystery, riddles and tension; this one promises to be an all round thriller. What more could one want?

Let me know what titles are top of your list so far!

Naïve. Super. - Erlend Loe, translated by Tor Ketil Solberg.

I tend to choose a light read in exam term, and this was this year’s book of choice. It was Amazon recommended and I just so happened to stumble upon it in the library, and that was that. From the outset I shall admit that I’m glad this was a library find and not a purchase, or I’d have been a little disappointed!

In terms of it being a light read this one lived up to expectations, beyond that it was just a little flat for my liking. Essentially we follow the unnamed narrator as he turns 25 and having grown disillusioned, loses his way in life a little. So, questioning life and its meaning – or lack of – he drops out of college, quits his job and spends his days hammering on a child’s peg toy and faxing his meteorologist friend as he ponders the metaphysics of time, space, life and our place in it. This could be incredibly poignant at times as the narrator contrasts the simplicity of what used to excite him in life (cardboard boxes, buttons and toys to name but a few) with how difficult he finds it to attain such simple enjoyment and contentment as an adult. We travel with him as he heads to New York in search of perspective and meaning, and finds that there is indeed enjoyment to be gained from the simple things in life, and concludes that perhaps this is where greater meaning lies.

It was oddly comforting in a way, and although nothing huge was happening I kept reading. There is something quite human in feeling a little lost, and this tale seeks to say, simply and briefly, that things will be okay in the end. Which is of course a rather nice message… particularly amid exams!

There was something in Loe’s character reminiscent of Salinger’s Holden Caulfield, the element of a youth wandering and a little lost in growing older. But NAME isn’t a 13 year old boy, he is a year old man. It was difficult at times to reconcile this reality with the character who took to hammering on a children’s toy as a means to catharsis and fulfillment. Each to their own I suppose!

This book was indeed naïve; it was simple, friendly, funny and enjoyable in its being so. Super however, it was not quite.

A musical accompaniment...

A lot of the time I accompany reading with music – it’s a big part of the overall enjoyment for me. However, this can be tricky. You have to choose something that fits the overall mood of the book. It would be very odd for instance to sit down and have some heavy metal on behind a tale of budding romance… in fact I would find it very difficult to sit down and think with heavy metal on full stop, never mind to read!

When it comes to choosing music to accompany reading, I like the music to be free of any lyrics, which makes it very easy to read and focus on the book at hand. This is especially true if the book in question requires some level of thought or concentration! Of course there is the multitude of classical offerings to avail of, and this is normally a rather safe choice. Recently however, I have come across an especially fun option that allows you to enjoy all of your favourite music lyric free.

Introducing The Piano Tribute Players. These fine musicians have reading with music covered whatever your choice of genre (that applies to both the book and the music!) With literally something for every taste you can, with considerable ease, listen to the music you enjoy transformed into gentle piano numbers. This makes for a really relaxing backing track to any book, as the music you are familiar with tinkles along in the background.  Sample this number from Coldplay and I’m sure you will see what I mean:

The Piano Tribute Players - Coldplay: Viva La Vida

You’re more of a strings person than piano I hear you say? Fear not! I too am prone to a preference for strings on occasion. Enter, Vitamin String Quartet. As with the above musicians this group have taken a host of modern songs and performed them purely on strings. I have gone for another Coldplay track so that you can sample the different styles used on the same band and decide which you prefer.

Vitamin String Quartet - Coldplay: Paradise

It’s always good to have a nice reading playlist compiled, so I’m definitely open to recommendations!