Sea, Sun, Sand and something good to read…
31 May 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 10 beach reads, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at the The Broke and Bookish we all get to look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) examples to demonstrate that particular topic. The topic this week is:
Beach Reads Week — top ten great beach reads
To be honest I don’t really pick books that I think are suitable for the beach, I just read what I like to read all year round. In terms of books that I’ve read though that I think would be suitable I’ve gone for a mix of complicated and light and easy. After all when you’re chilled out and not stressing about all your usual activities it’s easier to concentrate isn’t it.
- Romance factor: The Outlander (Cross Stitch) by Diana Gabaldon. Alternate history/time travel.
- Fun factor: The Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell – really good, fun and easy to read.
- Whimsical/Fairytale feel: Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marllier – which I absolutely love!
- Longer vacation book: Patrick Rothfuss the Name of the Wind – because this is a bit of a huge book but well worth it!
- Book to concentrate on: The Shards of Heaven by Michael Livingston – this is a great book, alternate Roman.
- Thought provoking: Just City by Jo Walton.
- Love story: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons.
- Alternate stories: Jane Steele by Lindsay Faye – this is a story with parallels (although not a retelling) of Jane Eye and it’s brilliant. Definitely make a great holiday read and one you won’t be able to put down.
- Something scary: The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart – critters in the dark and creepy woods.
- The series that keeps on giving: (so you can continue with yet more after you come off holiday) Grimdark reading by Mark Lawrence: The Broken Empire and The Red Queen’s War). Great series, highly recommended.
Books and travelling with Lynn 
Yippee! Someone else who reads and appreciates Jo Walton *dances a happy dance around the lounge* I also completely agree about The Name of the Wind. I haven’t read Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marillier – but must track it down as she’s an author I absolutely love and Jane Steele is also one I need to find – thank you! A great list:)
Dreamer’s Pool is so good – I loved it.
Jo Walton – I love the philosophy books, they’re just so intriguing and thought provoking. Can’t wait for No.3.
Jane Steele was brilliant – a real blast of a book.
Lynn 😀
Thank you for confirming your recommendations – like you, I can’t wait for Jo Walton’s third book in this fabulous series – I LOVE her writing. I think she’s one of the greatest SFF writers of her generation. I’m definitely going to track down Jane Steele:).
Oh great – I hope you enjoy it.
Lynn 😀
I’ve just picked up a copy of The Just City (finally!) – I’ve not popped it on my TBR, but I suspect I won’t be able to resist it…
I can’t wait to see what you think – I don’t suppose it’s everyone’s cup of tea but I loved it and can’t wait for the third one – it’s very thought provoking and I love the concept.
Lynn 😀
What a wonderful mixture and some of those book are real chunkers so I bet you will have a blast getting lost in them. I love the cover of The Beast of Barcroft.
Thanks – I don’t mind chunky books or real mind benders when I’m on holiday – I’m more chilled out and have more time after all!
Lynn 😀
Thanks – Beast of Bancroft is a great cover (not sure it would be everyone’s beach read – although at least it doesn’t have a shark on the cover!)
Lynn 😀
The Name of the Wind is a pretty hefty book to carry around. Haha. But I definitely agree that it’s worth it.
This is the beauty of kindle – I love to own books (to have on my shelves) but these days I’m very much converted to the beauty of ebooks – easy to carry round, easy to highlight and bookmark and you can taken hundreds of books away with you.
Lynn 😀
That’s true. There’s just something about physical books I still can’t quite let go of yet, but I definitely do read some ebooks too.
I tend to read quite a few ebooks now to be honest. I still love the feel of a real book though.
Lynn 😀
“Jane Steele” was fantastic! My brother has been trying to get me to read “The Name of the Wind” for ages, though he felt somewhat lukewarm about it, but I haven’t picked it up yet. I’m surprised to see it becoming so popular.
My TTT
I absolutely love Patrick Rothfuss – however, he does tend to have a little bit of waiting time between books and at the moment there’s no sign of No.3 on the horizon so you can probably take your sweet time picking them up – that being said they’re very good!
Jane Steele I absolutely loved it.
Lynn 😀
Some really interesting choices. Like you I don’t really pick book because it is a ‘beach read’ as I pick books based on the genres and authors I really enjoy. Plus I don’t spend much time lying on the beach 😀
Yeah, I’m not a beach person to be honest – all that sand is just down right annoying and not half as comfy as it looks – now a nice lounger and a long drink or sat under an umbrella on a terrace – now we’re talking!
Lynn 😀
Great mind’s clearly think a like 😀
Haha 😀
I love the way you decided to do this! I think it’s way more helpful to recommend based on mood rather than through the term “beach read” because as others have mentioned already, it’s so generic and ambiguous. I love your picks for all your categories too, for those I’ve read. For those I haven’t, I want to now 🙂
Yeah, beach read – I think most people feel the same – you pretty much carry on and read what they usually read.
Lynn 😀
I have The Bronze Horseman, Dreamer’s Pool, and Jane Steele lined up soon. Great list and wonderful job on recommending books based on different reading mindsets. 😀
Thanks. Dreamer’s Pool is so good and I loved Jane Steele. The Bronze Horseman is a book I read a good few years ago and I was swept up by the setting, don’t get me wrong there is an epic romance but the whole Russian, war time, siege – yeah, it just really pulled me in. I hope you enjoy them. Jane Steele isn’t a retelling of Jane Eyre but the main protagonist’s life shares certain parallels at the start. I just found it so easy to read.