Book Report – Beach Reads!

Here are the best books I’ve read since the last time we took a break from the serious stuff:

The Girls, Emma Cline – This is one disturbing debut novel from Cline, in which bored teen Evie becomes enamored of a gaggle of girls who seemingly do whatever they want. Set in the late 60’s and the present day, we slowly learn the details of a Manson-like mass murder in Northern California and to what extent the lead character was involved. Warning: with each passing chapter you may feel the urge to shower. In a word, grimy.

Trajectory, Richard Russo – Contained herein are four brand new short stories by this Pulitzer Prize winning Mainer, the best two of which are about brothers of a certain age futilely attempting to repair their awkward relationship on a tour of Italy and a sometime Hollywood screenwriter dealing with his ever-fading relevance in that fake industry. Russo is a master of spinning yarns about those whose sanity teeters on edge.

The Nest, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney – Spend some time this summer with the family Plumb, if for no other reason than to feel better about whatever dysfunction your tribe endures. Dad dies, leaving behind his widow and four bratty adult children to wrestle over an unexpectedly large nest egg. This one is a family soap opera hilariously told by D’Aprix Sweeney (also a debut). If it’s reckless, selfish characters you prefer, you’ll immediately zero in on Leo.

Belichick and Brady, Michael Holley – If you think you know a lot about the polarizing New England Patriots from guys mic’d by NFL Films, you’re merely scratching the surface. Holley – a prolific, lovable, humble sports writer like few others – gets deep inside Gillette Stadium to share what makes the team’s head coach and quarterback tick. If you’ve got enough to read this summer, this one is the perfect companion to the unfolding season.

Overcoming Distractions, David Greenwood – Surely everyone can relate to the author’s stories and no-nonsense advice for we who take on so much in our personal and professional lives. Greenwood’s research packs a lot of punch and convinces the reader that in this day and age of endless distractions, we have to strategize to stay focused and accomplish our daily goals. Terrific, practical advice from a guy who’s managed his ADHD for a half-century.

Why Does the World Exist?, Jim Holt – Burrow your feet in the sand, take a deep pull off that umbrella drink, and read along to discover why the beach you’re plopped on is even there. Holt travels the planet to interview other philosophers on his mission to understand why there is Something rather than Nothing. A Father’s Day gift from my son who enjoys taunting me, I ate this one whole in a week and now get to obsess over the void. Swell.