Summer Reading List

Monday, June 29, 2009...

For as long as I can remember, I knew of people that had designated books they wanted to read over the summer. Many of my friends and family keep the books in a beach bag and only read them when they reached their destination (pool or beach).

As a kid, I lived down the street from the beach. I would grab the latest romance novel (I remember stealing my mom's Scruples paperback - which was considered a scandalous book) with my beach towels and baby oil (yeah, you read right, B-A-B-Y O-I-L) before heading out. My list was created by how cheesy the cover of mom's books were.

As an adult, I never created a list of Summer must reads. Instead, I've purchased many of the latest NY Times Bestsellers, or books my friends have raved about. As the world's slowest reader (no, I don't move my lips when I read, but close) I get sucked into a book and lose all sense of time. I know when I read a book, I need to set aside some serious time because I've never been one of those individuals that can read 10 minutes/night or just one chapter.

However, this year I'm doing it. Creating my Must-Have-Reading List for the next 10 weeks and finally making the time to finally read some of my books I've wanted to read for awhile.

Some are new, some old, a couple self help/introspective books and even a classic.

Without further adieu my first ever Summer reading list:

The Art of Eating by M.F.K. Fisher - this was recommended to me because of my love of cooking. I'm anxious to read it.

Thin is the New Happy by Valerie Frankel - Valerie's memoir about dealing with her demons about weight and dieting. Coming to grips with her mother's impact on her that she had to be thin. I'm in the middle of reading it and her story strikes a definite cord with me. My mother's obsession with food, dieting and being thin was a bit much for me.

Dune Road by Jane Green - I have really enjoyed her past works and after hearing her perform a reading from the book, I can't wait to jump in.

The Year of Yes by Maria Dahvana Headley - These are one of the books that I heard so much about, bought it and put on the bookshelf about a year ago. She goes on a date with anyone that asks for one year and meets her husband. I can relate to the fact that sometimes when you're not looking or thinking of your preconceived notion of the perfect guy, you'll find him. That's what happened to me.

After Long Silence by Helen Fremont - This was a national bestseller and when I purchased this book I was dying to read it. I became distracted and it was filed away with my other books till this past weekend. Helen was raised Roman Catholic, but discovered when she was an adult that her parents were Jewish and Holocaust survivors living invented lives.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - Go ahead. Say it. A little slow to the party. I heard about this book several years ago from a friend that highly recommended it.

Women in Love - D.H. Lawrence - Sometimes it is just important to go back to the classics.

Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli - Yeah, it may not be a classic, but I know it'll be a fun and interesting read.

Living with Less by Mark Tabb - I bought this several years ago and think now is the perfect time to finally read it.

A Life in Balance by Kathleen Hall - I started this a few years ago after reading an article she'd written in Body, Mind & Soul. Her concept of SELF (Serenity, Exercise, Love & Food) and how she derived at this concept to obtain a well balanced life is very interesting. I have the time and want to read it again.

This is my list, but after mentioning Scruples, I definitely am going to add it to the list.