Summertime, and the Reading is Easy
A Librarian Suggests Some Escapist Fare
Cover of P.F. Kluge's 'Biggest Elvis' hide caption
Detail from the cover of 'Gossip Hound' hide caption
Web Extra: More Book Excerpts and Discussions from Pearl
For librarian Nancy Pearl, a good summer book has to be light enough to hold above your head when you're lying on the beach. "You have to be careful in the summer -- you don't want to get into these 900-page tomes," Pearl tells NPR's Steve Inskeep. At that point, it just becomes exercise.
Pearl shares six of her favorite light reads for the summer:
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan: In this imaginative science fiction novel, Morgan creates a world set in the 25th century, where mankind has finally achieved a way to avoid death -- digitally.
Biggest Elvis by P.F. Kluge: Set in a seedy district near a U.S. naval base in the Philippines, Biggest Elvis is a highly entertaining novel and a dark commentary on American imperialism.
The Easy Way Out by Stephen McCauley: One of Pearl's top-ten favorite books, The Easy Way Out is a tender and humorous novel about dysfunctional lovers and families.
Gossip Hound by Wendy Holden: Holden's latest book is a satirical, behind-the-scenes look at the London publishing business. Clever writing and outlandish characters make this a good "chick-lit" pick.
Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy: A mother-daughter writing team -- under one pseudonym -- has written a riveting debut thriller. Set in the Twin Cities, Monkeewrench follows a series of grisly murders that mimic a serial-killer computer game.
Persuader by Lee Child: Child's thrillers remind Pearl of the classic John D. MacDonald series featuring Travis McGee. "Reading Lee Child's novels, my heart just pumps uncontrollably," she says.