I’m taking this week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic (Beach Reads), hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, literally. I would like to say ‘literally’ in the sense that I’m posting this from the beach but no, it’s winter in Melbourne… So while my northern hemisphere friends are looking for light fiction that you can pick up and put down between swims, I’m bunking down with ‘wintery’ tomes. Nevertheless, the beach and swimming is never far from my mind so this week, I’ve picked ten five books that feature the beach.
1. Tigers in Red Weather by Lisa Klaussman – one of my favourite books of 2012. Just read it.
2. Puberty Blues by Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette – it’s about growing up in Australia in the 1970s but it is as relevant today as it ever was. Frighteningly so. And if you dare call anyone in Australia a ‘slack-arsed moll’, you’ll fit right in.
3. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume – Blume for grown-ups doesn’t disappoint.
4. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan – this book divides McEwan fans. I loved it, if only for it’s OMG moment.
5. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier – so it’s not bikinis and scorching summer sun but Chevalier’s story about two English women in the 19th century, searching for fossils on the cold, windswept British coast is enchanting.
And although I don’t ordinarily include children’s books on this blog, there are two beach stories for kids that I really love:
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers (image at the top)
Sally and the Limpet by Simon James (below)
I love on Chesil Beach- the simplicity and the sexual tension work.
Totally agree – a complete contrast in style to Atonement and I think that’s what turned some people off.
I liked Chesil Beach too although I think it warrants a re-read on my part because I think I might’ve missed some of the finer details of the novel. But like Christine, I enjoyed the simplicity (yet the complexity) of the piece 🙂
My TTT
I need to do an On Chesil Beach re-read as well, I was reading fast and think I missed some of the novel’s nuances as well. Someday – at least it’s short…
Haha, yeah, the length is a plus in this case xD I must’ve read this book in one sitting…*bumps the book up in her re-read list*
I think I read it in one sitting as well…
I absolutely loved Summer Sisters, that book is on of the reasons I love the name Maisie (that and What Maisie Knew, of course).
As for good children’s books, have you the US classic One Morning in Maine? I loved it when I was little.
Haven’t ever seen One Morning in Maine… I’ll hunt it down. Part of my freelance work is writing children’s book reviews so I spend LOTS of time reading kids books (and if I thought my TBR stack was out of control, my kids personal libraries are INSANE… suspect I’ll be adding One Morning in Maine.
I saw Tigers in Red Weather twice now and I am getting very curious about the book. 🙂 Nice list.
My TTT
Tigers was so good that it was the book I bought people for Christmas last year – everyone LOVED it.
I have copies of Tigers in Red Weather and Remarkable Creatures sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. Now you’ve inspired me! Maybe I’ll bring one (or both) on vacation this summer. 🙂 I read Summer Sisters so long ago that I can’t remember at all what happens — but any Judy Blume book is a good book!
Well you have two reading treats ahead, particularly Tigers in Red Weather.
I haven’t read any of these! I’ll have to go look them up now. But reading on the beach is for sure my favorite. Thanks for stopping by my TTT!
I hope to read Tigers in Red Weather this summer… it sounds like a perfect beach read for me. On Chesil Beach was wonderful. Great list!
I’m sure you’ll LOVE Tigers – I don’t know anyone who’s read that hasn’t loved it.
I like that you included kids books! I may have to check them out for a storytime.
I have a mummy-crush on Oliver Jeffers… he writes fantastic stories as well (my very favourite is Stuck).
Sally and the Limpet has a wonderful environmental theme and is gently funny.