Five Summer Book Recommendations for When You Are Sunburnt and Bored
Becca Boynton | May 4, 2023
Over the course of the few months that are full of warmth and seawater, I can read millions of books. Time is as malleable as water; it indeed is the best time of the year to sit outside with the burning white sunshine and a thick paperback, becoming lost in the story of fictional humans.
Over the years, I have amassed a list of books perfect for falling asleep beside a chlorinated pool: short and long stories, male and female writers and all of the above. Here are just a few of them, five to be exact, to look into. Not saying you have to read them, although it would be a travesty not to.
The Girls, written by Emma Cline:
A fictional version of the very real Manson Family cult in the 1970s. This book follows a young girl who becomes enamored with a group of older, more experienced women and becomes trapped in their activities, including robbery, murder, and many, many drugs. The narration is captivating, as the main character’s nativity is taken advantage of. Clines writing is fast-paced and anxiety-inducing but in the best way. It is hard to put The Girls down once you pick it up.
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Who is Rich? Written by Matthew Klam:
Set at a summer’s art conference in a quaint beach town in New England, Who is Rich? has it all; infidelity, okay, so mainly infidelity. However, the book is much more than the tale of a cheating, once-famous cartoonist. The setting is perfect for a summer read, as the narrator is also indulging in books and many other things. I read this book every summer, not just because of the humor sprinkled throughout but also because of the immaculate feelings Klam is able to conjure up with his words. The narrator is clearly in the wrong with all he does, but as readers, you can’t help but root for him.
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The Bell Jar, written by Sylvia Plath:
I wanted to include a classic in this mix, although I suggest all classic American literature for the summer. The Bell Jar has a unique tone to it; Plath’s narrative voice is powerful and resonating. It is a simple story; an intelligent, eloquent, privileged young woman goes mad; who wouldn’t want to read that? Plath has a way of incorporating poetry into her fiction, and it transformed into an exquisite novel that will surely drive you mad too.
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Diary of an Oxygen Thief, anonymously written:
While I don’t think this book is for everyone, it certainly is shocking and engaging for a majority. This is a written confession almost, with the author/narrator admitting to his horrible treatment of women. An Irishman living in America, the book takes you through his days as an almost-functional alcoholic whose misogyny is as evident as his accent. While the writing, as noted by many critiques, is nothing to take note of, the material in the book is horrific yet engaging the way a car wreck on the side of the highway is.
To learn more or purchase click here.
Just Kids, written by Patti Smith:
Patti Smith is one of the most talented artists of the 20th century and her autobiography of her life living in the Cheslea Hotel in 1970s New York City. The most heartbreaking of the books, Smith deals with horrific topics such as addiction, death, and sexually transmitted diseases. Like Plath, Smith’s ability to combine her poetic talents in her storytelling only amplifies the book, making you want to read it over and over again.
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While not all set during summertime, these select books are perfect for a slow summer. Whether you are trying to avoid the steaming heat or wish to bathe in it, consider bringing a book, you will not regret it.
Honorable mentions: My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Artforum, The Stranger. Crying in H-Mart and Carmilla.