If you're not taking a looooong vacation this weekend, maybe you've got a long weekend by the beach or lakeside planned? If so, you might be considering bringing a book with you (hey, you might want to be prepared in case of rain, plan ahead!), and there are few things as satisfying to this reader than finishing a book a. Combine all of these things and you get today's Ten on Tuesday--a list of fast, entertaining reads to bring along for your long-weekend getaway. (Note, these are not specifically "beach reads", which tend to be lighter and fluffier, but rather short-er fiction with great entertainment value.)
1) The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The recent movie remake has caused a great surge in popularity for this classic title. Love, wealth, deceit and decadence.
2) The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. There's plenty of cross-over between the young adult and adult collections these days (Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games, etc.), and this is a great choice--historical fiction set in WWII.
3) Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. While this looks a little longer than other titles on this list, it's deeply engrossing and is a fast read. This was one of last summer's "must read" titles, so if you missed it, it's time to catch up!
4) Visitation Street, by Ivy Pochoda. Publishers Weekly has been talking this one up, a gritty mystery set in Red Hook, Brooklyn, new from the author of The Art of Disappearing.
5) Red Sparrow, by Jason Matthews. Again, a little on the longer-side (save it for a 4-day weekend, perhaps), but you can't go wrong with seduction and spies in Russia, can you?
6) The Buddha in the Attic, by Julie Otsuka. An award-winning novel in eight parts, following the journeys of eight Japanese "picture brides" to their new homes and husbands in America nearly a century ago. A story of loyalty, identity and culture.
7) The Round House, by Louise Erdrich. A huge reader favorite this past spring. When a woman is attacked and falls into a depression, her teenage son and three of his friends set out to find answers...and seek revenge. Both a coming-of-age tale and a tale of suspense.
8) Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver. I know, I still can't stop talking about this. Read my original review here. Then go read the book.
9) Astray, by Emma Donoghue. I'm not the hugest fan of short stories, but Donoghue (also the author of Room, among others) is amazing no matter the format. I particularly enjoyed The Widow's Cruse.
10) Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan. If you prefer your fiction a little on the quirky side, this is fantastic. Humor, adventure, and young love--all set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore.
I'll be back Thursday to share what I've been reading this month, and I've been on vacation, so it's a LONG list! Happy reading!
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