If you, like me, don't want to be seen with a fluffy chick-lit novel at the beach this summer, then why not try out some alternatives. Not that there's anything wrong with chick-lit. I just tend to get a bit paranoid about titles containing the words “Mr Right” or anything about shoes or dresses.
If you happen to share my prejudices and tend to avoid certain parts of the bookshop, then maybe this list is for you.
Summer reading for recovering Goths
.Any of Neil Gaiman's books would do for recovering goths needing a fix of dusty lace and spider-webs. The books are usually filled with old gods and characters wearing stripy socks, but none of them are as cheerfully rag-dolly gothic as Nevewhere. The book follows the adventures of normal boring Richard Mayhew, who stumbles across a secret underworld called London-below. It's basically a mythological, steam-punk version of those hidden passages you might have wondered about on long boring tube journeys.
Forget all the fluffy vampire fiction out there and go for the real deal instead. This is the book that set off the vampire craze in the first place. The language might be a bit archaic, but at least you'll have enough time for it on lazy summer days.
I'm sorry. I know most of you have read them already. I know they might appear on other summer reading lists, but seriously, are there any books that work better for long lazy summer days than good old HP? There's seven of them, they're highly entertaining and you tend to swallow them in a go. I haven't re-read the books for ages and am planning to do a re-cap this summer, if I can take getting through the Umbridge-part again that is.
Summer reading for Girly Girls
For a girly girl there's nothing like reading Jane Austen in the summer. Can it get any more perfect than laying in a hammock, drinking tea, possibly wearing a vintage empire dress and swooning over Mr Darcy? I think not.
This is a super-cute fairy tale for grown ups about the adventures of a unicorn. Will make you weep if you're not a totally hardened cynic (then have a look at the books in the next category). It was written in the '70s and was a cult hit with the hippies. And if I'm allowed to make assumptions about my audience here, I'm going to say that if you like Glee, you will probably love this book.
This is for a different kind of girly girl, the kind that likes boys a bit too much. Pamela des Barres was a groupie in the 60s, 70s and 80s and has liked a fair share of famous boys. Naturally she wants to share her adventures with the world. Good for gossip fanatics who sometimes like dressing up as Penny Lane from Almost Famous.
The ultimate of trashy summer reading. This brick of a book chronicles the highs and lows of three fictional famous women in Manhattan in the 60s. There will be drugs, scandal and ridiculously named characters. This is the pink bubble gum of summer fiction.
Summer reading for Tomboys
Ever dreamed of becoming a famous war correspondent? I know I have and this book placed my feet firmly back on the ground again. It's an amazing story of three South African photographers who worked in the townships (the ghettos) during the last days of apartheid. These guys saw some horrible things and then took pictures of them. Not for the faint hearted.
I can't recommend this book highly enough, it's fun, fast-paced, crazy and strangely inspirational. Hunter takes you on a ride through drug fuelled adventures in Las Vegas in the '70s. Your life might never be the same again.
Neil Strauss wrote The Game a book I loathe and like at the same time. It chronicles his rise from nerd to master pick up artist who can manipulate any woman to fall for his charms. This book is his follow-up and deals with his growing paranoia about the modern world. Basically Neil learns how to become a survivor, get a second passport and slaughter goats. Very interesting and pretty useful stuff for lazy city girls like me.
Image via Margolove