Beach Read (non-bb as all get out)

[Taras Bulba]

Spack--nuke this if appropriate.

Taking la familia to Mexico soon for a week of beach time.  I've got a couple of possible books in the hopper, but was interested in any recomendations of some good page turners.  The last great beach read I had was Ellroy's "Black Dahlia."  Thanks and I'll hang up.

[MusicMan]

Moving it to the bb category:

"Fantasyland", by Sam Walker - is in paperback and I just finished it.  Fantasy player or not, it's an entertaining read.

[Limey]

Anything from John Sandford's "Prey" series.  Although starting at the beginning would be best.

[Duman]

If you haven't read "Time Travelers Wife" it is a good read.  When I saw it in my wife's bag I thought it was a chick book but when I saw that Scott Thurow had praised it I thought I would give it a shot. 

Another good book I have read in the last year is  "The Kite Runner"

[Foghorn]

The "Prey" books are good.  I think Eyes of Prey is my favorite (I think its the 2nd one).

There a great screenplay you may be able to pick up, "Threat Level Midnight" about the great spy hero Michael Scarn. 

If you've never read any of Caleb Carr's books they are nice summer reads.

[loganck]

McCarthy's newest, The Road, was excellent.  I couldn't put it down.

[drew corleone]

If you haven't read "Time Travelers Wife" it is a good read.  When I saw it in my wife's bag I thought it was a chick book but when I saw that Scott Thurow had praised it I thought I would give it a shot. 

Another good book I have read in the last year is  "The Kite Runner"

Funny... the first thing I thought of was The Time Traveler's Wife... a fast read, and it's a captivating story. Supposedly it's been optioned for a movie, but I can't imagine Hollywood making it work.

[MusicMan]

Funny... the first thing I thought of was The Time Traveler's Wife... a fast read, and it's a captivating story. Supposedly it's been optioned for a movie, but I can't imagine Hollywood making it work.

My wife told me the same thing - Mr. Jolie supposedly holds the rights.

[pravata]

Funny... the first thing I thought of was The Time Traveler's Wife... a fast read, and it's a captivating story. Supposedly it's been optioned for a movie, but I can't imagine Hollywood making it work.

The pitch will be, "It's Slaughterhouse 5 meets The Lake House."

[Taras Bulba]

thanks.  great suggestions and appreciate all.

[Lefty]

Carl Hiaasen writes some excellent beach stuff.  Sorta like if Elmore Leonard had grown up in South Florida instead of Detroit.

[Bench]

Carl Hiaasen writes some excellent beach stuff.  Sorta like if Elmore Leonard had grown up in South Florida instead of Detroit.

Hiaasen is a better writer, but Dorsey is much much more entertaining in the exact same genre (Crazy Florida capers). Serge A. Storms is one of my favorite literary characters right up there with Stephen Maturin and Ignatius Reilly.

[toddthebod]

If you want to read some mysteries that are a little darker, I would recommend the Scudder series by Lawrence Block. 

[JimR]

Taking la familia to Mexico soon for a week of beach time. 

during school? beware the Truant Officer.

[Trey]

McCarthy's newest, The Road, was excellent.  I couldn't put it down.

I agree.  The Road is ridiculously good.  I wouldn't call it a beach road, though.  His No Country for Old Men is better suited.  But definitely read The Road (even if every Oprah watcher will now be trying to get a copy of it).

[loganck]

(even if every Oprah watcher will now be trying to get a copy of it).

That just makes it even easier to find.  And cheaper.  20% off at B&N right now and they're keeping the shelves full.

[NeilT]

Not mysteries, historical, but I like the Captain Alatriste novels by Arturo Perez-Reverte.  They're short, and bloody, and Spanish, and Perez's mysteries were also pretty good.  If you haven't read The Places in Between by Rory Stewart it's extraordinary and seems perfectly readable on the beach, and Absurdistan by Shteyngart's pretty funny.  You gotta like a novel where the author includes himself as a character, and then makes himself unlikeable.

[Limey]

If you are into fantasy, you should check out Dan Simmons' tome "Ilium" and its continuation in "Olympos".  Slightly less weighty (in gravitational terms) are the books of his "Hyperion" series.

[chuck]

Not mysteries, historical, but I like the Captain Alatriste novels by Arturo Perez-Reverte.  They're short, and bloody, and Spanish, and Perez's mysteries were also pretty good.

I second this. His mysteries seem well suited for beach reading, particularly The Nautical Chart.

[Duman]

If you've never read any of Caleb Carr's books they are nice summer reads.

I really liked "The Alienist"

[strosrays]

I've never figured out how anyone can read at the beach.  Too many distractions; and sand and coconut oil get all over everything.

But if I were going to try, I think I'd bring along one or more volumes of the Flashman Papers.  Can't go wrong there.

[Taras Bulba]

I've never figured out how anyone can read at the beach.  Too many distractions; and sand and coconut oil get all over everything.

But if I were going to try, I think I'd bring along one or more volumes of the Flashman Papers.  Can't go wrong there.

You are correct, sir.  My favorite was "The Great Game."  Ripping yarns, all.

[Bench]

You are correct, sir.  My favorite was "The Great Game."  Ripping yarns, all.

They are all fantastic reads. The concept is inspired and the execution is perfect. I've read all of them several times, as strosrays said, you really can't go wrong.

I've read some of Fraser's other novels as well, which are good but none have the depth of characters in the Flashman series. "Black Ajax" is probably the best of the bunch (and it features a cameo of a Flashman descendant).

His nonfiction, though, is really good. "Quartered Safe Out Here" is one of the best war memoirs I've ever read. It recounts Fraser's experiences in Burma in WWII. "The Lights On at Signpost," if you can find a copy, is a fun read. It's basically Fraser ranting on the state of the world, and Britain in particular, interlaced with tales of his experiences as a screen writer in Hollywood.

[UnholyToledo]

If you like to WWII-era detective/murder mysteries, try the "Berlin Noir" trilogy by Philip Kerr.  Fantastic stuff. And just as dark as Black Dahlia, if not more so.

[Taras Bulba]

They are all fantastic reads. The concept is inspired and the execution is perfect. I've read all of them several times, as strosrays said, you really can't go wrong.

I've read some of Fraser's other novels as well, which are good but none have the depth of characters in the Flashman series. "Black Ajax" is probably the best of the bunch (and it features a cameo of a Flashman descendant).

His nonfiction, though, is really good. "Quartered Safe Out Here" is one of the best war memoirs I've ever read. It recounts Fraser's experiences in Burma in WWII. "The Lights On at Signpost," if you can find a copy, is a fun read. It's basically Fraser ranting on the state of the world, and Britain in particular, interlaced with tales of his experiences as a screen writer in Hollywood.

Yes, I read "Quartered..." and it is quite good.  I started "Black Ajax" but never finished it.  Reading Flashman is a lot of fun.

[David in Jackson]

Spack--nuke this if appropriate.

Taking la familia to Mexico soon for a week of beach time.  I've got a couple of possible books in the hopper, but was interested in any recomendations of some good page turners.  The last great beach read I had was Ellroy's "Black Dahlia."  Thanks and I'll hang up.

Loved "Black Dahlia"  His "My Dark Pages" (nonfiction about his mother's murder) is excellent, as is American Tabloid.

Other thriller recommendations:  John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee books are perfect for the beach.  Alan Furst writes historical WWII spy books a la Casblanca.  Also Ross Thomas and anything by Elmore Leonard (best known for Get Shorty - all his books are great).