RELAX AND READ
Five to put on your list
AHH. BIG SIGH. It’s summertime and you’re at that special spot you love, where you can pull out a book and read the day away. Books and summer go hand in hand, summoning an emotional response that allows the body to relax. It probably goes back to idyllic childhood days when we sat under a tree or perhaps in a treehouse and read for hours. Carefree reading has now become a rite of summer.
So, let’s pull out our broad-brimmed hats, flip-flops, sunglasses and dig into some delicious reads.
1. Lebron
by Jeff Benedict
Benedict has published 17 nonfiction books, including the bestselling Tiger Woods, which is impeccably researched and written. Like Woods, LeBron is a sports icon who transcends worlds. Benedict is not afraid of exhaustive research and conducts hundreds of interviews to make sure his books present honest and accurate pictures of his subjects. Even if you aren’t a sports fan, Benedict’s books offer fascinating looks at multi-layered personalities with their flaws and redeeming characteristics. LeBron had long odds of making anything of his life, let alone becoming a superstar. He now transforms others’ lives with his activism and philanthropy.
2. Old Babes in the Wood
by Margaret Atwood
One can never go wrong in picking up a book by fiction superstar Atwood. In this collection of 15 short stories of different genres, the Canadian writer, with her ingenious insight, looks at relationships, loss, communication or lack thereof. Science fiction and fantasy are found in the pages, along with history and reflection on current affairs with a twist. Readers will always uncover a unique sense of humour. Short stories are also perfect for summer reading and relaxing.
3. Bowled Over Americano: A Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery
by Carolyn Arnold
Local author Arnold, who has penned more than 50 books, is beginning a new mystery series with this work about a double murder. The protagonists are detectives working on one case as part of their day jobs and another one on the side. “Sara and Sean go off the books and flirt around to figure out who the … killer is,” says Arnold. “It’s lighter (for the beach) but still complex enough that there is intrigue.” Add in romance, humour and unlikely turns and you probably won’t put this book down until you’ve finished it.
4. Blood of the Virgin
by Sammy Harkham
This graphic novel will quickly rise to number one, Brahm Wiseman, owner of Heroes Comics on Dundas Street predicts. Despite its daunting title, Wiseman says it’s ultimately a love story. Set in Los Angeles in the 1970s movie-making heyday, Blood of the Virgin has mature subject matter, but readers will not find it degrading or offensive. It’s not a comic book to leave around for the kids to pick up. Harkham is described as a master comics artist and a thorough, convincing writer.
5. Relish in the Tread
self-published by Steven Keith Hunter
Hunter’s work is about a love affair, with the road. The writer, who is based in Sarnia, takes his experience of being a pilgrim in Europe to create a fictional piece about the minimalistic life of a backpack traveller. In taking the trip with Hunter’s character, who doesn’t really know where he belongs, readers will learn about local cultures, food and the struggles that come from living life in travelling boots. Hunter has backpacked extensively in other parts of the world and also draws on those experiences to write a compelling read.