As time appears to slow down, the summer months are the perfect opportunity to read the books you seem to pick up but never get to finish. The call went out through our forums for the ideal summer reading. Here are some of your suggestions...

Tracey Chevalier’s “The Lady and the Unicorn”
"A pleasant book, really a charming and enjoyable novel (Chevalier is the author of “The Girl With The Pearl Earring”). It's about the making of the splendid set of fifteenth century Flemish tapestries of the same name in the Musée du Moyen Age (Hôtel Cluny) in Paris. And, of course, of the coming of age (and erotic adventures) of the protagonist... Brill!"

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"Another book I like is “The Island at the Center of the World” by Russell Shorto. It's non-fiction but gives a wealth of details about Dutch Manhattan and the forgotten colony that did more to shape America than the Pilgrim Fathers."
Emilio416

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Dave Eggers’ “What is the What”
"I would recommend this book. Here is an excerpt from the book’s preface.

'I was just a young boy when the twenty-two-year civil war began that pitted Sudan’s government against the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army. As a helpless human, I survived by trekking across many punishing landscapes while being bombed by Sudanese air forces, while dodging land mines, while being preyed upon by wild beasts and human killers. I fed on unknown fruits, vegetables, leaves and sometimes went with nothing for days. At many points, the difficulty was unbearable.'

It honestly had me crying on the train, at the tram stop, everywhere and anywhere... I couldn't help it! "

‘anonymous’

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Mitch Albom's "The Five People You Meet In Heaven"
 
Small, but perfectly formed, the book traces roller-coaster repair-man Eddie's journey in the after-live as he meets the five people in heaven whose lives he has somehow affected. Five stories will bring him back to the core of his childhood: the enigmatic Ruby Pier.
'thebrusse'

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Any book by Eckhart Tolle
All of his books are good, but “A New Earth” is my personal favorite. He's got a bunch of stuff on youtube...he's a bit of a strange character but has some interesting things to say...

Eckhart Tolle - "Can I be the Space for this?"

Another anonymous reader

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Louise Alcott’s “A Long Fatal Love Chase”

Louise Alcott is famous for writing “Little Women”. This book shows another side of her and was written in 1866, two years before “Little Women” came out. It was originally rejected as the heroine didn’t display any little-woman like domesticity, something which was approved of in the Victorian era. The heroine, on discovering that she has been duped into a false marriage with a murderer, fails to collapse and die of shame but gets out and fast.
'Mdina'

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And avid reader Debjani Sengupta has offered up several novels that will help you to “escape into the abstract world for renewed mental vigour during the summer”.

Stephen King’s “The Shining”
“Though one of his older books is still the best - gripping reading. Was made into a highly successful Jack Nicholson movie. His other books were not so successfully adapted to the screen. His latest book “ Duma Key” is on the stands. His inspiration for it were visual images of two dead twins walking down a path lined with palms and rhododendrons.”

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Patricia Highsmith’s “Strangers on a Train”
“Her very first novel which catapulted her to instant fame. The book was made into a Hitchcock movie – exciting and quick reading.”

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Edward Klein’s “Farewell, Jackie”
“A portrait of the final days of this immaculately dignified and stylish lady – pulls at the heart strings.”

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Khaled  Hosseini’s “A Thousand Splendid Suns”
“The latest book from the author of  “The Kite Runner” – depiction of real history made in the last few years from an Afghan himself – very dramatic and racy reading.”

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Peter McHoy’s “House Plants and Plant Care”
“Covers every aspect of care for the common and exotic varieties of plants that brighten up our lives by their mere presence –fascinating reading.”

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Some recommendations from 'may.maud': Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s “Shadow of the Wind'', Barbara Kingsolver’s ''The Poisonwood Bible'', David Mitchell’s ''Cloud Atlas'' and ''Black Green''. But not, it seems Tracy Chevalier’s latest book ''Burning Bright'':  “…unless you want to be bored witless, don't be tempted to read it - it's awful and if you check the reviews out on Amazon most people seem to agree!”

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ORDER "The Poisonwood Bible"
ORDER "Cloud Atlas"
ORDER "Burning Bright"

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And if your eyes can still bear the strain and you still have the strength to turn the pages, there’s also:

Antoine: Harry Mulish’s “Discovery of Heaven“ - “a very fascinating book”.

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Jabeen: Nicole Krauss’ “The History of Love” - “Best book I have read in a long time”.

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pm: Frank Martinus Arion’s “Double Play” – “only the finest of novelists can write about a game of dominoes and hold your attention for 371 pages. Of course it’s also about social, political and sexual rivalries in the Dutch Antilles …”

(expatica June 2008)

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