There are people who love to be active on holiday. For them, time off means time spent on hearty walks, vigorous paddle-boarding or early morning games of tennis. I am not one of them. For me, a holiday is all about rest and relaxation, two things I am really, really good at.
I’m not a total lazy slob though. I start my day with a hangover-clearing run along the beach but once that is done, my routine is as follows: breakfast, sun-lounger, cocktails, dinner. Rinse and repeat for 14 days.
And what keeps me glued to my sun-lounger, not even bothering to turn over so I end up looking like one of those half-white/half-brown slices of toast? Books, that’s what.
No fan of the Kindle, I have to lug 14 copies of something with me to sunny Spain because I’m a speedy reader with a fear of running out of material. I don’t lug them back though. Once read, they remain at the hotel for someone else to pretend to enjoy, “The Shadow of the Wind” because I certainly didn’t.
You might not want to read 14 books; you might be like my husband who has taken his copy of The Godfather on more holidays than there were film sequels and is yet to finish it. But, whatever your summer reading preferences, if you’re looking for some distraction in between sporting endeavours and waiting for the bar to open, here’s five page-turners I recommend.
The ‘let’s get this holiday off to a depressing start’ one: The New Age of Sexism. How the AI revolution is reinventing misogyny by Laura Bates. I’m sorry, this isn’t a cheery read but it is an important one. AI is bringing a seismic shift in the way society operates but discrimination, inequality and harassment are being coded into the future we will have little choice about living in – unless we seize this moment to demand change.
The ’give me some light relief’ one: Letter from New York by Helene Hanff. Hanff was the author of 84 Charing Cross Road (another gem) and in 1978 was asked by BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour to write about her life in New York. Over six years she recorded a monthly five-minute broadcast, each one a love-letter to her adored NYC. It’s upbeat, charming and evocative.
The ‘non-boring autobiography’ one: Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. If you’ve already read Shoe Dog and Greenlights, perhaps you could consider this? I’m not pretending this is a work of great literature and it’s probably strictly for the fans but it’s a fascinating romp through a world that we will – fortunately in some cases – never experience again.
The ‘I need to read a business book’ one: Guys, it’s a holiday. But if you can’t give yourself a week off from personal growth I recommend, In the Moment by Neil Mullarkey. Neil is a communication expert and comedian and performs improv weekly with the Comedy Store. The subtitle of this useful book is, ‘Build your confidence, communication and creativity at work.’ – who wouldn’t want that?
The ’wild card’ one: Ejaculate Responsibly. A whole new way to think about abortion by Gabrielle Blair. Granted, this may raise a few eyebrows poolside but this short book presents a powerfully fair and effective way out of the abortion impasse by focusing on the role men play in unwanted pregnancy. It’s highly readable, funny and unflinching and deserves a wider audience. Read it and then give it to your teenage sons.
Let us know if any of those hit the spot for you (or please share what you’re planning to pack). Whether you’re heading to the coast, the city or staying at home, we wish you a wonderful summer.
