Summer isn’t summer without books, right? I can’t think of anything more delicious than coming in from the beach, cranking up the fan and crawling under cool sheets for a late afternoon read. I get all goose-bumpy just thinking about it (tip: if your afternoon can accomodate it – add a cold beer to your bedside table. You can thank me later).

Only this year, I am embarrassed to say, did I start going to this place called The Library. I couldn’t believe it. Thousands of books I could just try out and if I didn’t like them, take them back. What a concept. As my neighbor says, the library: “It’s a total scam”.

At my last visit I picked up the following:

Stephen King On Writing: I bought this one because I figured I’d want it around. I had this weird thing where, for two days I kept hearing people talk about this book. I figured it was a sign. I started reading it in the car on the way home (not while I was driving, of course, but sitting in the car after a Starbucks run). I tore through it. I loved it even more than Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird“ which I didn’t think was possible.

The Memory of Running: Alias Mother suggested this one for me last January. I just got to it recently and finished it last night. Narrated very simply by the main character, it is a wonderful story about beginnings and endings, mental illness, love and second chances. It’s also a read that is both darkly funny and achingly sad at the same time. Make sure you can handle that.

Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name: I’ve picked this up and the bookstore like five times and put it back. Now I can try it for freeeeee. Anyone who has read it – please let me know if you liked it.

To Kill a Mockingbird: I’ve never read this and I can’t blame anyone but myself – or the sub-optimal school system from which I graduated. I am looking forward to it. Interestingly, Alias Mother just listed it in her post on top five books. For me, that’s all it takes.

Amy and Isabelle: See above Let the Nothern Lights Erase Your Name.

We Need to Talk about Kevin: I’m not sure if I can handle the topic, but I just I just read “The Post Birthday World” and I loved, LOVED Lionel Shriver. I would seriously re-read her sentences several times because I couldn’t believe how beautifully she strung her words together. So I’m going to give this one a try.

If anyone has any other must-reads, please suggest. I plan on spending a lot of summertime under the covers.