Top Ten Reads for the Beach

This Memorial Day Weekend marked the official start of summer. It's perfect timing to list the Top Ten beach reads, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

1. Harry Potter Series (J.K. Rowling): I don't think I need to explain this one... perfect for the beach.

2. Haroun and the Sea of Stories (Salmon Rushdie): A story about a storyteller; it's children's story told in the form of a novel and it's truly wonderful.

3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon): Told in a unique narrative voice, this one isn't super uplifting but it's certainly memorable.

4. Dream When You're Feeling Blue (Elizabeth Berg): I read this one in Barbados - light enough for the beach but still very interesting.

5. 84, Charing Cross Road (Helene Hanff): A short and sweet little number that will leave you smiling.

6. Things Fall Apart (Chinua Achebe): This book isn't light, but it's straight forward enough to make it a beach read.

7. Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi): A graphic memoir is great for the beach, and this one is especially interesting.

8. The English Major (Jim Harrison): I read this one on a sailing trip (there were beaches involved) - it details the journey of a divorced old man and his road trip across the US.

9. The Book of Illusions (Paul Auster): I read this book in one day - it's smart and unputdownable.

10. Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen): Another directly told novel, this one follows Jacob Janikowski and the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.