Top Ten Beach Reads For Men

Ah, summer's here. The sun is shining, the sky is clear, the weather is gorgeous, and the planes flying overhead look mighty tempting. What's nicer than lying on the beach with a book, soaking up the sun and losing yourself in a good book. Kerry's picked her favourite holiday reads for men. Women can check out the Top Ten Beach Reads For Girls. (Of course, there's nothing stopping women enjoying these choices and vice versa!) Why not tell us about your favourites?

Review of The Book of Idle Pleasures by Tom Hodgkinson Trivia A liberating reminder of the pleasure to be found in simple, free, natural acts - from morning sex to skimming stones. Full Review

Review of The Rabbit Factory by Marshall Karp Crime A theme park that's a lot like Disneyland has a nightmare when one of its key animal mascots is murdered off duty. But it's just the beginning, and it's up to a pair of hardened cops to get fluffy and solve the escalating crimes that threaten the whole entertainment corporation. A bright and engaging comedy thriller that comes recommended by the Bookbag. Full Review

Review of Crime by Irvine Welsh General Fiction A slick, foul-mouthed, violent crime thriller which charges headlong into paedophilia and some dodgy psychology, but still somehow succeeds on several levels. Full Review

Review of On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan Literary Fiction In a short novella, McEwan manages to fit a record of changing sexual and social mores, an extremely convincing depiction of individuals' inner worlds and a psychological (if not to say physiological) insight so piercing that it gets, almost literally, visceral. Full Review

Review of The Deceived by Brett Battles Thrillers A reasonably fast and involved crime thriller moving from the corridors of power in Washington to the backstreet markets of Singapore. Good escapist entertainment. Full Review

Review of The Lost Art by Simon Morden Science Fiction A roller coaster of a future action-adventure story, with well constructed, fast-paced plot, judicious use made of a host of science fiction devices and larger-than-life characters which may even inspire thought about more serious issues of the use that's made of knowledge and technology, role of religion and colonialism. Highly recommended summer read. Full Review

Review of Breath by Tim Winton Literary Fiction A young boy takes to the surf, faces his fears and slowly enters an adult world he is totally unprepared for. An elegant, powerful narrative takes a deep unexpectedly dark dive into murkier waters. Full Review

Review of Armed Madhouse by Greg Palast Politics and Society Suiting a man who straddles the Atlantic, Greg Palast occupies a style ground somewhere between Michael Moore (fewer jokes) and John Pilger (more jokes) in this lucid, readable and convincing denouncement of a great deal that's wrong with the world, and in particular with George W Bush and the other movers and shakers among the world's super rich. Full Review

Review of Death Wore White by Jim Kelly Crime A surprisingly literary crime thriller. Well plotted, with strong characters, but let down by too many seemingly coincidental links between them which make it a touch less realistic than it could have been. Full Review

Review of The Reapers by John Connolly General Fiction Connolly's basic idea may be nothing especially new, but The Reapers is a gripping read and has enough fresh features to elevate it above the mundane. Full Review

Check out Bookbag's exciting features section, with interviews, top tens and editorials.

Comments

Like to comment on this feature?

Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site. }}