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Summer Reading, 2015

Published: May 21, 2015
Category: Books

Summer. The catalogs I get from publishers send the message in a way I’ll charitably call “timeless.” But really, the summer offerings look to me like déjà vu all over again. The brood reuniting at ye olde family retreat, where “secrets are revealed.” The evil nanny/assistant. And so on.

Whatever is wrong with my novel — and I count on you to tell me — at least it’s not a book you’ll feel you’ve read before. But it’s not out until August 25th, almost Labor Day. You’ll just have to make do with other books. How good are they? I stole from many of them. And I try to steal only from the best.

To get you in the mood:

The Quiche of Death
A London PR executive retires early to savor the joys or English country life. As if.

Bonjour Tristesse
Francoise Sagan wrote this sophisticated beach romance when she was 18.

Just Kids
Patti Smith has a second memoir coming out in the fall. Read this first.

Light Years
The summer scenes in the Hamptons are beyond. The whole book is.

Levels of the Game
In one epic tennis match, we learn everything about Clark Graebner and Arthur Ashe — and about great tennis.

The Garden of Eden
Hemingway’s generally unknown novel about a couple on their honeymoon — and their new friend.

The Stories of John Cheever
The creator of “Mad Men” read Cheever’s journals as research. Good idea. The stories are better.

Lillian on Life
The best novel I’ve read this year.

The Queen’s Gambit
Because you don’t want to be the last Butler reader to inhale it.

The Perfect Summer: England 1911
The last great party before the war that killed a generation.

Of Human Bondage
I stole half my prose style from Maugham.

Salt Water Buddha
The wisest surfer there ever was.

Borgen
Three seasons of Danish TV. But it’s really a novel.

And….