Summer Reading

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“Summer reading” conjures up images of hammocks and deck chairs, beaches and balconies. To some readers, it also means books that allow the mind to take a vacation. To others, it’s a chance to engage in contemplation. And for younger readers, school’s end affords time to read for pure pleasure.

In our Summer Reading section Saturday, June 12, we offer reviews of a broad selection of books, to suit a wide range of tastes. We’ve also posted most of these reviews online, at montrealgazette.com/books.

There’s a great crop of history titles, perhaps the best of which is Last Call, Daniel Okrent’s history of Prohibition. Also especially recommended by reviewer Brian Kappler are The Tudors, by G.J. Meyer; Citizens of London, by Lynne Olson; and For the Soul of France, by Frederick Brown.

Memoirs allow readers to meet some fascinating people. Barbara Black reviews recent titles by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Judy Fong Bates, Siri Hustvedt, G. Willow Wilson, James FitzGerald and Ngugi Wa Thion’o.

Story collections and poetry offer wisdom in short, and for the most part, easily portable formats.

Ian McGillis looks at several recent collections of short fiction, including those by international stars Richard Bausch and A.L. Kennedy, and Montreal authors Katrina Best and Jeff Miller.

Harold Heft reviews several poetry collections, finding much to admire in the work of Michael Harris, Suzanne Hancock, Susan Briscoe, Michael Lista, Paul Tyler and the late P.K. Page.

Anne Sutherland reviews of some of the hottest new bestsellers (by Emily Giffin, Alexander McCall Smith, Lisa Lutz, Isabelle Lafleche and Lisa Scottoline).

Bernie Goedhart and Michelle Lalonde offer summer reading suggestions for children, in English and French respectively.

And, for those for whom summer is a time of personal renovations, Monique Polak looks at three new self-help titles, including one that made her blush.

This is the last Books tabloid for the summer. It returns in September. In the meantime, The Gazette’s literary coverage will continue on the Saturday Books page in the Extra section, with features and interviews in other parts of the newspaper, and on the Books webpage, at montrealgazette.com/books.

Edie Austin, Gazette Books editor

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