3 Palm Trees, Culver City

At the outset of summer, before the longest day of the year passed me by, leading to shorter days with less sunlight by which to read at the beach, I made a list of the five books I wanted to read and why. By the way, I’ve never been able to read a book on the beach; the loud waves either serve as a siren to swim or they lull me to sleep.

This NEXT 5 list is inspired by the Seattle Public Library’s program “Your Next 5 Books,” a service that allows readers nationwide to email librarians with likes and dislikes for a new list of 5 book suggestions.

Here is the list I made for myself:

1. Body of Lies by David Ignatius.

Why? To start the summer, I wanted to read a book for fun. Fun. I sometimes lose sight of this goal, so I forced myself to go to the Santa Monica Library’s used book store and pick up a random book. After years of wanting to read a spy thriller by David Ignatius, I picked up Body of Lies for $1. The 2009 film had been entertaining and taut, although I did not remember one scene; there was no risk of me comparing the movie to the book.

2. The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño

Why? This 656-page novel was going to be my big winter read, but I never got to it. Now, I’m over 100 pages in and completely shaken by the prose. Time itself seems to star as one of the haunting main characters in the fictional world of Mexico City.

3. Onward Toward What We Are Going Toward by Ryan Bartelmay

Why? My close friend just finished this beast of a novel after nursing it for 10 years. As my former MFA classmate, I needed to see how the character seeds he planted back in New York have blossomed on a larger canvas. Having read some of his stories, such as All That Sadness,  I had a hunch Onward might take me into the gloom, that great-gloom, that Ryan tends to enter with his writing.

4. Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang    Why? Set in the 1890s, this graphic novel depicts China’s Boxer Rebellion from two different points of view; each book gives a different side’s take on the conflict. From the first book, I can see that Yang approaches war as a complex subject, instead of being quick to announce the heroes and villains.

 5. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Why? I tried reading this as a teenager, but failed to connect with it for some reason. Maybe it was a growth spurt at the time.  I remember the main character, a veteran of WWII and POW, ending up in a spaceship several times. I’m giving this one another chance!

Stay tuned for short reviews of MY NEXT FIVE BOOKS along with my next, NEXT FIVE BOOKS list. A few of the titles I’m thinking of reading are: The Things They Carried, Gone Girl, and…well, I’ll see if anybody gives me any great recommendations over the next few weeks!