Summer hours are officially upon us and we hope you’ve taken the time to relax and treat yourself to a well-deserved vacation. Without hectic young professional schedules, there barely seems time to catch up on our favourite TV shows, let alone read a book. As a matter of fact, many young professionals feel guilty reading, feeling they really should be doing work, errands or devising the next best plan to advance their careers. Summer, however, seems to alter that mentality and most YPs have at least one good book on the go to read poolside, on the beach or on the dock.
Here are some of our favourite vacation books for this summer – and yes, we are going to refrain from mentioning the predictable Fifty Shades of Grey.
In One Person by John Irvine
This novel explores sexual orientation, tormented love and self-exploration, as told by Billy, the bi-sexual narrator, who reveals his life as a “sexual suspect.” It is humorous yet impactful, exploring the still sometimes taboo world of cross-dressing and sexual politics from an honest, raw and real perspective.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky
Guaranteed to transport you back to the utter awkwardness of high school, this powerful coming-of-age novel is told through the eyes of Charlie, who reveals the angst, devastation and confusion of being a teenager through a personalized series of letters. Charlie, who could have been any teenager, living anywhere, grapples in a constant battle between confronting his life and trying to run from it, or to simply blend in.
Capital by John Lanchester
Set on a single, typical street in present-day London, Capital tells a rich story of the impact of the financial collapse and its affects on an investment banker, new immigrant, graffiti artists and teenaged football star alike. It demonstrates how everyone – the rich, poor and in between – are all connected by capital and affected by the economy. What connects all characters is the desire for something more and their optimism of the opportunities of the city to lead a different kind of life.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
For those who saw the film earlier this year, we have a feeling YPs will find this book may be a little more intriguing than the movie. Going where very few fiction novels have gone, this novel explores 9/11 and the journey of nine-year-old Oskar Schell and his persistent mission to find the lock that matches a mysterious key belonging to his father, who died in the World Trade Center attacks.
Bloodline by James Rollins
This military thriller is James Rollins’ latest Sigma Force novel. Exploring the world of politics, medicine, science, technology and the evolution of immortality, all infused with action and thrills, this novel has all the ingredients of a YP beach read that you won’t be able to put down.