Your out-of-office message is drafted, Slack notifications are cleared, and your bag is packed — it’s time to step into your summer vacation. Whether you’re packing your bag to lounge by the lake, bum out on the beach, or cozy up next to the campfire, no trip is complete without a good book. And the best part? You don’t have to go far to find one. Wherever your summer travels take you this season, we have a book that’s suited for every adventure.
For The Staycation
River Cottage Fruit Every Day! by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Whether you’ve booked some time off to enjoy the natural rhythms of your neighbourhood, hosting the friend group’s next garden party or feel inspired to try some new seasonal recipes we recommend picking up River Cottage Fruit Every Day! Known for his uncompromising commitment to seasonal, ethically produced food and his concern for the environment, we’ve yet to eat a recipe from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall we didn’t love. River Cottage Fruit Every Day! will deliver fresh inspiration when it comes to taking advantage of summer’s fruitful bounty.
About the Book
Fruit is pretty much the perfect food: bountiful, delicious and colourful, it also helps us to fight infection, stresses and strains. But why are we still a nation that thinks it’s a bit racy to slice a banana onto our cornflakes in the morning? River Cottage Fruit Every Day! will show you how to enjoy a broader eating experience and make fruit easy, fun and irresistible. You’ll find recipes for all the wonderful seasonal fruit that grows in this country, and learn how to make the most of fruit from other parts of the world.
For The Beach Getaway
The Girls by Emma Cline
Sand. Surf. Serenity. If we close our eyes we can already hear the waves crashing and feel the soft sand warm underfoot. For those bound for the surf this summer, we recommend adding The Girls to your beach bag. This superbly written piece of fiction will keep you enthralled under your umbrella as the afternoon fades to sunset.
About the Book
Northern California, during the violent end of the 1960s. At the start of summer, a lonely and thoughtful teenager, Evie Boyd, sees a group of girls in the park, and is immediately caught by their freedom, their careless dress, their dangerous aura of abandon. Soon, Evie is in thrall to Suzanne, a mesmerizing older girl, and is drawn into the circle of a soon-to-be infamous cult and the man who is its charismatic leader.
For The Cabin Retreat
Two Trees Make a Forest by Jessica J. Lee
Mornings at the cabin are like no other. Coffee percolates on the stove and the breeze carries the soft scent of pine as you walk out onto the deck. As the lake simmers in the morning sunlight, you relish the opportunity to slow down and recharge away from the constant buzz of the city. For your escape off the grid, we recommend bringing Two Trees Make a Forest along to unwind with.
About the Book
Taiwan is an island of extremes: towering mountains, lush forests, and barren escarpment. Between shifting tectonic plates and a history rife with tension, the geographical and political landscape is forever evolving. After unearthing a hidden memoir of her grandfather’s life, Jessica J. Lee seeks to piece together the fragments of her family’s history as they moved from China to Taiwan, and then on to Canada. But as she navigates the tumultuous terrain of Taiwan, Lee finds herself having to traverse fissures in language, memory, and history, as she searches for the pieces of her family left behind.
Interlacing a personal narrative with Taiwan’s history and terrain, Two Trees Make a Forest is an intimate examination of the human relationship with geography and nature, and offers an exploration of one woman’s search for history and belonging amidst an ever-shifting landscape.
For The Road Trip
Needful Things by Stephen King
Whether your destination is mapped or it’s all about the journey of discovering it, an audiobook can be the perfect soundtrack to accompany the rolling and ever-changing scenes on your next road trip. Perfect for zoning out in the passenger’s seat or passing your shift at the wheel, the slow descent into chaos that unfolds in Stephen King’s Needful Things will captivate you as the miles tick by.
About the Book
Leland Gaunt opens a new shop in Castle Rock called Needful Things. Anyone who enters his store finds the object of his or her lifelong dreams and desires: a prized baseball card, a healing amulet. In addition to a token payment, Gaunt requests that each person perform a little “deed,” usually a seemingly innocent prank played on someone else from town. These practical jokes cascade out of control and soon the entire town is doing battle with itself. Only Sheriff Alan Pangborn suspects that Gaunt is behind the population’s increasingly violent behaviour.
For The Vineyard Vacation
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Finally, for those who love a leisurely itinerary filled with charcuterie boards, wine tastings and good conversations, The Art of Gathering is the perfect literary pairing. After an afternoon in the vineyards, returned to the mix refreshed for dinner after picking up this book that teaches you how to make the most of your group hangouts.
About the Book
In The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive–which they don’t have to be. We rely too much on routine and the conventions of gatherings when we should focus on distinctiveness and the people involved. At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play.
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What We’re Reading This Spring
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