Beach? Book!

A vacation, for me, must meet at least one of a few criteria.

• A meaningful experience.

• A visit with one or both of my children and their spouses.

• Relaxation and time "off the grid."

• Warmer weather than my current hometown.

I’ll take any one of the above and optimally, all of the above to call it a success. The one non-negotiable item, however, is a good book. I can’t call it a true vacation unless I’ve devoured a good book.

And when I say book, I mean a printed work of fiction or nonfiction, on sheets of paper bound together within covers. The kind of object that needs a physical bookmark. The kind of object that absorbs your affection for its form while also absorbing sunscreen, splashes from the pool, raindrops, food stains, and spilled wine. The kind of object that is always in airplane mode and does not need to be stowed during takeoff and landing. The kind of object that can be passed along limitlessly and enjoyed until if finally falls to pieces.

It’s called a beach book. A single inquiry of female friends, any good beach book suggestions? usually results in more titles and authors than can possibly be consumed. Generally, a good beach book is a light read, a bit salacious, well written and not too long. You can dig in to read and put it down without too much angst to participate in vacation activities. It should enhance the vacation rather than overtake your agenda.

I happened upon my latest selection by chance. Given a few options by my book club buddies I couldn’t find any of the titles at the locally owned bookstore. Forced to browse (oh, please, twist my arm) I was pulled in by covers (pastels are often a good choice) and titles. I flip each book over for signs that it’s a part of a series; I dislike being dropped into the middle of characters with backstories previously defined. I read reviews and the source of the review. I finally pick up a book with a dark, artistic cover. The reviews positively glow, and oh, there’s one from NPR, nice. Just under 500 pages – enough for a good week of off and on reading.

I spent my vacation in Key West, with periodic detours to 1920’s London. I was a voyeur into the lives of a widow and her spinster daughter, renting out the top floor of their upper class home to “paying guests” (certainly NOT lodgers as that would be low class). I watched a forbidden romance bloom and grow, I agonized over the traumatic events and consequences that followed and brought home 100 unread pages to thoroughly enjoy on my final Sunday of vacation. I also swam, napped, ate great meals and enjoyed evening activities with wonderful friends.

I’m a reader. I love a great book, especially if suggested by a friend. I’m happy to share a book and if I suggest a book, it’s because I think it will speak in some way to the reader. So, no e-Readers for me. Give me a bound book, let me hold it, read it, love it, stain it, watch the progression of the bookmark from beginning to end, and then share it with others. My beach read? The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters. I’d be happy to lend it, just let me know.

Book report

When I joined a book club about 10 years ago I had an agenda. My goal was to step out of my usual reading genre and expand my reading horizons. Ditch the “bodice rippers” and move on to something worthy of my time. In those 10 years I’ve read a lot of wonderful fiction and compelling non-fiction. Books I never would have sought out on my own, introduced to me by this great group of women. I missed the last group discussion, so I’m not sure what inspired the next choice, but I’m now 289 pages into Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James. 

Before I even cracked the cover my interest was peaked by a question on Facebook posted by friend and columnist Jim Stingl, “I'm writing about "50 Shades of Grey" for tomorrow's column. Any of my female Facebook friends want to help me explain the appeal of this steamy, domination-theme book everyone's talking about?” Whoa, what? Not yet having read the book, I didn’t feel I could respond, but I haven’t stopped thinking about the question. So here it is, (a little late for Jim’s column) my answer…

Pick up any steamy romance, written by a woman, for women and the formula is always the same. She’s beautiful (but doesn’t know it), willful, smart, young and a virgin. He’s an older, drop dead gorgeous, perfect male (as described by the cut of his clothing), incredibly rich and inscrutable. She has a trendy name – Ashley, Serene, Elenora; he’s got a manly name – Roque, Gavin, Crawford. The story begins with the meet cute; pages of literary foreplay; the coming together in a blaze of sexual glory and multiple orgasms; more hot sex and always orgasms; betrayal and misunderstanding; deep regret and longing; clarity; a return to each other; more hot sex and happily ever after.

It’s that simple, and it’s that complex. Now, if you’re a man reading this, you read hot sex and orgasms, and bam, that was all you needed. Think about it, for a man, every issue of a Playboy is a brand new visual – so many variations on the theme. If a woman even has a Playgirl, she probably has just the one and it’s not the current issue. Why? Because there are so few variations on the theme, it’s all just junk. But a well written romance novel will transport you to emotional heights and visceral responses. It will leave you unable to set the book down as the end of each page has the promise of more tension and deliciousness on the next page. It’s pure escape; it’s inspiring and it's fun.

Fifty Shades of Grey takes this theme to a whole new level, but it’s the same story. She’s a beautiful, young, willful virgin; he’s a handsome, rich and inscrutable man. Pages of relationship foreplay, a cautious introduction of the domination theme with the heightened tension of fear. The story hits it’s first peak around page 120 and it’s a roller coaster ride from there. So there it is, it’s about the escapism, the quality of the build-up, the tension, the response and the . . . education.

It’s that simple and it’s that complex. Now, excuse me, I’ve got 200+ pages of fantasy land left to read.


Songs that resonate:
Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri
Ooh La La - Goldfrapp