NIGHTSTAND  THE UNOFFICIAL SUMMER READING LIST

YOU THINK IT, I’LL SAY IT By Curtis Sittenfeld

Random House

 

Sittenfeld’s first collection of short stories has already been scooped up by Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine for Apple TV, with Kristen Wiig set to star. If that’s not enough, Sittenfeld’s trademark skewering of everyday people is in full force and since you’re getting ten meal-sized stories for the price of one book, it’s perfect for smart poolside reading. Read a story, flip over. Apply sunscreen. Repeat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE RISE AND FALL OF DINOSAURS: A NEW HISTORY OF THE LOST WORLD By Steve Brusatte

William Morrow

 

Embrace your inner elementary school self (I see you hiding in there!) and pick up the latest, and greatest, dinosaur history book. Brusatte is a young paleontologist who has quickly become one of the biggest stars of the field and he breathes fresh life to our old friends who have been dead for 66 million years. He’s named over 15 “new” species of dinosaurs during his relatively short time on Earth (he’s 34… what have you done lately?), and this book will keep its promise as the definitive guide for years to come.

 

 

 

 

THE SOUL OF AMERICA: THE BATTLE FOR OUR BETTER ANGELS By Jon Meacham

Random House

 

Listen to Jon Meacham, y’all. He knows things. The Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential biographer helps us understand our current crisis climate and pets our heads and tells us it’ll all be OK, we’ve been here before. Really! Remember Woodrow Wilson and the backlash against immigrants in the first World War and the resurgence of the KKK? Probably not, since you weren’t alive then, but we’ve had more than our fair share of dark moments in history. America has always transformed thanks to our “better angels” and thanks to the wise words of Jon Meacham, we can sleep at night. (Give the man another Pulitzer for that.)

 

 

 

 

THE ENSEMBLE By Aja Gabel

Riverhead

If you’re looking for a really good multi-point of view decade-sprawling narrative about a group of unlikely friends that you can’t put down, this is it. The story of the Van Ness String Quartet has love, loss, competition, fame, egos and the best — secrets. It’s an intense look at the behind-the-scenes world of aspiring musicians and is truly unforgettable. If you liked The Interestings, Life After Life or The Secret History, this is right up your alley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PERFECT MOTHER By Aimee Molloy

Harper

 

There is one book every summer that everyone is talking about — Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, Big Little Lies, The Girl Who Flipped a Biscuit (OK, that’s not real, but it fits) — and this it that book. It’s unfair to compare it, because it’s nothing like the others, but it does have the twisty plot, the warranted page turning hype, and the Kerry Washington movie option. Read the book before all of your friends do, and score cool points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALYPSO By David Sedaris

Little, Brown and Company (May 29th)

 

National treasure David Sedaris has a new book of essays out, and this is your courtesy heads up.