Our summer holiday reads 2014
- Julia Docker
- Aug 6, 2014
- 3 min read
In this blog, the Informed Choice team share their summer holiday reads for 2014.
The summer holidays are always a good time to do some reading.
Here are some recommendations from members of the Informed Choice team, which we hope will help you decide what to take with you for a spot of light reading on the beach this summer.
A Message from Martha
Nick’s holiday read is a book called A Message from Martha.
Martha was a Passenger Pigeon. She died between 12.00 and 1.00pm on 1st September 1914 in Cincinnati Zoo.
Less than three decades before the Passenger Pigeon was the most numerous bird that has ever existed on the planet. Flocks could number into billions of individuals.
Martha’s death was significant for at least two reasons
The precision with which we can determine that she was the last living member of her species; and
The capacity of mankind to destroy a most prolific species and that should give us great concern for the future of our planet.
I Am Pilgrim
Martin recommends I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.
This is an excellent debut novel, described as The Day of the Jackal meets Homeland with a dash of Bourne.
It’s a lengthy read, but never slow, thanks for the clever storytelling and character development.
I’m usually engrossed in a Lee Child (who has a new Jack Reacher thriller coming out later this month!) or Harlan Coben book, so it is always great to discover new authors who can write so well in the crime thriller genre.
Toast
Andy is planning to read Toast: The Story of a Boy’s Hunger by Nigel Slater.
This is the story of Nigel’s childhood which Andy is looking forward to reading after watching a TV drama based on the story.
The Daily Telegraph said the book is ‘Acutely observed, poignant and beautifully written…Slater tells his heartbreaking story with great subtlety. The theme of food and love is a fascinating one and I have never seen it better handled.’
Andy is looking forward to reading it on her holiday next week, especially if the weather forecast is as dreadful as predicted!
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Andrew is delving into a classic this summer, with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
At only 36p as a Kindle edition, this seminal work of American literature is worth revisiting, described as essential to the understanding of the American soul.
Secret Life of Bees
Shelley has chosen to read Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd this summer.
Another debut novel on our best summer holiday reads of 2014 list, Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily, a motherless teenager who has been brought up by her bitter, angry father.
The story is set in South Carolina in 1964 and is a New York Times bestselling novel. It was made into a movie in 2008.
Shadow of Night
Lizanne, usually a fan of ‘trashy romance novels’ (her words!), has picked Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.
This is the second book in the popular All Souls trilogy, following the story of Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch, as she solves the mystery of Ashmole 782, falls in love with a mysterious vampire named Matthew Clairmont, and learns how powerful it can be to accept who you are.
What is on your summer holiday reading list? Have you read any of these books?