Summer Reading and Awards: Off the Beaten Path Options

I have been finding some great, nontraditional summer reading lists that I wanted to share with you.

• From NPR, try this list, entitled "Zombies and Monster Squid: Summer's Monster Hits!," of five freaky books about aliens, pulsating brains, mutants and more. 
•  From io9 try this list of "The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books for Summer Escapism."  One of the titles on the list, Feed, is already on its way to me through ILL.
• Here is a Nonfiction Summer Reading list from the Daily Beast.
• Entertainment Weekly's "18 Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer." A nice mix of books in many genres.
• For those who want to beat the heat, try these suggestions from RA Online, "Cool Reads for Hot Days." Nothing but snow and ice here.
• Get a jump on August with that month's picks from Indie Next; some are already out.
• Read a one-hit wonder.

Also this past weekend a couple big genre awards were handed out. Lists of award nominees and winners make for great reading lists, both because a larger group deemed them worthy of your time and because they are newish, but not brand new, so they may be on the shelf right now.

• The International Thriller Writers Association announced their annual awards in NYC. Click here for the full list of winners and nominees.
• The Shirley Jackson Award for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic were announced. Click here for the full list of nominees and winners.

Finally it is shameless promotion time. My friend, Jennifer Weiner's brand new book Fly Away Home comes out today. GO BUY IT!!! I always get at least 6 copies. Her best selling, smart women's fiction novels make a great gift.