A Beach Read Can Be Any Read

I am working all day today, then  off Thursday for 4th of July and doing a half day Friday (mostly just reading a review prep as I have 2 due next week), but knowing that I went to the beach last weekend (Lake Michigan) and many people will be doing "beach reading" (whether that is on the beach, at the pool, or just outside with the holiday and weekend and the nice weather), I thought today would be a great reminder that you should not assume people only read a certain type of book at the beach.

I have the post below from 2022 which discusses this, and I was thinking about this post again over the weekend as I read Sociopath by Patric Gagne at the beach last weekend. This is a memoir, by a psychologist, and it was riveting-- like I was very hot and sweaty but would not allow myself to cool off in the lake until I finished a chapter riveting. 

So as we enter this, the biggest holiday weekend of summer here in America and you have those "summer reading" or "beach reads" displays up, remember, any read can be a beach read. ANYTHING. Make sure we use our work putting up displays and lists to remind our patrons as well. Whatever they want to read with their summer free time can be a "beach read." Any genre, from any year, as long as they are enjoying it.

Back Monday.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022

Beach Reads Can Be Any Read

It should come as no surprise that I think any read can be a "beach read." It does not depend on the book, but rather the person and what they want out of their "beach read."

Most often, when people mention they want a "beach read," what they are looking for is a book that will hold their interest, a title that will take them "away" in some way, and something they want to have fun reading. Of course those appeal factors are all highly personal and you cannot use them in a vacuum to match books with readers.

However, here are some examples. My review of My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite makes it very clear that this dark, psychological suspense novel was the PERFECT beach read for me. It was also the book I had the most fun reading in 2018. On the other hand, my best friend just went on a beach vacation and read the way more gentle, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and found it a perfect beach read, while her husband read Recursion by Blake Crouch. They are all very different, but all of us found them to be successful "beach reads."

So today, I am reaching out to remind you that your "beach read" displays and lists should take the term very broadly. There does not need to be a beach or romance or a fast pace. I mean it can have those things, but you need to broaden your scope. Look for books that are compelling, escapist, and fun to read. "Beach reads" aren't even solely read on the beach. It is a term people use for their limited leisure time, especially in the summer, to read for no reason other than the pleasure of the story.

And don't just use your brain to find the titles. Use resources AND poll staff. Send out an email to all staff. Ask them to help you build these lists and displays. You don't even have to ask for "beach reads." Say something like:

We are looking to make a list of "fun" reads. Send me titles of all time favorite books, titles that took you away from your day-to-day life, books you still remember fondly, titles that were so much fun to read that you are jealous of people who get to experience them for the first time.

Sit back and wait for titles to pour in. When you keep it broad, you will have so many more options, options that will serve a wider range of readers since you are asking a more open ended question to ALL staff [not just the staff at your service area].

Also look for lists like this one, "20 Amazing New Science Fiction and Fantasy Beach Reads" or use the 2022 Summer Reading Guide from PW [or for books already out the 2021, 2020, 2019, etc.... they are all linked at the top] for some proven winners in all genres and age levels. I have this post where I talk about that resource in more detail. These will help you get a wider variety of books.

Now is the time to get those "Bech Reads" displays up and this year no beach is required on the cover, inside the pages, or even for the reader's location.