My Top Late Summer Reads
Disclaimer: this blog post is kindly sponsored by Serious Readers
Whatever the season, there’s nothing I enjoy more than settling down with a good book and a cup of tea when I want to relax and lose myself in the pages of another world.
Reading in tune with the seasons is important to me, and each month I like to make sure I have incorporated a few appropriate seasonal reads into my reading list. In late summer, my mind turns towards stories set by the seaside, rivers and lakes. For me, one of the joys of late summer is to walk along a sandy beach, which brings back childhood memories of hot Long Island days and holidays in Dorset.
Sadly, although I’m able to control my reading, I have no command over the weather! As I write this, it’s pouring with rain in Yorkshire, as it is all too often in the summer. A trip to the coast is often difficult to manage, with unpredictable weather and a busy schedule, but fortunately, I’ve got plenty of books to read that are brilliant for a summer escape.
For me, then, plenty of ‘beach reads’ are enjoyed from my armchair at home, and whatever the season, an important component of my evening reading routine is having my Serious Light to hand. A great reading light is essential for me, and I’ve been using my High Definition Cordless Floor Light for years. These High Definition lights feature Daylight Wavelength Technology™, which replicates the daylight spectrum as closely as technically possible, resulting in a beautiful, soft light. I’m able to adjust the brightness levels and the width of the beam of my light, so I get the perfect amount of light for me, and I love that I can pick up and carry my Serious Light to wherever I want to read.
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This August, whether you’re enjoying the familiar comfort of home, or lying on a sandy shore, I hope you’ll enjoy my Late Summer Reading Recommendations below.
For Non-Fiction Fans:
The Book of Pebbles by Christopher Stocks and illustrated by Angie Lewin. If you’re in the mood for a non-fiction read, then The Book of Pebbles is an excellent choice. This beautifully illustrated volume celebrates the pebble, from listing some of the UK’s finest pebble beaches, to examining the history of the pebble and its cultural significance in art and gardens. If you like to bring back attractive pebbles from the beach, or send them skimming across the waves, then this book will make you appreciate them all the more.
Novels Set in Cornwall:
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier. One of Daphne du Maurier’s historical novels, Frenchman’s Creek is set in 17th century Cornwall and is a swashbuckling tale of romance and adventure that’s ideal for late summer. High-spirited Lady Dona St Columb flees her stifling life in London to her husband’s estate in Cornwall. Exploring a nearby creek, she discovers the mysterious and alluring French pirate, Jean-Benoit Aubery, who is in hiding from the Cornish authorities. Dona agrees to keep his secret, and a strong attraction develops between these two rebellious spirits.
China Court by Rumer Godden. Another novel based in Cornwall, China Court begins in August with the arrival of Tracy Quin from America. Excited to see her old family home, Tracy’s return to Cornwall is shadowed by the death of her grandmother, and the future of China Court is thrown into jeopardy. As this family saga unfolds, the past mingles with the present, with the personalities of previous inhabitants of China Court still echoing throughout the old house and subtly influencing its fate.
The Feast by Margaret Kennedy. Set one summer in Cornwall in 1947, Kennedy’s novel opens dramatically with an account of a terrible accident: a cliff on the Cornish coast has collapsed on to a hotel, destroying the building and killing several guests. The story timeline then shifts back to a few weeks prior to the accident and recounts events leading up to the tragedy. Tensions mount between the hotel guests, as their flaws and secrets are revealed.
Unusually, The Feast is also a kind of fable, with several characters personifying the Seven Deadly Sins of gluttony, lust, avarice, pride, wrath, envy and sloth. Aside from the moral undertones, The Feast is a fascinating portrait of the British seaside holiday, and conveys the attitudes and social nuances present in the aftermath of WW2.
Mystery and Suspense:
Uncle Paul by Celia Fremlin. Described as the ‘grandmother of psycho-domestic noir,’ Celia Fremlin was exceptional at creating suspense in seemingly innocuous settings. In Uncle Paul, three sisters - Isabel, Meg and Mildred - unite for a summer holiday by the seaside, but their reunion is marred by the nervous behaviour of the eldest sister. Mildred is convinced her former husband (nicknamed ‘Uncle Paul’) is trying to hunt her down and enact his revenge. It was Mildred who provided evidence against ‘Uncle Paul’ which convicted him of murdering his first wife. Isabel is infected by the tense atmosphere, but sensible Meg is skeptical, until strange happenings start to convince her that ‘Uncle Paul’ may in fact already be amongst them….
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart. Set on the glorious island of Corfu, This Rough Magic combines romance and suspense in a gripping story that was first published in 1964. Lucy Waring is a young, out-of-work actress, who is thrilled to visit her sister and spend a summer in Corfu. One day by the sea, Lucy befriends an impish dolphin, but is horrified when she realises someone is firing a gun in their direction.
This incident begins an adventure that draws Lucy into a world of intrigue, deception and smuggling, and also introduces her to a famous reclusive actor and his good-looking son, Max. Mary Stewart’s writing is known for her wonderful sense of place, and This Rough Magic transports you to a magical setting, with its allusions to Shakespeare’s The Tempest and its evocative descriptions of island life.
Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie. This deviously clever Hercule Poirot mystery is set on an island off Devon and features one of Christie’s most memorable ‘whodunnit’ plot twists. Hot weather and swimsuits play an important role in the execution - as well as solution - of this crime.
Danger Point by Patricia Wentworth. After newly-wed Lisle Jerningham almost drowns in what is apparently an unfortunate accident, she overhears gossip about her husband, Dale. His former wife also suffered an unlucky accident - one that killed her - and left Dale a wealthy widower. The gossips snidely remark that Lisle’s death would be very fortunate for her husband, who, short of money again, needs Lisle’s fortune to keep his beloved family home, Tanfield, afloat.
In shock after listening to these remarks, Lisle meets the amateur detective, Miss Silver, on a train and confides her acute anxiety. Is her husband trying to kill her? Reminiscent of Rebecca, this is a page-turning mystery set in a country home overlooking the sea.
Have His Carcase by Dorothy L Sayers. Detective novelist Harriet Vane is on a walking holiday along the South-West coast when she discovers the body of a man with his throat cut, lying on a rock lapped by waves. Realising the tide will soon come in and wash the body out to sea, Harriet acts quickly, photographing the evidence and then telling her story to the police. Has this unknown man committed suicide, or was he murdered? Lord Peter Wimsey soon appears by Harriet’s side, working with her to solve the case, and hoping to persuade Harriet to marry him….
If you’re new to Dorothy L Sayer’s Golden Age crime mysteries, featuring the aristocratic sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey, then read Strong Poison before Have His Carcase, as the former sets up his romantic relationship with Harriet Vane. For those already familiar with Dorothy L Sayer’s books, Have His Carcase is a brilliant hot-weather reread.
Books to Make You Smile:
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome. A late Victorian classic and one of the funniest novels I’ve ever read, Three Men in a Boat follows the adventures and hilarious mishaps of three male friends (as well as Montmorency, the dog) who decide to go on a boating holiday along the Thames one summer.
The Fortnight in September by R. C. Sherriff. This gentle, quietly humorous book is a lovely choice to mark the end of summer and start of autumn. Very little action takes place: an ordinary, lower-middle-class family enjoy their annual two week holiday by the sea, and the rhythm of the book matches the typical pace of a holiday: the anticipation, arrival and first few days stretch long and relaxed, taking up the first half of the novel, and with increasing speed the rest of the holiday flashes by, the book ending as the family’s last ‘goodbyes’ are said to their landlady.
Although the plot is minimal, it is Sherriff’s skill in writing sympathetic, recognisable characters, with the small anxieties and delights that are common to so many of us, that makes this book such a timeless read.
Children’s Books:
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. Set in the Lake District, this children’s classic from 1930 is the ideal book for anyone who loves nothing better than messing about in a boat. Even for those (like myself) who take little interest in aquatic pursuits, the Swallows and Amazons stories hold a real charm, with their beautiful settings and realistic, likable characters.
Dolphin Summer by Monica Edwards (out of print). This book is a firm favourite of mine from Monica Edwards’ delightful ‘Romney Marsh’ series, featuring her spirited heroine, Tamzin Grey. Set along the coast of East Sussex, near Rye, Dolphin Summer is a fun story of seaside adventure.
One hot summer, a dolphin appears in the bay near Tamzin’s home. Friendly and trusting, the dolphin (named Simo) loves to play with Tamzin. Simo’s liking for human company attracts the attention of a Sea Life Centre that wants to capture the animal. Tamzin hates the idea of a wild creature confined and used for entertainment, and so she and her friends hatch a daring plot to rescue Simo.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these Late Summer Reading Recommendations, and that you have some sun-filled final weeks of summer ahead of you.
Happy Reading!
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