Great Books to Relax With
These are the 10 “beach reads” I am looking forward to this summer, even though I often read them in a comfy chair on my deck instead of on the beach. If they haven’t been published yet the release date is listed.

10. Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik
This looks like a great nonfiction book to read when I get sick of fiction. There are lots of short entries about the modern materials that make up our everyday lives. Easy-reading nonfiction is great to read before bed, as it is interesting, but does not lead me down the rabbit trail of “one more chapter!” the way a gripping fiction book can.
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stuff-Matters-Exploring-Marvelous-Materials/dp/0544236041/ref=zg_bs_books_57
From King County Library System in Book and ebook: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&t=smart&search_category=keyword&q=Mark+Miodownik+stuff&commit=Search

9. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
I have read all of the books of The Song of Ice and Fire series, but I’d like to re-read them, starting with A Game of Thrones, before I start watching the tv series.
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Game-Thrones-Song-Fire-Book-ebook/dp/B000QCS8TW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1402370263&sr=1-1&keywords=game+of+thrones
From KCLS in Book, eBook, Graphic Novel Book, Audiobook CD, Audiobook Cassette(!), Chinese Book, and Spanish Book: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/search?custom_query=(contributor%3A(martin%2C%20george%20rr)%20AND%20title%3A(game%20of%20thrones)%20)%20-anywhere%3A(wall)%20-anywhere%3A(hedge)&suppress=true&custom_edit=false

8. Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas
I loved the Veronica Mars tv show because of the spunky teenage girl protagonist solving interesting crimes. I am excited to see if the first book in the series will live up to the show.
From Amazon in Kindle format: http://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Mars-Original-Thousand-Dollar-Paperback/dp/B00JIB7JHE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1402347794&sr=8-2&keywords=the+thousand-dollar+tan+line+veronica+mars+1
From Powell’s in paperback: http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780804170703-0
From KCLS in Book and Downloadable Audiobook: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&search_category&q=thousand%20dollar%20tan%20line&commit=Search&CFID=33676042&CFTOKEN=68c19e6e8575842b-179FCAB4-155D-225D-1D8785D646F3B30F

7. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
I actually have this book checked out right now, I just haven’t been in the mood to read it! It is a short read, but a little creepy, so I am going to read it when I feel in the mood for a darker title.
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Ocean-End-Lane-Novel-ebook/dp/B009NFHF0Q/ref=zg_bs_25_79
From KCLS in Book, ebook, Large Print Book, Audiobook CD, Downloadable Audiobook, and Spanish Book: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&t=smart&search_category=keyword&q=ocean+end+lane+gaiman&commit=Search

6. Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer
This book looks fantastic! It is about autism, rockets, love, death, and a troubled marriage. It is the first book by the author and has been gaining popularity since its release in 2012.
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shine-Lydia-Netzer-ebook/dp/B006ZL9DRO/ref=zg_bs_25_3
From KCLS in Book, Audiobook CD, and Downloadable Audiobook: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/search?custom_query=(contributor%3A(Netzer%2C%20Lydia)%20AND%20anywhere%3A(shine%20shine%20shine)%20)&suppress=true&custom_edit=false

5. The Giver by Lois Lowry
I read this classic children’s book in middle school, and I look forward to reading it again. It is a dystopian story that should appeal to readers of The Hunger Games and Divergent. The movie version will be released in August 2014. It stars Jeff Bridges as The Giver and Brenton Thwaites as Jonas (he played Prince Phillip in Maleficent).
The IMDB page for the movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435651/
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Giver-Readers-Circle-Laurel-Leaf/dp/0440237688/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402428471&sr=8-1&keywords=the+giver
From KCLS in Book, ebook, Audiobook CD, Downladable Audiobook, Preloaded Audiobook Player, Chinese Book, Japanese Book, Korean Book, and Spanish Book: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/search?custom_edit=true&custom_query=%28contributor%3A%28Lowry%2C+Lois%29+AND+title%3A%28giver%29+%29+-title%3A%28son%29+-title%3A%28messenger%29&page=1&suppress=true

4. Landline by Rainbow Rowell – coming July 8, 2014
Rainbow Rowell is known for writing engaging books about love stories with all of life’s complications. This novel has a character with a failing marriage, and she finds that she can talk on the phone with her husband in the past. This seems like a good mix of romance and sci fi, and a great beach read!
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Landline-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250049377/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402365069&sr=1-1&keywords=landline+rainbow+rowell

3. The Book of Life (All Souls #3) by Deborah Harkness – coming July 15, 2014
I loved the first two books in this series, which is like Twilight for adults. I am looking forward to the final book in the series.
See my review of A Discovery of Witches, the first book in the All Souls trilogy: https://30secondbookreview.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/a-discovery-of-witches/
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Life-All-Souls-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00G3L6KQI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402347196&sr=1-1&keywords=the+book+of+life
From KCLS in Book: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1393249082_book_of_life
2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Since the movie version of this book came out, it has become even more popular than it was. I got tired of waiting on the hold list, so I went and bought it the other day. I am waiting for a free weekend so I can really sob my way through this tale of first love and cancer.
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fault-Our-Stars-John-Green-ebook/dp/B005ZOBNOI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402349346&sr=1-1&keywords=the+fault+in+our+stars
From KCLS in Book, Large Print Book, Audiobook CD, Preloaded Audiobook Player, ebook, Spanish Book, and Chinese Book: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&t=smart&search_category=keyword&q=the+fault+in+our+stars+john+green&commit=Search
1. Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon
The book I am most excited to read is the latest volume in the Outlander series. I can’t wait to find out what has happened to Jaime and Claire since the last book!
From Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Written-Own-Hearts-Blood-Outlander-ebook/dp/B00C8S9W0G/ref=zg_bs_17_8
From KCLS : http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&t=smart&search_category=keyword&q=written+heart%27s+blood+gabaldon&commit=Search