There is nothing better than sitting on a beach, the sun beating down on you and the sea creating a relaxing rhythmic soundtrack for the day. To make this moment even more magical, I have selected my three favourite beach reads, they are not necessarily the best travel books but when you are lying on the beach these books are perfect for setting the scene for the perfect holiday.
Beach Babylon, written by Imogen Edwards Jones and a team of people specializing in the private beach island resorts which are so popular with the rich and famous, allows you to dip your toes in the water of this fascinating industry. Written through the eyes of an employee of the island, this books details the highs and lows of life in a beach resort. It is a light, easy and entertaining read which will have you laughing out loud as you read it.
The Life of Pi, written by Yann Martel defies categories due to its unique and outstanding quality. The book details the oceanic wanderings of a young, enthusiastic Piscine Patel (Pi). Being raised in the luscious, gorgeously hued India, he sets off with his family to start a new life in Canada, sailing across the Pacific until his boat is scuppered halfway through the voyage.This unfortunate set of circumstances gets worse when he finds himself stuck in a life raft along with a hyena, a monkey, a zebra and a tiger called Richard. This book may sound like a strange messed up fantasy but in reality, it is a work of art with its poetic language and lyrical sentences it is a must read for summer and possibly one of the best books ever written.
The Beach Book is basically what it says on the cover, a collection of beach related short stories from some of the best writers of our time. What drew me to it however was the waterproof cover and pages which feel just like normal pages in a book but they are made extra magical by the waterproofing. It is also conveniently sized so that it can fit easily into your bag for your trips to the beach. The stories are so beautifully written and are funny, memorable and examples of some of the gems written by the literary geniuses of our time.
