“I just want to shut the world off, and lie in the sun with a good book”

– Everyone, in February

The operative word is “good.” Because who wants to go through all the trouble of setting up the chair, positioning the umbrella just so and digging a perfect hole in the sand for the drink, only to be underwhelmed? Not us. And probably not you, either.

Since many of us need escaping to the sun and sand at this point mid-winter, we thought we’d explore what makes a good beach read. It’s a bit different for everyone, but these two tips are for certain:

Nothing too important

You’ll stop to reapply sunblock (Pharma Plus — Concourse Level), dip your toes in the water and maybe catch a zzz, so don’t bother with anything that requires serious brain power. This isn’t to say your book should be fluff, but if it’s weighty, be genuinely interested in it.

Nothing too large

Depending on who you’re going with and how many pails and buckets you’re carrying, you’ll need all the room you can get in your beach bag (Bonny — Concourse Level). And if you’re going alone, do you really want to lug? Wouldn’t you prefer to effortless carry?

A few recos

We swung by Indigo the other day to find out what the voracious reader types are devouring this winter. The list was long, but here’s what caught our eye:

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

The Indigo team sold this as a “good dysfunctional family story,” which is good enough for us. But it’s also good enough to be on Heather’s List and the New York Times’ bestseller list.

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

They said this one was for people who were into The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl. And it’s apparently told in reverse. Sounds interesting.

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

“Gossip Girl in China.” That’s what one girl said, and after reading it ourselves, her description’s on point. Top-notch dialogue makes this a fast and easy read.

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

We’re all about Can-Con, so when they pointed us to Ottawa’s favorite daughter, it was a no-brainer. Interestingly, this book and the other two in the trilogy (The Year of the Flood and MaddAddam) are being turned into a television series by Darren Arnofsky who directed The Wrestler, Black Swan and Requiem for a Dream.

Bon voyage, and a very happy escape.