Summer Reading - Aug 15 2021

 

Summer Reading

Aug 15 2021

A good beach read

the reviewer said.

As if you'd be that guy

sitting cross-legged by the shore,

swatting flies

dripping sweat

buried in a book.

Squinting against

the sun's reflected glare.

The racket

of children building castles,

their laughing

and quarrelling

and dashing back and forth

distracting you

from your fantasy world.

Forget the surfer dude, who kicks sand in your face,

all the tall tanned girls

so scantily dressed.

And as sand creeps up your crack,

and you wonder what happened to the cool ocean breeze

the sound of surf beckons,

like a party

you weren't invited to.

Something light and frothy,

unlike the weighty tomes

he must have presumed

you spend long winter nights with.

The short precious season

of freedom and flight,

yet here you are

escaping into some mystery, or thriller

as pictures play in your head.

Summer reading?

On a rainy day, perhaps.

But a paperback at the beach?

Wet pages

and sunstroke

and a badly burned neck.

A summer to remember

and a beach read to forget.

The usual seasonal lists of summer reading have come and gone. The highest praise is “a good beach read”, which to me implies simple language, with its share of cliches; a propulsive plot; no invitation to deep thought; and no disturbing content. Pulp fiction. Disposable. Easily digested and forgotten.

But really, reading on the beach? I can't think of a less pleasant activity, nor one more unsuited to its surroundings!