I know that summer is already practically half over but if you’re looking for some fun summer reads to enjoy while relaxing on the beach or sitting by the pool look no further than some of my personal recommendations! Just be forewarned that these aren't going to be your typical recommendations, they're recommendations based on books that I've read, so expect some fun stuff.
First off, I recommend “The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”. Why read just the first book when you can read the entire trilogy in five parts? “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” is a wholly remarkable series and if you’re a fan of sci-fi and British comedy, particularly the style of Monty Python then look no further than Douglas Adams's epic that is one of my favorite sci-fi series of all time for very good reason. has options in the event that you would The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy is a wholly remarkable series and if you’re a fan of sci-fi British comedy particularly the style of Monty Python then look no further than Douglas Adams is epic that is one of my favorite sci-fi series of all time for very good reason. Plus it also has options in the event that you would rather listen instead of reading, as there are multiple audiobooks and radio dramas, the latter of which feature a stellar cast whose voices are the definitive versions of the characters for many.
Next up is “Norwegian Wood” by Haruki Murakami, which is a fascinating read, and one unlike my typical cup of tea. I read this book because, working at a bookstore, I saw the book an awful lot and a few of my co-workers read it, so I decided to give it a shot and I ended up really enjoying it. Although I found the book to also be conflicting, as while it's written extremely well, the main character isn't exactly a compelling protagonist and I found him to be a slightly more likable version of Holden Caulfield, so in my opinion, it's an interesting counterpoint to “A Catcher in the Rye” but set in 1960's Japan.
“How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America” is a mouthful of a title but a really interesting book. I picked it up for secret reasons, (I may or may not want to write a mystery) but I found it really cool, not only did it detail things that I had no reason to have interest in that I found fascinating anyway, but it also has a lot of recommendations for other mysteries in it that I also used to find some summer reads for myself, that I can't recommend here because I haven't finished them yet. Both as a writer and as a reader I definitely think it's worth a read.
“Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel may not seem like the type of book well-suited for our current climate, believe me, I had the same opinion once I realize what the book was about, but considering that it was a near-constant sight at the cash register during the holiday season this past December, I gave it a shot anyway and was blown away at how brilliant it was. I don't want to give away too much, since that would be cheating, but trust me, it's a fantastic novel with interesting characters, even if the recent television adaptation left me rather unimpressed.
I may not seem it, but I'm something of a scientist myself, or at least someone interested in science from a layman's perspective, so “Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feyman” by Richard Feynman was right my up my alley, even if I read it solely based on a recommendation from an actor who recommended it in his memoir. I’ve been fascinated by science, particularly physics and astronomy from a young age but unfortunately I don’t quite have the mental fortitude to turn it into a career, hence why I am a writer but I do have an appreciation for the sciences and for the scientists that do the science. And so I found Richard Feynman's account of his life to be absolutely transfixing and I particularly enjoy his anecdotes about his learning of science in his early childhood. As both a scientist, and as a person, Feynman is super interesting, and this book is a good showing of that. The stories he relates are both funny when he goes into his non-scientific interests, but also gets heavy when he talks about his work on the Manhattan Project. There's some questionable dated stuff but it doesn't diminish the quality of the book.
This one is more of a personal choice, but while there have been many books about the filmmaking process and many about the making of particular films, “Fade In” by Michael Piller is probably my favorite. Written by one of the men who helped shape an entire era of Star Trek before his tragic passing, it details the process of making the 1997 film, Star Trek: Insurrection from conception to release and it's a fascinating look not only into the writing process (which is fascinating to me as a screenwriter) but also into just how much a movie changes between inception and it's premiere in theaters. If you're an aspiring filmmaker, definitely check this one out, even if you're not a Star Trek fan, I think the insight into Hollywood filmmaking when you're working for a major franchise is worth the read.
Another good read is “Console Wars” by Blake J. Harris, which details Tom Kalinske's time at Sega of America and how he contributed to making Sega the powerhouse that it was during the 16-bit era. The first time I tried reading it, I got bored, but when I went for a second time, I was enraptured. It felt cinematic like watching a biopic (which released back in 2020 and I have still yet to check out). If you're into video games or at least vaguely know about the Nintendo/Sega rivalry, you'll enjoy it. My only critique is that it ends when Kalinske leaves Sega, so it doesn't detail the downfall of Sega in the console market which I think would be an interesting read as well.
I'm a big fan of licensed tie-in material, which I know is like the bottom of the barrel to people who only read “real books” but tie-in material is such a rich and diverse landscape to show stories featuring characters usually only depicted onscreen in scenarios that can only be shown in the cinema of your mind. And to that end, “Heir to the Empire”, the book that kickstarted the Star Wars Expanded Universe is a great read. I read it back in December 2019 after “The Rise of Skywalker” came out and I absolutely loved it. I read both it and its sequel in a matter of weeks. I don't care if they're not canon anymore because they're still fun reads that give insight into what the canon was like back then, and I particularly enjoy the prototypical versions of things that were eventually set in stone by the Prequel Trilogy. If you're a Star Wars fan who hasn't read it, you've really gotta cause it's a classic. And if you're curious about the Expanded Universe, check out this video on it that I adore: https://vimeo.com/260024110
So go forth and enjoy some of my picks, and let me know in the comments if you do and what you think of them!