RLT Reads: Summer Book Picks!

The summer has finally arrived and many of you will be vacationing and looking for a book to take on your trip. Me myself, well I'll be at my regular, that is, reading every evening to relax and clear my head.

I love reading and thats a fact. When I read, I allow someone else's imagination to take me on a journey. It's a place where I never think about my life with AIDS. It's a safe place away from my pain.

There is nothing like a good book so I wanted to share my summer picks with you! First off, are some of my favorite authors.  I was devastated when Walter Mosley killed off Easy Rawlins, his swanky private detective centered in Los Angles from the time span after War World Two through the 50's-60's. Mystery is one of my favorite genre's and I was a late comer to Walter Mosley, but once I started I couldn't put him down. He just released his latest, Little Green! I can wait to pick it up!

Next is an author that is one of the greatest writers of my era. When I tell you his first two books, A Thousand Splendid Suns and Kite Runner were magnificently written, I mean it! I have placed A Thousand Splendid Suns in the top 5 books that I have ever read. Well, Khaled Hosseini is at it yet again, he recently released And The Mountains Echoed.  His books are heavy and complex so be prepared.

When I learned that this next book was being released I was overjoyed. When I tell you that The Devil Wears Prada was one of my great reads, it was. I laughed and got mad all in the same page and thats a good read! Well, Lauren Weisberger has released, Revenge Wears Prada and it is a must read for the fans of The Devil Wears Prada. I'm hopeful that it will be equally as fun as the first. I consider this a light read.

I also though that I would step out of my comfort zone for a change. Since I've been on Good Reads, I've learned about so many authors. I'm in a book club that reads books by people of color and these are some of their reads and while, I'm behind, I certainly plan to read them all this summer.

First up is an author whose name has been dropped by me on many occasions. I have been planning to read Nigerian born, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,  first book Half of a Yellow Sun. After reading Little Bee, it was highly recommended to have an African perspective of the Nigerian civil war. Well, she has released a new book this summer that has gotten great reviews. Americanah is about living in America and being African and the difference that means from being African-American. As soon as I finish reading Eric Jerome Dickey's Waking With Enemies ( A Girl Has Got To Have a Little Fun)  I'm going to Americanah. Both of  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie books are on my summer read list, Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah.

Ghana Must Go, by Taiyle Selasi is up next. Taiyle, is a London born African who was raised in the United States. Ghana Must Go is a narrative that explores the modern African family and the importance of where we come from to who we are. This novel takes us from Accra, to Lagos to London to New York.  "Ghana Must Go teaches us that the truth we speak can heel the wounds we hide."

Last but not least is. The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng.  A Penang born author who was raised in Malaysia. The Garden of Evening Mists is his second novel. This book main character is a young woman Malaya and centered in 1951. Malaya is the long survivor of a Japanese wartime camp who seeks solace among the jungle-fringed tea plantations of Cameron Highlands.
O. K., so you know that the main character finding refugee in a tea planation had me hooked, line and sinker. I can't wait to read this book.

Well, this is my summer reading list. Now you know, Ill be reading others in between these. I always try to pick up something light after a heavy read. For sure, I'll be reviewing all of my summer reads! Happy Reading!!!