Books for Beach Chairs and Shady Trees

Sophie Kinsella
Confessions of a Shopaholic

Ever get flutters at the discount rack in Sak's? Then, Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella is as much an incisive look into your own purchasing tendencies as it is simply a glimpse into the life of compulsive shopper Rebecca Bloomwood. Many Dukies can associate with Becky's problems, and her brutally honest approach to life makes her an immensely likable, if immensely flawed, 20-something. Reminiscent of Bridget Jones's Diary, Confessions is an entertaining narrative and a must-read for shoppers at heart.

--Malavika Prabhu

Robert Ludlum
The Bourne Ultimatum

Enjoying a spike in popularity since this summer's intelligent film adaptation of The Bourne Identity, Robert Ludlum's second follow-up, The Bourne Ultimatum, takes a twisted turn as "Jason Bourne," really David Webb, transforms back into Jason to kill Carlos the Jackal. Confused? Well, you're not alone. Ludlum contrives one too many scenarios in which the the Jackal and Webb/Jason could have killed each other, while also spending an inane amount of time rehashing Jason's troubled past. The Ultimatum, though occasionaly intriguing, is an inferior follow to the tighter Identity.

--Malavika Prabhu

David Sedaris
Anything he's ever written

True, David Sedaris has been in the literary spotlight for years. True, he hasn't written anything for the bookshelves since 2000's Me Talk Pretty One Day. And "true" to six other completely irrelevant statements. The fact remains: Sedaris, who grew up as a homosexual Greek Orthodox in Raleigh (don't see too many of those around Crabtree Mall), writes some of the most hilarious, and insightful, books available today. His ability to infuse an unapologetic sense of humor into real stories of human tragedy that lesser writers would have spun into maudlin mediocrity makes him an essential summer read. Start at Naked and move on from there.