Happy Fourth! Your cookout’s soundtrack may sound a little bland this season since there’s no song of the summer. Waaaah! Here’s why there’s no new bops.
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This week’s dispatch
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Poolside page turners
After the cookout, and the party, and the drinking, and the water play, you’ll be yearning for some quiet time. And if you’re like me, that means curling up with a good book.
There are plenty of old and new summer reads to make you forget about going back to work next week. I asked six of our editors at Business Insider what their favorite reads are. Here’s what they said:
Jamie Heller, Editor in Chief: I just finished “The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray, and I mostly couldn’t put it down! In this family saga set in Ireland, Murray develops consuming characters and keeps you in suspense, all with a writing style that’s distinct but also easy to follow and enjoy. I highly recommend it!
Bartie Scott, Deputy Editor, Economy: “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett makes a great summer read with its whirlwind romance and heartwarming mother-daughter dynamics. While the material is sweet and whimsical, Patchett’s writing is high quality, and if audiobooks are more your style — or if you’re picky about narrators — it’s worth knowing that Meryl Streep reads this one.
Bryan Erickson, Executive Creative Director: I am rereading “Capote’s Women” by Laurence Leamer because much like the series, “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans,” once was not enough. I identify with Truman’s scarf-wearing escapism, and am slightly obsessed with the NYC that came before me.
Paige DiFiore-Wohr, Deputy Editor, Freelance: If you’re looking for a suspenseful, twist-filled story about friendship, betrayal, and redemption, “The Drowning Woman” by Robyn Harding is the book for you. The story follows a once-successful restaurant owner who’s now living out of her car as she encounters a rich socialite who’s about to change her life. Nothing is as it seems, and no one can be trusted. I finished this thriller in less than a day.
Tracy Connor, Standards Editor: I devoured “Pineapple Street” by Jenny Jackson by the side of a pool last summer, relishing every twist in the tale of a rich New York City family grappling with relationship, parenting, and personal problems. It’s a modern and sharper version of the delicious epics I used to sneak from my parents’ bedstand in the 1970s.
Joe Ciolli, Executive Editor, Markets and Investing: “Our Band Could Be Your Life” by Michael Azerrad is a compelling look at how independent musicians forged their careers in the pre-internet era. Thirteen chapters dive into 13 bands who developed crucial networks for the music and touring industries we know today. I don’t even like most of the bands, but it’s still the best music book I’ve ever read.
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The BI Today team: Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York.
