Books for Beach Chairs and Shady Trees

Ever get flutters at the discount rack in Sak1s? 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 Becky1s problems, and her brutally honest approach to life makes her an immensely likable, if immensely flawed, 20-something. Reminiscent of Bridget Jones1s Diary, Confessions is an entertaining narrative and a must-read for shoppers at heart.

<Malavika Prabhu

Enjoying a spike in popularity since this summer1s intelligent film adaptation of The Bourne Identity, Robert Ludlum1s second follow-up, The Bourne Ultimatum, takes a twisted turn as 3Jason Bourne,2 really David Webb, transforms back into Jason to kill Carlos the Jackal. Confused? Well, you1re 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 Jason1s troubled past. The Ultimatum, though occasionaly intriguing, is an inferior follow to the tighter Identity.

<Malavika Prabhu

True, David Sedaris has been in the literary spotlight for years. True, he hasn1t written anything for the bookshelves since 20001s Me Talk Pretty One Day. And 2true3 to six other completely irrelevant statements. The fact remains: Sedaris, who grew up as a homosexual Greek Orthodox in Raleigh (don1t 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.

<Greg Veis