It’s SUMMERTIME, North American comrades!
(Sorry, Antipodeans. Your time will come.)

Answer me this: is there anything better than curling up in the shade of a bosomy cherry blossom tree with a stack of exquisite summer reading, a lavender-infused iced latte & nothing of consequence to do, other than luxuriate in a land of literary splendor? NO! Obviously not!

I’ve been roaring through new books like wildfire, lately — and I’m busting at the seams to share my summer favs with you.

Without further ado . . .

If you love HARRY POTTER, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA & THE HUNGER GAMES — but wish they had more sex, drugs & clinical depression . . .

You’ll dig: THE MAGICIANS (and the sequel, THE MAGICIAN KING) by Lev Grossman

The hard-edged Wizard Academy in this book makes Hogwarts look like finishing school for feeble-kneed pansies. Get ready for epic quests, Narnia-esque animal guides, Matrix-inspired inter-world travel . . . & acrid young adult angst.

Warning label: The Magician King contains a high-fantasy demi-god rape scene (think: Leda & the Swan) which (while masterfully written) I found very, very uncomfortable to read.
Might be unpleasantly triggering for some people.
 
 
 
If you love INDIE ROMANTIC COMEDIES, complete with a cathartic sobfest in the final act . . .

You’ll dig: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

It’s your classic boy-meets-girl coming of age story — except both of our heroes are teenagers with terminal cancer. And yet — their whirlwind courtship is unexpectedly sweet, effervescent & witty.

The book treats cancer with refreshing complexity — we get a backstage tour into a medical system full of determined (but frequently helpless) doctors, parents mourning their (living) children, and other messy complications.

It’s a potent reminder that Love is All — but that we don’t have all the time in the world.
 
 
 
If you love poetry by RUMI, amber-scented CANDLES, ECSTATIC DANCE & world MUSIC . . .

You’ll dig: THE SUBJECT TONIGHT IS LOVE by Hafiz

Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī (affectionately referred to as Hāfez, or Hafiz) was a 14th century Persian poet who liked to rattle off little ditties like:

One regret, dear world,
That I am determined not to have
When I am lying on my deathbed
Is that
I did not kiss you enough.

Yeah. It’s like that. Curl up with Hafiz, a chai tea & your Dreams.
 
 
 
If you love Tina Fey’s CRACKLING WIT & Margaret Cho’s RUTHLESS TRUISMS (but with a floral, girly edge) . . .

You’ll dig: IS EVERYONE HANGING OUT WITHOUT ME? (AND OTHER CONCERNS) by Mindy Kaling

You’ll recognize the cherubic Mindy Kaling from the hit TV show The Office (American remake, natch.) What you might not know is that she’s also one of the show’s lead writers — and a venerable sketch comedian, in her own right.

Her first book — a memoir-esque frolic through her adolescence, awkward NYC beginnings, and not-so-overnight rise to fame — is inspiring, giggle-tronic & charmingly humble.

Buy it for the aspiring comedienne in your life.
 
 
 
If you secretly have every episode of THE RED SHOE DIARIES recorded on Beta-Max, and think TWILIGHT was a fun romantic romp (but, like, totally UPTIGHT!) . . .

You’ll dig: THE FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Trilogy by E.L. James

I’ll give it to you straight: this is some Grade-A SMUT. No lofty literary qualities. No complicated psycho-spiritual concepts. No tricky vocabulary. Just champagne, private jets, fast cars, and exquisitely orchestrated sex scene . . . after sex scene . . .
after sex scene.

My advice? Buy all three books at once. Because you’ll roar through these bad-boys faster than you can say {insert safeword of your choosing}.
 
 

Happy reading, summer sprites!

And now, a brief word from our sponSOAR . . .

When Maryann Devine of Kindergarten Mind asked me if she could sponSOAR a post, my heart did a little cartwheel of glee. You see, Maryann is one of those rare & extraordinary grown-ups who never forgot how to play.

At Kindergarten Mind, Maryann helps creative tykes-trapped-in-big-kid-bodies reclaim their sense of wonder & possibility, nurture their (big, insane, just-maybe-GENIUS) ideas, and (GASP!) actually enjooooy the process of creating (instead of fast-forwarding to a fidgety outcome.)

Her latest invitation is WHY NOT NOW? — a small-group workshop that helps you move from ‘I’ve got this idea . . .’ to ‘holy snoogles, it’s HAPPENING!’ in only two weeks. Procrastinators? Perfectionists? Shmaybe Someday-ers? I’m looking at you.

The next session of WHY NOT NOW? begins on Monday, June 4th.
Summer lovin’ for your artistic intentions.

Grab your Crayolas — and claim a spot.