A good book may be an adventure in itself—but what happens when we take that book on an adventure? Double the fun. Reading is versatile: Sure, you can read in bed before you sleep, but you can also read on a mountaintop! Especially with all the forms of reading available now. Between print, audiobooks, and e-books, your latest Penguin Random House title can follow wherever you go. Let’s see just how far we can take that with these five unexpected places for reading this summer: Because road trips tend to get us in a reflective state, we recommend loading up The Ugly Cry, by Danielle Henderson, to your phone. Raised by her grandparents after her mother chose a drug-addicted and abusive boyfriend, Danielle Henderson experienced a rather unconventional childhood. And in her memoir, we learn all about it. With themes of her grandmother’s ferocious love and what family really means, this might get you a bit teary behind the wheel. Speaking of climbing mountains… In the novel Serena Singh Flips the Script, by Sonya Lalli, main character Serena challenges the traditional script that women need domestic bliss to live a happy life. With its refreshing perspective on family, friends, and romance—this is a novel with a view. To really get your imagination churning, we recommend the brilliant magical realism of Gold Diggers, by Sanjena Sathian. This novel takes a closer look at immigrant identity, community, and ambition, as it follows protagonist Neil Narayan. While juggling the expectations of his Asian American family, Neil faces the classic pressures of the American Dream and a growing interest in his neighbor, Anita, the beneficiary of an ancient potion made from stolen gold. Alongside taking in the beauty of life, we recommend Between Two Kingdoms, a memoir by Suleika Jaouad. After a leukemia diagnosis with only a 35% chance of living, Suleika’s life dreams went up in flames. In this story, she shares the journey of overcoming cancer, connecting with the readers who wrote to her throughout her illness, and learning what it means to live again. Or, awaken your botanical mood with a stimulating poetry collection: Black Girl, Call Home, by Jasmine Mans. Her important themes of race, feminism, and queer identity, and masterful use of language, will make any moment more meaningful. And in case your curiosity is as insatiable as your imagination, check out how all that reading is actually boosting your brain. Plus, coming up: Ideas for starting your own book club! Devon’s first book, Earth Women, is coming soon. To learn more, join the mailing list, and receive updates, head to www.devonbarrowwriting.com.
