9 Books to Read Before Your Cruise Vacation

Where’d You Go, Bernadette?

by Maria Semple

Semple cut her teeth writing for Mad About You and Arrested Development, and that snarky tone is all over this screwball satire. Bernadette Fox was once a cutting edge architect whose work earned her a MacArthur genius grant, but after her daughter is born, she quits, and moves to Seattle with her Microsoft rock star husband, slowing sinking into a town—and a life—she loathes. The format is (appropriately) a little wacky: Bernadette tells her side of the story, sure, but emails, school documents, police reports, and even an emergency room bill clue us in to what's happening. Eventually we figure out where Bernadette escaped to—and why. This feels similar to Gone Girl, but this easy read is lighter, fresher, and a lot more fun.

The Woman in Cabin 10

by Ruth Ware

I was intrigued by the premise of this twisty thriller: a travel writer takes an assignment aboard an exclusive luxury cruise ship. Shortly after arriving, she wakes in the middle of the night to the sound of something heavy being thrown overboard. She's sure it's a body ... and yet no one is missing from the boat. She's compelled to figure out what really happened, which puts more than her own life in danger. Strongly reminiscent of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments

by David Foster Wallace

Rissie Lundberg listed this as one of her favorites on episode 123 of WSIRN: Books that will totally make you cry (with laughter). It's a collection of essays that Wallace wrote for magazines when they sent him places like the Illinois State Fair and a Caribbean cruise. He tells stories based on his people watching -- observing cruise attire from corporate informal to tourist tropical and the lady who cleans his room, but he never sees. If you're a fan of Bossypants , you'll love the humor and reference from her chapter 'A Supposedly Fun Thing That I Will Also Never Do Again.'

Death on the Nile

by Agatha Christie

Does Hercule Poirot ever get a vacation? It seems that wherever he goes, he must investigate. His cruise along the Nile is interrupted by a shocking murder (of course). Honeymooner Linett Ridgeway has been shot, and Poirot might know the culprit: he overheard a passenger say incriminating, threatening things about the beautiful (and filthy rich) young woman. But it wouldn't be a Christie novel without a few unexpected twists and turns. Devoted Poirot fans will enjoy several references to his other mysteries sprinkled throughout the novel, and heads up: it's been adapted for another Kenneth Branagh film.

The Unsinkable Greta James

by Jennifer E. Smith

Jennifer E. Smith’s adult debut introduces us to indie rock star Greta James three months after the death of her mother and right before her sophomore album releases. After her onstage meltdown goes viral, she needs to lay low and reluctantly agrees to go on an Alaskan cruise with her father that her parents had planned to celebrate their 40th anniversary. It’s a chance for Greta and her father to deal with past resentments. It’s also a chance for her to get to know historian Ben Wilder who is there to lecture about her mother’s favorite adventure story.

IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas

by Chuck Klosterman

Sara says: "Pop culture observer Chuck Klosterman joins the cruise ship chorus in his essay "That 70's Cruise." Klosterman's talent lies in finding profound meaning in seemingly shallow subjects. Here, he delves into the motivations of those willing to spend big bucks to hear no-longer-famous 70’s bands on a boat. His exploration paints a picture of a generation clinging to nostalgia, seeking solace in the familiar tunes of their youth."

The Floating Feldmans

by Elyssa Friedland

Sara says: "Calling all fans of messy family dramas! The Feldman family's hilarious Caribbean cruise, celebrating matriarch Annette's 70th birthday, devolves into a whirlwind of mishaps and revelations. Eldest daughter Elise grapples with a shopping addiction that threatens to destroy the family's stability. Meanwhile, her brother Freddy attempts to hide both his newfound millionaire status and the questionable venture that earned him his wealth. Even the grandchildren can't escape the drama, harboring their own hidden agendas and worries. Tensions rise and secrets bubble to the surface, culminating in a Baked Alaska fiasco the family won't soon forget."

The Cuban Heiress

by Chanel Cleeton

Sara says: "Summer Reading Guide author Chanel Cleeton brings us aboard the real-life SS Moro Castle in the glamorous 1930s for a historical fiction thrill ride. (Note to eager googlers: hold off on researching the ship until after the dramatic conclusion to avoid spoilers!) Two women come on board this Cuban bound luxury cruise with more than a vacation in mind. Catherine, an apparent heiress hiding her past, seeks refuge in a wealthy fiancé's arms. Elena, a Cuban immigrant clutching a smuggled gun, hides in dark corners, intent on revenge. I was surprised when I found out just how these two narratives collide, and enjoyed the mix of old world elegance and chilling suspense worthy of Ruth Ware."

Bossypants

by Tina Fey

This easy reading memoir is part comedy, part auto-biography. Fey covers a lot of ground here: from her Pennsylvania childhood to her awkward college years, her crappy job at the YMCA to the big leagues of SNL. Filled with funny and fascinating anecdotes, like what a photo shoot is really like, and how she finally nailed Sarah Palin’s precise lip color shade. Fast and fun.

9 Books to Read Before Your Cruise Vacation

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summer reading starts May 16th