I was desperate. I love to read on the beach, but as I was about to depart on vacation in 2005, I realized I had neither a book to read nor any time to research titles.
I shot off an email to some friends and asked for suggestions. They sent back such thoughtful ideas, I organized them in one document and recirculated to the group. The "Books for the Beach List" was born. With urging and contributions of clever friends, I managed to overcome my (rather famous) disorganization and made it an annual effort.
Though the heart of the effort didn't change much, I did finally take advantage of technology. I moved to a blog in 2007. I became an Amazon Associate (please use those links!). And I added many more contributors. (By necessity - we all kept reading books from the previous years' lists, so without new blood, I had no new books!) And in 2014, we moved to these new digs.
All that said, I still don't edit down - I include everything contributors send and anonymize reviews. I'm not a literary critic. I'm a book "rounder-upper."
My friends have kept me in good books for more than a decade. I hope they help you find something to read, too.
Thanks for visiting, and happy reading!
Virginia