Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen 
by Christopher McDougall. “From Amazon: Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong. “fabulous read! Just out in paperback.”
Cowboys Are My Weakness: Stories
by Pam Houston. "Houston is a frequent contributor to O magazine. Ok, this is OLD, and this is not classic in any way but it is one of my FAVORite books! it's a collection of short stories written by a 20 something year old woman, about 20 something year old women who are doing their darndest to make their ways in the world... they are falling in love with the wrong men, trying out the wrong jobs, but always hanging on to their sisters and, thankfully, their own true grits. This book makes me reminiscent for my past-- and, even better-- thankful for my present. Short stories. chick focused. Easy breezy, clever read (but not dumb)."
To the End of the Land
by David Grossman. This title came from a book club of Barnard alums, one of whom shared their list in 2013. "From one of Israel’s most acclaimed writers comes a novel of extraordinary power about family life—the greatest human drama—and the cost of war. Ora, a middle-aged Israeli mother, is on the verge of celebrating her son Ofer’s release from army service when he returns to the front for a major offensive. In a fit of preemptive grief and magical thinking, she sets out for a hike in the Galilee, leaving no forwarding information for the ‘notifiers’ who might darken her door with the worst possible news. Recently estranged from her husband, Ilan, she drags along an unlikely companion: their former best friend and her former lover, Avram, once a brilliant artistic spirit."
The Journal of Helene Berr by Helene Berr: "This is the adult version of the Diary of Anne Frank. Helene Berr was an incredibly bright and well-educated young French Jewish woman. She began a journal as the Germans occupied Paris and details what happened to her family and how they were affected by the war and occupation, but also how their normal life was conducted and how they tried to maintain that normalcy. What is so affecting about it is the insight it gives into why she and part of her family decided to stay in Paris rather than trying to escape. It is gripping and heartbreaking and so illuminating of the personal side of the war and its effect on Jewish families. One needs to read about one quarter of the book before it becomes entrancing, but it is well worth it."
Please excuse the dust while we work on getting Great Beach Books up and running with the 2014 reading list.
