Bring These to the Beach, You Won't Be Disappointed

Now that the weather is getting warmer along the Jersey shore and outdoor activities are gradually returning to our lives, weekends are once more becoming a welcomed break from Monday through Friday's nine to five schedules.

Local soccer and baseball fields will soon be abuzz with youngsters on Saturday and Sunday mornings as will be basketball and tennis courts. Cyclists, runners, joggers and power walkers, no longer having to fear the chilly morning air when they step out the front door, can head back to their daily exercise regime along the boardwalk.

Spring's arrival breathes new life into the many sleepy towns having lain dormant along the Atlantic Ocean during the winter. Those having migrated to warmer climates further south will gradually return, as will the hundreds of thousands of tourists who call the Jersey coast their second home.

For many, there's no better place for defrosting the winter's chill from our memories than at the Jersey shore especially for avid readers. Whether sitting along the water's edge tanning or shaded by an umbrella further up the beach, beachgoer's often pass the time relaxing with a book, magazine or newspaper in their hands.

After spending the winter snuggled up on the couch or in a favorite chair beneath a blanket, readers migrate to the beach chair or chaise lounge beneath clear blue skies in droves bringing along their latest reading endeavor.

Truthfully speaking, beachgoer's could conceivably remain seated on the beach throughout the summer without every having to take a break to dip a toe or two into the water, if not for the oppressive heat occurring in the afternoon.

With hundreds of thousands of book titles written on every imaginable topic, the biggest obstacle facing readers is trying to decide which book to take along to the beach. Book reviews and abstracts are extremely helpful for this reason. The more a reader knows about a book before claiming his or her spot on the beach the better. Getting a glimpse into the author's characters, storyline and writing style before setting up your umbrella and beach chair provides readers with an opportunity to find a book suited to their taste.

If you're heading to the beach this summer intending to spend some quality time with a good novel I heartily recommend the following books for your reading pleasure.

The Hobbit

Written by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, which is the prelude to Tolkien's book Lord of the Rings, is the story of the adventures, and sometimes misadventures, of a hobbit called Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo, a short and plump human-like figure with a round jovial face, slightly pointed ears and hairy feet, lives in The Shire. Like other hobbits, Bilbo prefers a quiet, uneventful existence of farming, eating and socializing. Bilbo's peaceful existence comes to a grinding halt almost immediately as the story begins. Teaming up with Gandalf, a wizard well known throughout The Shire as being the cause for many hobbits going off on mad adventures, and a small group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo sets out across Middle Earth to retrieve an ancient treasure being guarded by a fire breathing dragon named Smaug. On the journey eastward through Middle Earth Bilbo and his companions encounter evil trolls, goblins, wargs, spiders and wood elves. Along the way, Bilbo has a private encounter with an unfriendly hobbit named Gollum, who lives in a cave. While searching for a way out of Gollum's cave Bilbo finds a magical ring that allows its wearer to become invisible. Bilbo uses the ring to gain access into Smaug's lair. He discovers that Smaug has a missing scale on his chest and sends word to Bard, captain of the archers, to strike the spot with his arrow.

Following Smaug's death, Bilbo and his companions join forces with other dwarves to defeat the wargs and goblins in The Battle of the Five Armies. With the treasure safely back in the hands of its rightful owners, Bilbo returns to The Shire with his special ring and a small share of the treasure.

Jane Eyre

Described as "the masterwork of a great genius," by Thackery, Jane Eyre has long been a favorite of mine. Jane Eyre is a romance novel written by Charlotte Brontë. The novel traces the footsteps, and hardships, of the young orphaned Jane Eyre, whose parents passed away from tuberculosis soon after her birth. Sent to live with an uncle, Jane was treated as an outcast by her aunt and cousins. Almost entirely deprived of any form of human kindness, her life at Gateshead Hall had become her personal prison. Not believing her circumstances could be worse in any other environment Jane was overjoyed with the prospect of leaving Gateshead Hall to study and take up residence at Lowood. Greener pastures, however, were not what young Jane encountered at her new school. The cold harsh treatment at Gateshead Hall was replaced with inadequate meals, substandard accommodations and public humiliation for the better part of Jane's stay at Lowood. After completing her studies and then serving as a teacher at Lowood for two years, Jane leaves the school for a governess position in the home of Mr. Rochester. Over time Jane falls in love with and accepts a marriage proposal from her somewhat older employer. On the night of their wedding ceremony however a closely guarded secret involving the groom is brought to life - there already existed a Mrs. Rochester locked away in the attic! Stunned and heartbroken from love's betrayal, Jane flees Thornfield, leaving behind Mr. Rochester and his legitimate, albeit insane, wife. Haunted by her feelings for Mr. Rochester, Jane eventually returns to Millcote and finds the circumstances for her speedy departure have left Thornfield Hall in ruins and her beloved Mr. Rochester a widower.