Far too often I find myself making excuses for not reading more for enjoyment. It’s a point of contention for my wife, who is an avid reader and always encourages me to read for fun.
While I do feel like I read a lot daily, my reading mainly consists of industry-related books and news and political dailies that provide a flavor of Michigan business, politics, and sports. Along with national news to provide a look at the top stories that will be talked about throughout the day. By the time I make my way through these, it’s hard to find time to dive deep into a book for pleasure. Unfortunately.
However, when I’m on vacation I make time to read for fun. A favorite way for me to relax is escaping either poolside or on a sandy beach with a legal thriller, mystery, or spy novel, usually found in the airport minimart or given to me by a friend. I love getting lost in these books as the details and cliffhangers pull me into the story.
During a trip this past Christmas to a sandy beach, I was able to read for pure enjoyment and did so with something old – Lee Child’s famous character Jack Reacher in The Killing Floor – and something a bit more contemporary – John Grisham’s The Exchange. While the characters and stories aren’t quite as great as my favorite character, Blackford Oakes, from the 1970s spy novel series written by William F. Buckley, I still got pulled in by the amazing detail the writers provided and the cliffhangers they throw at us.
It sounds a bit funny, but the characters and storylines in spy novels have always been very relatable. This is especially true in William F. Buckley’s Saving the Queen. Maybe it’s my time in and around government, but more likely, it would be a dream to help save the world by chasing villains while working in a secret spy agency, deeply hidden in an embassy somewhere in the world.
While I’m back to reading publications to keep me up to speed with all the quickly moving parts in the 2025 political arena, I can’t wait to crack my next paperback, dip my toes in the sand and dream about living the life of the character on the pages.
Happy Reading!
