Swimming has immense health benefits, and keeps you in shape, but sometimes our bodies feel the need to ditch the exercise and relax with a book by the poolside. And when that happens, we understand how frustrating it can get when you don’t find the perfect reading material.

This blog comes with wonderful book suggestions. From classics to contemporary romance, there’s something for everyone. Let us convince you to hire a pool builder ASAP to install a dreamy outdoor pool, where you can enjoy the following books:

Relax With Timeless Classics

Classics are classics to this day because they have lost neither their charm nor their relevance. They portray human emotions aptly, and are a great option for relaxing by the poolside.

·      Anne of Green Gables

Canadian author L. M. Montgomery made an extraordinary creature with ink when she bore Anne Shirley into being. An orphan girl who is unusually chirpy and finds silver linings in almost everything she comes across has been a source of delight for readers worldwide since early 20th century. She believes the world is a wonderful place because we have Octobers in it, and the best part? There’s just so much “scope for imagination” everywhere. Pick this book up and beat the blues away.

·      Pride and Prejudice

Can anyone do tender romance and societal critique better than Jane Austen? Penned in the late 18th century, this book lets the reader become an observer of drama that ensues when a mother wants all her daughters wed off to eligible bachelors (preferably ones who earn £10,000 annually—if you know what we mean). What’s strangely refreshing about this book is how the characters are willing to set aside their prejudice and swallow their pride for the sake of love. Jane Austen masterfully crafts a rich tale and lets her readers know that it’s okay to accept that you were wrong, and learn to become a better person.

Unusual Books That’ll Keep You Hooked

There are a number of books that are so strange that you’ll keep thinking about them for a long time. Here are two that are particularly attention grabbing:

·      Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Author Patrick Süskind wrote a one of a kind book—the artistically told tale of a murderer. But what’s so special about the said murderer, you ask? There are a lot of murder mysteries, you say? Okay, well, answer this: do any of those feature a man named Jean-Baptiste Grenouille who murders red haired virgins to capture their youthful scent and make it into the best perfume in the world? No? We didn’t think so!

·      The Metamorphosis

This is a novella by Franz Kafka that you can devour in one sitting. The strangeness of the tale begins from the very first page, where the main character wakes up as a huge bug. Revolving around capitalism, and particularly exploitative workplace culture, this book is a must read for people who want to begin their journey into Kafkaesque literature.

Romance That Will Keep You on Your Toes

 Whether you like it steamy or love plots that are seething with romantic tension, romance fiction is incomparable. Lie on your giant pool float and tan your skin while reading either, or both of these books:

·      Outlander

You might be familiar with the name already, considering the huge applause the series received for its television adaptation. This is the first book by Diana Gabaldon in the Outlander series, and features a woman time traveling through stones. Alternating between the post-World War II world and Scotland in 17th Century, this book is bound to make you gasp for all the right reasons. Claire, the main lead, is torn between two love interests; one, her husband that she leaves behind in the future, and the other a dreamy Scottish Lord.

·      A Man Called Ove

Although Fredrick Backman weaves a mean tale, this book is anything but your usual slow-burn romance. This book revolves around Ove, a man who is madly in love with his wife, and doesn’t know how to cope in a world that marks her striking absence. Tender moments of intimacy and an old love make this book the perfect thing to pick up while you dip your feet in the cold water of your pool.

Explore the World with Translated Literature

·      Pachinko

This is an amazing work of fiction by Min Jin Lee, the author of ‘Free Food for Millionaires.” If you’re struggling to find a book to start your Korean literature journey with, this is the perfect piece to pick up. It has everything; from women preparing batches of kimchi by hand to migrating from country to country. There’s romance and financial struggles and pawning expensive heirlooms; what’s not to like? A sizeable chunk of this book also serves as an informant on the Japanese-Korean relationship.

·      A Woman is No Man

This will keep you on the edge of your seat till the end, or, on the edge of your pool recliner in this case. A Palestinian family’s struggle and their fight to remain in touch with their culture after leaving their homeland is captured beautifully by Etaf Rum. Fair warning to the readers though: we predict a lot of tears and sniffling by the end of this book!

Do you have all these wonderful books by your side but no pool to relax in? Get in touch with Perfect Pools immediately. Their pool builders and landscape experts in Sterling, and can cater to a vast range of your pool needs efficiently.

Whether you just want an outdoor pool built or are looking forward to install water or fire features in your garden, they’re just one call away! Check out their website to learn more about their services.

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Clare Louise

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