The Vacationers by Emma Straub. What could easily have been nothing more than a frothy summer beach read about an American family's two-week vacation in Mallorca becomes much more satisfying under Straub's guidance. The Vacationers offers the requisite secrets and jealousies that are often revealed at gatherings of the clan, as the Posts and their extended family unsuccessfully seek to escape the tensions of their everyday lives. But Straub pays attention to her characters and suffuses the story with wit and humor, which adds to the enjoyment.

The New York Times Book Review called the book a "gorgeously written novel . . . When I turned the last page, I felt as I often do when a vacation is over: grateful for the trip and mourning its end."


Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America by John Waters. Now I know that cult filmmaker Waters is an acquired taste for some - movies like Pink Flamingos, Cry-Baby, and even Hairspray aren't on everyone's must-see list. He's trashy and outrageous, willingly accepting the title King of Bad Taste. But Waters the writer is worth checking out, and his latest - an account of his 2012 hitchhiking trek across America from Baltimore to San Francisco - is great fun. 

Waters spends some time fantasizing about best and worst possible scenarios before hitting the road with a sign that proclaims "I'm Not Psycho." But his speculations soon take back seat to his real-life rides, which include an 81-year-old farmer who is convinced Waters is a hobo, an indie band on tour, and an unexpected hero: a young, sandy-haired Republican in a Corvette. The subversive Waters has an eye for the absurd and his intelligent wit is in evidence, but he also writes about the generosity of people he encounters. This is not an account of a typical road trip, but it's a wicked fun ride for fans old and new.