Summer is the perfect time to slow down, breathe, gaze at the sea (or at least the shade of a bougainvillaea), and get lost in a good story. It\u2019s a season that invites stillness and presence\u2014a chance to escape the rush of routines, deadlines and notifications. Whether under a parasol, on a quiet terrace with a cold drink, or in bed behind closed blinds while the fan hums gently, these days offer a rare invitation: to rediscover the quiet joy of slow, intentional reading.<\/p>\n
Books become not just a form of entertainment, but a way of travelling, of thinking, of inhabiting new worlds without leaving the hammock. They help us reflect, dream, laugh, cry, and sometimes, better understand the world around us\u2014or simply take a break from it.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why at CC\/magazine<\/em>, we\u2019ve curated a selection of books that, in one way or another, speak to our present moment. Luminous chronicles, gripping novels, uncomfortable essays, and stories that make us think, laugh or simply enjoy.<\/p>\n Here are our recommendations for this summer:<\/p>\n 1. “What about men?”<\/em> \u2013 Caitlin Moran (Anagrama) <\/strong>With her sharp and playful style, the British journalist asks a necessary question: what\u2019s going on with men in the age of feminism? Moran<\/em> offers a witty and empathetic reflection on masculinity in crisis, with the humour and insight that defines her work.<\/p>\n 2. “Notes to John”<\/em> \u2013 Joan Didion (Random House) <\/strong>This posthumous book by the legendary American writer is an emotional testament. It gathers notes, intimate reflections, and unpublished texts dedicated to her husband, John Gregory Dunne<\/em>. A moving portrait of love, loss, and memory, written with Didion\u2019s trademark precision.<\/p>\n 3. “A little line?”<\/em> \u2013 David L\u00f3pez Canales (Anagrama) <\/strong>An unfiltered dive into cocaine consumption in Spain, told through multiple voices: users, dealers, psychiatrists, police officers. A raw and necessary portrait of a widespread yet silenced reality. Brave, direct, and brilliantly written journalism.<\/p>\n 4. “Possession”<\/em> \u2013 A. S. Byatt (Anagrama) <\/strong>A novel for lovers of literature within literature. Two researchers uncover a secret correspondence between two Victorian poets, and what begins as an academic inquiry turns into a tale of love, obsession, and beauty. Fascinating and ambitious.<\/p>\n 5. “Limonov”<\/em> \u2013 Emmanuel Carr\u00e8re (Anagrama)\u00a0<\/strong>Carr\u00e8re<\/em> delves into the contradictory and excessive life of Eduard Limonov<\/em>: poet, punk, soldier, politician. A biographical novel that reads like an existential adventure through the 20th century, power, and madness. Brutal and brilliant.<\/p>\n 6. “Non-Things: The collapse of the modern world “<\/em> \u2013 Byung-Chul Han (Taurus) <\/strong>The South Korean philosopher explores how we\u2019ve shifted from a world of tangible objects to one of data, likes, and screens. A brief but profound essay on the dematerialisation of life and its effects on our attention, memory, and relationships.<\/p>\n 7. “That idiot is going to write a novel” <\/em>\u2013 Juan Jos\u00e9 Mill\u00e1s (Alfaguara) <\/strong>A metafictional story as delirious as it is insightful, where the author dialogues with his own neuroses and a character that slips out of his hands. Ironic, intelligent, and tinged with the absurd humour only Mill\u00e1s<\/em> can deliver.<\/p>\n 8. “I want to, but I can’t”<\/em> \u2013 Raquel Pel\u00e1ez (Blackie Books) <\/strong>A fierce, autobiographical essay on the contradictions of desire, feminism, and motherhood. Pel\u00e1ez<\/em> writes with rage, tenderness, and irony about what is expected of women and what they truly want. Uncomfortable yet liberating.<\/p>\n 9. “Miguel Mil\u00e1: Pre-Industrial Designer” <\/em>\u2013 Claudio Oliva & Gonzalo Mil\u00e0 (La F\u00e1brica) <\/strong>A visual and narrative journey through the life and work of one of the great designers of the 20th century. This book celebrates the simplicity, functionality, and timeless beauty of Mil\u00e1<\/em>\u2019s design. A gem for lovers of aesthetics.<\/p>\n 10. “Seven years in Tibet”<\/em> \u2013 Heinrich Harrer (Libros del Asteroide) <\/strong>An autobiography and spiritual adventure. Harrer<\/em> recounts his escape from a British camp in India during WWII and his arrival in a near-inaccessible Tibet. A fascinating insight into Tibetan culture and his bond with the young Dalai Lama<\/em>. Moving and transformative.<\/p>\n This summer, more than ever, is a time for reading. For diving into stories that make us think, feel, or simply be. Because in the midst of this infernal heat, books remain a refuge. Choose one (or several), switch off your phone, turn on the fan or air conditioning, and let yourself drift away.<\/p>\n (*)<\/strong> Photo: Tirachard Kumtanom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summer is the perfect time to slow down, breathe, gaze at the sea (or at least the shade of a bougainvillaea), and get lost in a good story. It\u2019s a season that invites stillness and presence\u2014a chance to escape the rush of routines, deadlines and notifications. Whether under a parasol, on a quiet terrace with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":89405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5905,5903],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-culture-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n