Five Books for a Fab 4th in the Hamptons
July 4th weekend in the Hamptons is all about fireworks, parades and relaxing at the beach with a great book—especially if it’s one with ties to the East End. With that in mind, our friends at Books and Books in Westhampton Beach offer a big 4th of July “Welcome Back” to summer residents and vacationers alike with five favorites either set in the Hamptons, celebrating Hamptons history and natural wonders, or written by local authors. Enjoy!
Oceanscapes: One View, Ten Years by Renate Aller
Photographer Renate Aller has spent more than ten years photographing the Atlantic Ocean from a single point on Long Island’s coastline. While her viewpoint is static, each photograph richly documents the changing colors and textures of the sky and ocean. Every picture can be appreciated as a piece of art on its own, but when taken as a whole, this collection reaches the sublime.
Hamptons Gardens by Jack deLashmet
Hamptons Gardens is an invitation into the private world that lies behind privet hedges and wrought iron gates in one of the world’s most exclusive residential areas. Photographers Mary Ellen Bartley and Doug Young and author Jack deLashmet open the gates to the Hamptons’ most exciting private gardens in a visually stunning edition. A perfect gift or addition to your own collection!
Hamptons Bohemia: Two Centuries of Artists and Writers on the Beach by Helen Harrison & Constance Ayers
Whether for solitude or community, creative types have found refuge from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan on the southeastern end of Long Island for more than a century, and Hamptons Bohemia is a charming coffee table book that explores the lives of literary and visual artists who made a home on the East End. Whether you’re in the Hamptons for a summer visit or you’re a year-round local, this is an excellent art book to add to your collection.
Anthropology of an American Girl by Hilary Thayer Hamann
A realistic, resonant and universal story set in East Hampton and New York City in the 1970s and ’80s, Anthropology of an American Girl is a classic coming-of-age story. Hamann’s depiction of time and place is stunningly accurate in this novel, first published in 2003. NPR says that “Hamann inhabits the skin of a teenage girl so…effortlessly, it’s a bit of a relief she has found her way into the book world.”
Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
From the author of the highly addictive and bestselling Blue Bloods series comes a new novel featuring a family of beguiling witches. De la Cruz is a formidable storyteller with a narrative voice strong enough to handle the fruits of her imagination, and Books & Books is honored to welcome her to speak about her new book on July 9th at 7 p.m. Page-turning and delicously fun, Witches of East End is perfect Hamptons reading!
CHECK OUT GREAT SUMMER BOOKS FOR KIDS!
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