May 22, 2025: The Beach Read

What’s your go-to beach read?

I’ve got mine, but more on that in a second.

Today I fell down a rabbit hole about Ian Fleming, the creator of the James Bond series. He had a gift for writing pulp fiction, a fast-paced, action-packed storytelling style. And of course, he threw in some swagger.

Fleming’s novels flew off shelves and into movie theaters, starting in the ‘50s with 007’s first literary appearance.

Pulp fiction thrives on bold characters and dramatic plots. These amped-up tales grip audiences, twist hard, and never let go.

Some book snobs scoff at the genre, claiming it lacks refinement, but these folks also sip coffee with their pinkies in the air.

My favorite modern pulp writer? Lee Child, the author behind the Jack Reacher books. I’ve read 27 of them, most while lounging in a beach chair at Oak Island.

Asked how he hooks readers, Child once answered simply: “Ask a question and make people wait for the answer.”

I dream of being back at my beloved coastline, toes in the sand, flipping pages and chasing answers one page at a time.

Maybe while having a vodka martini, shaken not stirred.