My family took a vacation the week of Labor Day, and I determined it was high time I got back to surveying the readers on the beach. That’s right, I approach total strangers, who are minding their own business, with their noses in books, and interrupt them to ask them what they’re reading. (Sometimes I start off with my name and assure them I’m not selling anything).

I’ve done this survey a few times before. Although it used to embarrass my kids, my reader friends all loved it, because here’s what I know: readers like to talk about what they’re reading. We do! And I’ve found that it’s quite enjoyable to talk about books with people I’ve never met before. We’re all just people anyway, trying to relax, trying to get a tan, trying to read a book without being bothered. You know how it is…

Enough chit chat. Here’s what the people were reading at North Myrtle Beach, Labor Day week, 2020.

My first victim, er, I mean, my first participant, was this lovely lady from Ohio. She was reading on her Kindle, (or maybe Nook, not sure). These devices are perfect for beach reading because the screen shows up just like a physical book but there is no annoying page-blowing. She’s reading Shem Creek by Dorothea Benton Frank, a very popular author around these parts. This happy fellow below, I’m assuming is her son. (I don’t get personal in these interviews.) He grinned like this the whole time I was jabbering. And who wouldn’t want this set up he had? It’s like he brought his sofa out on the beach.

Some folks don’t want their picture included but still don’t mind talking and letting me take a photo of their book.

I met the Mister while walking one way, and met the Missus on my way back. So cute, reading Harry Potter.

And what was I reading this week? I finished Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury, late at night on my kindle, with some tears. On the beach I read what I’d been waiting to read since Mother’s Day, Camino Winds by John Grisham. Knowing that Hurricane Season was coming and adding to that a trip to the beach, I had the perfect atmosphere for this book!

Other books spotted on the beach were titles by Karin Slaughter, more by Mary Kay Andrews and Dorthea Benton Frank.

I found a used book store in town and picked up next summer’s big book.

That’s all for this year, friends. You can take a look at my previous surveys by typing Beach Reading Survey in my search bar. Have a great fall and Happy Reading!!