Oh, I saw the commercials for Bud Light Lime, the three most terrifying words of the season. (Second prize: Obama’s birth certificate.) But it rained here for weeks on end. And I was helping with a book that had to be finished in early August if it’s to be published in November. (Made it. Whew!) Beach days? Our daughter’s feet touched sand just twice.

 

In short: no summer.

 

We’re making up for it now — we’re off to one of those fabled Long Island towns that was charming half a century ago and is pretty disgusting now. But there are farm stands and a beach, a few people we like, and the chance to body-surf with the little one. And — like I need to say this — a pile of books and videos.

 

Head Butler will be in archive mode until September 8^th. And a very good thing that is, because — and this isn’t a knock, just a fact — your ability to consume books, movies and music is not equal to my obsession with books, movies, music and the occasional product. I need to slow down. You may want to catch up.

 

And there’s no better time. The last few weeks of summer are always slow. (Proof: Jon Stewart taking off for three weeks.) Summer’s end is about kids getting ready for school, the boss gone, nothing on TV, the seeds and stems of Hollywood at the sixplex. A good time, if you can, to step off your hamster wheel, read and watch and listen to Good Stuff, savor the vegetables, maybe even have a thought or make a note.

 

In that spirit, I thought I’d leave you with a list of recent favorites. It would thrill me to see you on the beach with one of these titles in hand, but then, these days, it delights me to see anybody reading anything. Take care, write me if you need to, and let’s reconvene here in September, rested and ready. Here you go….

 

 

Bonjour Tristesse: A teenage girl, summering in the south of France, plays the love game at an adult level.

 

The Summer Kitchen: She lives down the road from Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren. Then her husband goes to jail for fraud.

 

Perfection: At 44, her husband drops dead. On his computer: evidence of five lovers, one his wife’s friend and neighbor.

 

How I Became a Famous Novelist: Post-college, he’s a flop. But how hard can it be to write a book as bad as the ones that get published?

 

When You Lie About Your Age, The Terrorists Win: Carol Leifer is funny in a way you can relate to. And her story about Going Gay is a hoot.

 

The Queen’s Gambit: Girl genius orphan chess player. An unlikely thriller. Dare you to put it down.

 

The Stories of John Cheever: So meant for summer. “The sea that morning was iridescent and dark. My wife and my sister were swimming — Diana and Helen — and I saw their uncovered heads, black and gold in the dark water. I saw them come out and I saw that they were naked, unshy, beautiful and full of grace, and I watched the naked women walk out of the sea.”

 

Shining City: The most enjoyable book of Summer ’08 hasn’t lost its charm. Plot: A honest guy inherits a stable of hookers.

 

Levels of the Game: John McPhee dissects a classic tennis match — and the players.

 

Johnny U: A stirring biography of Johnny Unitas, a quarterback who defined grit.

 

The Spies of Warsaw: An espionage thriller that’s as well written as Graham Greene.

 

Roald Dahl: Bedtime reading for lucky children.

 

Everyday Indian: Here’s an irony: The hotter the climate, the more spices seem to cool you. Here’s another: These recipes call for so few!

 

Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume One: ‘Tis the season for Julia Child. I’m making her super-simple Vichyssoise.

 

Canal House Cooking: Favorite summer recipes from two supremely gifted home cooks.

 

 

State of Play: Now that you’ve finally got six hours to watch the BBC series, don’t waste them on a “Law & Order” marathon.

 

Eddie Izzard: Perhaps the funniest man in England. (Okay: Ricky Gervais.)

 

The Harder They Come: Steamy, funky Kingston, where reggae meets the Wild West. The very definition of “cult classic”.

 

 

Catch A Fire: The first Wailers CD, before they became Bob Marley’s backup band.

 

Peter Tosh: An original Wailer, and, for many, Marley’s equal.

 

Herbie Mann: Lilting, Brazilian-tinged flute. Needs only tinkling ice cubes.

 

CC Adcock: Cajun rock, for the car, windows up, volume cranked.

 

JJ Cale: Music for the rocker on the porch.

 

Bryan Ferry: Because Barry White is so 2005.

 

Amadou & Mariam: Beam yourself to Mali — and beyond.

 

 

Egyptian Magic: Sounds crazy, but it really heals.

 

Moleskine: The notepad of the cool kids.

 

Flip Video: A high quality camera that’s no bigger than an iPod.

 

PUR Water Filter: Good karma to those who like clear water without the plastic bottle.

 

Shure E2c earphones for iPods: Great music is a terrible thing to waste.

 

T3 Bespoke Labs Ionic Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Dryer: The quicker you dry your hair, the more time you’ll have to read/listen/watch.