Beachy keen: book and iPod essentials

The Ting Tings.

 

What we're reading on the beach

When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris

I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley

Gossip Girl series by Cecily Von Ziegesar

Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk

Dry by Augusten Burroughs

Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson

What's in our iPod

Estelle's Shine. Her song "American Boy" featuring Kanye West has quickly become a summer anthem.

Madonna's Hard Candy. Amazing to think she turns 50 in August.

Coldplay's Viva la Vida. Always solid.

MGMT's Oracular Spectacular. Think psychedelic experimentation.

Weezer's The Red Album. Plenty of pop-culture references.

The Ting Tings' We Started Nothing. Full of bouncing, electro beats.

Adele's 19. She's like a chubby Amy Winehouse, and only 19.

Groove Armada's Soundboy Rock. Great for the beach and the gym.

Duffy's Rockferry. Her sound is very pop-sixties.

DJ Theo's Summer Clubbing 2. When you want the club to come to the beach.

Journey's Greatest Hits. For the retro in all of us.

And THE download of the summer: DJ Sleeper's Counting Lasers bootleg. 71 songs mashed up in a performance that was recorded live. Everything from Michael Jackson to Bon Jovi to Jay-Z to Human League. It's only on the web, so check your favorite music sharing site.

Speak up!