LET'S GO TO THE BEACH: A History of Sun and Fun by the Sea

This fun grab bag of history, trivia and useful information covers just about every aspect of the beachgoing experience. It starts off slowly, giving the history of Greek and Roman bathhouses. During the Dark Ages, water was viewed with suspicion, but during the Renaissance, bathing was rediscovered. The book really takes off when it gets to the late 1800s and early 1900s, with entertaining bits about early bathing suits (women were completely covered up and wore a corset underneath their bathing clothes), floating bathhouses, the first boardwalks and amusement parks, and the fad of rolling chairs. Van Steenwyk (Mathew Brady: Civil War Photographer) also offers brief histories of famous beaches, including Santa Monica's Muscle Beach and Coney Island; chapters on beach hobbies, from sand collecting to surfing; and a look at the beach's influence on popular music and movies. Fields reads with vivacity, sounding exactly like a beach enthusiast eager to share her passion. Her voice brims with amusement as she tells anecdotes of long-ago fads, then grows serious and concerned as she talks of water safety and the importance of preserving the beach environment for wildlife and future generations of beachgoers. The only thing this entertaining and informative audio version lacks is photographs: Van Steenwyk's vivid descriptions make one curious to see the turn-of-the-century swimsuits and sideshow attractions. Based on the Holt hardcover. (May)