As life seems to slow to a snail's pace during summer's languorous days, it's the perfect time to indulge in reading. Thrillers and spooky tales provide a particular chill on a torpid evening. Light and breezy reads are the perfect accompaniment for an afternoon beneath a beach umbrella. And should your tastes run a bit deeper, the longer days or half-day Fridays may just be the right time for a new political discussion or memoir.