Ask a celeb: John Waters, Billy Connolly, Marina Endicott on their summer reads

For many book lovers, summer is the perfect time to crack the spine on a breezy beach read.

Or, if you’re comical cult filmmaker John Waters, it also means catching up on some “horrifying” and “heartbreaking” titles.

The Canadian Press recently asked him and other prominent personalities what they’re reading this summer.

Said Waters: “I’m just finishing one of the most horrifying books ever, which is about the Norwegian guy that killed all those children. It’s called ‘One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway.’ … It’s quite good.”

Also on his to-read list: “Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga.”

“She was displayed in the Bronx Zoo living with an orangutan — an African woman, this is true,” said Waters. “So it says on the cover: ‘An explosive, heartbreaking book.’ Well, I guess it is heartbreaking.”

Waters also plans to read “A Hand Reached Down to Guide Me” by David Gates, “The Story of the Lost Child” by Elena Ferrante, and “After the Tall Timber: Collected Nonfiction” by Renata Adler.

Scottish star Billy Connolly is returning to an old favourite: “The True Believer” by Eric Hoffer.

“It’s about people who join mass movements, religions or political parties and all that,” said Connolly. “It’s very, very interesting. I’ve had it for ages. I open it at any old page and read it and I always find out something I didn’t know before.”

Edmonton author Marina Endicott, who recently released the novel “Close to Hugh,” said she’s reading “Daddy Lenin and Other Stories” by Guy Vanderhaeghe.

“I love his writing more than life itself. I’m loving that book,” said Endicottt. “I’m also reading ‘A Beauty’ by Connie Gault … which is so beautiful for summer.”

Kevin Kwan, author of “China Rich Girlfriend,” was eager to read Aziz Ansari’s “Modern Romance” and Jon Krakauer’s “Missoula.”

“One book on my nightstand is Helen Macdonald’s ‘H is for Hawk,’” added Kwan.

“It’s gotten rave reviews. It’s about a woman coming to terms with the death of her father through falconry. He was a falconer and so she really takes up falconry and is learning to train this very difficult goshawk.”