Spring into action with these reads

It’s too early to get sunscreen stuck between your favorite novel’s pages but too late to cozy up with a book beside the fire.

In other words, spring is a perfect time for reading.

Sure, maybe recent news that actress Hilary Duff will pen a series of novels left you a little discouraged about the literary world.

But many upcoming releases will lure you back into the world of page turning. Don’t know where to start? Try these selections:

“The Male Brain” (Louann Brizendine, out March 23)

A few years ago, Brizendine made waves when she released “The Female Brain,” a guide that scientifically explained real-life questions like why women travel to the bathroom in packs.

Some thought the book’s release was a milestone. Others thought it was flawed, in both its premise and some of the scientific evidence it presented.

Will Brizendine’s follow-up, “The Male Brain,” face similar criticism? You bet. But on the plus side, it might finally explain a male refusal to ask for directions.

“Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare?” (James Shapiro, April 6)

Remember that guy in 10th grade English class who always vowed Shakespeare didn’t write his own stuff? He needs this book.

Shapiro examines the rise of debates over Shakespeare’s authorship. You’ll learn about the spread of such claims, their subscribers and their validity — or lack thereof.

“Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things” (Randy Frost and Gail Steketee, April 20)

Riding on the heels of shows like “Hoarders” on A&E, this book offers a series of case studies about hoarding — the tendency to accumulate “stuff” beyond control.

The authors raise broader questions about the role of material objects and the way those objects can impact human behavior.

“The Carrie Diaries” (Candace Bushnell, April 27)

It’s more than a month away, but is anyone else excited to find out how the “Sex and the City” author’s entry into young-adult literature will work?

Wait, don’t answer that.

“The Carrie Diaries” tells the story of “Sex and the City” protagonist Carrie Bradshaw during her young-adult days. We’re not sure which clubs Carrie joined in high school, but we’re pretty confident they involved good shoes.

Sonya Sorich, reporter, can be reached at 706-571-8516.