Tina and I had the good fortune to spend the month of March on Anna Maria Island in Florida. Anna Maria Island is all about the beach, not golfing or tennis, just the beach. Some people get bored going to the beach, day after day, but we don’t if, a big if, we have some good books to read (and good friends and family to host). Happily, we did.

“Hamilton” by Ron Chernow, the book that inspired Lin- Manuel Miranda to create the blockbuster Broadway musical, is superb. It relates the story of the brilliant, brash, impetuous, cunning, hard-driving immigrant named Alexander Hamilton, who played a major, if oft overlooked role, in the founding of our nation. It describes the incredibly messy process of coming to consensus, especially given clashing egos (Hamilton versus Jefferson and Madison) and tribal loyalties (north versus south/urban versus rural). It tells about a flawed man whose personal behavior didn’t always align with his noble vision to achieve the common good.

As a writer, I marveled at the research required to compile such a masterpiece. As an American, I was reminded yet again of the major role that immigrants have always played in the nation’s history. Incidentally, Hamilton was not only an immigrant, he was an orphan. Read this fine book if you have some ample free time.

“Little Big Lies,” a bestseller by Liane Moriarty, is an engaging read, which deals with domestic abuse and friendship and the little lies that can turn lethal. Real characters and a believable plot keep the pages turning. “Little Big Lies” is definitely more of a “beach book” than “Hamilton,” but it’s not fluff. Recommend.

“White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America” by Nancy Isenberg destroys the myth of our supposedly class-free society. This book is a tad dense, at times, but worth the read if you want to understand the origins of class differences and how we came to where we are. A good book club book. Not a good casual read.

We listened to “Benediction” by Kent Haruf during the long drive back to Maine. This book is about life and death, family and friends, reminiscences and regrets. It took hundreds of pages (and miles of driving) for the main character (“Dad”) to die, so you were relieved when he finally did. Go for it if you’re feeling philosophical and reflective. Otherwise, pass.

Lest you’re concerned that all serious reading and no play made David a dull boy on this vacation, let me tell you about my t-shirt, which sports the words, “Omega Five Fatty Asses” on the front. Several years ago I teamed with my two sons and two stepsons to run a marathon relay in Vermont. Team names had to be health-related, and my younger stepson came up with this name. Let’s just say that when you’re walking down the beach and your shirt reads, “Omega Five Fatty Asses,” you get a lot of attention — and commentary and photo requests. So while I didn’t do a lot of light reading on the beach, I gave many other people a nice, easy, four-word beach read. And that’s something.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary or suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at [email protected].