Book suggestion?

[stacy6552]

What is the Da Vinci Code about?!? OH MY! Its a murder mystery that has sparked debates all over the place, ranging from the roles of key figures in religion to who is best suited to play the protagonist in the upcomming movie version..........I picked up the book already believing the major secret, but I still ignored my kids for 3 days finishing it.

Now for fun I would also reccommend For Better, For Worse or the Sweetest Taboo by Carole Matthews. Loved these books.

The book that turned me onto reading after being turned of by HS literature classes was Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Sizzzzzzzllle.

 

[Disneynut4ever]

the DaVinci Code is awesome!!

love HP too!!

Why is the Divinci Code so good? What do you like about it?

 

[Tamie]

I agree with JANET EVANOVICH, Stephanie Plum series. This set is probably the first set of books that I remember ever laughing out loud and they are quite hysterical. My sister and I went to Ireland/Scotland for 20 days and read all ten of them (now there is 11) plus started on a different series from her. Plus on the plane and on the tour bus kept looking at us cuz' we were rolling laughing.

From Grandma Mazer shooting the chicken dinner, to Stephanie car(s) being totaled, stolen, or blown up, you are laughing the entire time.

I have gotten a lot of people hooked on them and they said it is hard to go back to reading regular mystery/romance books after reading the Stephanie Plum series.

 

[laughinplace199]

Another vote for the Stephanie Plum series. They are light, entertaining, and funny.

If you're interested in something a little heavier, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is excellent.

Any Dennis Lehane books are good if you want a good mystery.

I'm currently reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. So far it's very good.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[gemjoy]

CaliforniaMom ~ the following four would be my pics for a round-trip flight... really good - easy reading books... everyone in my book club loved these!!!

Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Alborn... absolutely awesome book!!!

five people you meet in Heaven - Mitch Alborn - loved this one... sweet read!

Confessions of a shopaholic - fun loving, hilariously funny, joy read!!!

Lovely bones - Alice Sebold - very interesting......

As far as the Da Vinci Code...... IMHO, it's not a book I could read on an airplane.... hard to explain. It took me a while to get into this - it's very "deep" I had to re-read the first couple chapters before I could go on.... it's a book you should try to read at some point though, for sure - very good book simply stated. Big debates over this one though! IMO - you either like it or you don't. Personally - for a quick read I wouldn't even bother with the da vinci code.... I'd go with a sure thing.

Good luck choosing - let us know what you decide upon!

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I could not read the Da Vinci Code on vacation either. A great book, but it mad me think too much to be able to enjoy it on a trip.
I love anything by Nora Roberts for a trip, light, fun and quick to read.
Janell

 

[tn_disney_addict]

You aren't the only person on the planet, but I am going to give it another try. I haven't talked to a single person that didn't love the DaVinci Code, but I just couldn't get into it.

Beth

Read Angels and Demons First.....it is great and will help you get used to his way of writing...I have read ALL four of his books and they are good.

 

[tn_disney_addict]

We should start a book club of our own! I don't have the time to join one here in town and have to be somewhere on an consistent basis, but hey, let's be honest...I am on here all the time anyway!!

Anway, we could read a book, pick a time to get online and talk about it!

Anyone interested?

 

[crisi]

As far as the Da Vinci Code...... IMHO, it's not a book I could read on an airplane.... hard to explain. It took me a while to get into this - it's very "deep" I had to re-read the first couple chapters before I could go on.... it's a book you should try to read at some point though, for sure - very good book simply stated. Big debates over this one though! IMO - you either like it or you don't. Personally - for a quick read I wouldn't even bother with the da vinci code.... I'd go with a sure thing.

My problem was pretty much the opposite. I didn't find it deep. The conspiracies were stupid, the plot had holes you could drive a truck through, the symbology was miscast (one thing about symbology - symbologists don't ever universally agree on meaning) and it was stylistically too "light" for my tastes. Eventually, about the time the big secret came out, I gave up in disgust.

But since so many people enjoyed it, give it a try for yourself.

(In the same vein as the DaVinci Code, I liked Rule of Four better. Name of the Rose is pretty much the canon for that sort of textual detective fiction. And Possession is completely different in theme, but also textual detective fiction - and a double romance as well. But it isn't an easy read).

Has The Time Traveler's Wife been recommended? That is good. Though it may not be a great vacation book, the end is kind of heavy (Lovely Bones would be the same for me, too depressing for vacation).

Carl Haissen writes fantastic mysteries....really funny and set in Florida.

 

[eab]

The Mulberry Tree by Jude Deveraux - A little romance, a little mystery, and not overly long. Excellent book

 

[mom2cookies]

A Thorn in My Heart is the first book of a trilogy (sp?). I too am a mom in my early 30's. But i LOVE to read. A Thorn in my Heart is a gripping romance without the steamy love scenes. It is loosely based on the biblical story of Jacob and Esau. You don't have to be familiar with that to enjoy the book tho. It has surprising turns and you can't WAIT to get the next one. My teenage neices (and 1 nephew) loved it, some even said they cried. It is captivating to say the least.

 

[jbd]

I love to read, but am not finding the time to do so.

~enjoyed DaVinci code, but liked Angels and Demons more. Liked Browns other two books better, but can't remember their names

~really enjoy Harry Potter mainly because the stories get darker and more sophisticated as they go on.

~I read a book called "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor with my students every year. They love it. I've had several 8th graders tell me that this was the first book they'd read since elementary school.

~could never get into Anita Shreve, but keep that a secret because I work with her sister

~love anything by Roddy Doyle, esp. A Star Called Henry

love this thread

 

[fausz4]

Ditto the raves for Janet Evanovich!!!!! I started buying the Stephanie Plum books for the library so that I could be the first one to read it!!!!!

Also- if you like murder mysteries with a food theme - Diane Mott Davidson has a great series - I do suggest just like the Plum series that you try and read them in order.

These are very light reading - great for vacations - and you WILL laught out loud!

This has prompted me to go to the library and pick up a book on Monday!

Thanks DISers!!!!

Darcy

 

[Danemom]

You have gotten some really great suggestions. My first thought was also the Janet Evanovich series. They are wonderful and so funny. I have had many very serious conversations with friends about who we would cast in the movie versions of this series!

I just finished Mystic River and it was very good and I got really involved in it. I haven't seen the movie. It's not really light reading though.

Another absolutely hilarious series are the Sweet Potato Queens books! If you read these on the plane, people will think you're crazy because you will be laughing so much! They are a little risque though if that might offend you (just realistic girl talk type stuff - think Sex and the City).

Whatever you choose - ENJOY!

I would definitely be interested in a DIS book club. Please let me know if anyone starts one!!

 

[daksmom11]

The Mulberry Tree by Jude Deveraux - A little romance, a little mystery, and not overly long. Excellent book

I loved this book. I'm also a huge fan of Harry Potter. The latest book was great. You might try Sue Grafton or Lawrence Sanders both are Mystory P.I. books. Good Luck!

 

[AlaskaMOM]

I can't believe I didn't see this thread before now. I am a librarian and an avid reader (6-15 books per month) I am always getting recommendations and recommending books. I was reading through this whole thread nodding and agreeing with all. I couldn't just have a small list of my favs there's just too many.
But I love to read what my DD16 is reading the Sisterhood series by Ann Brashers, Princess Diaries (and a couple other titles) by Meg Cabot, the C.S. Lewis books The Lion the witch and the wardrobe The madeline L'engle series, and of course Harry Potter (finished the Half blood in 2 days)

But some I can't put it down authors are Janet Evanovich, she make you laugh out loud even in a quiet room, besides the Stephanie plum series she has started the Metro Girl series (I LOVE Janet however she has re-released a couple of earlier romance books written with Charlotte Hughes that are not very good at all) Another series that I don't think has been mentioned here is the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dororth Gilman (these are older titles, but still wonderful) Mrs. Pollifax is a little like an Angela Lansbury character. She's an old lady who wants to be useful and goes and applies at the CIA and ends up being a spy; a very funny character and also not all lovey dovey or bloody gorey. The Left Behind books by Tim LaHaye are not to be put down! They are based on the book of revelations, but are in no way just for the church crowd! I have also enjoyed the beach house by James Patterson it was a hard one to put down (I can't say that I like all patterson's books though)
And so many of the titles mentioned here are just great!
I suggest to any that find trying to choose a book that is great, and you haven't been reading much; go to your library and check out a pile of books (just return in time or they'll hunt you down for the overdue fines! ) and you won't have the pressure of trying to force a particular book into being a "good read" if the first book doesn't do it for you you'll just grab the next one in the pile.
HAPPY READING EVERYONE

 

[bscs]

A must that everyone should read is "A Child Called It" It is a true story about an abused child. It is very sad But anyone that reads it will learn to apreciate what they have and how they were raised. Not to bring religion into this but just incase you are Catholic , the Church disapproves of Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code. Also my favorite thing to read that is not long is any "Chicken Soup for the soul" books they are several touching short stories in one book. They always make me smile.

 

[laughinplace199]

I would also like to suggest anything by Maeve Binchy. My favorites are The Glass Lake, The Copper Beech, and Circle of Friends. I haven't read her latest one, Night of Rain and Stars, but I didn't hear great things about it.

 

[BiniB]

Can you keep a secret? By Sophie Kinsella (Author of the shopaholic series) An easy read. A nice, cheesey romance book.

Robin

 

[DisFan331]

The Secret Life of Bees by Susan Monk Kidd was great. Very easy quick read. Her next book The Mermaid's Chair is proving to be just as good! Happy reading everyone.