Book suggestions for a nonreader

[erin1715]

To give you a little background, I am not a reader. The only time I normally pick up a book is when I'm traveling. Lately, I've been wanting to read more but I can't find anything that holds my interest.

Generally, I've enjoyed nonfiction the most. For example, I recently read A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold and thought that was really interesting.

I downloaded a sample of Outlander and I couldn't get through it. Maybe I needed to give it a longer chance.

I am really intrigued by The Girl on the Train, especially since seeing that the movie is coming out and looks suspenseful, but I am also a big chicken when it comes to scary stuff. The previews remind me of Gone Girl and that movie was a little disturbing for me. So, if I were to read The Girl on the Train I have a feeling I'd have to read it during the day and not right before bed lol.

Any suggestions?

 

[antmaril]

I just finished a book entitled "My Secret Sister" by Helen Edwards and Jenny Lee Smith. It is a true story and a very good read. This one grabbed me from the beginning.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I read Girl on a Train but couldn't recommend it. It was a tad suspenseful, but overall depressing.

 

[Magpie]

Well, for non-fiction, I personally enjoyed "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks", about the woman whose death from cervical cancer led to the creation of the first "immortal" line of cells, known as "HeLa". It was a well written, fascinating book, and I found it very much a page turner. It's not just science. It touches on race, social, and cultural issues, as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/books/03book.html

 

[erin1715]

I read Girl on a Train but couldn't recommend it.

What didn't you like about it? Without giving spoilers away, of course.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My favorite non-fiction books have been:
Death In The Long Grass
The Killing Zone
In The Heart of The Sea

The first two might not suit you based on your OP.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Anything by Lisa Genova. She has a Ph. D. in neuroscience and writes fiction. Finding Alice is about Alzheimer's disease, Love Anthony is about autism, and Left Neglect is about brain injury. All very interesting and informative.

Also, Water for Elephants. My DH, DD, and I all liked it and we all read different types of books.

 

[jdb in AZ]

What didn't you like about it? Without giving spoilers away, of course.

Main character is an alcoholic who stalks her ex husband. I need more uplifting stories.

 

[erin1715]

Main character is an alcoholic who stalks her ex husband. I need more uplifting stories.

Gotcha. Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[prprincess]

I am really intrigued by The Girl on the Train, especially since seeing that the movie is coming out and looks suspenseful, but I am also a big chicken when it comes to scary stuff. The previews remind me of Gone Girl and that movie was a little disturbing for me. So, if I were to read The Girl on the Train I have a feeling I'd have to read it during the day and not right before bed lol.

I didn't find it to be scary at all, and thought it was quite good. Give it a try!

If you're not into reading, you might want to start with some Young Adult Fiction. What's out there right now if fantastic, and this is coming from an English Literature major here! The Giver series is classic, but still popular. Then of course, The Hunger Game series. I also am enjoying the 5th Wave Series and am waiting on book 3, and last week I absolutely devoured Love in the Time of Global Warming and am waiting on book 2. Eleanor & Park is also really cute.

I get all of my book suggestions from Goodreads, so you may want to create an account and take a look around. Happy reading!!

 

[diznygirl]

I agree with the young adult fiction. I also like historical fiction because I feel like I'm learning while I'm reading and it takes me away from current events.

I liked Beneath a Marble Sky about the building of the Taj Mahal. And Clara and Mr. Tiffany about a woman working for Tiffany Glass at the turn of the century.

 

[HM]

prprincess- Since you liked Eleanor and Park, you need to read Flipped. My brother has a middle-schooler and is forever giving me great book ideas in the YA genre. Also, Wonder, if you haven't read it.

To the OP- Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, Grandma Gatewood's Walk (non-fiction) by Ben Montgomery, Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Klein

 

[lovemygoofy]

To give you a little background, I am not a reader. The only time I normally pick up a book is when I'm traveling. Lately, I've been wanting to read more but I can't find anything that holds my interest.

Generally, I've enjoyed nonfiction the most. For example, I recently read A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold and thought that was really interesting.

I downloaded a sample of Outlander and I couldn't get through it. Maybe I needed to give it a longer chance.

I am really intrigued by The Girl on the Train, especially since seeing that the movie is coming out and looks suspenseful, but I am also a big chicken when it comes to scary stuff. The previews remind me of Gone Girl and that movie was a little disturbing for me. So, if I were to read The Girl on the Train I have a feeling I'd have to read it during the day and not right before bed lol.

Any suggestions?

I haven't read anything recently nonfiction so no recommendations.

Do you like "spooky?" Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a great book with lots of visualization in it but nothing scary. The movie will be out this weekend as well.

I have read Girl on the Train. I thought it was just okay. It took me fooooorever to get into this book. I had to push through the first half of the book and if my husband had not gifted me this book I'd never finished it. I hated the main character so much that I wanted her to be ran over by the train.

Do you like comedy? I can say anything by Fannie Flagg is great and if you want something that tugs on heart strings and makes you think Sue Monk Kidd has some great reads out as well.

 

[AppleDumpling]

If you enjoy nonfiction, you might try a biography or autobiography of a person you admire.

I like mystery novels and have enjoyed many books by Mary Higgins Clark, that are fast-moving and suspenseful. Also a fan of Stephen King, though he's a lot creepier.

 

[nugov2]

Well, for non-fiction, I personally enjoyed "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks", about the woman whose death from cervical cancer led to the creation of the first "immortal" line of cells, known as "HeLa". It was a well written, fascinating book, and I found it very much a page turner. It's not just science. It touches on race, social, and cultural issues, as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/books/03book.html

I agree, great book.

NF: Devil in the white city, in the garden of beasts, adnan's story. I also enjoyed a mother's reckoning. Very good.

Fiction: Gillian Flynn's sharp objects and dark places. Girl on a train was good, not great. I like Mary Kubica. All her books are good. Caroline Kepnes You and Hidden Bodies.

 

[HM]

Oh, and OP, if you have a library near you, take advantage of the librarian's knowledge. They can make suggestions too. Definitely get your books at the library.

 

[prprincess]

prprincess- Since you liked Eleanor and Park, you need to read Flipped. My brother has a middle-schooler and is forever giving me great book ideas in the YA genre. Also, Wonder, if you haven't read it.

Thanks! Wonder is on my Goodreads list, and I'll have to add Flipped.

 

[prprincess]

I like Mary Kubica. All her books are good.

Love Mary Kubica! Was going to suggest her, but wasn't sure since OP stated The Girl on the Train may scare.

 

[nugov2]

Love Mary Kubica! Was going to suggest her, but wasn't sure since OP stated The Girl on the Train may scare.

Lol, didn't see that. Gillian flynn is pretty dark/scary too...may want to avoid all the fiction I suggested. I read a lot of dark and twisty fiction.

 

[clutter]

I'm not a memoir person, but I really enjoyed "wild" and "my year with Eleanor" Recently, I read "be Frank with me," which was a really cute, easy, enjoyable read.