Read any good books lately?

[lizardqueen]

I am dying to read some good books, but I just can't seem to pick anything out lately. So, can you tell me what is on your MUST read list? I am not big into the "steamy" romance type books or horror. But other than that, I'm up for anything. Can you help me out?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I'm a librarian, so I read a ton! I'll link the books to the Amazon page so you can read more about them.

This is what I've been reading lately:

Anything by Christopher Moore. His latest book' "A Dirty Job," is hysterical! I would describe his genre as satire/humor with a tiny bit of fantasy thrown in. He has all of these recurring characters but it is not a series, just his own little literary universe. I highly recommend any of his novels. There are a very few elements that may offend ultra conservative religious/political types, but I am a Christian and I was not bothered by the content. You just have to keep in mind it is a work of fiction, not an attack on your personal beliefs. The author even says these are fictional and not to be offended! Again, these things are few and far inbetween in the novel.

"Cross Country" by Robert Sullivan was great. It is a memoir of one particular cross county trip with his family and it is really well done and very interesting.

"My Life in France" by Julia Child is another good read. Beauiful writing, great stories, inspirational and beautiful.

Any of the Janet Evanovich novels about Stephanie Plum are worth a read. These are really fun mystery novels and the heroine, Stephanie Plum, is great! She is a bumbling bounty hunter and not-quite-sterotypical New Jersey girl (You're in Jersey, you might like this!) The cast of characters, especially Grandma Mazur, is hysterical. There is a bit of romance, but not too much.

If you like mysteries A Small Death in Lisbon is worth your time. It is a Golden Dagger Award Winner. It is historical (deals with WW II and Nazis) and the narrative switches between 1941 and 1999. It is extremely well-written and is very smart. Outstanding in every way. I was not able to solve the mystery until the author revealed it!

The Brief History of the Dead" by Kevin Brockmeier is a wonderful, haunting novel. It was a good, thought-provoking read. Original, moving, new, beautiful prose, and even a bit funny in places.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of my favorite books. I actually wrote my senior thesis on this novel. Again, beautiful prose, an original story, and a very satisfying, cyclical ending to wrap it all up.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is another favorite book. I read this at least twice a year. It is a story that will grab you and you will fall in love with Francie, the main character. It is such a honest and true story with wonderful observations about human nature. I can't even describe this one-- you just have to read it!

Also, as a Young Person's Librarian, I have to recommend the entire Harry Potter series. I firmly believe everyone should read these books!

Well, that was probably more than you wanted, but I just had to share! Hope that is okay... If you have a more specific genre in mind, let me know and I'll see if I can recommend anything.

Happy reading!

P.S. Prayers for your family and adoption! I hope it works out!

 

[anfolio]

I really enjoyed "The Constant Gardner". You can read about it at amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Constant-Gardener-John-le-Carre/dp/0743215052. It was one of those books you just can't put down.

 

[hellokitty86]

There are two books I always recommend when people ask- "She's Come Undone" and "I know this much is true" by Wally Lamb. I am currently reading "She's Come Undone" and just finished the other. They are very good, IMO.

 

[bekkiz]

This was suggested on another thread, but I read The Rabbit Factory by Marshall Karp a few weeks ago and thought it was fantastic. Super funny and a good mystery. It focuses on a Disneyland like park and the murder of one of the characters who walks around the park.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=1596921749

 

[barkley]

it's sick, it's twisted, it's perverse-but i could'nt put it down -'running with scissors'. i told my husband it like a 'pornographic car wreak' (you want to look away but you keep turning back to it). when you realize it's a true story you're shaking your head even more.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

"She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb.

One of my favorite books ever.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

it's sick, it's twisted, it's perverse-but i could'nt put it down -'running with scissors'. i told my husband it like a 'pornographic car wreak' (you want to look away but you keep turning back to it). when you realize it's a true story you're shaking your head even more.

I know what you mean. I feel guilty saying I loved this book. It was perverted, graphic, horrific, and I couldn't put it down. I hope this movie isn't a dissapointment.

I just finished re-reading The Visitation by Frank Peretti. I read it years ago when it was first released, and recently saw the movie so I read it again. AWESOME BOOK!

RIght now I am currently re-reading The Firm by John Grisham.

 

[barkley]

another good read if you like anything about education or the law is 'one L' by scott turow. it details his first year as a student in law school under the 'socratic method' of teaching. it is facinating.

if you like books that tell about an 'insiders' perspective on religions try 'nun' (written by a woman who entered the convent at a very young age and ultimatly left her order) or 'secret ceremonies' which was written by a formerly devout mormon-lots of information on growing up mormon, going to brigham young, what goes on in the temples. both may be out of print but are available as used copies on amazon.

 

[Tazicket]

I always highly recommend the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman (I'm reading my way through them and have almost reached the end. ) I would also recommend the Alex Cross series by James Patterson.

 

[Merryweather]

There are two books I always recommend when people ask- "She's Come Undone" and "I know this much is true" by Wally Lamb. I am currently reading "She's Come Undone" and just finished the other. They are very good, IMO.

Could you share a little more information about these and why you enjoy the author so much? I'm looking for something new as well.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Could you share a little more information about these and why you enjoy the author so much? I'm looking for something new as well.

I'm not the poster you quoted, but I love those books too. They are just engaging, hard to put down. I loved I Know This Much Is True. It's like a 900 page book and I read it in a week, does that tell you anything?

 

[AKLRULZ]

I'm reading Spy by Ted Bell - it's really good so far! If you are a fan of say Tom Clancy or Vince Flynn you might like this one.

 

[Merryweather]

I'm not the poster you quoted, but I love those books too. They are just engaging, hard to put down. I loved I Know This Much Is True. It's like a 900 page book and I read it in a week, does that tell you anything?

Thanks for the prompt response! I am an avid reader myself. What does Lamb specifically write about though that got you to read the book so quickly?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Merryweather, the two stories are very different. IKTMIT is a story of twin brothers, one of whom has a mental illness. It talks a lot about their childhood growing up, their lives now, and what made them the way they are. I was hooked from the first few pages. Then again, I am in the mental health field so I love books like this.

 

[powellrj]

I just finished Fanny Flaggs "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven" I loved it! Its a cute, funny story. If you liked "Fried Green Tomatoes" this is along that line.

I also just finished "Heat" on tape. It was a true story about a reporter that became a cook in Mario (from the Food Network) resturant in NY. It was really interesting to read about someone who at the age of 49 tried an new career and the kitchen gossip was wonderful. I had no idea professional kitchens were so cut-throat.

 

[NMAmy]

I've got to agree with A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. I love his books--very funny!

I just finished Rise & Shine by Anna Quindlan. Another one of my favorite authors. It was a great book--I highly recommend it.

ETA: Oh, also any of Jasper Fforde's books. I recently read The Fourth Bear from his Nursery Crime series which was great but I'm a huge fan of his Thursday Next books and can't wait for the next one to come out--in JULY. I hate waiting.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

The Brief History of the Dead" by Kevin Brockmeier is a wonderful, haunting novel. It was a good, thought-provoking read. Original, moving, new, beautiful prose, and even a bit funny in places.

LOVED this book. So different. I liked the way toward the end, it didn't really tell you what was happening and you had to think about it. I just had a coworker read it and he really enjoyed it, too.

While he was reading that, he gave me The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue. Another wonderful story.

I'm currently reading The Haunted Looking Glass, a collection of ghost short stories, compiled by Edward Gorey. I've always loved his work.

My other faves...
Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Passage by Connie Willis, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, Fall on Your Knees by Ann Marie MacDonald, Time and Again by Jack Finney, Footprints of God by Greg Iles, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, Key of Light, Key of Knowledge, and Key of Valor by Nora Roberts, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, Emma Brown by Clare Boylan, Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, No Angel, Something Dangerous, and Into Temptation by Penny Vincenzi, Bread Alone by Judith Ryan Hendricks, Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews, The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and anything by Neil Gaiman.

 

[MsLeFever]

My absoute favorite book is The Time Traveler's Wife. Wonderfu characters, great adventure, interesting premise and powerful love.

 

[katymae]

I second The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. It is a fictional account of the one sister to Joseph and his brothers in the Old Testament. A wonderful read!!!