- The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale- I highly recommend this book. It's a fairytale story. A fun read- no smut to sift through. Dave read it too.
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier- I had to edit to add this one- forgot we read it till I read Jenn's comment. This one started out slow but I think was a good book. The writer is very descriptive and sometimes it's like "get on with it woman!" I mean really, who takes a page and a half to describe rododendrun bushes- I wanted to stick a fork in my eye at times...
- Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns- Okay, I admit, I didn't read this one. Not because I didn't want to, but because I didn't find the time or the book. Oops. However, I went to the book club when they discussed it and it's kind of a hokey small town gossip story, if that makes any sense.
- Marley and Me by John Grogan- This is a dog lover book. Me, I'm not a dog lover so I say "meh". Sure I was sad when the dog died but it's funny that someone can write an entire novel about a dog. How entertaining is pooping, destroying, sniffing, and chasing... I was more into the interpersonal relationships in the book.
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer- addicting and fun read.
- Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy- we are currently reading this one and I haven't started it yet.
This month it's my turn to recommend a book for the next time we meet. I'm in a frenzy reading as many books as I can get my hands on so that I can recommend something good. Here's what I've read so far.
- The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger- I found out about this one looking online for book recommendations. Lots of the "F" word and sex stuff. I'm not so much into that. The story was interesting but the book didn't really leave me feeling uplifted- just kind of "that's depressing".
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls- Pretty good book. Some swearing because her dad is a drunkard but not too bad. I can't decide if I really like this book or not.
- Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin- easy read. I couldn't put it down (really, I read it in one sitting) because I just had to know how it ended. A couple "F" words and some sex (not descriptive smut though)
- Something Blue by Emily Giffin- this is the book right after Something Borrowed- The beginning of the book was a little harsh for my liking but overall, I liked it - same commentary as above.
Okay, so that's what I have read in the last week. I don't think I want to recommend any of these to the book club. So, my search goes on... I'm also thinking about doing one of these books
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini- I read this a couple months ago and really liked it. It has some disturbing parts but that goes with the territory of the book.
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd- haven't read this in seven years so I need to re-read it.
Okay, there ya go. My literary tangent for the day. I know some of you are big readers. Help a girl out and PLEASE please PLEASE tell me what books you have loved reading. If you have read any of the books above, let me know what you thought of them.
8 comments:
any of these sound good?
GUTTERSON, David - SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS
Thriller concerned with race, war and love.
HADDON, Mark - THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME
Funny and moving novel of detection and adventure, as told by 15-year-old autistic boy.
HARDY, Thomas - THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE
Tragic novel of labouring man who sells his wife at a fair and proceeds to become mayor but his past comes back to haunt him.
HELLER, Joseph - CATCH 22
The novel on which M.A.S.H was based! Set in Bomber command – funny, disturbing satire on war and hierarchy.
HINES, Barry - A KESTREL FOR A KNAVE
Painfully realistic account of a young working class boy’s attempt to escape failure at school and at home.
HUXLEY, Aldous - BRAVE NEW WORLD
Nightmare vision of a future, where people are programmed into a rigid social hierarchy and which examines what it is to be human.
KESEY, Ken - ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST
Compelling account of the repressive regime in a mental asylum which is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of a new patient who questions those in authority.
KINGSOLVER, Barbara - THE BEAN TREES
Funny and optimistic novel about a young woman leaving home to escape early marriage and motherhood, only to find herself taking on the care of a young girl.
LAWRENCE, D. H. - SONS AND LOVERS
A young man coming to maturity pulled between twin influences of relationships and family.
LEVI, Primo - IF THIS IS A MAN
An autobiographical account by an Italian survivor of Auschwitz showing that above all, what the Nazis did, was to rob the camp inmates of their humanity.
MAURIER du, Daphne - REBECCA
Gothic romantic mystery set in Cornwall.
McEWAN, Ian - ATONEMENT
Gripping story of love and betrayal set in the Second World War. A childhood lie has disastrous consequences right into the present.
MORRISON, Toni - THE BLUEST EYE
The experiences of a young black girl who sees herself as ugly because she judges herself by white standards of beauty.
ORWELL, George - 1984
Written in 1948 this is still a chilling vision of Britain ruled as a police state where all individual freedom has been taken away. The novel that gave us the ideas of Big Brother and Room 101.
PLATH, Sylvia - THE BELL JAR
Set in 1950s America, focusing on a young woman starting out in life after university and suffering a nervous breakdown.
PIERRE, D. B. C. - VERNON GOD LITTLE
Riotous adventures of Vernon Gregory Little in small town Texas. Cutting edge satire drawing on the Columbine shootings.
ROY, Arundhati - THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS
Lyrical account of the devastating effects of the Indian caste system on a family.
SALINGER, J. D. - CATCHER IN THE RYE
Follows 3 days in the days in the life of a young man who has just left school. He wanders around the bars of New York feeling alienated from his family and society.
SHELLEY, Mary - FRANKENSTEIN
Enthusiastic scientist creates new monstrous being and lives to regret it.
STEINBECK, John - THE GRAPES OF WRATH
Epic journey from Oklahoma to California of farming families escaping poverty in the American Depression.
STYRON, William - SOPHIE’S CHOICE
Novel which follows the life of a concentration camp survivor after the war and looks at the tragic consequences of her appalling experiences.
SUSKIND, Patrick - PERFUME
Psychological profile of a murderer, gripping and macabre.
SWIFT, Graham - WATERLAND
Set in 1980s, using flashbacks, a history teacher explores the meaning of his subject in both his personal life and the public sphere.
THACKERAY, W. M. - VANITY FAIR
Follows life and adventures of compelling and single-minded heroine ‘on the make’ in eighteenth century society. Social comedy and a rich cast of character.
WALKER, Alice - THE COLOR PURPLE
Moving account of young black woman’s journey from abuse and oppression to fulfilment and independence.
WAUGH, Evelyn - DECLINE AND FALL
Hilarious satire on society and education, following the fortunes of the hapless Paul Pennyfeather.
WELLS, H. G. - THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
Science fiction classic where the Martians invade.
WELSH, Irvine - TRAINSPOTTING
Frenzied novel of heroin addiction set in Edinburgh.
WILDE, Oscar - THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
Follows the immoral life of a beautiful, rich and talented young man, whose portrait ages while he remains forever young. Style is full of wit and the ideas are thought provoking.
WILLIAMS, Niall - FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE
A poignant Irish love story, in which four separate narratives are interwoven to produce a dramatic and unexpected ending.
WINTERSON, Jeanette - ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT
Funny novel which follows the female central character from childhood to maturity, as she gradually rejects family and religion and discovers the truth of her sexuality.
WOOLF, Virginia - THE WAVES
Poetic, experimental novel tracing the inner lives of six interconnected characters.
Natalie--
Tell me, do you sleep? You say you keep a clean house, you blog, you craft, if you still do it-- you scrapbook, you take care of your kids, you read all these books.... HOLY COW you are amazing. I really need to be taught how to do all these things cause I am one exhausted mama and I can not read because I will neglect everything in my life until I finish whatever book it is I started... But I love to read. Sorry, I am not much help, my last book I read was Harry Potter. I have the Twilght books by my bed, telling me to read them when I feel like neglecting everything. Maybe in January...
We were just discussing some of our favorites on Thursday night at book group. I've been a member of our group for three years now, but it's been 7 years since they started the group and 6 or 7 of the 11 of us have been there the whole time. Amazing readers.
My own personal book group picks have been--
The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. This one was one of the group favorites. It's old, set in China, and fabulous.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. You know this one.
A History of Love: A Novel by Nicole Krauss. Look this one up on amazon. I can't explain it.
Other favorites of our book group are--
A Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Historical fiction about the black plague in Europe, sounds depressing but really good.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. Probably smuttier than anything else I'd recommend, but you'll love it. Read it before the movie comes out.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. I might cry just thinking about this one right now.
The Time Traveler's Wife. It was good, but there is one scene in this book that really bothered me and kind of spoiled the whole thing for me.
My own personal favorites include these--
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. Read this on your own. I can't imagine asking anyone to read this during the holidays when there's a deadline involved, but a gorgeous book.
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry.
Set in India. Also a bit long, but really this is probably the best book I've read in the last few years.
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Also Indian, but about an Indian boy who grows up in the U.S. She also wrote a book of short stories called Interpreter of Maladies which was a favorite of our Cleveland book group, and of my book group here.
Good luck. I feel such pressure being in charge of the book group pick. I know it sounds silly, but I hate to pick a book no one will enjoy. We also have just eleven members, we take one month off. The host makes dinner based off of the book. It makes it kind of fun. When we read The Glass Castle, I didn't have to cook, just gave everyone a chocolate bar. (Just kidding.)
Oh, we have your Kite Runner book. Russ read it.....told me about it....and I will never read it. He loved it though. My book club right now is reading Eat, Play, Love. Haven't started it but I will tell you if it is good. Love ya!
Great idea for a post so now I can get lots of good ideas for my (lame) book group. *sigh*
I've read lots of books in the past few years, but these are the ones I have l.o.v.e.d --
These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner
Diary format of a pioneer woman loosely based on the author's great grandmother. Trust me when I say it's better than it sounds. It took me about 20 pages to get really into it and then I couldn't put it down. It's sequel is called Sarah's Quilt, but I haven't read it yet.
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel and it's sequel She Got Up Off the Couch. The authors personal memoirs of growing up in a tiny town in Indiana. Seriously laughed my brains out. SO good and so funny. She is an awesome writer and so fun to read.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan. The true story of the author's fun mom. The movie is lame so skip it and just read the book.
Austenland by Shannon Hale. If you love Pride and Prejudice indulge yourself with this fun, quick read.
Princess Academy also by Shannon Hale. Newberry Honor book. Great read.
Along with Sue, I loved The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. I actually just read it this weekend and really enjoyed it. There are a few bad words, but a really interesting and quick read. I too liked The Namesake and Angle of Repose, though it's been a long time since I've read those. I wish I was one of those people who remembered to write down which books I've read and enjoyed.
Good luck. I need to go find me a real book group. . .
You guys are awesome! Thank you so much for your input! Heaven forbid I let my book group down with a crappy book.
So I want to know what you picked now...
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