Good Reads for Summer?

[coco&nina]

Ooh great post! I hardly have time to read lately, but a few books that I've enjoyed in the past recent years are:

Phillipa Gregory (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Queen's Fool...in the middle of The Virgin's Lover which is kind of a bore and i prob won't finish)- Addicting!
Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns)- LOVE!
Twilight Series (All 4 books)- Guilty pleasure
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks- A dog is one of the main characters
Book Thief by Markus Zusack

I'm sticking with actual books. I'd miss the feel and the smell too much! I do prefer paperback over hardcover though. Hardcovers are just too heavy to carry around.

[MaryH]

Sue, I felt the same way when I read your list! About 5 years ago I did a major clean out, donated tons of books to our local library for their once a year book sale fundraiser, books that I read once and didn't think I'd ever read again, books that I had had for years and never got around to reading, and about 99% of my cookbook collection. Crossing to Safety was one of the unread books that got donated and I've been sorry ever since. I had South of Broad and The House at Riverton in my hands at Barnes and Noble last weekend and made myself put them down until I read at least two books that I already own. Now I want to go run out again and buy them! What about any of the Gregory Maguire books? I have both Wicked and Son of a Witch but haven't started on them yet. And another one on my "to buy" list is A Reliable Wife which is very weird because I'm not a big fan of scary (twisted) books (I could never read Stephen King).

Marj, the circus animals aren't the story, more the background setting, in Water for Elephants. It really is a wonderful book and is at the top of my all time favorites list of books.

[Snowbody]

Originally Posted by MaryH

Sue, I felt the same way when I read your list! About 5 years ago I did a major clean out, donated tons of books to our local library for their once a year book sale fundraiser, books that I read once and didn't think I'd ever read again, books that I had had for years and never got around to reading, and about 99% of my cookbook collection. Crossing to Safety was one of the unread books that got donated and I've been sorry ever since. I had South of Broad and The House at Riverton in my hands at Barnes and Noble last weekend and made myself put them down until I read at least two books that I already own. Now I want to go run out again and buy them! What about any of the Gregory Maguire books? I have both Wicked and Son of a Witch but haven't started on them yet. And another one on my "to buy" list is A Reliable Wife which is very weird because I'm not a big fan of scary (twisted) books (I could never read Stephen King).

Marj, the circus animals aren't the story, more the background setting, in Water for Elephants. It really is a wonderful book and is at the top of my all time favorites list of books.

I love Conroy's writing style and descriptions but don't think South of Broad was his best -- to me that was Prince of Tides and Riverton was very Upstairs, Downstairs-esque which I enjoyed.
I didn't read any of the Maguire books but loved the broadway show Wicked I tend to forget what I read so I started to keep a file in my computer with title, author and a little review of my own. It helps this old brain "remember" Haven't heard anything about A Reliable Wife. I can luckily recycle my old books in the basement of my apartment building where they have a lending library for the tenants. It's so great. I also like most Anna Quindlen books and some Wally Lamb books (two very different types).

[MaryH]

Back in the fall of 2008 when I couldn't listen to one more word of bad news on the radio driving to work (almost an hour each way), I bought some audiobooks. For anyone looking for a laugh out loud/put my brain to rest book, buy anything by Sophie Kinsella. Can You Keep A Secret was absolutely hysterical ... probably the only time in my life that I've laughed all the way to work!

[beckinwolf]

Originally Posted by MaryH

Some have already been mentioned, but here are some of my favorites (not all current) ...

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
Don't Stop The Carnival - Herman Wouk
The Shipping News - E. Annie Proulx
The Mists of Avalon - Marian Zimmer Bradley

I just started reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and like it so far.

And last, a book that I didn't like, or at least I think I didn't like it, but long after I finished it I still can't "get over it." To me, it seemed more like reading a poem ... and the only word I have to describe it was GRIM. But I'm still amazed that a person could write, and the main character could speak, so few words and have them say so much ... The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

I read The Road too. It was good. Disturbing, but good. It was almost scary to me because I can see that really happening if something chaotic did happen. Did you see the movie?

I thought of some authors I like. I was kind of vague before. I really like James Patterson books, especially the Alex Cross books. I've been reading the following 5 authors since I was a young teen and still love them all.

Robin Cook
Dean Koontz
John Saul
Stephen King
Michael Chrighton

My one really cheesy, silly, guilty pleasure is the old V.C. Andrews novels. She's long dead now, but they keep cranking out books supposedly written in her style, etc. Of course the best series of her books is the very first, Flowers in the Attic. That whole series is so haunting.

I don't read too much non-fiction, except for true crime. Although I did read a series of non-fiction books by Dave Peltzer. He is a child abuse survivor and his story is so interesting and sad.

[Canada]

Wow! Lots of Dean Koontz fans.
He is one of my favs.
And a book of his that is a real page turner & funny also is "Life Expectancy."

Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" is interesting. Of course it isn't recent.

Agree that "The Road" was unusual & bleak.

"Memoirs of a Geisha" was worth the time reading, although the ending could have been more substantial.

And any closet Twilight fans could read Anne Rice, if they haven't already.
I really enjoyed Interview with the Vampire & The Vampire Lestat.

One author that is an easy read (meaning you can lounge poolside and not have to focus!) is Sidney Sheldon.

I mostly read Non Fiction. I used to work in a library, love books.
I used to hide with a flashlight under the blanket reading,
so my Mom wouldn't see the light on under the door at 2 am!

I have written down the suggestions here in the thread.

[iheartbisou]

I love to read too. I read everything from fiction and non, to history, to politics, religion..whatever- as long is it's written well.

I just finished:

* Sophie's Choice by William Stryon
* Until I Find You by John Irving
* Buddhism Explained by Laurence-Khantipalo Mills

and now I'm reading (at the same time- a bad or maybe good habit of mine)

*The Complete Stories by Franz Kafka
*Ghost Wars-The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan & Bin Laden by Steve Coll

After I finish these two, I'll start on:
* The Lacuna by Barbara Kingslover
(someone just left it at my house so might as well)
*Dix heures et demie du soir en ete - Marguerite Duras
(because I make myself read a book in French every now and then).

Also I'm reading all the Pulitzer Prize winners (for fiction- although Steve Coll won it for his non Fiction book I'm reading now)..but I take breaks from it sometimes as not all the books are really that great..although most are. I've read about 40 of them so far...but I haven't placed a time limit on this reading..

PS I read The Road too (as it was on my Pulitzer list)..I read it in 3 days and was completely enthralled and terrified at the same time.

For humor, I love David Sedaris entirely too much. (yes I know it's 'stuffwhitepeoplelike"- but it's just so funny).

[uniquelovdolce]

Originally Posted by MaryH

Some have already been mentioned, but here are some of my favorites (not all current) ...

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
Don't Stop The Carnival - Herman Wouk
The Shipping News - E. Annie Proulx
The Mists of Avalon - Marian Zimmer Bradley

I just started reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and like it so far.

And last, a book that I didn't like, or at least I think I didn't like it, but long after I finished it I still can't "get over it." To me, it seemed more like reading a poem ... and the only word I have to describe it was GRIM. But I'm still amazed that a person could write, and the main character could speak, so few words and have them say so much ... The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

i love reading and read everything ever since i was like in second grade, i also used to read under the covers with a flashlight. i love all types of books, maybe not so much into non fiction though ... i read the pillars of the earth a while back n i really liked . i loved the kite runner but i have yet to read a thoushand splendid suns. I read alot of books and then i forget the names or the authors. i loved the twilight series , my daughter (16) got me reading them and i thought they were great. i love all the dan brown books, all the joyce flynn political thrillers, sydney sheldon ive read a few. i also read what i call the ghetto books but just for entertainment as they seem to all be the same . Like i said i read everything , ive read many of the books on oprahs book club list.

i really like the idea of a summer book list. my boyfriend says he is gonna get me a kindle and i might like it but i think books are special and i get what some have said about the flipping of the page n the smell .

i also read the lovely bones and loved it , very sad yet amazing to me , beautifully written.

[Snowbody]

Originally Posted by sophie

I also love Dean Koontz and Stephen King. And, absolutely love any type of series books. I just never want a good book to end! lol

I received the Kindl as a gift and thought I would love it, but like many have mentioned it's not the same as holding a book and feeling the paper and the smell. I really do miss those things. I also love a really LONG book and with the Kindl it's hard to tell how much farther you have to go till the end and it really does take some of that "don't want it to end" excitement out of the book.

My husband and I both are Koontz fans too. I also like some of the DeMille novels (Plum Island, Gold Coast). I remember the don't want it to end feeling with books I dearly loved like Memoirs of a Geisha. Kept reading slower and slower at the end to keep it going.
Linda

Originally Posted by Ladysmom

Oh, yeah! I did that with The Help. I kept checking how many pages I had left because I never wanted it to end.

Originally Posted by coco&nina

Ooh great post! I hardly have time to read lately, but a few books that I've enjoyed in the past recent years are:

Phillipa Gregory (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Queen's Fool...in the middle of The Virgin's Lover which is kind of a bore and i prob won't finish)- Addicting!
Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns)- LOVE!
Twilight Series (All 4 books)- Guilty pleasure
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks- A dog is one of the main characters
Book Thief by Markus Zusack

I'm sticking with actual books. I'd miss the feel and the smell too much! I do prefer paperback over hardcover though. Hardcovers are just too heavy to carry around.

I loved Kite Runner but then I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns even more. My friend had gone to Afghanistan back in the late 60's or early 70's - hippie days and The Kite Runner really brought back memories in the descriptions of the neighborhood. Have to try The Other Boleyn Girl. I also loved the novel "The Girl with the Pearl Earring."

Originally Posted by beckinwolf

I read The Road too. It was good. Disturbing, but good. It was almost scary to me because I can see that really happening if something chaotic did happen. Did you see the movie?

I thought of some authors I like. I was kind of vague before. I really like James Patterson books, especially the Alex Cross books. I've been reading the following 5 authors since I was a young teen and still love them all.

Robin Cook
Dean Koontz
John Saul
Stephen King
Michael Chrighton

My one really cheesy, silly, guilty pleasure is the old V.C. Andrews novels. She's long dead now, but they keep cranking out books supposedly written in her style, etc. Of course the best series of her books is the very first, Flowers in the Attic. That whole series is so haunting.

I don't read too much non-fiction, except for true crime. Although I did read a series of non-fiction books by Dave Peltzer. He is a child abuse survivor and his story is so interesting and sad.

Never saw "The Road" movie. Was it with Denzel?? I can't even remember it being released. I don't think I could have brought myself to watch it.
OMG - Flowers in the Attic. That was a blast from the past. I remember reading some of those novels way back when I was younger. I like reading all the authors you listed (though not Patterson)- I had forgotten about Michael Crichton.

Originally Posted by Canada

Wow! Lots of Dean Koontz fans.
He is one of my favs.
And a book of his that is a real page turner & funny also is "Life Expectancy."

Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" is interesting. Of course it isn't recent.

Agree that "The Road" was unusual & bleak.

"Memoirs of a Geisha" was worth the time reading, although the ending could have been more substantial.

And any closet Twilight fans could read Anne Rice, if they haven't already.
I really enjoyed Interview with the Vampire & The Vampire Lestat.

One author that is an easy read (meaning you can lounge poolside and not have to focus!) is Sidney Sheldon.

I mostly read Non Fiction. I used to work in a library, love books.
I used to hide with a flashlight under the blanket reading,
so my Mom wouldn't see the light on under the door at 2 am!

I have written down the suggestions here in the thread.

I remember the flashlight under the covers scenario. No wonder my eyesight's so bad. As if our moms didn't know we were doing it but I figure they knew reading was important. I used to read Sidney Shelton and way back in my teens or 20's Irving Wallace books. Truly sleazy but fun. I really liked Handmaid's Tale but not her other novels. And how could I forget The Thornbirds. Loved the book and the mini series on tv with Dr. Kildare (Richard Chamberlain) in it.

Originally Posted by iheartbisou

I love to read too. I read everything from fiction and non, to history, to politics, religion..whatever- as long is it's written well.

I just finished:

* Sophie's Choice by William Stryon
* Until I Find You by John Irving
* Buddhism Explained by Laurence-Khantipalo Mills

and now I'm reading (at the same time- a bad or maybe good habit of mine)

*The Complete Stories by Franz Kafka
*Ghost Wars-The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan & Bin Laden by Steve Coll

After I finish these two, I'll start on:
* The Lacuna by Barbara Kingslover
(someone just left it at my house so might as well)
*Dix heures et demie du soir en ete - Marguerite Duras
(because I make myself read a book in French every now and then).

Also I'm reading all the Pulitzer Prize winners (for fiction- although Steve Coll won it for his non Fiction book I'm reading now)..but I take breaks from it sometimes as not all the books are really that great..although most are. I've read about 40 of them so far...but I haven't placed a time limit on this reading..

PS I read The Road too (as it was on my Pulitzer list)..I read it in 3 days and was completely enthralled and terrified at the same time.

For humor, I love David Sedaris entirely too much. (yes I know it's 'stuffwhitepeoplelike"- but it's just so funny).

Sophie's Choice, and the movie made of it was one of my all time favorites. And I loved The Poisonwood Bible by Kingsolver.

Originally Posted by uniquelovdolce

i love reading and read everything ever since i was like in second grade, i also used to read under the covers with a flashlight. i love all types of books, maybe not so much into non fiction though ... i read the pillars of the earth a while back n i really liked . i loved the kite runner but i have yet to read a thoushand splendid suns. I read alot of books and then i forget the names or the authors. i loved the twilight series , my daughter (16) got me reading them and i thought they were great. i love all the dan brown books, all the joyce flynn political thrillers, sydney sheldon ive read a few. i also read what i call the ghetto books but just for entertainment as they seem to all be the same . Like i said i read everything , ive read many of the books on oprahs book club list.

i really like the idea of a summer book list. my boyfriend says he is gonna get me a kindle and i might like it but i think books are special and i get what some have said about the flipping of the page n the smell .

i also read the lovely bones and loved it , very sad yet amazing to me , beautifully written.

I liked the Dan Brown books too when they came out. I liked Angels and Demons better than the Da Vinci Code. Was fun being in Rome and Paris this year and remembering where certain things were supposedly set Sometimes though with series by an author I find that they become too predictable in their thinking and style. It's great when they do change it up.

[Snowbody]

Just thought of three more reads I really liked:
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt,
Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and
Ron McLarty's The Memory of Running. Not to be confused with Running with Scissors which I hated!! Way too weird for me.