Good Reads for Summer? - Maltese Dogs Forum : Spoiled Maltese Forums

**Snowbody** · 06-09-2010, 05:40 PM

So here comes summer and I just finished my latest book, Three Cups of Tea, which I really liked and am looking for my next good read. I like a mix and thought it would be fun if everyone listed 10 books they would recommend. I'm looking for more current titles than classics. I'll start.
1. Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson
2. Loving Frank - Nancy Horan
3. South of Broad - Pat Conroy
4. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
5. Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Stout
6. The House at Riverton - Kate Morton
7. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
8. Crossing to Safety - Wallace Stegner
9. The Tender Bar - J.R . Moehringer
10 Paul Fersen - A Peach Tree in an Apple Orchard

Nikki's Mom · 06-09-2010, 05:59 PM

Few would like my recommendations, unfortunately. :-)

I have eclectic tastes. So I won't list 10 books, but I can recommend a couple of authors whose writing style I enjoy.

If you are into WWII intrigue-style novels set in Europe, Alan Furst is a wonderful author and a fellow New Yorker. His novels are very atmospheric.

I also enjoy

Steig Larsson, author of Scandinavian crime novels.
Isabelle Allende
Philippa Gregory
Pat Conroy has a good way with words

Although a lot of writers dislike him, and I don't much care for anything that contains horror elements, I enjoy the writing style of Dean Koontz, and I try to skip the more violent or scary scenes.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I usually read novels from all different genres, and I am very very picky. Right now, I am about to start a novel called, The Ghosts of Belfast, by Stuart Neville. It came highly recommended, but I haven't read it yet.

If you want to read a fabulous set of non-fic books that are nicely written and dog-related, I recommend two by Patricia McConnell:
The Other End Of The Leash
For The Love Of A Dog

Or if you are into lighter, more romantic reading, my good friend and new crime novelist Mark Bertrand teamed up with a romance writer to pen a romantic suspense novel set in Charleston SC:

Beguiled

Enjoy!

I really love it when people read books. Makes me feel like there's hope for the world, lol.

**princessre** · 06-09-2010, 06:32 PM

Good idea, Sue!! I read almost all non-fiction, so I don't know if these are good "summer reads" for others. But my three absolute favorite books of all time are

"The Mind of God" by Paul Davies
"How the Mind Works" by Steven Pinker
"Innovation and Entrepreneurship" by Peter Drucker

**Ladysmom** · 06-09-2010, 06:33 PM

I just finished The Help. It's the best book I have read in along, long time.

The Lovely Bones is wonderful, too.

Scott Turow finally came out with a sequel to Presumed Innocent (remember the movie w/Harrison Ford?) after 20 years. It's called The Innocent. It got great reviews and is on my list to read this summer.

Suzan, I agree with you. Reading is wonderful! I am still trying to open my mind up to a Kindle or Nook, but just can't seem to let go of the physical book.

**Snowbody** · 06-09-2010, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladysmom

I just finished The Help. It's the best book I have read in along, long time.

The Lovely Bones is wonderful, too.

Scott Turow finally came out with a sequel to Presumed Innocent (remember the movie w/Harrison Ford?) after 20 years. It's called The Innocent. It got great reviews and is on my list to read this summer.

Suzan, I agree with you. Reading is wonderful! I am still trying to open my mind up to a Kindle or Nook, but just can't seem to let go of the physical book.

Marj - I'm the same way. Everyone on the subways seem to be getting the kindles and Nooks but I just love the feel of a real book. Though I must way that I always read before I go to bed and some of the heavy hardcovers are killers. I think the e-books are particularly great for people who travel a lot and thus don't have to carry a few books in their luggage. I am also the one who also loved encyclopedias and couldn't imagine finding everything on the web.

I've come around on that one.

**MaryH** · 06-09-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladysmom

I am still trying to open my mind up to a Kindle or Nook, but just can't seem to let go of the physical book.

Like you Marj, I've been toying with the idea of a Kindle or a Nook and asked a friend last weekend how she liked her Kindle. She's had it for a couple of years. She said she loves it for travel but she misses the "smell and feel of a real book." I think that kind of did it for me. I'm gonna stick to paper for now.

Nikki's Mom · 06-09-2010, 07:13 PM

My writer friend loves her Kindle, but says it doesn't take the place of a real book. I'd like a Kindle for travel, but I love my real books. I hate the tiny (mass-market) paperbacks, though. The paper is just too cheesy.....

Nikki's Mom · 06-09-2010, 07:21 PM

Ah, non fiction besides dog books....Ah....I'm boring!

I read books on European History. I like history books that are different, well-written, not dry, and challenge the "generally accepted version" of history. I like history books that bring history alive.

And since I am not going to pursue a side career in nutrition in addition to writing right now, I've put away the nutrition books.

Told you I was boring... :-)

**beckinwolf** · 06-09-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaryH

Like you Marj, I've been toying with the idea of a Kindle or a Nook and asked a friend last weekend how she liked her Kindle. She's had it for a couple of years. She said she loves it for travel but she misses the "smell and feel of a real book." I think that kind of did it for me. I'm gonna stick to paper for now.

I totally agree with this. I love reading old books, or books that have been in storage. Something about that musty smell of old paper. If they could make a Kindle smell like an old book, then maybe, but I doubt I could give up the real thing.

As far as my summer reading. Well, I just read a hodge-podge of mystery/crime who-done it novels. I love me some sci-fi horror stuff too. I also like the true crime stuff too. Although I know its too much for some people, I love it.

**Ladysmom** · 06-09-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckinwolf

I also like the true crime stuff too. Although I know its too much for some people, I love it.

I am a true crime junkie, too! Ann Rule is the best!

06-09-2010, 05:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Snowbody Maltese Guru Name: Susan Dog's Name: Tyler Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 12,942	Good Reads for Summer? So here comes summer and I just finished my latest book, Three Cups of Tea, which I really liked and am looking for my next good read. I like a mix and thought it would be fun if everyone listed 10 books they would recommend. I'm looking for more current titles than classics. I'll start. 1. Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson 2. Loving Frank - Nancy Horan 3. South of Broad - Pat Conroy 4. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini 5. Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Stout 6. The House at Riverton - Kate Morton 7. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd 8. Crossing to Safety - Wallace Stegner 9. The Tender Bar - J.R . Moehringer 10 Paul Fersen - A Peach Tree in an Apple Orchard __________________

06-09-2010, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nikki's Mom Maltese Guru Name: Suzan Dog's Name: Keiko & Nikki Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6,250	Few would like my recommendations, unfortunately. :-) I have eclectic tastes. So I won't list 10 books, but I can recommend a couple of authors whose writing style I enjoy. If you are into WWII intrigue-style novels set in Europe, Alan Furst is a wonderful author and a fellow New Yorker. His novels are very atmospheric. I also enjoy Steig Larsson, author of Scandinavian crime novels. Isabelle Allende Philippa Gregory Pat Conroy has a good way with words Although a lot of writers dislike him, and I don't much care for anything that contains horror elements, I enjoy the writing style of Dean Koontz, and I try to skip the more violent or scary scenes. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I usually read novels from all different genres, and I am very very picky. Right now, I am about to start a novel called, The Ghosts of Belfast, by Stuart Neville. It came highly recommended, but I haven't read it yet. If you want to read a fabulous set of non-fic books that are nicely written and dog-related, I recommend two by Patricia McConnell: The Other End Of The Leash For The Love Of A Dog Or if you are into lighter, more romantic reading, my good friend and new crime novelist Mark Bertrand teamed up with a romance writer to pen a romantic suspense novel set in Charleston SC: Beguiled Beguiled Enjoy! I really love it when people read books. Makes me feel like there's hope for the world, lol.

06-09-2010, 06:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
princessre Maltese Guru Dog's Name: Puppy and Beegee Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3,915	Good idea, Sue!! I read almost all non-fiction, so I don't know if these are good "summer reads" for others. But my three absolute favorite books of all time are "The Mind of God" by Paul Davies "How the Mind Works" by Steven Pinker "Innovation and Entrepreneurship" by Peter Drucker __________________

06-09-2010, 06:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ladysmom Maltese Guru Name: Marj Dog's Name: Bailey and Lady at the Bridge Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 15,079	I just finished The Help. It's the best book I have read in along, long time. The Lovely Bones is wonderful, too. Scott Turow finally came out with a sequel to Presumed Innocent (remember the movie w/Harrison Ford?) after 20 years. It's called The Innocent. It got great reviews and is on my list to read this summer. Suzan, I agree with you. Reading is wonderful! I am still trying to open my mind up to a Kindle or Nook, but just can't seem to let go of the physical book. __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/MLadys...s/182366213341

06-09-2010, 07:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nikki's Mom Maltese Guru Name: Suzan Dog's Name: Keiko & Nikki Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6,250	My writer friend loves her Kindle, but says it doesn't take the place of a real book. I'd like a Kindle for travel, but I love my real books. I hate the tiny (mass-market) paperbacks, though. The paper is just too cheesy.....

06-09-2010, 07:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Nikki's Mom Maltese Guru Name: Suzan Dog's Name: Keiko & Nikki Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6,250	Ah, non fiction besides dog books....Ah....I'm boring! I read books on European History. I like history books that are different, well-written, not dry, and challenge the "generally accepted version" of history. I like history books that bring history alive. And since I am not going to pursue a side career in nutrition in addition to writing right now, I've put away the nutrition books. Told you I was boring... :-)

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