What good book have you read recently?

ktym

DH noted when I went through surgery/chemo etc. he could tell when I didn't feel well because I didn't pick up a book.  When I'm feeling good it is my favorite pastime.  Hoping to exchange ideas for good books out there and just find like minded others who love to read.

hrf

There is a fabulous book by Lawrence Hill called: The Book of Negroes. It is outstanding!!!! I read it during my first chemo cycle.

I have read several books while going through chemo, most of them pretty good but I think this book was my favourite. Reading was the only thing that transported me away from reality. But, like you, on the days I felt lousy I just slept on the couch and couldn't even focus enough to read.

rock

Anything by Jessamyn West or Carson McCullers.

Antjie Krog's a Change of Tongue and Country of My Skull.

ktym

The American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld was good.  And I think anything by Jodi Picoult is a fun read. My favorite book of all time is Coal Run by Tawni O'Dell.  Have to admit to a guilty pleasure in some lighter reading too.  Loving the latest Anita Blake Vampire book by L.aurell K Hamilton. 

I'm also reading Our Bodies Our Crimes by Jeanne Flavin.  I'll Look up your suggestion hrf, thanks 

ktym

Rock anything you'll suggest I'll read!

SusieMTN

The Host by Stephanie Meyer (Twilight Author's first novel for adults).  Great read, all 600 pages!

abbadoodles

Olive Kitteridge.  Pulitzer 2009.  Great book.

I Capture the Castle, late 1930's by Dodie smith who wrote 101 Dalmatians.  Cold Comfort Farm.  Summer at Tiffanys.  Confederacy of Dunces.  Anything by Louis Nordan. etc.

ktym

I had no idea the Twilight author had writen an adult book.  How awful was it that when reading that series you had to walk around with a book that said teen on the spine.  Talk about guilty pleasure, loved the series.  Don't want to see the movie, I'm afraid it just can't be as fun

goldenabbey

The Middle Place by kelly Corrigan.  I really liked it!

Karen09

I'm reading "Vanishing Acts" by Jodi Picoult.  Wow!!!!  I can barely put it down.  I haven't got this excited about a book in a long time.  

rgiuff

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Housseini was just about one of the best I've ever read.  All about life for 2 women in Afghanistan.  Couldn't put it down.  Also A Voice in the Wind and an Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers about an amazing woman living in the times of the gladiators.  Also loved The Other Boleyn Girl.  And Daughter of the Sun about ancient Aztec culture.

AnneN

I'm a politics junkie, so my favorite book lately has been Renegade: The Making of a President by Richard Wolffe.

I bet those of you who know me were expecting me to recommend the Servan-Schreiber book again - but this didn't seem like that kind of a list!   ;-)

Sachi

Great thread!! I was so happy to see A Voice In The Wind mentioned. Its my all time favorite book and it seems that not many people have read it. Its in a trilogy so once you finish one you still get to read another. I always hate to have a good book end. I also read the Twilight series. (my teenager introduced me to them) I'll have to look for The Host.

Siddons (I think its Anne Rivers Siddons) is one of my favorite authors. I'm reading one of hers now and find its going by too quickly! That's the problem with those books that you can't put down!

Oh yes, I loved The Other Boleyn Girl, too. 

Barb

Bono

I LOVE to read and I read all types of books, but for good funny lol read Janet Evanovich. Her latest, Finger lickin Fifteen is a great no brainer, just good humor. If you haven't read her books yet, start w/ One for The Money.  

HelenaJ

Fraction of the Whole by Steve Tolz is a long crazy laugh out loud book.  Also love Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger its a classic. 

Bono - my SIL gave me 6 Janet Evanovich books to read during my recovery after my surgery - great reading that isn't too heavy and gives you a lift.

This a great thread as I am a voracious reader and need more titles.  I read every night before I go to sleep.

thank you kmmd

iodine

Oh-oh-oh!!

If you read Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth, you will love his new follow up of it: World with out End.  Just wonderful!

Lee Child writes murder mysteries and they are about one guy who solves them.

Janet Evonovich is a hoot with the Stephanie Plum series.

Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love is laugh out loud!  I've even been to the weekend party in MS with my daughter and her friends.  Wild time(learned about jello shots)

Recently discovered Linda Fairstein and enjoy her mysteries.

ktym

iodine: loved pillars of the earth and world without end.  Couldn't put either of them down.

rgiuff: since I loved a thousand splendid suns and the other boleyn girl I'll have to check out the others you mentioned

Karen: vanishing acts was good, love all her books. I know someone who went to school with Jodi Picoult so it has been fun to enjoy her books so much.  The Pact remains my favorite of hers so far

I'm lining up a list from so many good suggestions.  We have a wonderful library system where we can request books on line and they'll keep you updated with where you are on the list to get the books and then e-mail you when they're in.  I think the library system alone would keep me from moving anywhere.

Anonymous

I also read the Janet Evanovich books.  If you want something that will have you giggling and people wondering what you are up to, get these Stephanie Plum books.  They are funny and will have you feeling good after reading them.

 Even though the Stephanie Plum books are a 'series', you don't have to start with the first one to figure them out.  The author pretty much catches you up in each book.  So, just grab one of them whether its the first book or the last one just published.  They will have you laughing in no time.

Bono

This is a great thread! Reading can give you something to take your mind off of treatments and the rest as we all know and have experienced. I just wanted to add that Jodi Piccoult is really good also, I would read those when I needed something other than bc to make me cry lol. I believe a good hard cry can put you back in the right frame of mind sometimes as long as you dry your tears and put on your big girl panties as someone on this board put it. That will be my new saying as I thought it was completely right on. Thanks for the catch phrase! Happy reading.

Karen09

kmmd - I'll have a look for the Pact.  Thanks for the suggestion!  I'm planning on doing a lot of reading in the next year. 

shrink

Just finished Pillars of the Earth.  It's 900 pages but it was fascinating.  Picking it up was the problem.  It must weigh 5 pounds.  I'm on the the sequel World without End. (KIen Follett)  This was the first time in two years that I could really focus on anything that long.

Raye99

Some great recommendations. Over under the Growing our Friendships thread, Alaska Deb started a thread very similar to this. You should all check it out. Tons of book recommendations.

Raye

abbadoodles

Good idea, Raye.  I never visit that forum so maybe I should start.  I just kinda get stuck here or Recon, since that's a neverending story for me.

While I'm here, has anyone read The Help?

Anonymous

I also like the James Patterson books, especially his "Alex Cross' series. Several have been made into movies with Morgan Freeman playing the role of Alex Cross.  I love Morgan Freeman!

I also like the 'No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" books and this is now a series on HBO.  Some nice stories about a lady detective in Africa. 

Raye99

No, Tina - haven't read The Help, but would love to, it sounds wonderful.

JP's Alex Cross books used to be so much better in my opinion - Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, Cat and Mouse, etc. - the latter ones just seem rushed to me.

hrf

I have also read No 1 Ladies Detective Agency and A Thousand Spendid Suns - both are great. I have read both Nineteen Minutes and Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult and they are both worth reading. Lawrence Hill is a Canadian writer - The Book of Negroes has won many awards so you may have to look a little bit harder to find it but it is definitely worth it. Thanks for the other great suggestions.

AnneW

THE GIFT OF RAIN by Tan Eng--one of the most beautifully written books I've read in ages.

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY-can't remember the author. wonderful, easy-reading book!

Anne

Mary22

Alwaysope, I just read Jack and Jill, by James Patterson, loved it.

I was recently turned on to James Rollins I have read Sandstorm, The Judas Straind, Subterranean, Black Order and I am currently reading Map of Bones. Then if the library gets it in I will read The Last Oracle.

Texgirl

The Glass Castle..? author (chemo brain ) a true story about a woman and her siblings growing up across America due to their parents' instability..an amazing read..you won't believe their life.

Water For Elephants by Sarah Greun..an unlikely story of life in the circus as told in memories by an elderly man in a nursing home....It is sooo much better than it sounds. I loved it !

hollyann

I just read a true story calle The Bike Path Killer by Maki Becker and Michael Beebe.......I just love true crime novels...I also read light romance novels.........

Also a great read is Modok a story about an elephant and his trainer......Very inspiring story.....