Just for fun...What is everyone reading??

AlaskaDeb · June 2006

OKthis summer my reading list is all about FUN. If it doesnt make me laugh, Im not reading it. Since I have the attention span of a gnat from my chemo, I am also re-reading some things I have read before. It is easier for me not to get lost.

The entire Stephanie Plum series from Janet Evanovich. The series starts with One for the Money, the second book is Two for the Dough, third one is Three to get deadlyyou get the idea. Number 12 comes out in the end of June. These are very funny and easy to read.

Anything by Laurie NotaroThe Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club, We Thought You Would Be Prettier: True Tales of the Dorkiest Girl Alive, I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies) : True Tales of a Loudmouth GirlThese are all nonfiction, short essays. TOO funny. Do not try and read them and drink coffee at the same time. I ended up spitting my drink all over the place laughing.

Oldies but GoodiesAnything by Carl Hiaasen. Especially liked: Skin Tight, Tourist Season, and Sick Puppy. Do not judge these books by the movie made of Strip Tease. The books are WAY funnier.

I also love David Sedaris. He wrote Me Talk Pretty one Day, Dress your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and Naked. I think there are more, but I dont remember the names. He also writes personal essay. He is on NPR too, so you may have heard of him there.

A Girl Named Zippy and She Got Up Off The Couch by Haven Kimmel were both good. Once again personal essay. The first one was the better of the two, but I like the second one also.

I have also recently read Traveling Mercies : Some Thoughts on Faith and Plan B : Further Thoughts on Faith, both by Anne Lamott. These books manage to be both reverent and irreverent at the same time. They made me stretch my mind and think about my faith in a different way. They both made me laugh and cry.

So, what is everyone else reading???

Deb C.

Anonymous · June 2006

I love to read, but I have to say, I've heard of nothing you're reading right now...which is excellent because I'm always looking for new authors and new material.

Right now I'm reading a few things...

Blood Memory ~ Greg Isles

Thieves (A novel of Katherine Mansfield) ~ Janice Kulyk Keefer

Anne Morrow Lindbergh - Her Life ~ Susan Hertog

and I'm re-reading

To the Lighthouse ~ Virginia Woolf

I hope others post what's on their bedside table right now so I can come back and add to my list of "must reads".

iodine · June 2006

Absolutely love Greg Isles books! blood memory was great.

susancsals · June 2006

I'm reading Teacher Man by Frank McCourt. Angela's Ashes was one of my favorite books ever. I didn't care so much for his second book, 'Tis, but I love this one.

It's a must read for any teachers!

Susan

DebraLynn · June 2006

Hi Deb,

The Stephanie Plum series is hysterical!!!

If you like her, you will also like the Passport to Peril mysteries by Maddy Hunter.

In paperback are Aline for you, Pasta Imperfect, Top of the Mourning and Hula Done it.

These are all very easy reads too, and the characters are just as funny as the ones in Stephanie Plum's books.

I like the easy reads, light mysteries. Just too much serious stuff in real life, love to laugh!!!

Hope you add these to your summer reads. Let me know

xoxoxo

fd411 · June 2006

Right now, I'm reading 'Neecey's Lullaby' by Cris Burks

sandi05 · June 2006

I love the Plum novels!! she and cars just dont mix ..they are great summer reads and I am going to get number 11 asap.
I love the prey novels..I am a die hard thriller reader..but there is one out velosity..not sure about my spelling, couldnt even remember how old I was the other day ughh anyway...this is what it is about..
It sounded like some sick kid's idea of a joke. Under the windshield wiper of his car, Bill Wile had found the typewritten message: "If you don't take this note to the police and get them involved, I will kill a lovely blonde schoolteacher. If you do take this note to the police, I will instead kill an elderly woman active in charity work. You have four hours to decide." And then the beautiful blonde teacher is murderedand a new ultimatum and a new deadline appear
It is a quick read,,you want to get to the end...keep on posting about books..I am sooo always looking for good books.. sandi

theres126-2006Apr11 · June 2006

I love the Stephanie Plum novels as well - Just bought myself number 10 for the low, low price of $2 the other day (store going out of business), got home and sat down for a good read, and realized I had already read it! Okay, listened to it, but the same thing!!

I also love the Sue Grafton mystery series. Very light and easy to read, with a very likeable character. The main character is Kinsey Milhone, and she's a private detective with a pseudo Stephanie Plum attitude. And, their are tons of them - Starting with "A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, on and on to "R is for Ricochet"....... (which I bought the same time as the Stephanie Plum novel, and realized I read it already also!) :-)

Good lighthearted summer reading!

(by the way - if you don't have time to read, and like to listen to the books on audio, both of these have great readers. You kind of get attached to their voices!!)

laureniris · June 2006

US magazine (what else would I do with my Ph.D?)

Poogle · June 2006

I am reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and am enjoying it. I do also love reading junky magazines while in the bath tub!!!

ravdeb · June 2006

Stephanie Plum novels sound fun...I think I'll look for those when I get to the States this summer.
I'm reading, Evening Class by Maeve Binchy. I like it.

Shirlann · June 2006

Hi, I just finished "102 Minutes", the story of the Trade Towers and just what exactly happened. And I read "Guests of the Ayatollah". I liked that a lot. Not to be missed is "A Rip In Heaven". I read mainly non-fiction, once you are on to that, the fiction has to be awfully good!

Gentle hugs, Shirlann

b445 · June 2006

I'm reading the Left Behind series all over agian. I think I have a different perspective on it this time around.

evilelf · June 2006

I enjoyed both reading and listening to the audio books on the Stephanie Plum series... I'm reading
Kill the Messenger - Tami Hoag
The Haviland Touch - Kay Hooper
Audio books-
Someone to Watch Over Me - Judith McNaught
I really love romance mysteries and every now and then true life crimes

Anonymous · June 2006

Deb -
Is the Stephanie Plum series appropriate for a 14 and 16 year old? My nieces and I have our own mini-book club. We just finished reading the series of three "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" books (they were definately geared more toward their ages than mine, but I managed to get through them, although the story was really cute).
Laura

twingle99 · June 2006

I'm reading The Three Blind Mice by James Patterson.
I like his books alot. I also like Harlen Coben books.

Did anyone read A Little Million Pieces by James Frey?
I was so into that book and then while I was toward the end it all came out that most of the book wasn't true. I was bummed!!

Rhonda

AlaskaDeb · June 2006

Hey Laura-

The books do have some sex in them, but if I remember the first few are kind of low key. Stephanie has an on-again off-again relationship with a guy who is a cop. She talks about loosing her virginity to him behind the donut counter where she worked when she was in highschool. It is all written funny as opposed to hot and heavy. She is a really clutzy bail bond woman and there is cussing and almost slap-stick violence.

I would have no problem letting a 16 year old read it. Actually, I think it would be fine for a 14 year old too, but I'm pretty liberal on what I would let kids read.

What do the rest of you think? It is a step up from the traveling pants books, but I would think it would be OK. They are really funny.

Deb C.

Poppy · June 2006

If you like David Sedaris, look for Kick Me by Paul Feig. He was the creator of Freaks and Geeks (and the skinny counselor in Heavyweights). The stories of his childhood are hilarious and totally embarrassing. David Sedaris' sister Amy (Strangers with Candy movie comes out at the end of the month!!) wrote a book called Wigfield with Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert. I actually got the cd set as a gift (read by the authors) and it is hilarious. Hilarious and so "Sedaris".

I've been reading the Stephanie Plum books since JE started writing them. I am totally in love with Ranger and Joe and want to be Steph in the worst way (even if it means taking Grandma Mazur to the funeral home once in awhile!). Those characters are the best around. If you like JE's books you might like Ann George's southern sisters mysteries. Also Jill Churchill has a series about a SAHM (who is also a widow...but she'd just found out her husband was cheating when he was killed so it's not "sad") and her best friend who keep stumbling upon murders. All 3 series are funny and the characters entertaining.

Right now I'm reading The Zombie Survival Guide. It's so well written that I had to look up several things mentioned to make sure that they weren't real! It's funny in a dark comedy sort of way. When you read it you really think a zombie attack is a possibility! But it is definitely just for humor.

Erica

magsandmattsmom · June 2006

I just got the book Gone by Jonathan Kellerman - can't wait to get started on it. I just finished a book called How to Be Lost. Can't remember the author, but it was a good book about a family years after their daughter went missing. First "thinking" book I've read in a while. I've heard good things about Teacher Man. Might need to read that next.

Other authors I've read this summer: Lisa Gardner and Iris Johanson. I like crime dramas.

AlaskaDeb · June 2006

Hey Rhonda,

I Love James Patterson and Harlen Coben. They both write really fast paced books, which are good for me right now.

I didn't read Million Little Pieces, but even with his admission that it was not all true I would still like to read it some day. I did read Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs. It was a VERY intense book, not for the faint of heart, but captivating at the same time as parts of it were repellent. I had a friend who really like both Million Little Pieces also tell me about it and she said the writing was similar. If you like the one, you might like the other, but beware there is some pretty heavy abuse scenes in the book.

Deb C.

AlaskaDeb · June 2006

Hi Erica-

As fate would have it I had an Amazon order almost ready to go and I added Kick Me. It sounds funny!

I have read Amy Sedaris' book and loved it too. I will check out those other series at the library this week and let you know what I think. Thanks for the suggestions! I am ALWAYS fishing for something new to read. If Im going to have insomnia at least I need something new to read while Im not sleeping! *grin*

Deb C.

Anonymous · June 2006

Ah to read a good book is such fun. I went out looking for a book to read yesterday, but nothing caught my interest. Im a big fan of Stephen King and I am waiting for his new book to go to paperback.

102 minutes sounds really interesting. I may just go look for that one.

Yesterday - what did I read? Three Sunday newspapers. Read them all day long.

Nickii

AnnaM · June 2006

Another Stephanie Plum fan here. I read all her books when I was recuperating from my bialteral mastectomy/reconstruction. My favorite character is Grandma Mazur.

My favorite book is To the Lighthouse, but it haunts me now. The whole decay thing is what fills my nightmares nowadays...

I just finished Saturday by Ian McEwan, which was great, so I am now re-reading his Atonement, which is even better.

I will go out and get one of the Carl Hiaasen books, they sound good.

Anna

laureniris · June 2006

Just ordered Kick Me. Thanks for the tip.

Shirlann · June 2006

Oh, the BEST book in years and number one on the New York TImes Best Seller List is "Marley and Me, the story of the world's worst dog".

Also, I just finished "Kite Runner", it was riveting.

Hugs, Shirlann

BJAlexandria · June 2006

I love the Left Behind series! But right now - I'm reading, ummmm (I have a dozen going at once). The main one -- is "Washington's Farewell to his Officers after the Victory of Revolution"

Anonymous · June 2006

Woo hoo...I just picked up James Patterson's "5th Horseman" from the library...have had a hold on it for about 5 months (there were about 300 people ahead of me!)

Can't wait to read it now!

Peggy

ADK · June 2006

Right now, I'm reading "The Husband" by Dean Koonz - he also wrote "Velocity" referred to above. He's my favorite autor because he is really witty. His best book so far was "Watchers" (pretty old, but a great read). I am also a "Prey" fan - Lucas can be mean, but the books are so well written.

sandi05 · June 2006

I also read the husband..it was pretty good!! I like him sometimes but he can get too out there for me..give me a good stalker book where the good guys always win..lol
I am also a Cornwell fan..gotta love Kay Scarpetta...Ok I need to go read a book..I have been stalking this thread all day!! got a list here lol thanks guys keep em coming we should keep this thread always and add our new books..nothing better than reading when you need to get your head away from reality..sandi

Anonymous · June 2006

I second that Sandi...we should keep this going, keep it updated so we can share new finds, old favourites.

I'm off to the bath right now with my "companion" for the evening!

Jorf · June 2006

Just finishing She Got Up Off the Couch. Spent most of the spring/chemo reading the Alexander McCall Smith #1 Ladies Detective Agency Books. Perfect chemo books for me.

Reading some books on writing about illness (Arthur Frank, Ann Hawkins).

Just about to start Zen and the Art of Archery in preparation for my Tae Kwon Do test upcoming.

Started chemo looking through People magazine but I still don't know who any of the people are and I care even less about them now so I've given that up.

Julie

Just for fun...What is everyone reading??

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