Book recommendations
#356014 - 02/21/10 09:23 PM
|
|
|
|
Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
|
|
|
I love to read but lately I've been feeling blah about what to read. I've read all of Marian Keyes novels (except her newest); I'm caught up on Nora Roberts; I'm caught up on Jonathan Kellerman; Robert B. Parker; Dick Francis; Jack Higgins. I seem to be sort of burned out on mysteries.
Any suggestions for either fiction or non-fiction?
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm similairly adicted to mysteries but I've been reading a lot of John Wyndham lately. It's SF frm the 50's and the 60's but it's not dated.
The Bell Jar (Sylvia Plath) and In Cold Blood (Truman Capote)are two of my favorite novels. Also anything by Daphne Du Maurier. Finally if you can find it Sunset Song is a classic of Scottish literature. I promise you'll soon get past the dialect.
--------------------
Stable IBS D
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi Sand,
Dennis LeHane has a couple of good books out. Have you read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series? They are wonderful books and my favorite. There are 6 in the series.
I also read Johnathan Kellerman. Have you read any by his wife Faye Kellerman? They are pretty good.
--------------------
Janey
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
wings by apprilynne pike,and spells by apprilynne pike.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I just picked up Jenny's Sanfords book Staying True...hopefully will get the chance to start reading it tonight!
--------------------
IBS-D & bloating.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm a factual history reader - I love Colleen McCullough. The Thorn Birds is of course a favorite, but her series on Rome is great if you like ancient history - First Man in Rome, The Grass Crown and 5 more . Plus her book Morgan's Run - about the transfer of prisoners from England to Australia and New Zealand.
Here's a list of her Masters of Rome series: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_of_Rome
Excellent reading if you're a history buff like me.
--------------------
Cassandra
Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like you've never loved before.
IBS A 20+ years, Chronic Migraines, Chiari Malformation (decompressed June 22, 2010), Brachial Neuritis, and ??? the list just keeps growing, but I'm still shiny side up! 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
"The 10,000 Day War:Vietnam" by Michael Maclear.
--------------------
 Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow”. Mary Anne Radmacher
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
If you like a big, fat historical novel, I recommend Edward Rutherford. Sarum is by far my favorite.
For non-fiction, the Color of Water by James McBride is the story of an incredible woman, the author's mother.
Personal History, Katharine Graham's autobiography is also great. She was the publisher of the Washington Post at a time when the industry was dominated by men.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks, guys. It looks like I've got some good reading ahead of me.
Too funny. A friend just gave me the first book in the Outlander series and my husband brought home Dennis LeHane's "Sacred" from the library.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Some people think the very beginning of Outlander is a little dull. Stick with it I promise it is very good.
The only Dennis LeHane book I have read is Shutter Island but my dh has read quite a few of his books. Let me know how Sacred is.
Happy Reading!
--------------------
Janey
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
"The Shack"
--------------------
Senior female, IBS-D, presently stable thanks to Heather & Staff
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I read this. Loved it!!!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I read The Bell Jar in college - great but very depressing. And I read In Cold Blood in high school, I think. The only thing I remember clearly about it was the guy who was hooked on aspirin and root beer.
I actually think I have Jamaica Inn by Du Maurier somewhere - I'll have to dig it out. My husband has read a bunch of Wyndham and really likes his stuff. No luck finding Sunset Song.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I read The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman and liked it. The other books of hers I've tried, though, I haven't liked. Her main character always seems to be outraged, indignant, or upset about something. I think I like my detectives a little more phlegmatic.
It turns out Sacred is the third book in a series. My husband is reading it and thinks it's good but I'm one of those people who has to read series in order so I'll have to wait to read it until I can get my hands on the earlier books.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Some of Johansen's books I really like, some I don't, but I tried to read Deadlock and the story was so brutal I had to quite halfway through in order to sleep. It's made me very leery of trying any more of her.
I've never read any Preston but the library has a bunch of his books so I'll give him a try. The Vietnam book looks like it's out of print and the library doesn't have a copy - I'll keep my eyes open for it.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I loved Sarum! I keep forgetting he's written more.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I do like historical fiction. Alison Weir's Innocent Traitor was excellent; I loved The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool, and especially The Constant Princess (the best explanation for Katherine of Aragon I've ever read) by Philippa Gregory (although I found The Other Queen unreadable); The Memoirs of Cleopatra and The Autobiography of Henry VIII both by Margaret George; and Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield, the story of the Spartans at Thermopylae. The Autobiography of Henry VIII and Gates of Fire are neck and neck as my favorite historical fiction.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Jane Austen
#356214 - 02/27/10 08:32 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
|
|
|
We watched The Jane Austen Book Club this evening. It was fun, definitely a chick-flick although my husband rated it as "better than I expected". Now I'm inspired to go read her books. I re-read Pride and Prejudice recently and I read Sense and Sensibility years ago but I've never read her other books.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Did you know I am a rabid Janeite? I have gone on two pilgrimmages to England. I write the monthly quiz at the Jane Austen Centre website.
P&P is everyone's favorite novel for good reason. I really like Northanger Abbey. It is very funny and brings you back to teenage years. Persuasion is very well written and more mature. She wrote that one while dying. Emma is technically the best written and longest novel but the heroine has some failings. The new Emma last month on Masterpiece Theatre was very good.
There is no writer like Jane Austen!
--------------------
IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Re: Jane Austen
#356274 - 03/02/10 05:44 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
|
|
|
Wow! Thanks for the link, LM. I'll have to go back and test myself after I've done my reading.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
This is the first book in the series that Sacred is in. We found it at a big sale our local Borders is having - they're closing the store (sob). Anyhow, I read it today and it's very, very good so I'm psyched to read the other books in the series.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Anything by Frank x. Gaspar. Oh.... BTW... he's my brother so I'm prejudiced.
--------------------
Carol
nós somos o que nós somos e o descanso é merda
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
That is good to know. I just got this book and I can't wait to start it now. I'll let you know what I think.
Sorry about your bookstore closing. That is a bummer!
--------------------
Janey
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Sand
#356846 - 03/19/10 06:37 PM
|
|
|
|
Janey
Reged: 10/25/03
Posts: 1716
Loc: Maryland
|
|
|
I am reading this book now. I really like it too. I enjoy the way LeHane writes and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
--------------------
Janey
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Re: Sand
#356847 - 03/19/10 07:27 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
|
|
|
I liked it, too. I don't think the second one in the series is as good - apparently that's a common problem with second books - but my husband really liked the third one. I'm going to get it from the library tomorrow.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Janey
#356872 - 03/21/10 11:46 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
|
|
|
I stayed up until 2 in the morning reading the third book in the series, "Sacred". It's excellent, the best of the three I've read so far. I think in order to fully understand it, you really need to read the second one.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Sand
#356876 - 03/21/10 01:06 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Janey
Reged: 10/25/03
Posts: 1716
Loc: Maryland
|
|
|
I am almost finished the first book. I will definitely read the second before I move on to the third. I am like you and prefer to read a series in order even if one book may be better than another. We already have the 3rd book so I will have to find the 2nd now.
--------------------
Janey
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
