The title of this post is inspired by a popular song in the 90s that my roommates and I might have been blasting loudly through our open windows once when our home teachers arrived. Ahem. Where’s that stupid life eraser when you need it?
Anyway,
Books.
Only in the past year have I begun to read books again. I have a college minor in English Teaching, people, and for the last 7 years, I have stumbled through an almost completely bookless fog of raising little children. If you are currently in that fog and long to read something besides Maisy goes to the Hospital or the nutritional information on a box of Fruit Loops, you are normal. And I promise you that the time when you and your brain become reacquainted is not as far, far away as it seems.
So my brain and I have begun a new quest for literature. Toward the end of 2009, I read The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie and Literary Society. Lots of people had mentioned it on their blogs, so I got curious enough to try it out, and I really liked it. I also read Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons because I eventually want to read The DaVinci Code and I had heard that A&D was the prequel. (By the way, I saw the movie after I read the book and there were some MAJOR plot deviations that bugged me.) Despite that fact that I’ve seen all the Jane Austen movies several times, I had not read any of the books, except for one back in 2003 when I went on a cruise. So last month, I read all three favorites: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion. Loved them, of course. Somewhere in there, I also read The Journal of Curious Letters, book one in a trilogy called The 13th Reality by James Dashner. I have to admit that young adult sci-fi is not usually my genre of choice, but I figured that since the author took me to Homecoming in high school, I ought to give it a try. It was pretty darn good, and I think any of your kids that liked Harry Potter would like James’ series.
Let’s see, what else? (Be right back, I’m going to check Goodreads.com.) Oh that’s right. I started Wuthering Heights but didn’t really like it so I didn’t finish. Is that bad? I loved, loved, loved Jane Eyre. It was the first one I read on my return to literature. I couldn’t believe I’d never read it before. Matt recently read The Undaunted by Gerald Lund and thinks I’ll like it. I just finished Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl and right now I’m reading the “authorized” biography of Mother Teresa.
Here’s my current “Books I want to read list.” There are so many that I feel like I should have read AGES ago but I never have yet:
So, help me out, O wise readers, and build my request list at the library. Please. (I almost forgot my manners.)
1. What books have you always wanted to read and never have?
2. Out of all your reading, if you could give me one or two must-reads, what would they be?
3. I’m not in the mood for dark, depressing stuff. (This is also why I never finished Crime and Punishment.) I can appreciate it sometimes, but lately I’m in the mood for inspirational literature. What’s been one of your favorite inspiring books?
And if you read any LDS literature, do me a favor and fill out this quick survey for my author friend, Rebecca Irvine. It’s only 8 questions and helps her with some market research.
Thanks! I can’t wait to see your recommendations.
p.s. I am kind of a book prude, so show a tiny bit of restraint in your suggestions. If the book cover looks anything like this, consider me uninterested. (Sorry, Kristina and DeNae. *wink*)
Diapers and Divinity 
What if there was a picture of The Hoff on it? Would that change your mind?
A really cool book I read was “The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible.” It was funny and very interesting. I learned a lot.
My book club read it, and some were worried it was going to be irreverant, but it wasn’t at all.
Kristina, I actually read that book this year, too, and I forgot to mention it. I liked it and I even emailed the author, but he never wrote me back. Jerk. I bet the Hoff would have written back.
Uhhhhhhh, one or two? Cannot compute!
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
My favorite book I’ve read recently is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It was great, especially if you skip the couple of pages when the man shows up at the house where Minnie works.
Loved Man’s Search for Meaning and The Hiding Place. Just remember to keep a box of tissues nearby.
As for suggestions, let’s see. I have been reading a few classics lately. One that I have started and really enjoy is David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. I also really liked Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.
Is it horrible to admit that I really didn’t like Sense & Sensibility or Pride & Prejudice? Because I didn’t. I found them too…wordy. Not my cup of tea. I did, however, really enjoy Persuasion. My favorite Jane Austen book.
Have you read The Peacegiver by James L. Farrell? It’s a quick LDS read but honestly one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read.
Another author I’ve enjoyed is Jodi Picoult. Anything by her is well worth your time. They are books that made me think, “What would I have done in that situation?” Other than that……I’ll have to come back and see your list because I need new books, too. I’m still in the thick of children, but now I have more time to read while I’m nursing.
I read the Peacegiver and liked it OK. Steph did not like it. Doctrinally she did but couldn’t get past the corny, forced dialogue.
I did like the doctrinal insights and the allegories he built from scripture stories. It helped me see the Atonement in a different light, but Matt’s right that I didn’t like the way it was written, kind of squeezed into an awkward “story.”
Gerald Lund is good.
Sarah Eden has a new book out. SHe’s my friend, but is also a really good writer. Kind of Jane Austeny – you would like it.
My book that I am writing about Nauvoo. I have a chapter done, and I am sending that and the synopsis to my friend who is an editor for a publisher – so she can tell me if I stink – and how bad I stink. But you have to wait to read that until I’m dead.
Okay, where to start. . . . I can’t get it together enough to respond to anything else, but when you start talking about books, priorities get rearranged. Can I leave more than two? Here goes. Please read:
1. The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s a master class in fiction. Character, plot, setting, holy cow. It’s a classic, but it’s a page turner.
2. The Chosen or My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. Probably The Chosen first. Probably one of my favorite books of all time.
3. Try some short story writers. My favorite is Flannery O’Connor
4. My book club just finished Home to Harmony. It’s a great, curl up on the couch, read it all on a Sunday afternoon, everything is right in the world kind of book.
5. Still love Cold Sassy Tree. It made the book club circles several years ago, but it is still a lovely read.
6. Love Wallace Stegner
I’ll stop here. I get excited about books.
Just finished The Chosen last night and I would definitely recommend it. Beautifully written.
Here is what I posted on my blog in January.
http://mybookofcommondays.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-reading-goals.html
I love some of the one’s you’ve chosen, and I actually have the Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Club from the library right now.
Read stuff you are interested in and are fun, but also read things that will change your heart; read things that will make you grow 🙂
You’re going to LOVE The Hiding Place and Les Mis. You should get the music from the Broadway musical. It is almost as good as the book. Victor Frankle is amazing and inspirational in the extreme.
I haven’t read a book for a many months. I need to simplify my life so I can have time to read again.
How about you be my friend on Goodreads. That way I can be lazy and not have to actually think. ;o)
I’m going to sound like a nerd here, but I recently read Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card and it was kind of cool.
Anything by Dr. Seuss is a must read too.
There is nothing nerdy about reading Ender’s Game! Now admitting you’ve read all the sequals and shadow series with it… Oops. I admitting even knowing about them might’ve outed me.
Ender’s Game touched me deeply. Changed the way I look at the world.
I loved, loved Ender’s Game! So has everyone I know who will read it. And I am going to fess up to reading the rest of the Ender’s series and the Ender’s Shadow series. All great.
Some of my recent favorites . . .
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. Funny, interesting mystery with a darling and snarky 11-year-old girl protagonist.
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt. Funny, interesting, touching coming-of-age set on Long Island, NY, in the 1960s.
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. Fascinating nonfiction about the choices we make nearly instantaneously and how we formulate them. Loved it.
Spiritually Anchored in Unsettled Times by Bruce Hafen. I knew it would be good but I had no idea just how amazing it would be. There is so much food for thought I need to re-read it to feast again.
Oh, how I could go on. But thanks for this post–I’m going to check out some of the ones you and other people have listed.
Portuguese Irregular Verbs by Alexander McCall Smith. Anything by him, really, but this one was particularly amusing. All the fiction ones I’ve listed are funny, light-hearted reads, nothing heavy but they’re not silly, either. Depends on your mood, but if you need something to just really laugh and enjoy, I think these are good candidates.
Okay, promise I’m done after this. Maybe.
Contentment: Inspiring Insights for LDS Mothers by Maria Covey Cole.
I really enjoyed this book so much, and I’m usually a little funny/weird (I don’t know) about motherhood books because I feel like I always end up feeling guilty and stupid about everything I’m not doing/feeling right. Not so with this one. I loved it. LOVED it. It made me feel wonderful and loved and I wish every mother could read it and feel the warm cocoon blanket of love that it wrapped around me. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Also? I know a couple of these titles are LDS and maybe not readily available at your local library. I am not kidding when I say I’d love to send you my copies. Not joking. Take me up on it if you want to read them and they’re in the mail tomorrow.
That wasn’t me that was blasting that song with you was it? I wouldn’t be surprised if it was, though. One of my favorite songs during college to rock out to. Can I claim amnesia if it was?
I LOVE books. Remember last summer when I had 8 with me for my vacation? My idea of a perfect vacay is me, some sunscreen, a beach, a beach umbrella, and a stack of books as tall as me.
I loved “The Help”, “Count of Monte Cristo”, “These is my words”, “Night” (This one is pretty dark — about a young man’s experience in the holocaust, but it is a quick read), “Crossing to Safety” by Wallace Stegner is great, but I would not recommend “Angle of Repose” by the same author. Check out my goodreads account for more ideas….I”ve kinda laid off the books for the last little while cause I’ve been super busy.
One more admission, though. John Edwards has always TOTALLY creeped me out and I never knew why….so when that sleezy tell all book (The Politician) came out about what a total sleezeball he is, I had to read it to confirm that my spidey senses were correct….they were, but the book was pure trash.
John Adams and the Hiding Place are both excellent. My favorite genre is biography so I guess it’s no surprise I love those two. Other good bios are “Left to Tell” by Immaculee Ilibagiza, “Life and Death in Shanghai” by Nien Cheng, and “Jack and Rochelle: A Holocaust story of Love and Resistance” by Jack and Rochelle Sutin. Good LDS bios are “A Distant Prayer” by Joseph Banks and Jerry Borrowman, and “We Were Not Alone” by Patricia Reece Roper and Karola Hilbert Reece.
My all-time favorite feel good read is an old children’s book “Just David” by Eleanor Porter who also wrote Pollyanna.
“John Adams” is my favorite biography. Also liked “Team of Rivals” about Abraham Lincoln. Loved “Mans’ Search for Meaning” and “Les Mes” (are you going for the unabridged version?)
My favorite genre is dark and depressing (is that a genre? Maybe labeled tragedy) so you’ve cut out a lot of my recommendations. I’m reading “the Help” for book club this month, but haven’t started it. I liked “the Road” and “the Kite Runner”, but they qualify as dark and depressing. Maybe “the Poisonwood Bible”? I liked that one when I read it years ago.
“Fablehaven” is a lovely one to read with the kids as is “the Sister’s Grimm”. Both have the next book in the series coming out soon. I also liked (as a cute and quick read) “Ella Minnow Pea”.
“Peace Like a River”, “Glass Castle”,”These Is My Words” are all books I see on a quick glance at my goodreads as books I liked that don’t fall in the tragedy category.
Oh, do read “The Help”. It’s fantastic. Loved it, and loved Guernsey also.
Try these:
The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield (for book lovers; a bit gothic, a bit of a ghost story, a great read)
City of Shadows, by Ariana Franklin (about Post-Hitler Germany, great story and GREAT twist — but the language is real. Be warned.)
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (one of my most favorite books of all time. Translated from Spanish. Beautiful words, fantastic story)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver (nonfiction) (this will make you want to garden)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley (a preteen protagonist in an adult book. Genius.)
Rebecca, by Daphne duMaurier (classic. I’ve been rereading this since I finished it the first time at 12.)
The History of Love, by Nicole Kraus (I cried. A lot. Just beautiful. Keep going — I promise it gets better.)
The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak (Paradigm-shifting. Uplifting in the end even though it’s about WWII Germany.)
Anansi Boys and Stardust, by Neil Gaiman (Just a lot of fun.)
Microserfs, by Douglas Coupland (I don’t know why I put this one here. But it’s way funny, a send-up of tech nerd culture.)
The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd (Another all-time favorite. Way better than the movie.)
The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova (scared the you know what out of me. She did vampires in a far more real and literary way than Meyer. Before Meyer. Just so understatedly real and S.C.A.R.Y.)
The Art of Simple Food, by Alice Waters (yes, recipes, but great reading, too)
Beach Music and Prince of Tides, by Pat Conroy (these have some pretty heavy stuff in them. Beautiful language, emotionally expressive and heart-wrenching at times)
The Irene Kelly Series, by Jan Burke (Bloodlines is a great read — really good mystery series)
And if we’re going to the mystery place — Dorothy L. Sayers is essential, as is Agatha Christie. I can recommend lots of both if you want.
Atlas Shrugged & The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand (These changed the way I saw the ENTIRE world when I read them in 10th grade. Still like to go back and reread.)
Hawaii, by James Michener (MommyJ says you haven’t really read a book until you’ve read Michener.)
The Mitford Series, by Jan Karon (seven or so in the series) (Very clean — main character is Father Tim, an Episcopalian minister. So, so good. Great characters and stories.)
Sarah, by Orson Scott Card (as in, Abraham)
The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett
MommyJ’s internet is down, but here is what she would add:
The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare
Emma, Mansfield Park & Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
I just counted — I have, including library books, 92 books stacked up next to my bed. 92! I’m a little embarrassed. I’ve been thinking about posting a list of them all on my blog, not just for accountability’s sake, but because I think it’s pretty telling about my personality. Reading is like breathing for me. I can’t not do it. MommyJ says the same.
Enjoy, and please let me (us) know how you like any of these you read. And sorry the list is so exhaustive. I’m prone to excess, as we’ve already firmly established.
You ladies ROCK. Now I have so much to read that I’ll never have time to cook or do laundry– PERFECT!! 🙂 And I want to publicly thank all of you for not telling me to read Twilight. This is how I know you are real friends.
There’s not a lot of “divinity” associated with this pick, but a book that made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions is called “Hypocrite In A Pouffy White Dress” by Susan Gilman. She uses some pretty colorful language so if that bothers you then you might want to skip it, but if you can get past it it’s worth it. Also, “Lay That Trumpet In Our Hands” by Susan Carol McCarthy was a really enjoyable read for me – it’s a civil rights movement kind of theme. Finally, one of my favorite books is “The Devil In The White City” by Erik Larson. It’s kind of creepy in the sense that it follows the path of a serial killer during the time of the Chicago World’s Fair, but the details surrounding that are not overly gruesome and the history you learn about the Fair was completely fascinating to me. To this day I almost feel like I was AT the Chicago World’s Fair because of that book.
I think you’d want to stab out your eyes while reading _Twilight_. I did. So I stopped that nonsense.
I love some good adolescent lit. Best I’ve read in that genre: _Howl’s Moving Castle_. I love that book. And for classic fairy tale romance in a good way, _The Goose Girl_. Both are quicker and amazing reads. I have a lot of affection for both novels.
And a plug for _Wuthering Heights_ – you HAVE to read it twice through. The first time it’s a ridiculous book of weirdness, the second time it’s amazing. And also, keep in mind that Emily Bronte was a daughter of a preacher man and lived on the moor. And she didn’t really live in reality. If you read up on her, the book makes more sense, in a weird way.
Thanks for your book recommendations! I am always trying to find a good book to read. However my time is limited since I have two little ones that like to distract me. For the most part I like young adult or teen books because they’re brain candy. I have recently read Anne of Green Gables! I loved it. I have really enjoyed books by Shannon Hale, especially a book of a thousand days and the Bayern books. Currently I am reading A Homemade Life By Molly Wizenberg. It is fabulous and is all about food…and her life around food. It is really good. I know you have a long list of books, so happy reading.
I know the feeling of getting to that point in motherhood where you have time to read again…it’s wonderful! I read “How Green Was My Valley” last year and it was so interesting. The style and the lifestyle is so alien from my world. Plus, have you read Lisa See?? “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” is amazing. I envy you the experience of reading some of these books for the first time.
I second Sarah by Orson Scott Card (his whole Women of Genesis series is great).
Ender’s Game, definitely. I didn’t think I was into Sci-fi when I read that one.
I LOVE David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, try getting the audiobook (library) because it is soo fun to hear it read well.
For a while there I was on a young adult fiction kick. These were the results:
I wasn’t super impressed with the 13th Reality (but I think I was recovering from surgery when I read it, I may have to re-read it), but I LOVED Percy Jackson and the Olympians and it is a similar genre.
Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull (author is LDS)
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer (fun, fast, read to your boys, they will LOVE it)
The Bartimaeus Trilogy (The Amulet of Samarkand) by Jonathan Stroud is SO entertaining. Listen to the audiobook version for the best effect.
Eragon series by Christopher Paolini (the 2nd book is a little slow)
OH! How could I forget the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins???? Page turner!!!
Please add me as a friend on Goodreads. My “real name” is Amber Peck. But if I had to choose just a couple:
A Joyful Mother of Children (the older edition) by Linda Eyre
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
I Don’t have to Make Everything All Better by Gary Lundberg
I could read each of these 3 times a year. I’ve copied down every one of these recommendations from your possee–they will join my “to read” list. Thanks.
Oooh, The Hiding Place is one of my favorites.
I would have never survived these first few years of motherhood without books. They are my link to the outside world! I am constantly reading, and can tune out any Disney video while I read.
I just finished Gone With the Wind, and LOVED it. I also read the whole Little House series and thought it was so sweet.
One thing I’ve always wanted to read is the Anne of Green Gables series, since I love the movies so much.
Right now I’m half way through The Hunger Games and am enjoying it, we’ll see if I still like it by the end.
Sorry, just read through the comments and had to add The Goose Girl and These Is My Words as two of my all time favorites too!!! I love cute, happy books!
I’ll add my “ditto” to some of the suggestions:
Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (long but good)
Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins (loved it more than I thought I would)
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (Sad setting, but really well done)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova(I agree with InkMom, vampires done right and scary, but also interesting European setting)
Some other ones:
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Loved Walked In by Marisa DeLos Santos
I didn’t like Poisonwood.
So, I am absolutely in love with the Anne of Green Gables movies. I never read the books when I was younger and read a couple recently. I kept picturing the actors in the movies and that ruined everything for me. Until I found Before Green Gables. It’s been great and I have been zipping through it.
I also really like the Shopaholic books and am making my way through the series.
I am in love with the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I have read the whole set ( around 8,000 pages so far) three times and never tire of it.
Another one to add is Still Alice.
Made me think for days.
And I HATED Kite Flyer that was recommended up above. I had it recommended so thought it had to get better. But it didn’t. But then I like happy books.
I haven’t read, but have heard, THE HELP is a great book. (It’s on hold for me at the library). Also, it’s a juevenile fiction book, but I really liked PRINCESS ACADEMY and the other young adult books by Shannon Hale. Quick, fun reads.
I want to read Ann Ryand’s Atlas Shrugged and the Fountainhead.
Also, I highly recommend this book to all Diapers and Divinity readers: http://tinyurl.com/ybko7jy
😉
I would like to publicly apologize for my husband. He actually owns this book. Matt is almost perfect in many ways, but, needless to say, our tastes in literature are a little bit different. *shaking head*
I am the same way with my books. I’d rather not read depressing things. I barely have time as it is to read books and I want to enjoy what I’m reading not dive into something way to deep for my already few left brain cells. 🙂 You can find me on goodreads at CranberryFries. I can’t think of any must reads off the top of my head for ya.
I am reading The Undaunted right now, and am loving it. I am only about 350pgs in so far but love it. I also love the Chris Stewart series, The first is Two Brothers. I could not put them down and could not wait for the next one. Once they ended there was a little void in my life, just what a good book should do in my opinion.
Well, I am being sassed all over blogland. AGAIN! Even Melanie emerged from her new-baby fog to sass me!
And you can just FORGET that centerfold from “Piano Teachers Unleashed” that I was going to send you for your birthday. You’ll just have to be satisfied with my profile picture.
Now, as for books to read: First, if you don’t want dark and depressing, then by all means, never, never, EVER finish “Wuthering Heights”. Burn it, if you have to. I kept thinking, “Surely, things will perk up. Surely, there’s some kind of redemption in the last pages.” Oh, foolish, naive DeNae!
I don’t have any “literature” suggestions, but I do have a series of books you could read to your kids that you would also enjoy. Unless you want to continue with “The Chronicles of Maisy”.
These books are by Terry Pratchett, and they’re called “The Bromeliad Trilogy”. The first book is called “Truckers”, the second is “Diggers”, and the third is “Wings”. I love well-written books (meaning written by someone with more than an elementary grasp of the English language) and entertaining stories. These books have all of those elements in spades.
(For what it’s worth, Pratchett is a wonderful writer. But his stuff is definitely “vacation” reading. No English minor required. But, bar none, he is my favorite author.)
Great honk, I just read InkMom’s list. She’s an ANIMAL!! But she did mention Neil Gaiman, who I love. He wrote a fabulous book with, of course, Terry Pratchett, called “Good Omens”. It’s about how the end of the world is coming but the forces of good and evil decide they have better plans. So funny, so smart, and so thought-provoking. A must-read, although, again, ‘vacation’ reading.
Steph,
I saw your very thoughtful comment on another blog and wanted to come by. I also wanted to replace the reader you may have lost over the use of “snot.” Since I have 5 kids that is both a verb and a noun in our house.
There are so many great suggestions here, I don’t really have much to add except a lot of, “Me, toos!”
Good luck.
Oh, my goodness.
Books.
Let me take a deep breath of happiness over the suggestions here. So many excellent lists.
InkMom’s, btw, is golden.
A few I’ll back up under “inspirational literature”: For sure The Chosen. Amazing. Also The Book Thief. The History of Love is great. I just finished and really liked “Belong to Me” by Marisa de los Santos. But my NUMERO UNO suggestion for inspirational literature (I liked it better than Guernsey and I loved Guernsey) is Peace Like a River by Lief Enger. Total page turner for me.
And in the vein of lighter reading but still literary but will totally make you laugh, Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next novels. I just read #3 and they kill me.
1. I’ve always *meant* to read To Kill a Mockingbird, so I got it from the library and just finished it last night. Lives up to the hype. Next really want to read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and to start reading Elizabeth Gaskell’s books (I got totally hooked on the BBC adaptation of Wives and Daughters and of Cranford especially).
2. If I could only *recommend* one, I would say definitely THE LAST SAMURAI by Helen DeWitt. Don’t be put off by the title (nada que ver con la película de Tom Cruise). Fascinating, unique, smart novel about motherhood/childhood, languages, art, intelligence, learning, so much more. Though I read it five years ago, its mood and effect are very current in my memory. Just thinking about it now has prompted me to read it again. It’s a must! Read it!
If I may recommend a second . . . if you haven’t already enjoyed it, don’t wait too much longer to enjoy La Tía Julia y el escribidor in the original Spanish by Mario Vargas Llosa. Fun and funny. (PLEASE don’t bother with the English translation.) After you’ve read it, I’ll tell you which movie is adapted from it–crazy!
3. For *inspiration,* read Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. It’s a fantastic book that will inspire women at all stages of life. It helps you understand your role in marriage and family and, most importantly, leading a full life as a complete person rather than a thousand torn pieces. Pull out your highlighter or journal for this one.
4. I will second some of the other readers’ suggestions:
John Adams: I’ve always been enamorada de Jefferson, so this was a fascinating counterpoint, though my one criticism is that McCullough does not hold Adams’ feet to the fire enough for the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Night by Elie Wiesel
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
When you can handle gothic gloom again, give Wuthering Heights another try. Exquisite.
Just blogged about why I love books today and then clicked here! Such a sweet coincidence!
Hands down, the must read in your life book is “Atlas Shrugged”. It is long, I know, but oh honey…look out.So much to love.
Please click on my shelf to see my favorite books and read a review or two. This site is mike nectar for a book addict.
http://www.shelfari.com/ramonareads
Oh yeah, ps-
Jane Eyre was so divine!!!! You must rent the movie (I think 2006 version????) it is SO well done. *sigh*
I love being a woman.
It looks like you’ve gotten a ton of responses. Right now I’m a YA Fiction kick, so I’ll give you a couple quick reads. First, The Wednesday Wars, and second, The Chosen Ones.
Have fun reading!
So timely! I have been wondering what books to read! So thanks for this post, I will be eagerly looking over the comments for some good recommendations. I am currently reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I loved the mini series, so am looking forward to getting through the book.
I just skimmed through the comments and most of my favourites have been listed already. I’ll add The Wee Free Men, by Terry Pratchett to the list. Comedic and also full of depth and insight. Pratchett is a genius in the true sense of the word.
I second the vote for Ender’s Game as well.
Also The Cosmic Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. Love love love anything by him.
I just discovered your blog today and love it! Thank you so much for sharing. You have plenty of responses but I suggest…move The Hiding Place to the top of your list, I learned gratitude from that book in a way I will always be, well, grateful for. Also, don’t stop after John Adams; read everything by David McCullough you can get your hands on. Also on the non-fiction end, I recommend Stubborn Twig by Lauren Kessler about Japanese-Americans during WWII, and My Own Two Feet by Beverly Cleary. I love Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston, the language is so beautiful. I am also a huge Austen fan! Fire in the Bones by S. Michael Wilcox (an LDS author) is the story of the King James translation. I loved learning about the man that invented the word “atonement.” If you can’t find a copy I will send you mine, because I’m not sure if it is still in print. I could probably go on for days…I’m so excited to try everyone’s recommendations! Happy Reading.
I was going to recommend Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card) as well (go Mary). It is science-fiction, but the characters and story are really interesting. Also, Card wrote the Women of Genesis Books (Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel & Leah) which are GREAT and bring life to these biblical stories (he writes women SO well).
I love John Adams. The relationship between he and Abigail is timeless. If you can’t get through the book, rent the HBO miniseries. . . .or do both, you’ll love it.
Books are also my lifeline to the outside world. 🙂 I love reading and I’m collecting all my old favorites for my daughter when she’s old enough to read. To add to the suggestions above:
The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun – easy mystery reads should be read in order
The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder – Just wonderful books. I’ve read them at least 50 times.
The Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace – Also wonderful girl books. Turn of the 20th century America.
James Herriot’s 4 book series – English vet, very funny English humor
The Indian in the Cupboard series – Good kids series
Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie – Deals with the last Tsar of Russia. A tragic love story that’s true.
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver – another good novel of hers. I know some others were mentioned above.
I second Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Wonderful book!
I got out Hiding Places after reading all the comments etc, so thank you! I look forward to reading it.
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