I need a good book
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
The house and I are taking a break. Not because I'm stuck, I think I've worked that out, but because my work table has been taken over by Susan's Halloween present, which is a surprise, so I can't share it here until after we've exchanged gifts.
I'm currently building up something in layers of air-dry clay, which requires 24 hours of drying time between layers. I love to read, so this is a great opportunity to catch up on my National Geographic subscription and escape into a few novels.
I hate finding novels. I love reading them, but I hate finding them, there are too many to choose from, it's overwhelming. I usually depend on Amazon's recommendations, even though my tastes vary widely enough that it gets confused sometimes....but I bought Origami paper to make mini-plants with, a few graphic novels for my niece, and a pair of knife resistant gloves, so now my recommendations are 80% Origami books, 15% graphic novels, and 5% cookbooks. Amazon isn't even trying anymore.
While I'm retraining Amazon I thought I'd ask you for a recommendation....what novels do you love?
Here are a few I've read recently that I enjoyed:
- The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers, by Katherine Boo
- The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman
- All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
- Paper Towns, by John Green
- Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty
- Orphan Train, by Christina Baker Kline
- Bad Monkey, by Carl Hiaasen
- Secrets of a Charmed Life, by Susan Meissner
For novels I generally like to read Mercedes Lackey or JD Robb.
But right now I'm rereading 'Let's Pretend This Never Happened' by Jenny Lawson. It's in preparation for her new book 'Furiously Happy' that my husband got to first so he's reading it now. They aren't novels, they deal with her actual life and the craziness therein but they're so funny that you won't really notice you aren't reading a novel. Just a funny story or collection of them. She's known as The Bloggess and she's doing a book tour now.
I highly recommend her books. It's nice to know I'm not the only crazy woman out here on the internet y'know? :-)
Posted by: Sheila | Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 09:02 AM
I bought Let's Pretend This Never Happened the day it came out. Loved it. Laughed so hard I cried at points.
I've been reading Jenny's blog for years, ever since Susan sent me a link to the post about brushing her teeth with eyelash glue.
I haven't decided if I'm going to read her second book yet. Let me know what you think when you're done.
Posted by: Keli | Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 09:18 AM
"How To Fly A Horse, The Secret History of Creation, Invention and Discovery" by Kevin Ashton.
Interesting, inspiring and so well written I felt stunned at times.
Posted by: Nancy Enge | Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 12:08 PM
Sounds interesting, I added it to my wish list. Thanks :D
Posted by: Keli | Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 01:58 PM
If you want to get lost for weeks, you can read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. They recently made it into a TV series on Starz. It's kinda a time-traveling romance real life realistic fiction series (yes, that's possible). There are currently 8 long books out, a spattering of short spin-off character stories, and she is currently writing book 9.
Posted by: April Ansley | Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 04:41 PM
I have the same dilemma frequently. I have a few suggestions. Jojo Moyes is an amazing story teller, writing beautiful stories from lots of eras and is one of my favourites. My other favourites are Kate Morton (cross-generational, flashback history type novels, very well done), Susanna Kearsley (similar but some also with a magical type bent), Rachel Joyce (very heartfelt and human) and Sarah Addison Allen (kind of magical stories, can't quite explain but very enjoyable - I like these in the summer!). I am currently reading books by MC Beaton. She writes a range of good length novels that are easy and enjoyable to read (great for before bed) and her series' include murder mysteries (her Hamish MacBeth series was made into TV shows in the UK) and a really sweet and fun set of Regency novels. Sorry, I've got more! One off-beat recommendation you have to read is 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind, 'We are all completely beside ourselves' by Karen Joy Fowler is amazing (every sentence and paragraph tells a story), and 'The disenchanted widow' by Christine McKenna also amazing. Sorry, I'll stop now!
Posted by: Shannonsminiblog.blogspot.com | Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 05:35 PM
One last thing: do you ever finish a book you love and can't bring yourself to start another, because you just know it won't be as good and may diminish your experience? It takes me weeks to get over a really good book! Such a geek.
Posted by: Shannonsminiblog.blogspot.com | Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 05:36 PM
Shannon, of course!
Thank you all for the recommendations...I've got quite a few titles saved to my wish list....should keep me busy while the clay dries.
Posted by: Keli | Thursday, October 01, 2015 at 04:40 AM
I am on the 11th book (audio for me) in the Armand Gamache (Three Pines) series by Louise Penny. I've enjoyed them immensely. I am now on the search for the next series, so I feel your pain about book shopping. :D
Posted by: brae | Thursday, October 01, 2015 at 02:28 PM
Five new books on my iPad, I'm reading everyone's suggestions. Thanks!
Posted by: Keli | Thursday, October 01, 2015 at 05:56 PM
All of my favorites are craft books and non-fiction about serial killers.
I'm reading one about a murderer in Texarkana in the 50s, and one named "The Devil & Sherlock Holmes", which is about people obsessed with Doyle and his character, and how nutty they can get.
Of course, any Holmes collections can be read over and over, and I am sure I've already told you about my love for Saki's short stories. He has recurring characters who grow on you, for better or worse.
"Panic in Level 4" by Richard Preston is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read, and is cut into stories that can be read in spurts.
Sounds like you already have enough on your iPad to last a while, though!
And really, post pictures here as you work on the Hallo thingie so everyone can enjoy them - I won't look.
I reallllly won't! ;-)
Posted by: Susan | Friday, October 02, 2015 at 02:06 PM
I read All The Light We Cannot See, I loved it too.
I just discovered the Sue Grafton novels that all start with a letter of the alphabet, though she's been writing them for a long time. I'm up to F so far. They are very good.
Posted by: Elaine | Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 06:16 AM