Chit Chat

NWR:Read a good book lately?

(Clearly I don't have much happening at work today, since I'm a bit of a PW...)

I'm wrapping up 2 books-- I Am Malala (would absolutely recommend) and Into Thin Air (which was really good, but curbed my aspirations to climb Mt. Everest a bit). I think I might head to the bookstore on my lunch break, so does anyone have any suggestions?

 

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Re: NWR:Read a good book lately?

  • FI got me "The Reason I Jump" for Christmas, I haven't started it yet, but I've heard nothing but good things about it.  It's a relatively short book.

    I also always recommend "Soulless" by Gail Carriger, it's the first of a series, and its tons of fun. Vampires and Werewolves fitting in with Victorian London's Polite Society fun.
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  • I read "William Shakespeare's Star Wars" recently and loved it.
  • I just started The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Euginedes and really like it so far.  It's sort of an inside-the-curve book for English majors/ literature people though.  I was an English major and still don't get all the references.

    If you like historical fiction and/or mysteries, I can't recommend the Maisie Dobbs series enough, by Jacqueline Winspear.  They're set in England after WWI and follow a really cool heroine setting up her own detective agency.  They're so much more nuanced than other mysteries I've read, and the books really weave together over the course of the series.
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    "I'm not a rude bitch.  I'm ten rude bitches in a large coat."

  • My fave authors-science fiction-David Weber, Honor Harrington series; fantasy-Terry Goodkind, Sword of Truth series; Mercedes Lackey, everything!; romance/fiction-Suzanne Brockmann, Navy Seal series, Laurell K Hamilton, Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series (very salacious, be warned!); fiction-Beverly Connor, Diane Fallon series. Lots of others too, but those are off the top of my head...I've read Into Thin Air as well-cured me of wanting to climb Mount Everest!
  • I'm finally reading What Alice Forgot. So far, I really like it. Other's I've read and loved:
    Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
    Me Before You 
    Defending Jacob 
    Gone Girl 
  • I just read Arcadia, by Lauren Groff, which was so good I couldn't put it down. Now I'm reading Longbourn, by Jo Baker. It's good,especially if you're a fan of Pride and Prejudice or upstairs/downstairs things like Downton Abbey.
  • I either read histories/biographies or science, so I might not be a ton of help here.

    I'm currently reading, and loving, The Death of Kings, A Medical History; The Arsenic Century: How Victorian England Poisoned Itself at Home, Work, and Play; and The Disappearing Spoon.
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    I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
  • MrsDeRuyter87MrsDeRuyter87 member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper First Anniversary
    edited January 2014
    Through a glass darkly by Karleen Koen. It's a historic novel that really displays the differences in how people view the outcomes of personal tragedies around them, particularly the main character.
  • The first two books of Ken Folletts recent trilogy are amazing.  The third one is due out later this year.  Anything by Follett is really good though. 
  • I've been reading author Louise Erdrich lately. She's Native American and writes fiction about the Native experience. She's wonderful. I'd start with her newest novel, The Round House.
  • I'm finally reading What Alice Forgot. So far, I really like it. Other's I've read and loved:
    Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
    Me Before You 
    Defending Jacob 
    Gone Girl 
    Awesome book. Not sure that the upcoming movie is going to do it justice.
  • I'm loving these suggestions, thanks everyone! :)

     

  • I feel guilty. Everyone's reading/read historical novels/etc and all I have read so far in the past month or two is two/three 50 Shades books. Shame on me..hehehe. I need to expand my literature. (Although 50 shades are very entertaining to say the least.) 
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  • I'm getting ready to re-read The Giver for a book club. I know it is a YA book but still it is good literature. After that we are going to read Brave New World. We're doing a few months of dystopian novels.
  • I'm currently reading The Luminaries for my book group. It's intriguing but it is sooo long. Ugh.

    The last book I actually finished was Swamplandia by Karen Russel. Kind of weird, but good for a quick read. I also really enjoyed Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie, and Half of a Yellow Sun was good too.
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  • I read Into Thin Air a few years ago, that books gave me chills!

    The Black Count by Tom Reiss is amazing. It's the true story behind The Count of Monte Cristo (one of my favorite books). I strongly recommend it.

    A lighter read is Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. It's absolutely hilarious!


  • my good reads to read list is so long...I've been trying to update it today with what I read in the last month and things I've read for work (I'm a librarian) in the last few months.

    my to-read shelf:

    Deborah's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (to-read shelf)

    my read shelf:

    Deborah's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

    I get most of my books through my library's ebook lending program or through netgalley, which let's me get books that are not yet released (perk of being a librarian).

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  • elBecko said:
    I love Into Thin Air!  Jon Krakauer is awesome, and I've got to recommend Under the Banner of Heaven and Into the Wild, if you haven't already read them.

    Right now I'm reading Salt Sugar Fat, which is about the food industry and its influence on what we eat. It's fascinating, and really disgusting. 

    I also started Bag of Bones by Steven King. I used to be really into his books back in high school, so I thought I'd give this one a try. So far, it's just okay. 

    That sounds VERY interesting. I might have to pick that up for my sister. Last year she found out she had celiacs and has since cut most sugar, wheat, and dairy from her diet. Her cooking is minimalist and all fresh ingredients and really good. She lost 4 dress sizes in 9 months, all without much exercise.
  • elBecko said:
    I love Into Thin Air!  Jon Krakauer is awesome, and I've got to recommend Under the Banner of Heaven and Into the Wild, if you haven't already read them.

    Right now I'm reading Salt Sugar Fat, which is about the food industry and its influence on what we eat. It's fascinating, and really disgusting. 

    I also started Bag of Bones by Steven King. I used to be really into his books back in high school, so I thought I'd give this one a try. So far, it's just okay. 
    I've read Into the Wild, but totally forgot about Under the Banner of Heaven! *wheels turning*

     

  • KatWAGKatWAG member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    edited January 2014
    I'm finally reading What Alice Forgot. So far, I really like it. Other's I've read and loved:
    Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
    Me Before You 
    Defending Jacob 
    Gone Girl 

    I have read all these and enjoyed them. I personally think Sharp Objects is better than Gone Girl (same author)

    I would also recommend:

    Rules of Civility

    After Her

    The Husband's Secret

    Reconstructing Amelia (this will become a movie next year)

    And the Mountains Echoed

    The Light between Oceans


     

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  • If you like the detective/mystery type stuff, my I absolutely love the Pendergast Series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  I just finished reading 'White Fire', the latest in the series that came out last month.  I also like all of their other books (both together and separately).  I also really like Steve Berry, James Rollins, and Daniel Silva.

    If you are into more gruesome, twisted, fantasy stuff, I recently started reading stuff from Andy Deane (I read 'The Sticks' and just downloaded 'All the Darkness in the World'. I love his graphic sense of writing.

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  • I love anything Gregory Maguire (the author of Wicked). I read most of his other books prior to the release of The Wicked Years series, and he's a genius at taking cliched fairy tales (ie: Snow White, Cinderella) and turning them into legitimate historical fantasies that explore much darker themes. I recommend Mirror, Mirror (tying Snow White into the Borgias) and Lost (A Christmas Carol meets Jack the Ripper). And of course, the whole Wicked Years series.

    The other thing I'm reading right now is Foucault's The History of Sexuality. Originally a philosopher, he started to take an interest in sociological viewpoints and topics and began writing what he intended to be a 5-part, comprehensive look at human sexuality and society. He died partway through writing volume four, so only three were published, but they're fascinating. He discusses power dynamics with regard to sexuality and how societal ideals and expectations are projected onto us as individuals and we're expected to comply or be labeled as 'abnormal'... Can you tell I'm a sociology nerd who studied to be a sexual therapist? Hahaha


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  • I'm finally reading What Alice Forgot. So far, I really like it. Other's I've read and loved:
    Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

    Me Before You 

    Defending Jacob 

    Gone Girl 
    Awesome book. Not sure that the upcoming movie is going to do it justice.


    Movie!?!?! Ooooo....

    I like books by authors like Sarah Pekkanen and Emily Giffin. "Skipping a Beat" by Sarah was a three-hanky read. For those that like mysteries, I really like Tana French's books (set in Ireland).
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  • By the way, I'm so glad this thread started. I just got a Kindle for Christmas and am book-binging!!
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  • edited January 2014
    By the way, I'm so glad this thread started. I just got a Kindle for Christmas and am book-binging!!

    Me too! I avoided digital books for a long time but found myself reading some on kindle app on my phone while waiting places. Then I had a bout of insomnia and found reading on my tablet was much easier in the middle of the night. It's also easier to hold than big hard cover book while exercising. Then my mom bought me a Kindle Fire for Christmas so I could take advantage of the free book rentals on Amazon Prime, which I'm member of. My FI recently got a new job and I get home about 2 hours before him, so that's perfect time to read, usually while doing squats or crunches on my Total Gym. I've already downloaded 6 books in the past week and have about 15 more sitting on my wish list. Edited because my computer sucks and posted quote without my comment. So I had to retype it on my phone.

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  • edited January 2014
    Double post... Again due to my stupid computer.

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  • I Am Malala looks excellent, I'm definitely adding it to my list. My favorite books of 2013 (all historical fiction except Midwives, Cave Dweller and American Wife):

    Honolulu (my #1 favorite, highly recommend)
    Midwives
    The Dry Grass of August
    The Kitchen House
    Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
    Molokai
    American Wife
    Cave Dweller

    I'm excited to see which will be my favorites of 2014! 


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  • jdluvr06 said:
    I'm getting ready to re-read The Giver for a book club. I know it is a YA book but still it is good literature. After that we are going to read Brave New World. We're doing a few months of dystopian novels.
    I love dystopian novels!  Have you or are you going to read "Fahrenheit 451" for the book club?  If not you should try to get it on the list of books you'll read, because there is a LOT to discuss when it comes to Fahrenheit 451.  It's a short book, but it doesn't feel that way when you're reading it- Bradbury does an excellent job of packing a lot of meaning into very few words, and he does so beautifully too.  
    Also, I feel like as far as dystopian novels go, "Fahrenheit 451" is the most similar to our world right now.  Every time I re-read it it kinda freaks me out how similar the nightmare world Bradbury dreamed up in the 50's is to our current world.  
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  • I'm reading Oliver Twist right now and it is good so far, IMO.
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  • CaliMel11CaliMel11 member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited January 2014
    Reading World War Z.
    It's good but pretty creepy in parts. I have to return it to the library in 3 days. =(
    But it's nice that the library has ebooks that we can check out.
    I keep having weird dreams after reading it at night though!
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