My dears, I just finished my book, and I'm searching for a new one. Have you guys read anything good lately? Any recommendations? I'd love to hear.... xo(Photo by Elisabeth Dunker)
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Thursday, October 01, 2009
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I just finished reading "My Life in France" by Julia Child and it was so, so inspiring and funny and hunger inducing...
ReplyDeleteI couldn't recommend it more highly. :)
"The Principles of Uncertainty" by maira kalman. she also has a blog with the ny times. you may have already read this, but if you haven't, i think you'll love it! it's almost like a giant children's book for adults. illustrations and lovely observations.
ReplyDeletei love alexandra fuller and anythign she writes...you should check her out. she is so great.
ReplyDelete"Water for Elephants" by Sarah Gruen
ReplyDeleteor "The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss
Two of my absolute favorites. Both are beautiful, non-traditional love stories.
I just finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A hauntingly beautiful story. I loved every bit of it.
ReplyDeleteNick Hornby's new novel (Juliet, Naked) came out Tuesday and I'll be devouring it this weekend!
ReplyDeleteAfter that I think I'm going to finally read The Witches of Eastwick and then The Gastronomy of Marriage.
I'm currently reading "The Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner of NPR. It has some great little vignettes and good bits of insights to share.
ReplyDeleteHarry, Revised by Mark Sarvas-- sort of like a sweeping 19th century novel meets a very current account of what boys are like when we're not around. Set in Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteI have an extra copy, so LMK if you wanna check it out!
-- LC
Miles Davis' autobiography--funny, smart, moving...he just tells it like it is. And his genius just kind of oozes off the page.
ReplyDelete11 Minutes by Paul Coelho was amazing and I am having a hard time putting down The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold...
ReplyDeleteI was so surprised, since I only picked this book up because of how pretty the cover is, but I loved "Thanks for the Memories". It's by the same author as "PS, I Love You", and it was a fun break from some of my heavier reading.
ReplyDeleteIm reading The Historian by Elizabath Kostova. it has been very interesting, but its very long.
ReplyDelete"Unaccustomed Earth" by Jhumpa Lahiri. Insanely beautiful short stories.
ReplyDeleteooooh these are so great!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. I love all his books.
ReplyDelete"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein was a fun read. I wasn't expecting to...but I LOVED it.
ReplyDeleteMy next read will probably be Three Cups of Tea! I've heard that it tells of a man who starts schools in small villages in Pakistan. This kind of work has been very close to my heart lately... can't wait to get my hands on it :)
ReplyDeleteThe Shack by W P Young...half way through, good so far sposed to get even better and be pretty life changin!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't already, Middlesex. It's uber fab!
ReplyDelete"It Sucked and Then I Cried" by Heather Armstrong was hilarious and serious and a wonderful memoir.
ReplyDeleteI am almost finished with "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese
ReplyDeleteIt is the kind of book that you "live in" while read. I wll be sad to finish...
I also enjoyed "The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss like Anonymous mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteOther recent reads I enjoyed:
- Saturday Night by Susan Orlean (She observes ordinary people and what they do for fun on Saturday nights, creates some fun and interesting essays out of them. This was her first book.)
- Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
"There was love in the ghetto" Marek Edelman
ReplyDeleteI have to completely agree with one of the comments above and recommend "Unaccustomed Earth". The best thing I have read all year. Jhumpa Lahiri is so talented.
ReplyDeleteLOVED Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen.
ReplyDelete"Fieldwork" by Mischa Berlinski and "I See You Everywhere" by Julia Glass.
ReplyDelete"Oracle Night" by Paul Auster. Beautiful book, with a few stories within a story. If you like that sort of thing...read this book!
ReplyDelete"Edgar Huntly: Memoirs of a Sleepwalker," by Charles Brockden Brown- it's an early American Gothic novel and 100% crazy.
ReplyDeleteI'm also reading Arthur C Clarke's "2001: A Space Odyssey."
I'm going to agree with those who recommended The Historian and Water for Elephants.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am at the moment in literary heaven - reading Joanne Harris' sequel to Chocolat, The Girl with no Shadow. I love Joanne Harris to distraction, and the Chocolat characters are my favorite of all.
Definitely "My Life in France", Julia Child's memoir. It is such an insight into her life and I learned that besides all the cooking she was a really cool lady.
ReplyDeleteI suspect you may have already read "The Time Traveler's Wife", but it was amazing, better than the movie.
"The Soloist" by Steve Lopez is also quite good.
saw a few people say "water for elephants" I agree to that being awesome.
ReplyDeletecurrently reading "mosters of templeton" by lauren groff -it's very good!
I love Delaune Michel. She is up and coming and has written "Aftermath of Dreaming" and "The Safety of Secrets". I also highly recommending anything by Anita Shreve (The Weight of Water is my fav.). A recent fav. is The Birthdays by Heidi Pitlor and an old fav. I've read over and over is "Joanna's Husband and David's Wife" by Elizabeth Forsyth Hailey. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been reading lately because I've been busy sewing, but the last book that I fell in love with was The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint. Not sure if that's your genre but it was a lovely book. And almost anything by John Irving is good, of course :)
ReplyDeleteHi! I have been reading your blog for a few months now! Congratulations on your wedding (for the thousandth time, it seems)! :)
ReplyDeleteI thought this post of yours was a sign that I should finally comment.
Have you ever read and of E.M. Forster's novels? I took a class on Jane Austen last semester and went on an 18th/19th century English Literature binge and found Howard's End. It is my current favorite book and if you are a Jane Austen fan, I think you will enjoy Forster as well.
my all time favourite would have to be stolen time by sunny jacobs its an bio of a lady in florida who was sentenced to death for a crime she didnt commit, so beautiful, moving and incredibly inspirational...makes you appreciate everything in your life!i have read it about 6 times!! other goodies are scar tissue by Anthoney Kiedis, My sisters keeper by Jodi Picoult or Schapple Corby's My story :)
ReplyDeletelet us know what you decide x
The Glass Castle by jeannette walls was my last seriously awesome read.
ReplyDeleteBefore that I loved Shantaram by gregory david roberts.
It's so great to see what everyone else is reading! Right now I am reading "sarah's key"- so far it's pretty good!
ReplyDeleteironically i made a post not too long ago about all of my recent favorites!
http://cassimush.blogspot.com/2009/09/for-love-of-books.html
happy book hunting!!
Such great suggestions! I'll add Travels With Charley, Bel Canto, The Shadow of the Wind and Empire Falls to the mix, but The History of Love, The Book Thief and Unaccustomed Earth are all favorites. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI'm almost finished reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and before that I read The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff. both are really great.
ReplyDeletePeople of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - the story of one book's travel from Spain to Sarajevo. I was torn between not wanting to put it down and wanting it to last forever.
ReplyDeleteAnything by Paulo Coelho, Khaled Hosseini or I heard Sherman Alexie was quite good too...enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAmerican Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld is amazing!
ReplyDeletejust ordered THe Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. I have read most of her books and have never been let down. SHe is my favorite hands down. She is also doing a book tour! I would reccommend her book THe Handmaiden's Tale. Unbelievable. :)
ReplyDeleteI just finished the Help by Kathryn Stockett, I loved it and didn't want it to end.
ReplyDeleteThe Art of Racing in the Rain was so wonderful-especially as a dog owner/lover.
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff was very good and thoughtful.
If you've never read it, I always love to suggest DV by Diana Vreeland. What a life!
Some recent favorites:
ReplyDeleteThe Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Groff
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Brooklyn - Colm Toibin
Happy reading!
A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. So, so lovely.
ReplyDeleteHer Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger.
And The Book Thief is incredible...
Have you read The Historian? Excellent book; I highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteThe Elegance of the Hedgehog.
ReplyDeleteTranslated from French to English. C'est magnifique
The Private Lives of the Impressionists, by Sue Roe feels like a rich novel with an extraordinary ensemble cast of characters-- but is just non-fiction carefully and beautifully told.
ReplyDeleteThe Wishing Year by Noelle Oxenhandler is lovely, and I'm currently devouring it. Other recent favorites: Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (anything by her, actually), Loving Frank by Nancy Horan and Drown by Junot Diaz.
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading!
I'm currently reading "The World According to Garp" By John Irving and I love it. I couldn't recommend it enough.
ReplyDeleteBefore that I read "The NY Trilogy" by Paul Auster- also a wonderful read.
And if you haven't read "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan yet, well you need to get on that!
The Hunger Games and its sequel Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. These are seriously 2 of the best books I've read in quite awhile. They are Young Adult books, so they may not be on everyone's radar, but you should seriously google them to see the buzz.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites lately:
ReplyDeleteSwimming - Nicola Keegan
Sweeping Up Glass - Carolyn Wall
Nefertiti - Michelle Moran
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, a fictional account of a real long-time love affair.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series! They're a historical fiction, fantasy, love story merge thing. Haha. I have no real classification for them. They're long, but worth the read.
ReplyDeleteCurrently enjoying: The Bonesetter's Daughter, Amy Tan
ReplyDeletePast Faves: The Time Traveler's Wife, Barefoot (Elin Hilderbrand), anything by Paulo Coelho and Jodi Picoult and Alice Hoffman.
Next up: Traveling with Pomegranates, Sue Monk Kidd. And some of the above suggestions!
What do you recommend, Jo?
"The Last Lecture" Randy Pausch
ReplyDeleteEveryone should have to write a "Last Lecture." Moving and powerful.
I just finished reading 'The fortress of solitude' by Jonathan Lethem... Great! But I'm in Europe, so pointing out an American novel to you and your readers here is probably not the smartest thing to do... But since I'm doing it already, why not point out another one? 'The Discomfort Zone' by Jonathan Franzen is also one I really enjoyed reading.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading! Luc
I can't recommend anything higher than "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society." It's written in letter-form so it's a really quick read, and I've never read anything where the characters seem so alive and like they are my friends! Astonishing work of historical fiction :)
ReplyDeletemidnight's children by salman rushdie
ReplyDeletetravels with charley by john steinbeck.
"the hour i first believed" by wally lamb
ReplyDeleteI was just going to recommend midnight's children! One of the best books I've read in a while. I'm currently in the middle of the Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz. It's amazing and pretty fun to read.
ReplyDeleteI just finished The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It was amazingly good. And I was looking for something new, so thanks for all of the suggestions everyone!
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday I finished The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It's LONG, but soooo enjoyable. And because I was enjoying is so much I wasn't bothered by the length at all. I looked forward to picking it up everyday and finding out what was going to happen next. I was sad when it was over. I already want to read it again!
ReplyDeleteThe Drifters by James Michener. Its a group of teenagers venturing out into the world, traveling, loving and thinking about life in the 70s. Great read.
ReplyDeleteThe Help and City of Thieves.
ReplyDeletetana french - the likeness. i also read in the woods beforehand, but you don't have to. it is the kind of book that makes me almost miss my subway stop in the morning.
ReplyDeletePillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Incredible. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Pillars-of-the-Earth/Ken-Follett/e/9780451207142
ReplyDeleteOh! I forgot to mention, today I started The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I'm not sure if I should recommend it yet, since I just started it, but it already has me laughing out loud, which is no easy feat!
ReplyDeleteI recommend:
ReplyDelete- Home by Marilynne Robinson (actually currently reading this one. Love it. Or, read Housekeeping and Gilead if you haven't already)
- A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (currently recommending this to everyone, I loved it so)
- That Old Cape Magic if you like Richard Russo
Audrey Niggenegger's new book was *just* released (author of the time traveler's wife). It's in hardback but amazon has it for like $15. At least it was during pre-order. It's just incredible so far!
ReplyDeleteI'm also reading The Shadow of the Wind based on 5 rave reviews from friends and it's beautiful!
The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite. I randomly bought it while in London just because I needed something to read on the train and it ended up being one of my favorite books I have ever read. It's one of those books where you begin to relate everything in real life to the character's life. I's so good.
ReplyDeleteThis may have already been mentioned but I LOVED The Help by Kathryn Stockett, also...
ReplyDeleteSame Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore was amazing.
If you are looking for something snarky, try "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain. For something that will make you both laugh and cry, try "Armageddon in Retrospective," by Kurt Vonnegut. By far my favorite author
ReplyDelete"The Shack" by W.P. Young. Amazing read.
ReplyDeleteIf you are looking for an escape I would suggest "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.
ReplyDeleteI agree with others, The Historian is an excellent read!
"I am Charlotte Simmons" by Tom Wolfe
ReplyDelete"Straight Up & Dirty" by Stephanie Klein (who is one of
my favorite writers)
Oh - what a great list above.
ReplyDeleteMy recent reads:
Colm Toibin "The Master" - subtle, existential and very very well written.
Sarah Waters "The Night Watch" - Touching, sad, page turner
Alice Munro "The Beggar Maid" - Beautiful about life and relations and seeking
I wouldn't want to not have read any of these.
(Very much looking forward to see your wedding photos by the way)
i just read 'the alienist', which is murder mystery set in 1890s NYC. it was so interesting!
ReplyDeleteyes..i just finished "the girl with the dragon tattoo" murder, mystery, incest, romance all tangled into one really great book!
ReplyDeleteHoly moly. If you read all of these, you'd be reading for a while.
ReplyDeleteStill, I'm putting in my two cents. In the fall, I love to read poetry and philosophy, and Letters to a Young Poet by Rainier Maria Rilke is one I pick up every year about this time.
I am currently in Children's Literate class called The Golden Age, so I have been reading books like "Alice in Wonderland," "The Wizard of," "Peter Pan," and so much more.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAn Artist Of The Floating World - Kazuo Ishiguro
ReplyDeleteThe People's History Of The United States - Howard Zinn
wallflower at the orgy, nora ephron. big, big fan of the lovely and brilliant nora!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I haven't started them yet, I really want to read the Catching Fire series by Suzanne Collins. I heard they are amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe Colour of Water, James McBride. Deals with a black kid with a white mother. I think it's inspiring. There are also plenty of other books I would suggest but, off to studying!
ReplyDeletethe hanged man by francesca lia block.
ReplyDelete:) hope you have a good day.
"Middelmarch" by George Eliot - brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI am about to start "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson - if it is good, I'll let you know.
ReplyDeleteI started it 17 years ago and as pathetic as it sound, I just finished Moby Dick.
ReplyDeleteI started and restarted the dang thing so many times, but only recently go into it enough to finish it.
I LOVED it.
I loved it so much i am on a mission to read all the classics i have never read (or managed to finish). Next up for me: Great Expectations.
I just started reading The Element by Sir Ken Robinson and I already love it.
ReplyDeletehe made a speech on the topics of his book too :)
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
if you don't end up reading it... definitely watch the speech.
Bel Canto
ReplyDeleteby Ann Patchett
one of the most beautiful stories about the variety of human relationships that can exist that i have ever read.
Anything by Bill Bryson. The travel essays or his forays into other genres. My personal favorite is The Mother Tongue about the creation of language. He is so intelligent and actually laugh-out-loud funny!
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing about Lewis' Screwtape Letters. Then I realized someone lent me the book over the summer, so now I must read it!
ReplyDeletePhillipa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl"
ReplyDeleteI didn't think I would like it...I LOVED it. Now working my way through her other books and am completely enthralled with Tudor history at the moment.
-----------
Happy reading! :-)
I am currently reading "Driving Over Lemons"- Chris Stewart. It's about his move to Spain where he lives on a farm named El Valero. It is good. I mainly read books of Spain to remind me of my home. For a true likening to the Spanish mentality books like "It's not about the Tapas"- Polly Williams and the fantastic (and probably one of my favourties) Spanish Lessons- Derek Lambert. Love that book.
ReplyDeleteI loved "The Other Boleyn Girl" too! I just finished "He's Not That Into You," which was great, and am currently reading Eragon, also great.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Annie Leibovitz's book 'At Work'. Great read.
ReplyDeleteI always recommend this, but it's my favorite book: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so it was published a little while ago but it is one of the best books i have read in the past five years: Heyday by Kurt Anderson. If you haven't read it, you MUST give it a try! Anyone who loves New York will adore this book...http://tinyurl.com/y9nbesa
ReplyDeleteAlso recently finished 'Away' by Amy Bloom. It's a quick read, super emotionally rich and an absolute treasure.: http://tinyurl.com/ydwcc5l
Now that I think of it, both books have similar themes and plot lines...but you'll have to read them both and tell me if you agree!
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
ReplyDeleteI loved
ReplyDeletethe English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje
and...
the Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway
Two heartwrenchingly human reads. xo
I definitely recommend "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. His writing is breath-taking.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to going through these recommendations - fabulous!
ReplyDeletesweetness at the bottom of the pie
ReplyDelete- it has bicycles, british people, and a funny/super smart little girl narrator
I loved "The Space Between Us"
ReplyDeleteSet in modern-day India, it is the story of two women: an upper-middle-class Parsi housewife whose opulent surroundings hide the shame and disappointment of her abusive marriage, and a stoic illiterate servant hardened by a life of despair and loss, who has worked in that household for more than twenty years. It illustrates the lives of the rich and poor as well as divisions of class and culture - I couldn't put this one down.
I finished Both Way is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy - 11 short stories...all wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho a few months ago. It's fantastic. Everyone should read that book.
ReplyDeleteHarry Potter! I just started reading the series and am now on book 2. Such a fantastic world she created and wonderful inspiration from the wise Dumbledore.
ReplyDeleteAlso agree with everyone else that Water for Elephants is a must read..and also recommend The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo - very inspiring
Water for Elephants and Time Travelers Wife are both AMAZING.
ReplyDeletei'm reading the time travelers wife, i'm enjoying it!
ReplyDeleteIm only 2 chapters in so I cant quiet tell if it'll be good or not (I have a 5 chapter theory, if I'm not hooked by the 5th chapter than it gets returned to the library) but "The Killing Circle" is off to a good start!
ReplyDeletethe crowning glory of calla lily ponder by r. wells
ReplyDeletei just finished "five quarters of the orange"... by the author of chocolat! couldn't put it down.
ReplyDeletei second elysa... alexandra fuller writes amazing memoirs. "don't let's go to the dogs tonight" is one of my favorite books.
I'm currently reading The Time Traveler's Wife, and so far liking it. Odd & romantic are perfect combination. They threw in random French words in the book too!
ReplyDeleteJust finished Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Very interesting style of writing and insightful. Slows a bit in the middle but the end is very good.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it yet but noticed a couple comments above...The Pillars of the Earth is supposed to be beyond amazing. I'm the last one in my family to read it and everyone raves about it.
East of Eden is my all-time fave!
ReplyDeleteI am going to stand alone and say that despite the many comments supporting "Water for Elephants" I was not such a fan.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (i think?)
ReplyDeleteSoooo goood, funny. It's the author's soul search. The end was like losing a friend
Oh go for the cheap, hilarious trash. Kathy Griffin's For Your Consideration. Great book!
ReplyDeleteThe 'Book Thief' (mentioned above) was simply superb. Upon finishing I was left with feelings that one should have when completing a book.
ReplyDelete'Life of Pi' too.
Beautiful book with beautiful literary moments great easy read "The Problem with Murmur Lee" by Connie May Fowler
ReplyDeleteI read alone in the kitchen with an eggplant because i found it on your blog :) it was very celever i then put it on my blog for people to see and i believe i put a link to your blog on their as well :) anyways, thanks for the great reading tip!
ReplyDeleteanything by Jhumpa Lahiri. the namesake & interpreter of maladies are my favorite!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Catching Fire and Hunger games by Suzanne Collins. You can read my blog post about them here:
ReplyDeleteashbashbur.blogspot.com
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World... based on a true story.
ReplyDeleteThere's a pic of the adorable little guy on my blog sidebar. :)
Water for Elephants, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Angela's Ashes, Tis, and Teacher Man.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (very moving realistic fiction about the Holocaust).
ReplyDeleteI'm reading The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. It's a classic and it's a shwashbuckling action with a dash of romance during the French Revolution.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reading list!
ReplyDeleteI am printing this out just so that I never have a loss for a suggestion!
Thank you to everyone!
smiles.
I'm currently reading the Glass Castle which is great. I also just finished Thousand Splendid Suns which I LOVED! And anything by Jodi Picoult is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading "Little Stalker" by Jennifer Belle....she was my favorite author in college, her other book, "Going Down" is about a student who becomes an escort and made me laugh out loud the whole time I read it. Really excited to start it!
ReplyDelete"Love Walked In" by Maria de los Santos is my absolute favorite. And it's one of those that I can read over and over again. Love it so much!
ReplyDeleteI am reading Devil in the White City for book club...which sounded so lame until I read 100 pages last night. True crime and all about the Chicago World's Fair, which is exciting in itself. Good luck with all the recommendations. You will be reading for years ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Joanna, just wondering if you would be up for books that make you chuckle to yourself endlessly? If so, try out the books by Sophie Kinsella, especially the 'Shopaholic' series. I read them all and loved them all! They never fail to put me in a good mood. :)
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading "Amazing Grace" by Kozol. It is a very eye-opening book into the lives of the children living in the South Bronx area of New York. Kozol basically gives a voice to these children and the families there through this book. It took me about 3-4 hours to carefully read through, but I enjoyed it. I hope you do as well.
ReplyDeleteI would like to second watching Sir Ken Robinson's talk at TED. Dave Eggers, Elizabeth Gilbert, and JJ Abrams are other favourite TED Talks.
ReplyDeleteI think the book that most touched me this year was The Translator. It is short, and just so extremely elegant in its honesty and simplicity. A remarkable person - an incredible story - and true humility. Very moving.
"Atonement" by Ian McEwan is fantastic! If you feel like a bit more light reading "The Grounch Letters" by Groucho Marx is also really good.
ReplyDeleteI just love when you solicit us for suggestions, Joanna--shows how down to earth you are! :) I've been reading like a madwoman since I entered graduate school and I'm currently working on Francine Prose's Goldengrove and I'm finding it eerie and lyrical--and yes, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI just finished "Abundance" by Sena Jeter Naslund and it's an absolute must-read. You'll be swept up in the intrigues and luxuries of Versailles in no time! I felt like I was being transported to Marie Antoinette's court everytime I picked up the book.
ReplyDeleteI see a lot of people have recommended "Water for Elephants". That, too, is one of my all-time favorites. I can't wait for it to be a movie!
And I'm currently reading "Pilate's Wife," which is verrrry difficult to put down. I didn't expect it to be such a page-turner, but it has me hooked.
And a few others: "The Birth of Venus", "The Royal Physician's Visit", "Girl with a Pearl Earring"... and if you're looking for something very different definitely read "Perfume" by Patrick Suskind. It's a beautiful, haunting tale.
I loved Water For Elephants and am planning on reading My Life in France. I will recommend my favorite author, Stuart Woods. His first book, Chiefs. It is from the 70's but it is great. His earlier books are awesome: Palidrome, Deep Lie and White Cargo. Good and can't put down because exciting.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.' A classic! and beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteI just blogged about the books I read in September. :-) Currently on my nightstand:
ReplyDeleteNetherland by Joseph O'Neill (I keep hearing phenomenal things about this book, and then Obama goes and reads it and loves it, so now I'm definitely intrigued)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (to be made into a film with Keira Knightley; she always picks interesting scripts, so on the list it went)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (a boy is raised by ghosts in a graveyard--what's not to like?)
What book did you just finish, Joanna? Inquiring minds want to know!
I enjoyed "Not That Kind of Girl: A Memoir" by Carlene Bauer - came out pretty recently.
ReplyDeleteHello, I've nearly finished Bob Dylan's Chronicles, Vol. one.
ReplyDeleteIt's brilliant, you can almost hear him sing some anecdotes.
I highly recommend.
ooooh these are all such great recommendations. omg, i LOVE you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have some fabulous suggestions here...just read The Help and also loved that and our whole county is reading People of the Book by Geraldine Brroks...I have loved all of her novels. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhite Oleander by Janet Finch is beautifully written if you haven't read that one yet.
ReplyDeleteNancy Mitford
ReplyDelete-The Pursuit of Love
-Love in a Cold Climate
W. Somerset Maugham
-The Razor's Edge
i just finished the time traveler's wife- sooo good. a thousand splendid suns was and excellent read and unaccustomed earth is a must. jhumpa lahiri is so talented.
ReplyDeleteI read "The History of Love" on your recommendation, and was struck by how much it subtly reminded me of Jonathan Safran Foer's books. Then I found out they're married!! Anyway, if you haven't read him, go pick up
ReplyDelete"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
Also, I'd second My Life in France, A Homemade Life, Devil in the White City, and Pillars of the Earth. All really great!
I just finished The Josephine B. Trilogy by Sandra Gulland and it was amazing! Best historical fiction I've read yet.
ReplyDeletei am reading one perfect day by rebecca mead. it's a sociological perspective of the american wedding. an easy and fascinating read on the wedding industry -- i highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteI second the recommendation for The Elegance of the Hedgehog. It's marvelous.
ReplyDeleteIts crude, rude, and honest.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Bourdains' Kitchen Confidential.
Fantastic book depicting kitchen life.
i love it.
Divisadero by Michel Ondaatje. BEST. BOOK. EVER.
ReplyDeleteThe Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton. The most charming book I have read in a long time. I couldn't put it down!
ReplyDeleteThe guernsey literary and potato peel society - i just finished it and am giving it to anyone i know who needs a book. it is without a doubt, the most wonderful book i've ever read! the characters are amazing and i promise that you will consider yourself friends with them by the time you are finished.
ReplyDeleteThe Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a must read.
ReplyDeleteThe Secret Life of Bees was wonderful! And have you read absolutely everything by David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs? The Secret History by Donna Tart? Water For Elephants is on the bedside table, but I'm neglecting it to re-read Dry. Ooh, also Prep. It's delicious and horrible at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to re-read these comments when I'm out of books! Thanks!
My two favorite books that i've read recently are Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje and Out Stealing Horses by Per Peterson.
ReplyDeleteOut Stealing Horses was one of the Top 10 books of the year from the NYT I believe, and you can read the first chapter of it on their website: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/books/chapters/0622-1st-pett.html?_r=1
They are both those kind of books that are tinged with melancholy throughout and they give you that butterfly feeling in your stomach and makes you want to cuddle under a big, soft blanket and drink tea. They are both a pleasure to read, gorgeous and true to life and not overtly dramatic.
I'm reading a fantastic book called, The Angel's Game, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. If you love Barcelona and haven't read anything by him yet, you're missing out!
ReplyDeleteI'm re-reading The Odyssey. Beautifully Epic! and here is my favorite greek lit graphic to go with it along with a stunning excerpt:
ReplyDeletehttp://theanchorandthebird.blogspot.com/2009/09/odyssey.html
ooh, what book did you finish? :)
ReplyDeleteunfortunately i haven't had much time to read lately so i can't offer any good recommendations at all! hehe. happy friday!
xo. danni
i always always recommend the same book to everyone
ReplyDeleteJohnny got his gun by dalton trumbo.
it is SUCH a beautifully written and imaginative book.
i HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT
Leslie just told me about the book Kaftka Was the Rage. I think you would LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteread about it here:
http://katelindello.blogspot.com/2009/09/ils-sont-dans-le-vrai.html
Zodiac, by Neal Stephenson. It's a very good book...the cover notes that it is an "Eco-Thriller." I am just finishing up with it and really liked it.
ReplyDeleteWater for Elephants -fiction. I don't really read fiction but my colleague who teaches English said it's a great read and I'll be surprised. I was surprised that I couldn't put it down. It's got some cool "circus historical" elements to it.
ReplyDeleteThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society -another fiction book and again I was dubious but I couldn't say no to my uncle who not only suggested it but sent it to me to loan. I read it in three days and nights and loved every minute of it. It's also got some historical reference to it too.
Hope you will enjoy them if you decide to read them.
I just finished Unaccustomed Earth LAST NIGHT! Jhumpa Lahiri is AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteI love non-fiction, and one of my favorites this past year was "Born on a Blue Day" an autobiography by Daniel Tammet.
ReplyDeletep.s. you can find out about him on youtube, too, in a 5 part series- he's synesthesia, is autistic and is a mathematical and linguistic savant. amazing.
Hellooo. I am/was reading 'War and Peace' which is fabulous, but heavy going. So during a busy week, I picked up Julie and Julia for an easy read...and it is fantastic! Julie Powell is a wonderful wordsmith, and her prose is hilarious! (That is, if you can handle a few (euphemism) swear words!)
ReplyDeleteReading through all these wonderful posts, I have my reading list for the next 3 years!
ReplyDeleteA great reading resource is a newsletter sent out by Square Books in Oxford, Miss. This gem of a bookstore has recieved all kinds of awards for best independant book stores in the US and they have great suggestions.
Just finished reading One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus. I read it in two days and was sad when it was over. Currently I'm reading The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It's for my book club. Very long and slow going, but I love his work, so ...I keep reading!
"We need to talk about Kevin" by Lionel Shriver!Brilliant,compelling,honest story about motherhood in general and her son in particular,who murdered seven of his highschool students.This book is so well written!!Loved it,loved it... http://www.amazon.com/We-Need-Talk-About-Kevin/dp/006112429X
ReplyDeleteI love anything by Dorothy Allison (Bastard out of Carolina), Lorrie Moore (Who Will Run the Frog Hospital), and Jeffrey Eugenides (Middlesex). All somewhat dark and brooding, but I still love the way they write.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
I'v just started The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. So far I'm loving it, and I would definitely recommend it.
ReplyDeletei'm on a japanese writer kick lately.
ReplyDeleteNorwegian Wood & Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami
A Personal Matter - Kenzaburo Oe
very, very good books :)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. I read it this summer and adored it. I reviewed some books including this one at my blog a while ago - http://leavesinthespring.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-book-book.html
ReplyDelete'Kartography' by Kamila Shamsie is a book about four young adults growing up in Karachi, Pakistan! You'll love it.
ReplyDeleteI just read The Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells, which was really good!
ReplyDeleteI'm about to read The Time Traveller's Wife, which is supposed to be amazing.
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris. It's not new but such a lovely read.
ReplyDeleteI love "Hilary and Jackie" the biography of the cellist Jacqueline du Pre, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, written by her brother and sister.
ReplyDeleteI also love "House of Sand and Fog", I recommend reading the book even if you've seen the movie, it's much, much better!
and everything Rohinton Mistry has written, especially his masterpiece "A Fine Balance".
I love your blog by the way, it's super informative and personal. You feature beautiful things on here!
Rules of the Wild by Francesca Marciano - a contemporary love story set in Kenya (a modern day Out of Africa?). I've read it several times.
ReplyDeleteHalf of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - the account of a young woman during the civil war in Nigeria
The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Attwood - also mentioned by someone above!
I just finished All Quiet on the Western Front and it's amazing! I'm still reading Capote's short stories, too.
ReplyDeleteI read Truman Capote "Summer Crossing" and just loved it. A beautiful book full of summer feelings. At the moment i am reading Audrey Niffenegger "The Time Traveler's Wife".
ReplyDeleteI also adore Chuck Palahniuk, Rainer Maria Rilke, Yann Martel (Life of Pi), Jonathan Safran Foer and Mascha Kaléko.
Starting "The Believers"-
ReplyDeleteLove reading vintage books, Catch 22-
I'm currently reading "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami..very nice book. "The Boy in the stripped pajama" by John Boyle is highly recommended, touching..
ReplyDeleteHappy reading :)
hello
ReplyDeleteall the books written by Jonathan Tropper are great
He is one of my favorite writter
or
The Unbearable Lightness of Being: A Novel by Milan Kundera
it is an amazing book
anything written by Murakami :)
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Rose Tremain's The Colour - one of the best books I've read this year and I can highly recommend it if you haven't read it yet. :)
ReplyDeleteI just read The Host by Stephenie Meyers. I couldn't put it down! It made me laugh and cry, and I dreamt about it. Crazy good. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, many great suggestions! I'll add a few to the growing list for you Jo...
ReplyDelete* The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert
* The House at Salvation Creek by Susan Duncan
* The Last Sky by Alice Nelson
* The Venetian House by Mary Nickson
* Notes From An Exhibition
* Buying a Piece of Paris by Ellie Nielsen
* Burning In by Mireille Juchau
whew... I always have a few on the go in different rooms.
Carla Coulson's books (especially Italian Joy) are throughout my home for inspiration... and now I'm off to look for
Vicki Archer's latest gorgeous book "French Essence".
I don't have much time for TV, unless a captivating movie is in the "Mum's Favourites" folder.
Happy reading Jo.
Creatively yours,
Nicole
I'm currently reading Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables" ... which I simply adore. But I've also been enjoying some wee books by Persephone Press - "Little Boy Lost" by Marghanita Laski and "Miss Petigrew Lives for a Day" by Winifred Watson. A little adventure, heartbreak and tears, mixed with light hearted whimsy - all the ingredients of life!
ReplyDeleteHere are the best books I've read this year:
ReplyDeleteFinding Nouf, by Zoe Ferraris
The Girl who Played with Fire, by Stieg Larsson
Life Without Summer, by Lynne Reeves Griffin
Crazy for the Storm, Norman Ollestad
Flower Net: A Red Princess Mystery, by Lisa See
Kabul Beauty School, by Deborah Rodriguez
The Piano Teacher, by Janet Y.K. Li
Absolutely ANYTHING by Jhumpa Lahiri but also, THE HELP by Katherine Stockett was fabulous as well as Jonathan Tropper's latest: This Is Where I Leave You.
ReplyDeleteThe Elegance of the Hedgehog ~ Muriel Barbery
ReplyDeleteBreakfast with Buddah.... forgive me, I've forgotten the author's last name, but its for sale at Borders.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great list! Thanks all you smart readers out there, I just added a ton of titles to my GoodReads list.
ReplyDeleteMy recs:
The Strain - 1st in a trilogy by director Guillermo Del Toro -- an easy, suspenseful read: Vampires in NYC!
A perennial fav:
I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith -- a lovely & wonderful book told by a precocious and lovable 17-year old girl that takes place in the English countryside.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
ReplyDeleteThe writing is intelligent and humorous and the characters absolutely endearing.
I just finished reading 'Loving Frank' by Nancy Horan. It's historical fiction about Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress Mamah Cheney.
ReplyDeleteIt is good, even if you're not into architecture.
"Nurture Shock"
ReplyDelete