Sunday, November 09, 2008

Tell Me What to Do... Please!

So I know I don't have a ton of people out there reading this blog, but I know there are some. I am calling you readers to action. Come out of the lurky shadows and help a girl out.

When I have down time I spend way to much of it in front of the TV or the computer. I should spend more of that time reading. Especially now as the wet winter sets in. I love to read, I read pretty fast and once I start a book I tend to plunge in and can't put it down. My biggest problem is finding books to read. I walk through libraries and bookstores and can't decide. It ALL looks good.

So I want you to tell me. What should I read?

I know... most of you will say, but we don't know what you like... whaa whaa whaa... Well really, I'd love any suggestions, but to give you an ideas:

  • I loved reading all the classics in high school and college English classes, but there are some I'm sure I've missed, or others I should revisit.
  • I love historical fiction - great human stories just add life to real situations
  • I love fantasy, strange monsters, werewolves, fairies, vampires. magical spells and the like
  • I love a good mystery - I was weaned on Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon as a child
  • I love a good biography - a fascinating person or glimpse of a lifestyle


Those are the things that come to mind first, but then again - that's where I go when I'm looking, I'd love to branch out and explore more.

So please - add a comment - give me your favorite books or authors. Light reading or heavy. Fiction or Non-fiction. Expand my horizons!

9 comments:

Sara said...

I was right there with you on the couch potato thing, so I started reading before going to sleep at night.

I would recommend any Dan Brown book (especially the DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons) if you like mystery/suspense.

For historical fiction, try Diana Gabaldon's book Outlander. If you like that one there is a whole series of books.

A friend of mine recommended Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. I haven't started reading it yet, but it is a teen series about vampires.

I've always enjoyed The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. It's a story about four generations of witches, but she also wrote the Vampire Chronicles series.

I'll let you know if I think of anything else. Happy reading!

Danni Langston said...

Hey Jenn. I am totally with you on this. My trouble is that I spend all day reading to kids, with kids, and listening to kids. Its hard to continue it at home. However, I have been hearing from everyone that the Twilight series is amazing. Its about vampires but its supposed to be really, really good. Happy reading!!

Owl and Bulldog said...

Christopher Moore. Hands down, you will LOVE it.

"Lamb" is the story of Biff, Christ's childhood best friend. Hilarious!

"You suck." Equally funny.

I am digging in to "A Dirty Job" next.

Do it, and then profess to everyone just how right I am. As usual :)

http://www.chrismoore.com/

Susan

Anonymous said...

Jen, I have to admit that since I've figured out (sort of) the internet my reading time has also taken a hit. I do love books...all books...any book and I usually have three or four going at once. some of my favorites lately are Water for Elephants , A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night ( a fascinating novel about autism) and Peace Like a River. They are all beautiful for different reasons. I also love Jane Austin and the Bronte sisters. I reread Pride and Predjudice for the 5th time this summer ( then rented all the movies-). wendy

Anonymous said...

I usually read nonfiction, but recently picked up a fiction I would have not thought of but for a friend. It's The Secret History by Donna Tartt. It's excellent and I didn't want to put it down. Another book I loved was Devil in the White City, good history of the world's fair in Chicago (didn't have to live there to enjoy it) and a true crime serial killer. Kite Runner, My Sister's Keeper are also good.

Anonymous said...

Try "The Race" by Richard North Patterson. Story is about a Republican primary election. It is a good read especially given our recent elections.
Shannon

Anonymous said...

Some of my favorites:

The New Girls by Beth Gutcheon (fiction, about girls in a NE boarding school in the early 1960's when everything was changing)

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve (suspense)

Dakota: A Spiritual Geography by Kathleen Norris (author is a former agnostic/Presbyterian oblate in a Catholic monastery, poet from NYC who moved to the old family place in South Dakota--just try it!)

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (better than the movie; The Queen's Fool is pretty good too)

Anything by Jane Austen, I reread those every year and they get better all the time!

Reading Lolita in Tehran (can't remember the author, nonfiction)

I'm assuming you've already read Lindsey's and my all-time favorites, the Harry Potter books. If not, you might try them. Your brother is too stubborn to read anything I like!

Jennie Fleming said...

I feel the same way. I read too many art and theory books, so for FUN, I am currently reading James Loewen's Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbooks got Wrong. Even though I am a little more "aware" these days of the voices of the marginalized, the book is still an eye opener, and so interesting in light of today's politics.

Jennie Fleming said...

Also, for fiction, this summer we read: Garth Nix, The Abhorsen Triology; Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel by Susanna Clarke; and Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials triology (books way better than the movie)