Books.

[maddiesmum]

My reading has been thin on the ground recently since I am teaching 3 university courses at the mo and I have enough student papers to read, thank you very much, so normal reading service and recommendations will resume in January......in the meanwhile, while neither of these would classify as great Literature, I did read these two novels and they were good reads.

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Wife 22 by somebody Gideon, can't remember her first name.

The writing was great in Ruins and Wife 22 is just hilarious. I identified so much with the protagonist. I could have stayed up all night reading about her, if I hadn't had to teach class the next day at 9 am, and I wish she had sequels, but alas! Enjoy.....

I also read Seating Arrangements (not bad) and The Newlyweds and I didn't enjoy the latter as much as I expected to, so see what you think before reading.

Now I need another great novel to see me through the interminable end-of-semester grading: who has what to recommend?

Lately I've been reading men's magazines, GQ, British GQ, Esquire, Men's Health etc. They have great writing in them and they just seem so much more relevant than women's mags: too many articles on make up and losing tose last 5 pounds, I just can't take it anymore! Please, no more recipes!.......

Anyone else prefer men's magazines to women's?

Clare

 

[story1267]

Clare, do you read Barbara Kingsolver? She has a new one out...a novel...Flight Behavior.

I haven't had the pleasure of actually reading a book in some time. But I do listen to audiobooks.

Currently in my list of To-Listen...

Sacre Bleu - Christopher Moore
Far From the Tree - Andrew Solomon
Cat Daddy - Jackson Galaxy
The Three Commitments - Pema Chodron
This is How - Augusten Burroughs

I also have Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott on my wish list.

Happy reading and easy grading wishes to you.

 

[lioness]

Here are some recommendations.

Northline and Lean on Pete by Willy Vlautin. These books are a bit dark and the characters are young but life has been hard on them and you really end up rooting for them even though they don't do the right things all the time. He has another book Motel Life that I have but haven't read yet...probably because he doesn't have another book and I want to savor it.

The Tender Bar - J.R. Moehringer - Memoir

Garnethill - Denise Mina - Mystery

Father of the Rain - Lily King

Henning Mankell - Wallender Series - Mystery

 

[garance]

Clare, if you liked Beautiful Ruins (which I loved), then read Jess Walter's Financial Lives of the Poets. It's very funny. I am currently reading another by Walter--Citizen Vince--which won an Edgar award. So far, it's pretty good and very different from the first two. The Justin Cronin books--The Passage and The Twelve--are long, very exciting. There will be one more in the trilogy. The Life of Edgar Sawtelle is wonderful, too.

 

[garance]

Clare--three more non-fiction: Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Katherine Boo's National Book Award winner, Behind the Beautiful Forever and last year's Unbroken by Hillebrand.

 

[C Rubin]

I recently read "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. Loved it. Was a great psychological thriller. I can see why it remains a top best-seller.

 

[nancy324]

Hi Clare!

I'm on a Dennis Lehane kick right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if it starts to give me nightmares soon and I have to move on to something else. I am reading what I am told is the less dark stuff, which is the Kenzie/Gennaro series. I'm always looking for books that are page-turners, yet are written by very talented writers. Lehane certainly fits that bill. Are you familiar with him?

Hope all is well and that your work load eases up soon.

 

[RapidBreath]

I tend towards science fiction more than the books you mentioned. I am reading the 'A wizardry' series by Diane Duane. Like Harry Potter, its about young wizards, but its set in America (most of the time.), there are 9 books in the series, and it is very creative. (imho)

 

[MelanieC]

Hi Story - Just a quick question for you about Barbara Kingsolver - have you read The Lacuna? I read Poisonwood Bible and loved it. Wondering how her other novels compare.

Thanks!