Summer reading

clareMc

Cathlete
Hi everyone:

every once in a while there comes a request for book recommendations....and since I have been doing much more reading lately than working out, I am going to contribute the fruits of my reading to you all.

Maggie O'Farrell has written the most wonderful novel called "After you'd Gone" and I recommend it to you all. (Available through Amazon.com)

I read it last week, picked it up at noon, had to put it down at 6pm for 2 hours for a breather and to see to my neglected children, then finished it that evening, totally unable to do or think anything else with/in my life until I had seen the journey with the central character Alice through to the end.

It is not an emotionally easy read: it will have you laughing out loud at moments and revelling in the sexiness of other parts of the narrative and it will take you through the depths of heartbreak and back, but will leave you thankful that you got to read it, and thankful also if you currently live with a special person, who has been a gift you are allowed to keep......

It is not a linear narrative: the various narrative threads are fed to the reader in stages and she plays with chronology, you will reassemble the story of these individuals' lives in your imagination as you read. This happens naturally, don't sweat it.

Perfect book for a quiet day in the hammock in a leafy glade somewhere in the shade. Take a large hankie for the emotional rollercoaster of the last 170 pages...

Next I will be reading "Be my Knife" by David Grossman, "The Amazing Adventures of kavalier and Clay", "The Corrections" by J Frantzen, "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. I'll let you all have a review of these in time.

Anyone got any recommendations for me?

Happy Summer to all and happy reading!

Clare
 
Just a quick question. Is it easier to read than "The Bone People"? I enjoyed that book but I had a hard time with it.

Joanne
 
-The Giver by Lois Lowry (The best young adult fiction I've ever read)
-Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (Icky subject matter, but great book)
-Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (Hilarious!)
-Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer (DH liked Into Thin Air more, but I haven't read that one yet).
-Life Size by Jenifer Shute (This is a great book told from the perspective of a hospitalized anorexic girl. I prefered this one by far to Wasted and The Best Little Girl In the World, or whatever that one was called)
-Tying Rocks To Clouds by Bill Elliot (Travel log of sorts of a guy who's mom and dad die in the same year. He buys a camper and goes around interviewing Elisabeth Kubler Ross, the dali lama, Mother Theresa, Rober Schuller, and many others asking them the meaning of life.)
 
hey Jillybean:

thnks for the suggestions and it's good to see a former poster still lurking around...

my best regards to you,

Clare
 
Hey Clare,
I liked "The Bone People", I just had a hard time understanding some of it. "The Girl With a Pearl Earring" was really, really great! Thanks for that suggestion.

Joanne
 
>-Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (Hilarious!)

I'll second this one, David Sedaris is hysterical. I'd also recommend "Take the Cannoli" by Sarah Vowell. She's another NPR contributor.
 
I'm reading East of Eden as suggested by Oprah. This is the first of her bookclub books that I am enjoying. It's really long but the detail is incredible!
 
Hi!

I just read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
I know, I know it's a kids book, but I have really gotten into the series reading the books to my kids. I'm 38 years old and I love them. My husband thinks I'm sick. They are fast pace,fun, have good plots, and they often make me laugh out loud.
Just a suggestion....
Have a great summer!
Jen
 
I second Harry Potter! ... these books are not just for kids. Lots of fun!

Of course there are also some classics, if you never read them... how about Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

Yadira
 
I'm going with "no brainers" this summer. I'm starting with The Lake House because I think the TV commercials sucked me in. Has anyone read this yet?

I want to stick with books that are easy reads on the deck with a glass of ice tea.
 
THank you all for you suggestions.

I am afraid I shall never read the Harry Potter series because I am spoiled. My sister tapes for me the book-on-tapes versions of all the HP books in their UK versions, read by Stephen Fry and we listen to these as we drive from Michigan to Montana for our Summer vacations. It is a complete treat because Stephen Fry mnakes these books come alive and seem way more interesting and devilish than any of the films have been so far and his narration knocks socks off the lame version read by Jim Dale, sorry!

I would much rather enjoy listening to Stephen Fry than read these for myself, and so this is my reccomendation to all HP fans! Tapes available from amazon.co.uk...........

THanks anyway!

Clare
 
When I was young I lived from book to book. In the 7th grade my guidance councilor told I was the best read person he knew. That being said, it is astounding that I cannot find time to read and expand this rapidly shrinking mind any longer! I love books. But I did read I Am The Central Park Jogger in an afternoon and I loved The Lovely Bones as well. My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen is amazing. Read on, my friends!
Chicks's Rule! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Bobbi
 

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