Jane Greene's Mr. Maybe is great...as well as a book called Dog Handling, but I can't think of the name of the author right now.

On the Verge *do not remember the author, but it's fairly new

normal girl by Molly Mai Jong

Bookends by Jane Green

These are all fun, excellent beach reads :)

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
(Shopaholic Gets Married comes out in March)

I just finished the Nanny Diaries.

Karen, how did you like the Nannie Diaries?

XOXO,
Annie.

To UCLAgirl
 

Reply: Shopaholic Getting Married

YES! I saw it at my Barnes and Noble, but I have not yet finished Shopaholic Takes Manhatten.

By the way, can't wait to talk to you again!

XOXO,
Annie.

I second a lot of these books already mentioned....BJD books, Great Gatsby (awesome book!), Catcher in the Rye, 4 Blondes, Breakfast at Tiffany's, She's Come Undone, etc.

Another great book, even though I wouldn't categorize it in the funny or lighthearted reading is "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan. I have read it like 4 times and it is soo wonderful.

I liked the Nanny Diaries, but certainly didn't find it lighthearted. But then again, I'm a working mom with a nanny, and spent much of the book angsting: "OMG! Do I do that?! Am I like that?!" (I'm not, but why not worry if you can?)

I strongly second Wrigley's recommendation of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon -- these are just amazing books and characters. And also Cluey's recommendation on A Prayer for Owen Meany, my favorite book of all time, too, though not always lighthearted (and for heaven's sake don't even think about that awful Simon Birch movie, which didn't hold a candle to it).

Shopgirl by Steve Martin is pretty lighthearted and funny, and very smart. Also hysterically funny and smart is just about anything by Bill Bryson -- I recommend A Walk in the Woods (he decides to hike the Appalachian Trail) and In a Sunburned Country (Australia). These are easily to put down and pick up over time, whereas Outlander and Owen Meany will have you just about glued to your chair for The Duration.

Does anyone here read John Saul?

reading
 

My favorite book ever was Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy. I also like Seamus Heaney.

-Rudey

I'm a huge F. Scott Fitzgerald fan. I just got finished with "This Side of Paradise" and about to start on "The Beautiful and the Damned."

Collin

Just a reminder that Shopaholic Gets Married is out in stores now! I picked it up yesterday.
I'm excited that I'll finally get a chance to pleasure read in two weeks when my student teaching unit is finally finished!

Re: reading
 

Rudey, I can't believe any one likes this book, much less as their favorite. I had to read it one year for a HS english class & thought it was terrible, boring & ridiculous. To each his own, as they say. ;)

I'm currently reading "Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About" by Mil Millington. It's a pretty witty book. Some other good summer reading would be

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Cad: Confessions of a Toxic Bachelor
Shopgirl
Empire Falls
American Gods
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
The Fundamentals of Play
Lit Life

i am so glad that you pulled up this old thread leslie! i just recently started to have time to read for pleasure. i just finished the unbearable lightness of being. and i am reading wide sargasso sea by jean rhys. i am trying to read all of the books from my college lit classes that i never really finished! lol. there are some really great ideas on here!

i have read wally lamb's she's come undone and loved it, too! and skinny legs and all by tom robbins is hilarious!

I finished Shopaholic Gets Married last week and loved it!

I read a lot, since I have a 40 minute t ride to and from work every day so lots of recommendations, and they are all fast, easy reads, good romantic comedy type books:

Milkrun and Fishbowl by Sarah Mlynowski
All Jane Green Books
The Accidental Virgin by Valerie Frankel
Ralph's Party - Lisa Jewell
The Boy Next Door - Meggin Cabbot
Confessions of an Ex-girlfriend - Lynda Curnyn
Dating without Novacaine - Lisa Cache


Let me know if you want to know of any others...

I'm currently reading "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. It is a pretty long, intense, draining book, but is incredibly well written and very, very good. It's about a Christian missionary family in the Congo in the early 60s when the country was struggling with independence. It's not really a topic I'd choose to read about, but I've read all of Barbara Kingsolver's novels thus far, and have never been disappointed. She is a wonderfully gifted writer.

"The Crimson Petal & the White" by Michael Faber
-Very long, very good
"Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch" by Haywood Smith
-Someone may have already mentioned this, but it's worth mentioning again! For those of us interested in the "Southern Belle", this is a good one.

I'd definately recommend either of the Candace Bushnell books. Sex in the City and 4 Blondes are both really funny and witty.

I've read both of the Bridget Jones' books, and loved them. If you liked them, I'd check out Running in Heels and Getting Over It by Anna Maxted.

The Harry Potter books are definately not to be skipped. They're so much more intelligent and interesting than the films.

I also recommend anything by Nicholas Sparks. Especially The Notebook.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran is interesting if you're into more philisophical work.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera is also an amazing book.

I'm currently working on the Silmarillion, then plan to start the Unfinished Tales by JRR Tolkien before I re-read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

I think it's amazingly sad how few people read for pleasure nowadays, or if they do read for pleasure, it's smut like Cosmo or Maxim.

There are two more books in the Shopaholic series. "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan" and "Shopaholic Ties the Knot". Both were great. Also, "Girl's Poker Night" was an awesome read and "LA Woman" was pretty good. I have lots of suggestions, but these books are along the lines of the ones you mentioned.

I wish that I had more time to read for pleasure. I haven't read a new book this year and it's almost April. :eek: I used to read a book every week or two.

hmm.. I've probably read more for leisure than I have for class this semester.

Since the semester has started, I've read 4 books, and I'm starting on my 5th.

I guess they are just more interesting than marketing... or stats.. or my other classes... ;)

hehehe :D

I LOVE the Shopaholic books!!! I haven't read the latest one (Shopaholic Ties the Knot), but I am hoping to get my hands on a copy pretty soon!

I just finished reading the third Shopaholic book: "Shopaholic Ties The Knot." It was fantastic! I almost think it is the best one in the series.

I'm about to start reading a book called "Her" by Laura Zigman. I guess it's about woman's obsession with the return of her fiance's ex, whom she only refers to as "her."

I just read it last week! It's awesome and hilarious! :D

I was going to buy the Shopaholic book at Barnes & Nobles the other day but i didnt. I think it was the second one. I really enjoyed the first one, so im looking forward to reading the other two.

This semester I took an english class and we read four books, therefore I havent had much time to read something that I actually pick. Hopefully I'll have some time in the summer after my first summer class.

This semester I read Frankenstein, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Jane Eyre, and Dracula..... they were all enjoyable.

Re: reading for pleasure
 

Don't be too quick to rule out Harry Potter. I typically read Harlequin romances :o . But when I read the first Harry Potter book, I couldn't put it down. Then I rushed out the buy the other three. I think I read all of them within a week. The books are a great read for any age!

Re: Re: reading for pleasure
 

I think the Harry Potter craze has really turned me off. Everyone keeps telling me that I JUST HAVE TO run out and read the books and see the movies. If I hadn't been dragged to the first LOTR and loved it, I would probably feel the same way about it too.

Since classes are over, I thought I'd renew this thread!

I just finished reading "Bad Boy" a novel by Olivia Goldsmith (also wrote First Wives Club) and I have to say even though it began kind of slow, it was a really great book! I really enjoyed it and thought it had a cute ending!

I'm FINALLY reading Shopaholic Ties the Knot tonight! I'm so excited.. I just love the shopaholic books!!!

Any other summer readers out there?

I have a list of books I want to read and so far it includes:

* The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
* Eating the Chesire Cat - Helen Ellis
* Fashionistas - Lynn Messina
* Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister - Gregory Maguire
* Just As We Were - Prudence Mackintosh
* Apocalipstick - Sue Margolis

Can you tell I just love reading girly books? hehehe

For those of you who read the Shopaholic and similar books, you definetely need to check out Marian Keyes. Some of her titles are "Watermelon", "Rachel's Holiday" and "Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married."

Also, for something a bit heavier, the Earth's Children series (The Clan Of The Cave Bear, etc) is sooo good!! Each book in the series is really long, but totally worth it!!

loved this book!

i've just finished:

One Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell
Wanderlust by Chris Dyer


Both were very good!

Ralph's Party and thirtynothing by Lisa Jewell were also good!

Thetagirl, thanks for the heads up on Marian Keyes! I'll definately check it out!

You read my mind! I was about to start a thread and ask "Read any good books lately?" I am waiting for Harry Potter and was looking for some good suggestions to try while I am waiting.

A couple of good ones I just read are "Killer Stuff" and "Dead Guy's Stuff" by Sharon Fiffer. They are mysteries, and the main character frequents estate sales, flea markets, garage sales, etc. looking for cool vintage "stuff." If you enjoy Antique Road Show, I think you will like these books as well.

I like funny mysteries the best!

Between the time classes finished (April 25) and now, I've been attempting to read new books.

One was "Having it and Eating it," by Sophie Dummant (sp?). It was okay, I wouldn't recommend it unless you have kids and are going through a pre-midlife crisis.

The second was "Manhattan Monologues." Louis Auchincloss wrote that--I very rarely feel so alienated by a book's contents that I can't complete it. This was about the rarefied world of affluent Manhattan during the pre-Depression era. It was the richer man's version of "The Great Gatsby," without the parties or intrigue.

I recently read The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. I really enjoyed it. I also second the John Irving reccomendation.

Thanks for all the great book suggestions- I can't wait to get my hands on some of them.

I just finished reading 'Shopaholic Ties the Knot' and it is the most lovely thing ever!!!

I really enjoyed the line towards the end when 'Becky' replies to 'Luke's' question about the empty luggage: "Travelers should support the local economies - "

LoL!!! That is definately something I would say;)

Does anyone know if there will be more shopaholic books to come?

I'm really looking forward to Kinsella's 'Can You Keep A Secret?'

wow, this book thread is a GREAT idea.
i was just thinking about what to read next.
i have to say i also like the shopaholic series and i can't wait to read shopaholic ties the knot.
other good reads are:
shopgirl- steve martin
4 blondes
girl's guide to hunting and fishing
the bachelor- carly phillips (i heard about this one from kelly ripa's book club from live with regis and kelly, she has some really good beach reads) the new one out by carly phillips is the playboy, which is sort of connected to the bachelor (ie. different brother) but you don't have to read one to understand the other.
patricia cornwell and stuart woods books (mysteries) are also great!
one really good author that i've just discovered is nora roberts.
check out- public secrets, carnal innocence and the woman next door.
i'm not much into harry potter, haven't read any of the books or seen the movies, because i'm not into sci-fi. BUT, since i've heard so much about the books on here, i think i just might give one a try.
:o

Oh, you should defininitely try a Harry Potter book. I don't really care for fantasy, but as a school librarian, I was going to read just one so I could see what all the hoo-haw was about. Well, I LOVE those books. Each one is just a really good story.

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next one in June....

They are really a change for me, because I mainly read mysteries and theatre biographies.

:eek: I just finished reading the first section of "Eating the Chesire Cat" of "Sarina" and all I can say is:

http://www.freeadpower.org/~mrsmiles/cwm/cwm/eek2.gif

Re: Re: Re: reading for pleasure
 

This turned me off at first too. I never would have read HP if I hadn't gotten really bored one night, raided my little sister's bookshelf and chose HP because it was the only thing I hadn't already read. Now I'm really glad, because the books are great -- but I probably wouldn't have ever picked one up on my own, just since they were so overhyped.

oooo I love reading. I remember the first book my grandmother taught me to read when I was 3 or 4- "Hop on Pop". I've always been a good, fast reader. This amazes my best friend who absolutely hates reading! I was impressed she got me a book for my birthday last year- I didn't think she'd be caught in a book store!

Anyways, my recommendations:

Harry Potter :D
the Gossip Girl series(there are 3 of them): The characters are all seniors in high school, but its a very good series. I loved it and I'm almost a sophomore in college! Kinda like a young sex and the city.

the Shopaholic series- Read all three. Loved them

Bridget Jones.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

However, my favorite book is Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam. The movie "October Sky" is based on that book(that happens to be my favorite movie too!). Its just a great story- and its true! The sequels are good too: The Coalwood Way , and Sky of Stone