This is a great thread. I checked and found that Rutherfurd's style is similar to Michener's and since I love Michener, i decided to read Rutherfurd as well. Since I used to live in Ireland, I just ordered The Princes of Ireland and Rebels of Ireland from Amazon. So to be OT, I'm reading these two (shortly.)

Glad this was bumped!

I have to recommend The Help by Stockett. I loved it and did not want it to end. Yes, I am from the South, but I have a good friend from NYC who also loved it, so I don't think it is a regional thing.
Set in Mississippi in the 60's, a white woman secretly records the life stories of the black maids in her town and then publishes them in a book. It is such a great book, wonderful for book clubs, lots to think and talk about. But, it is not heavy handed or preachy in any way. I have not talked to anyone who did not like it. You will fall inlove with the characters.

Just finished reading Toni Morrison's novel Sula for school. Not my favorite, but its been growing on me a bit.

I ordered both from Amazon, too - but we had no deliveries this past week!

Going on my Wish List!

Network Perimeter Security Essentials.

Oh, for fun! I had $55 in gift certificates for B&N so I ordered the next novels in some of my favorite series', including the newest Joann Fluke "murder she baked" book, the Plum Pudding Murder, Finger Lickin' Fifteen from Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, Hero at Large, another novel by Janet Evanovich, and Catering to Nobody (Culinary Mystery #1). The kicker? One of them is a pre-order.. the Hero at Large book, so they are not shipping ANY of them until that one. I should just go in and cancel this order and start over without that one. These are due to come in the week AFTER my next class starts and I wanted them during my two week break between classes. Ugh.

I loved The Help also! It was wonderful - and a great complementary book to read along with it is "Mud Bound" - My book club read both and it was a great discussion about the differences. Both are about class and race, but from totally different scenarios.

For fun, I just finished both "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" and his next book, "The Girl Who Played with Fire" - extremely entertaining and addictive.

(BTW - since I got my Kindle, I'm a reading machine!! LOVE IT - hubby did good with the Christmas gift this year!!)

I'm rereading a series of memoirs by Jen Lancaster- she was a Pi Phi in college. She is really sarcastic and funny, and I love her novels!

I read both "Dragon" and "Fire" too and can't wait until the third. I was SO unhappy with the way the first book ended so abruptly and somewhat less upset with the second. I just hope the third has an ending that makes me feel good about all of the characters that I am so invested in!!

I have never heard of Mud Bound but am clicking over to Amazon after this to read up on it. I am always looking for book club selections!

I am totally and completely jealous of your Kindle! I am afraid if I bought one, I would read 24/7!!

Did you read A Thousand Splendid Suns? That was a good one. We had a good discussion after reading it.

"You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning" - Ceilia Rivenbark - hilarious NC columnist. I need a break from "serious" stuff,and this is it!

I read Sarum several years ago after a trip to England. A bit long but I did like it. The Help was great as well. I grew up in the era so it was an interesting return. I recommend the Piano Teacher. Also, for great mystery and intrigue, I recommend The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson The 3rd book in the trilogy should available in the US this Spring. Interesting reading from a Swedish perspective and the author died under mysterious circumstances soon after bringing the books in for publication.

I'm reading your posts on greekchat.

I LOVE the Jen Lancaster books. They are not novels but memoirs. All four are GREAT. She chronicles her story of going from a six figure income to being unemployed for over two years. It is quite compelling but you are rolling with laughter they way she tells her story. (Bitter is the New Black, Bright Light/Fat Ass, Such a Pretty Fat and Pretty in Plaid). You do not have to read them in order to enjoy them. I will caution you that I listened to Bright Lights/Big Ass in the car and almost ran off the road because I was laughing so hard when she described her spa experience. Believe it or not, there are lessons that can be learned from these books. If you are looking for light, fun reading this is the ticket.

On the opposite end, Growing Up Bin Laden, by Omar Bin Laden is a real eye-opener. He is Osama's 4th son by his 1st wife.

I'm reading The 5 Love Languages of Singles. I'm trying to "be a better version of myself" and this is a good place to start. Over the years, I learned how to rationalize well in the academic world, but I have a hard time with personal communication. It used to be one of my strong points and now....yeah, I figure a book couldn't hurt. :o

CG, get out of my head! i just picked that up from the library this morning!

I just finished reading the new Jodi Picoult book House Rules this morning. I am a huge fan of her work and have to say I think this one was one of her best - as good as My Sister's Keeper. One of the main characters is a teenage boy with Asperger's Syndrome who becomes involved with a murder trial.