reading for pleasure

[MoxieGrrl]

OMG!!!!!! I *love* Jane Green books, as well as the Stephanie Plum mysteries!!!!! I'm dying to read the next one, but it isn't coming out for forever!

Although they are kind of YA novels, I love anything by Francescia Lia Block. Very original and cute!

Poppy Z. Brite novels are beautifully written. I feel like I know the characters personally by the end.

Another set of good mystery novels are by Laurell K. Hamilton...they are about this badass chick named Anita Blake who hunts vampires. They sound cheesy, but are really good!

I would have to say absolutely read "The Pact" by Jodi Piccoli (sp?).....it's wonderful!!! It's about this teenage couple who are in love...one dies...ahhh...I don't want to give too much away. Read the summary on Amazon.com.

[IowaHawkeye]

Originally posted by LeslieAGD
If you liked "Bridget Jones" and "Confessions", you absolutely must read "Jemina J" by Jane Green! It's in the same kind of easy read, British tradition as the others.

ok, i think i've read this, but i don't remember - is this about an overweight british girl who pretends to be someone she's not when she starts talking to a california guy but then transforms herself?

am i thinking the worng book here?

[LeslieAGD]

Originally posted by IowaHawkeye
ok, i think i've read this, but i don't remember - is this about an overweight british girl who pretends to be someone she's not when she starts talking to a california guy but then transforms herself?

am i thinking the worng book here?

No, you are correct!

I also recommend anything written by Nicholas Sparks. He wrote "Message In A Bottle" and his book "A Walk to Remember" is being adapted into a movie also. His book "The Resue" was wonderful as well.

[KappaStargirl]

Originally posted by MoxieGrrl

I would have to say absolutely read "The Pact" by Jodi Piccoli (sp?).....it's wonderful!!! It's about this teenage couple who are in love...one dies...ahhh...I don't want to give too much away. Read the summary on Amazon.com.

It's Jodi Picoult, and it IS a faboo book. I read it over the summer in two days, couldn't put it down. I also sent this question to the Reader's Advisor at my library, and she seconds the nominations for The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing , Four Blondes , and also recommends Welcome to my Planet by Shannon Olson. The reader's advisory site she used also listed The Perfect Elizabeth by Libby Schmais, Cupid and Diana by Christina Bartolomeo, and Otherwise Engaged by Suzanne Finnamore. She hasn't read any of them, though. She also gave me a funny look when I said I recommended Waiting to Exhale, but I still like it anyway.

[Heather]

Nicholas Sparks-The rescue, The notebook
John Irving-Hotel New Hampshire, Widow for a year, The world according to Garp
Wally Lamb-She's come undone, I know this much is true
Judy Blume-Summer sisters
Anna Quindlen-Black and Blue
Mauve Binchy- Scarlet Feather
I've also read several of the Oprah books, liked most of them
I'm so glad I'm done with finals so I can fun read!! I've gotten some good ideas from you all!

[bucutie02]

how about audio books, does anyone have any of those? i was thinking about getting one to try it out. I have a long drive to school so i could listen to it then, and i also asked for a CD alarm clock that i might get for christmas, and then i could listen to it before i go to bed.

[SilverTurtle]

Originally posted by AlphaGam1019
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb is an awesome read!! You wouldn't believe this book was written by a man (the subject matter is about the life of a female!)

A friend gave me this to borrow a few months ago. While I enjoyed the story, I found myself getting very frustrated with & pissed off at the main character. She makes some really poor decisions, and I wanted to scream at her, or for one of the other characters to punch her in the head and say "what are you thinking?!". But it was amazing that a man wrote it. Incidentally, my friend really liked it.

Ok, so I don't read a lot of girly books like what everyone's listed. The closest thing I could recommend is probably High Fidelity by Nick Hornsby.

I am also a huge fan of Douglas Coupland. I would recommend anything by him, but particularly Microserfs & Girlfriend in a Coma.

I love Bridget Jones' Diary as well. But then, I also am addicted to the whole Harry Potter series.

Let us know if you pick any good books!

[CA theta]

I also love the BJD books!

I know this isn't exactly academic , but you will love (or at least I do) Judith Krantz's Spring Collection. One of my guilty pleasures! It's about the lives of models and unconventional sex and relationships. I read it cover to cover one cold winter night last year!

[tcsparky]

When I am in the mood for historical fiction, I love anything by Victoria Holt (aka Jean Plaidy). My just-for-fun stuff is also books by David Eddings. They're fantasy adventure, but one of the main characters is a woman. Also, the Raymond Feist/Janny Wurts series "Servant of the Empire" is fantasy-adventrue and has a woman as the heroine.

I am an avid bookworm, so it is very hard for me to name just a few. However, I tried to keep it limited!!!!

[bruinaphi]

Ok, let me start out by saying I am addicted to books and that I don't like mysteries or fantasy. BJD was awesome and so are most of the books of that genre that most of the people have mentioned on this post. Mauve Binchy rocks!

I have to give a little plug for Harry Potter though. I refused to read them until two months ago b/c I always insist that I don't like fantasy. I can't tell you how obsessed I have become with the books. I read the first one, bought the next three and had them all done within about two weeks. I saw the movie on opening night and now I am actually considering reading a book for the second time so that I can reread them. You have to understand, I NEVER read books twice b/c it bores me.

I also just bought a book that I haven't seen anyone mention. It is called The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc , by Loraine Despres. It looks pretty entertaining, but I promised myself I would get all the way through The Lord of the Rings before I touch it (gotta go see the movie with my guy friends who will not forgive me if I don't read the book first).

As far as books on tape/cd go, make sure to check out the collection at your local library. When I take long drives I always check them rather than buying them. My video store also has a collection and gives pretty good rates.

Happy reading!

[curiouss]

The last book I remember reading was "The Great Gatsby", in my junior year in high school. Which I didn't really get, until I saw the movie. I would read more only if I can get past the first page without falling asleep.

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by curiouss
The last book I remember reading was "The Great Gatsby", in my junior year in high school. Which I didn't really get, until I saw the movie. I would read more only if I can get past the first page without falling asleep.

I'm sorry you didn't like it! "The Great Gatsby" is far and away my favorite book of all time. I have read and love all of Fitzgerald's work, but GG is the best. I am such a geek, I even named my miniature schnauzer "Gatsby"!

[bruinaphi]

KillarneyRose, I am right there with you! The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books of all times. Every year we go to this party called "Tavern on the Green" at our club. It reminds me so much of the parties in the book. I've always dreamed of having my wedding be in a similar setting.

[sundevil2000]

I just started reading the GREEN MILE. I have seen the movie and I cant wait to see the differences in the book!

[valkyrie]

For easy, fun reading, nothing beats short stories. Some really good collections are --

The Penguin Book of International Women's Stories, edited by Kate Figes

Travelers' Tales A Woman's World, edited by Marybeth Bond

I also have to mention A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers -- it's funny, sad and amazing! It's not "girly" or anything, but (and I am someone who usually reads stuff written by women) it is one of the best books I have ever read.

Another really good, easy book is Layover by Lisa Zeider. In short, it's about a woman who is frustrated with her life and travels around, sneaking into hotels to stay without paying, and having, as the back of the book calls it, "anonymous sex" -- although it's not as trashy as that makes it sound. The author does a great job of getting into the mind of the main character, and it's interesting too because she spends a lot of time alone, so you really get to read about what she's thinking.

Also -- While I Was Gone by Sue Miller is good. It's an Oprah pick about a woman who revisits her early 20s life and a tragic event that happened then. An added bonus is that the main character is a veterinarian, so you know that she's cool.