good book recommendations

[SigmaChiCard]

Originally Posted by Coramoor

Cormac McCarthy, Charles Bukowski, Hemingway, Doystoevsky.

Each is...timeless and has had a huge impact on literature and society in his own way.

I second Bukowski strongly...and the others as well, I guess.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

Philippa is my mom's birth name but like all her brothers and sisters she now uses an American name. It's pronounced with the accent on the second syllable. (Phil-LIP-ah)

I've read that Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. I haven't been able to find out her ancestry. She may pronounce it differently than Italians, such as my mother, would but it's a safe guess that it's similar.

Thank you! Just to make sure, it's LIP, not LEEP, right? There seems to be dozens of Phillippas in English history (including Chaucer's wife), and I've always gone out of my way not to say the name out loud!



For non-fiction fans, I'm reading Blood On The Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It's quite possibly the best book on the Lincoln assassination I've ever read - and I've read a lot of them.

[JennRN]

I just read "Summer at Tiffany's" by Marjorie Hart. It was so cute!! The author and her friend in the book were Kappa's at Iowa. It's very old New Yorky, in the 40's when people dressed up for every occasion and were so much more formal. It's a great read!!

[AGDee]

Light hearted and even a little silly.. I'm reading the whole "murder she baked" series.. starts with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. I'm on the 8th in the series, Cherry Cheesecake Murder and I've read all of them since February 23rd, so they are clearly quick and easy reads. The fun thing about them is that every few chapters there is a recipe for a baked good that has had prominence in the previous chapter! These books make me hungry!

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by acedawg00-02

The Five People You Meet in Heaven: by Mitch Albom. I couldn't put it down...a short, captivating read!!

I consider this book to be one of the most influential, important books I have ever read in my life. I have given this book to many a friend who is going through a tough time with the loss of a loved one....

Along the same vein...his book "For One More Day" is equally good, exploring mothers and sons. I gave it to Sageofages Son #1 (who we all know has had his challenges over the years...just search my posts from 2005)....he cried and slept with it under his pillow for many weeks, it is next to his computer now to see everyday .

[tld221]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I just finished The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory, and I really liked it.

im on the last 50 or so pages... woo wee! what a read!

i can just tell the movie won't be as good.

[Buttonz]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Light hearted and even a little silly.. I'm reading the whole "murder she baked" series.. starts with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. I'm on the 8th in the series, Cherry Cheesecake Murder and I've read all of them since February 23rd, so they are clearly quick and easy reads. The fun thing about them is that every few chapters there is a recipe for a baked good that has had prominence in the previous chapter! These books make me hungry!

I've read a few of them and they were pretty good for a fun, light read!

[sageofages]

I also recently read "I know this much is true" by Wally Lamb. My daughter read it, and gave it to me. I didn't get around to reading it for probably...1.5-2 years. It sat, literally, on my piano for that long. (I just moved it from one side to the other when I dusted .

Finally, I broke down and read it after she kept nagging and nagging and nagging me. WOW. It is an excellent book...well actually a story within a story ending with the redemption of the human spirit.

I recommend it as well. It is not a fast read, as it can be complicated when you are reading in first person voice (and the side story is in first person voice of another). Very image-filled and emotionally evocative.

[jess_pom]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Light hearted and even a little silly.. I'm reading the whole "murder she baked" series.. starts with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. I'm on the 8th in the series, Cherry Cheesecake Murder and I've read all of them since February 23rd, so they are clearly quick and easy reads. The fun thing about them is that every few chapters there is a recipe for a baked good that has had prominence in the previous chapter! These books make me hungry!

I've read this series, too. Another cute line in the same vein is by Diane Mott Davidson... Goldilocks Catering.

[catiebug]

I am a sucker for the Thursday Next series by Welsh author Jasper Fforde. If you like literary puns and can understand the term "willing suspension of disbelief," then these are great books. You might have to read them a second time to fully appreciate them. Each time I read these books (I think I have read each about 4-5 times), I pick up something new.

The Eyre Affair
Lost in a Good Book
The Well of Lost Plots
Something Rotten
First Among Sequels

Another series is the one by Diana Gabaldon. If you like Scotland, Bonnie Prince Charlie, a good love story and yes, time travel, then this is the one for you!

Outlander
Dragonfly in Amber
Voyager
Drums of Autumn
The Fiery Cross
Breath of Snow and Ashes

If you would like an insider's look into her books, Diana also wrote The Outlandish Companion as a sort of guide.

All of these are links to amazon.com using the Greekchat support link.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by sageofages

I also recently read "I know this much is true" by Wally Lamb. My daughter read it, and gave it to me. I didn't get around to reading it for probably...1.5-2 years. It sat, literally, on my piano for that long. (I just moved it from one side to the other when I dusted .

Finally, I broke down and read it after she kept nagging and nagging and nagging me. WOW. It is an excellent book...well actually a story within a story ending with the redemption of the human spirit.

I recommend it as well. It is not a fast read, as it can be complicated when you are reading in first person voice (and the side story is in first person voice of another). Very image-filled and emotionally evocative.

i concur - it's one of those "someday ill read that one" books, but boy what a great read.

[emleepc]

I recently read Paula Deen's "It Ain't All About the Cookin'"----and it was wonderful. It meant a lot to read about someone who I have a few things in common with......

[SthrnZeta]

Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane. Absolutely hilarious! And then there's The Washingtonienne by Jessica Cutler. Guilty pleasures, for sure, but very very fun to read!

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

When i read the titel of this thread i was like oooo Jodi Picoult thats who id suggest but you me to it. . . Anyway another good one is Jennifer Weiner specifically "good in bed" but it is a bit fluffy

I LOVE Jennifer Weiner, especially Good in Bed and In Her Shoes. Both made me laugh, cry and get really angry in parts.

One of my favorite books of all time is The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay.

[Lady Pi Phi]

If you like spy novels, anything by Robert Ludlum is a good read.

As someone else suggested, Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth .

Aso by Ken Follet, Hornet's Flight.