Over the last few years, and specifically the last two, I haven’t been much of a reader. And I want to be. And I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m not. There just always seems to be too many other things to do. It’s a terrible excuse, I admit it. But time spent reading could otherwise be spent playing with Jaia, taking pictures, cleaning, exercising, relaxing, hanging out with Dan, blogging, SLEEPING…So reading rarely wins out.
Part of the problem is the books I *try* to read. Because I consider my free-time limited, I want to spend it reading FABULOUS books not ones that make me yawn or ones I have to struggle through. And the last few I’ve picked up have bored me to tears. I need something gripping.
I blame a book I read a few months ago. I’m not sure if it was me or the time or the season, but I loved The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. From page one of the 700 and some, I was completely hooked. I powered through it in record time and actually mourned it’s end. And I think I’m still in mourning. No other book since has had me the same way. And I want that again.
So I’m putting this out there to my friends and family who are avid readers…Help me choose my next book. I’m open to any and all suggestions – as long as they don’t begin with something like ‘…it starts off slowly’ because those, though probably amazing later on, are the worst offenders for yours truly.
So there. Suggest away. I’m getting desperate.
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Dan and I have very different ideas about waking up in the morning. I want to make myself believe that I’ve slept longer, so I set my clock a 20 minutes fast and set the alarm to go off at least a half hour before I need to get up. That way I can hit the snooze button a few times before starting the day. Dan thinks this is ridiculous strategy. He feels that if you want more sleep, then just sleep longer, rather than wake yourself up every 9 minutes or so.
KAtie - I know exactly where you are coming from!
Did you try the other books in the tudor series by Philippa Gregory? I haven’t read them all yet, but read the one that takes place right after, and it was really good! I have them if you want any!
Kris - The Other Boelyn Girl was a fantastic read…it sucked me right in too. Her other books are pretty good, but the only won that struck me as a close second was A Constant Princess, about the life of Catherine (Henry’s first wife, the one who he tried to divorce and sent to live in a shit hole while he had fun with Anne and the rest of the wives).
I read a book recently that I don’t think is very well known but which grabbed me because it was kind of like a fairy tale for adults. It’s called The Thirteenth Tale and I don’t remember the author, but it’s in the sidebar on my blog. Really good book.
I’ll put my thinking cap on…I’m sure there are others on my 2008 list that I really enjoyed…
Kris - How could I forget? Best book I’ve read all year: Love in the Time of Cholera. A bit long-winded at times but a beautiful story and extra amazing because Marquez wrote it in English, his second language, instead of in Portugese and then translating it. He does great things with words.
claudia - I just finished the Other Boleyn Girl last week too! It was awesome, sped right through it even after watching the movie (the book is so much more scandalous!). I’ve heard that the Twilight books are completely addictive too, which I’ll probably start on next.
Auntie Jen - My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I couldn’t put it down.
Heather - Historical Fiction:
Definately read the other Philipa Gregory books…they’re all awesome if you like historical fiction. Margaret George does an awesome “Cleopatra” and “Henry VIII”, both of which are large and in charge and easy (though long) reads.
For the Ladies:
I like Jodi Picoult – 19 Minutes, Keeping Faith, Plain Truth, My Sisters Keeper.
Marian Keyes – great british chick lit – Sushi for Beginners, Rachel’s Holiday, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, etc. All fun, witty, easy reads.
What about the new Twilight Series that all the teenage girls are reading (and the rest of us are secretly reading and LOVING)?
Just AWESOME: (some of my favorite books)
The Alchemist – Paolo Cohini
World Without End and Pillars of The Earth – Ken Follet
A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khalhed Hosseini
Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
The Linnet Bird – Linda Holeman
A Moonlit Cage – Linda Holeman (I seriously reccomend her two books here)
My favorite book of all time – The Frog King, by Adam Davies. Definately pick this up – everyone I have shared this with has absolutely LOVED this book. Boys and Girls alike.
Kristin - YES…another vote for the Thirteenth Tale. And ditto on Pillars of the Earth (but be prepared to read it only at home…it’s printed on ridiculously heavy paper and it’s like…1100 pages long).
Frog King was awesome. I’m one of those girls she’s referring to. And I know others.
shannen - WOW. So many suggestions. I bought Twilight on the weekend but have yet to crack it open.
Any of you have some extra time you can spare and donate to me? Now that I’ve added the gym back into the routine, I’m going to be useless. And in bed by 9pm.
EAP - “The Forger’s Spell “- Edward Dolnick
Non-fiction, but it reads like fiction. It’s about one of the greatest art forgery scams of all time. Couldn’t put it down, AND I learned a lot.
EAP
linds - shan,
‘Pillars of the Earth’ and ‘World without End’ are awesome. but yes, huge in wieght alone.
‘The Host” by Stephanie Meyers (the author of Twilight) is better than the twilight series in my opinion.
‘Outlander’ by Diana Gabaldon is the series I’m reading now and it’s amazing.
and I think the 2 best books I’ve read in awhile have been “The Gargoyle” by Andrew Davidson and ‘The Historian’ by Elizabeth Kostova (which Jen and I now have auntie kerry reading!!)