Suggested Reading #1
January 16, 2012Here's a new regular feature! I read a shit-ton of books, so why not, I asked myself, share the ones I like? Why not?
This week I read more than usual because of my brain's decision to keep me from falling asleep. Thanks a lot, brain. I don't think these choices helped me, particularly. In the future, I need to choose more boring books. Which I will then not recommend to you. Unless you are also suffering from insomnia. I think that's going to have to be a different feature, however. This is getting really confusing. Or is it just my sleep deprivation?
Lovely. The moment I finished I wanted to re-read. It was 4 am. I decided to hold off for another day.
Sarah Silverman loves doodies and farts, and I love her.
Yes. Not as good as The Magicians, but still damn satisfying. You read The Magicians, right?
Reaffirming my decision to never ever climb anything higher than a few flights of stairs.
Aaand now I'm all out of books to read. So. What are you reading? Gimme. Ideas, that is. You don't need to send me books.
Note: links to books contain my Amazon Affiliate code, which means I get a small percentage from any books you might purchase using those links.
Reader Comments (57)
The Last Child by John Hart. Excellent.
I am jumping on the Night Circus bandwagon- one of the richest, most imaginative books I have read in years. Joshilyn Jackson's new book comes out in the next couple week- that'll be a must read, as I love all of her books. I also love Sarah Addison Allen's books- she's like a southern Alice Hoffman.
If you have not read The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick, you should definitely pick those up. They are breathtaking.
I have also been going back and reading some of the books that were my favorites when I was a kid. It's been interesting to see which ones really hold up.(The Secret Garden, From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil Frankweiler, The Great Gilly Hopkins, etc.)
I think I need to reread The Magicians. Everyone loved it, but I did not. ANd it is the type of book I usually love.
Have you ever read The Historian? Really good book.
As for the millenium triolgy- I loved it. I get what you mean about the writing, but I find it gets much better about 100 pages in to the first book. It is definitely not great literature, but it is great storytelling and entertainment.
My fav book EVER is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.
Also love Cutting for Stone, Ahabs Wife, A Reliable Wife, East of the Sun
You Must Be This Happy to Enter by Elizabeth Crane
Tinkers by Paul Harding
Thanks for all the great ideas!!
The Bitch In The House. Excellent essays about female themes and one of my all time favorites. Also easy to read when you're time-crunched.
I love science, but I REALLY love humor (duh- I'm here aren't I?). If you want to see the perfect marriage of science & humor, I can't think of any author more adept at it than Mary Roach. I have been known to laugh audibly reading her while climbing the stairmaster at the gym. Makes me look like an asshole mocking the uncoordinated guy on the rowing machine, but I'm laughing at the book - THE BOOK! I wildly gesture.
Alice: I hear you about Larsson. The first half of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was very slow and, I have to admit, I gave it more of a chance than I normally would have because I wanted to read it before seeing the movie (which I still haven't seen) ... because "Directed by David Fincher" + "Score by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross" = I'm so there. The second half of "Tattoo" was great, and the second book ("The Girl Who Played with Fire") was the most compelling page-turner of a book I've read in years, if not ever.
But, hey, music, movies, books ... all subjective. We like what we like. If you should happen to give it another try, lemme know how it pans out for you. :)