Now for something a little lighter.
I’m a complete cut-and-dried bookworm, always have been, always will be. As I once mentioned, I once entered a competition to see how much one could read in one month, and I blew the competition out of the water by reading 11,111 pages in one month. I was 12.
I’m still a voracious reader, although luckily far less competitive these days.
The fabulous Plan B recently posted about books she’s been reading. And I largely agree with her, apart from the Niffenegger aspect. That I’ll overlook.
Since I am being Far Too Serious lately, I’m jumping on that bookcart (as opposed to bandwagon. See what I did there?)
So here’s what has been devoured and what’s to come (you can also find me on Goodreads).
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I bought Jasper Fforde’s Shades of Grey and I really liked it. I was then introduced to the Thursday Next series by Fforde, and I throw my Shades of Grey into the bin and have fallen completely and utterly in love with the whole series. I cannot recommend The Eyre Affair enough if you like quirky, semi-realistic fiction with a sarcastic and stroppy heroine. It’s my kind of sci-fi. I cannot do Pratchett, he’s too science fiction for me (although I am a diehard Doctor Who fan and I love all of the movie adaptations of Pratchett’s books thus far. Square that circle.)
Speaking of sci-fi, I can’t recommend Patrick Ness’ series Chaos Walking, which starts with The Knife of Never Letting Go. Incredible writing. Here’s the thing – I have the third (and last) in the series, but haven’t read it yet because I can’t. Not only will the series then be over, but the books really take it out of you. They are draining and exhausting and you can’t stop reading. Stupid reasoning, I know.
I’m on a bit of a fantasy kick, I suspect – my next two are also fantasy/sci fi/surreal ones. I have The Boy With the Cuckoo Clock Heart ready, followed by The Girl With the Glass Feet. Maybe I’m into fake body parts, not sure. I have learnt that not all sci-fi like works are for me – I tried the Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse and I hated it. Maybe my sci fi does not extend to a sweet tooth.
I don’t read just fiction, though – I am just finishing Globlish, and I have an in-depth view of North Korea called Nothing to Envy. If you like your non-fiction with less edge, then I cannot recommend Emma Kennedy’s The Tent, the Bucket, and Me enough. You will wet yourself laughing. Honestly. I have Khorsandi’s A Beginner’s Guide to Acting English here, too, which I am sure will make me scream with laughter.
I am big on fiction, though. I have read and adored Chris Cleave’s The Other Hand, which is the only book to date that made me cry. People either love it or hate it, but since I am still thinking it ages after I finished it, I’m thinking it is a Very Relevant Book (although I still think of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, which I absolutely loathed, so maybe that argument doesn’t wash). I also have the slightly lighter The Ice Cream Girls beckoning for me, too. I also have two Kazuo Ishiguro books lined up – his new one Nocturnes, and an older one called The Unconsoled.
I also suspect I am the only human being on the planet who cannot get into Steig Larsson.
I tried.
Honest.
Hit me. Tell me what you’re reading, and what I should be reading, too.
-S.
I have recently been devouring all of Brad Thor’s novels. Action/thriller type stuff.
But, while waiting for my husband to finish reading the next book, I have been re-reading Harry Potter. Halfway through the final book so I can get back to other stuff.
Guilty pleasure: the Sookie Stackhouse novels by whomever wrote them. They’re dreadful writing, and I wipe my eyes with my completely useless degree in English while weeping over the butchering of English, but I love the stories. (it’s what the HBO series True Blood is based on) I’m a sucker for vampire novels; no pun intended.
We go to the book store most Saturday evenings and sit in the cafe reading. That’s where I read the sookie books, as I flat out refuse to waste any more money on such shit writing.
I didn’t think I’d get into Steig either. I even thumbed through and no. But it’s a completely different thing when you’re listening to the books on tape. There are a lot of books that I think are better when listened to. (Of course, the reader’s sexy English accent didn’t hurt either.) I have the third installment on cd and will send if you want. The first two I borrowed. Took me a short time to get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. PB’s even been using it in therapy. (Looooong story.)
What’s this about Niffenegger? Do we need to fight?
Funny, I’ve had a couple of Fforde’s books on my shelves for years, but can never bring myself to pick them up.
And if you want some seriously low-bar, trashy, highly enjoyable fiction that I’m too embarrassed to even talk about on here, you know where to find me.
Pretty much all the copies of anything by Lois McMaster Bujold I have had to replace at least twice, whether from reading and re-reading, or they somehow get loaned out and never, ever returned. These are my favorite sci-fi and fantasy books. I find myself thinking of them at times when most books wouldn’t normally come to mind: times of emotional upheaval; moral obligations; raising my son. Something new every time I open them up.
I am currently reading YOUR reject copy of The Road!
Depressed!
I’ve been reading Joyce’s Ulysses for about 3 months now. Normally, I could give you a run for your money on an 11,000 page month, but slogging through these 700+ is slow going. I can’t wait to finish it, so I can return to my regularly scheduled program of trashy novels.
I don’t generally read sci-fi, but I did love The Eyre Affair and want to read more Fforde. The only other things I will read in the sci-fi/fantasy genre are Jim Butcher’s Dresden File books. Very light and entertaining.
most recently finished Alexandra Fuller’s “Don’t lets go to the dogs tonight”, before that, Tana French’s “The likeness”, both quite different from one another, enjoyed both. Have you ever read any Neal Stephenson? a variety of sci fi, a 3 book historical epic (the baroque cycle) that is fun and engaging…
I just asked for book suggestions from my FB friends. A good 50% said Larsson. It’s an epidemic. I loved Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle and am considering The Slap by an Australian writer whose name I can’t recall right now but I heard an interview with him on NPR and was intrigued.
Alan Beadley’s “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” and “The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Noose” Superb. Set in 1950 Rural England. 11 yo Flavia is aChemistry prodigy with a love for poisons.
For SciFi. Classic is A Canticle for Leibowitz. Superb read.
I like Meg Gardiner’s books especially the Jo Beckett series beginning with Dirty Secret Club.
Jacqueline Winspear’s Maise Dobbs series set in post WW I England is excellant.
The Mallory series by Carol O’Connell is really good. The series hasbeen described as watching Mallory grow a soul. Kathy Mallory is a sociopath NYC detective.
If you want a great non-fiction that explains a lot of the why and how of western militaries read “Carnage and Culture” by Victor Davis Hanson.
If you want to know why German and Frech cultures etc are so different read Peter Wells “The Battle That Stopped Rome”. The history and archeology of the Battle of Tuetoberg Forest.
Oh for just good fun the Southern Vampire series that True Blood is based upon by Charlaine Harris
And Great mystery/thriller books by Karin Slaughter. The Grant County series beginning with Blindsighted and the Will Trent series beginning with Triptych.
Oh I’m laughing at your reviews Shannon – no, no — WITH them. I’m a voracious reader so was happy to see some books I’ve never heard of – and lots of sci fi mixed in. I understand the Steig Larsson comment — you have to commit to staying with it through the first 150 pages and then you are absolutely caught up in the story and the action. I’m a “I’ll give you 30 pages to capture my interest” reader so I had to make a solemn vow to a friend to stick with it (OMG – the sheer boredom). I’m glad I did – but I also know exactly why you put it down! And I’m a HUGE fan of sex and violence – not necessarily in that order.
I’ve been reading everything by Adriana Trigiani. It’s pretty light stuff, but her novels have a coziness to them that I find soothing. I loved her Big Stone Gap novels about small town life in West Virginia (where she also grew up).
Short: The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. A good quick read, funny and also a bit dark.
Epic: The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I know people razz on Steve a lot, and yes, he’s pumped out his share of crap, but this series is seriously addictive and amazing. I’d recommend starting with the second book and going back to the first one later (he wrote it when he was 19, so it’s a little patchier than the others).
I freaking love Pratchett. I also adore The Hitchhiker’s series. I love Jasper Fforde’s books too — be warned, though, the series gets WAY more convoluted and complex by about the third book along, I think. WAYYYY more.
I also (still) like most things by Roald Dahl and Tamora Pierce.
How absolutely philistine I now feel in your company. I rarely find time to read (yes I should make time I know) but with my two active boys (no excuse since you have twins) aged 2 and 5, it just feels like the only reading I get to do, is behind the bathroom door as I “escape” reality by re-reading *that* series by Stephenie Meyer… (blush).
Okay, I’m going to say it. WHO THE FARK IS STIEG LARSSON?
Haruki Murakami is great…I’ve got practically all his books. So, it was from you who I recognised the Jasper Fforde name – just got his first one of the Thursday next series to read after I finish Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses, which I am struggling it get into properly. Its definitely a book you need to spend time with. The dice man by luke rheinhart is good if not a little weird and I have to say I loved the Stieg Larsson books, the first and third are the best. Apparently there is a writer who is making more of the Bourne books – bf just bought one and he had a hard time trying to read it, apparently it was that crap.
Agree with some pp that you need to get past the dry start to s.larssons first book but after that they are brilliant. A lol series is the stephanie plum one by Janet Evanovich. With three midgets in the house i am for light and easy to read nowadays, though will have to give some of the ones listed a look. I don’t mind the Jim Butcher books – wizard Harry Dresdan and for a bit of x rated reading try the Laurell K Hamilton series (a very grown up twilight).
I just finished reading “The Gathering Storm” by Bodie Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee) and recommend any book/series she writes. It’s historical fiction, so her books have fictitious characters living in historically accurate situations (WWI, the Depression, & WWII). Her series on WWII (The Zion Covenant) and the establishing of Israel afterwards (The Zion Chronicles) were brilliant among the best fiction I’ve ever read.
For clarification, my last sentence should have read: “…were brilliant!! They’re among the best fiction I’ve ever read.”
Sorry. Y’all probably read what I meant, but I have a hard time letting my errors go uncorrected. :) Oddly enough, I’m very “forgiving” & unbothered with other peoples’ errors.
My recent favorite book (series, really) is The Hunger Games. It’s technically “young adult” but it doesn’t really read that way. (I’m not someone who normally reads young adult fiction. No Harry Potter for me.) It’s also classified as science fiction, though it’s not very science-y. The story is a little brutal, but I just love the strong female lead character. It reminds me in a way of Ender’s Game (but not in space), if you’ve read that. It’s a 3 book series and a real page turner. The third book comes out in two weeks and I can. not. wait.
If you feel like trying something fun in the non-fiction catagory I can endorse Wisenheimer by Mark Oppenheimer. For someone who enjoys language, I think you will find it a fun / light read. At less than 250 pages its not hardly a romp, but still a good read.
I see somebody beat me to it, but I highly recommend The Hunger Games series. I think you’ll love it. Young adult science fiction, quick reads and I’m hooked. For book club this month we’re reading One Day. Both books will be made into movies.
I think you’ve read Kate Fox’s “The English?”
I got into “The Girl…” by listening to the first one on audio.
A couple of short books I’ve read recently and really wished were longer, or the authors had written much else, were “Love Walked In” by Marisa de los Santos, and “Knitting” by Anne Bartlett (I do love knitting, but this is about life as well as about knitting).
I am completely with you on Pratchett (why?), Fforde (can’t he write faster?) and Doctor Who (so glad you’ve been indoctrinated into British culture).
Me again.
Water for Elephants; the Donna Leon mysteries; Qiu Xiaolong’s Inspector Chen novels (though there are two other Inspector Chen novels set in a future Singapore that aren’t bad); Christopher Brookmyre; Colin Bateman; The Luminous Life Of Lilly Aphrodite; From Aberystwyth With Love and the others in the series; The Voluptuous Delights Of Peanut Butter And Jam; Pies And Prejudice; there is a Philip Pullman young adults series which was televised recently and is pretty good (less preachy than Northern Lights, not quite so fantasy either – Ruby in the Smoke?); Erast Fandorin.
I need to go to bed… and, erm, read.
I’m reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. This is my 4th book of hers, and I’m really loving her writing. I also enjoyed The Hunger Games series with my 15 year old son’s recommendation. The 3rd in the series comes out later this month. I know you have a teenage son as well, so his other recommendation would be The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and its sequel is coming this fall.
I have been singing the praises of “Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” by Jamie Ford. I hope they make it into a movie and stay true to the book.
Just finished “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” by Lisa See and found it quite interesting.
I recently finished Lullabies For Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill. That book is way too real and O’Neill did a great job portraying an adolescent girl who lives in poverty. It’s hits somewhat close to home given my sisters background. http://www.amazon.ca/Lullabies-Little-Criminals-Heather-Oneill/dp/0060875070
Evelyn mentioned Barbara Kingsolver. Fantastic author. Try “Poisonwood Bible” set in the Congo in the early ’60s. Great novel with historical background.
The incredible Aubrey Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian has left its mark on me. I have now read the entire twenty book series five times and it has lost none of its appeal. Ostensibly a historical series set in the seafaring service of England during the Napoleonic Wars it is in truth the story of the deep friendship between two men, one a Naval Officer and the other a surgeon, naturalist and sometime spy. Not the most likely of subjects for the female reader; however, my wife has read them all and she comes back for the quality of the writing. She would also run away with Stephen Maturin if he were flesh and blood. They were the basis for the movie Master and Commander with Russell Crowe (a good flick but not anywhere near the class of the books).
Try also the books of Alan Furst, a sort of poor man’s Le Carre. They are set in Europe just before and after the start of WWII. Atmosperic, with compelling characters.
Pratchett sci-fi? Huh? I’d say comedic fantasy or fantasy-styled satire. Hmm.
I love Connie Willis but many of her books have a bit that puts a knife in your heart. In a good way, of course, but I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for. To Say Nothing of the Dog doesn’t, and probably will appeal to that same section of your heart that Doctor Who does.
I hear you on the bookworm thing; my yearly average runs about 160 books. Much of that as re-reads, of course. I love the aforementioned Bujold— I think you’d particularly like Paladin of Souls, which is a sequel to The Curse of Chalion, one of my favorites. I just finished re-reading The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey and am now reading James Herriot (the books are put together differently in the UK.)
Most of my bookshelves are science fiction and fantasy, and a lot of it is brutal to read through. (I *love* Robin Hobb but I can’t read her work very often because her characters get so hurt along the way.) So I do my best to figure out what people like before suggesting books. I’ll always recommend authors such as Christopher Moore, though, because who wouldn’t love a book like The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror?
I’m with you on Stieg Larsson….On holiday so an opportunity to do ‘wall to wall’ reading Have just finished and loved The Flea Palace – Elif Shafak, quirky, funny, sharply observed.
Wolf Hall- Hilary Mantel, didn’t feel it lived up to the hype but if you fsncy a quick tour through the world of Henry V111 …..?
Currently trying not to get anxious if books end before holiday !
Just finished “the hand that first held mine” Maggie offarrrel. A Nice story, particularly liked the descriptions of the emotional
Impact of an wmergency c section. Thanks for your reviews, will check them out.