Amazing reads

[kpmcneil22]

x

[wrinkles]

I'm afraid I can't contribute much to a discussion of recent fiction. I haven't read a fiction novel in 16 years: since the birth of my oldest child. Before that I was a voracious reader, as I suppose all writers are. I read everything from the classics to science fiction to biographies to horror.

Just recently I have begun to read fiction again. I have started with authors from my homestate: Kentucky. I am reading literary novels by Silas House who lives in and writes about Appalachia and the esteemed Bobbie Ann Mason, whose latest work is An Atomic Romance.

I can't really say, though, that either is a "blew me away" read. I can't remember the last one that was. I would be interested in hearing from others, though.

[Lee_OC]

A few that I've enjoyed recently:

The Girls - Lori Lansens
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
High Fidelity - Nick Hornby (Not a recent book, but one of my favorites. I loved the movie, but the book is pretty good, too.)
A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby
The Hours - Michael Cunningham (the movie was so-so, but the book is better)

My friends absolutely *love* Michael Chabon, but I'm neutral about him.

[Lee_OC]

I really enjoyed Mystic River. Unfortunately I saw the movie before I read the book, so I had Sean Penn's face in my head.

I will definitely check out your recommendations. :)

[Pomegranate]

These are all books I've read in the last year or so that I loved. Some of them got a lot of positive buzz, which actually made me reluctant to read them. When I did, I felt they deserved the praise. I press them on my friends. I'll read them again.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon -- This is a murder mystery. The POV character is autisic and the writer did an great job of capturing his unusual approach to the world.

Life of Pi by Yan Martel -- This is a book about a boy who is afloat on a raft in the ocean for most of a year - with a man-eating tiger...or was he? I couldn't put this book down.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - This is a murder mystery told by the deceased. As a writer I love it because the story is told backwards, and very well done. It really challenged me.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver -- I love love Kingsolver's writing. The prose in this book is lush and beautiful.

Happy reading!

[TemlynWriting]

I read The Hours a few years ago, and thought it was beautifully-written, though I know of others who found it difficult to get into.

My favorite recent reads have been:

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gegory Maguire

I'm currently reading Son of a Witch, the sequel to Wicked, and plan on reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister next, also by the same author (Gregory Maguire). Other recommendations that I'm looking forward to reading are: Between, Georgia and gods in Alabama (both by Joshilyn Jackson).

I cannot even begin to say how much I adored The Secret Life of Bees. It was nothing like I expected, and it completely blew me away! The characters, the writing, the imagery... everything! It was one of the best books I've ever read.

[wrinkles]

I can only sit and envy all the reading you all are able to do. With a wife, teenager, tweener, and a demanding job, I have to choose between reading and writing. For the last several years I have chosen writing, but really not much of that. Time will tell if I made the right choice.

I did love the movie Mystic River, though. I compare it to another of my favorite movies: Fargo. I love the way both introduce seemingly simple, but ultimately complicated and interesting, characters and then gradually show the connections among them that result in a self-contained story. I wish I could write like that.

[Perks]

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd

I have to agree. I completely loved this.

For sheer enjoyment of style, I really loved The Gun Seller,by Hugh Laurie. I'm not sure I've ever laughed so often (and out loud) while reading a book. Cracking plot too.

[TemlynWriting]

I have to agree. I completely loved this.

For sheer enjoyment of style, I really loved The Gun Seller,by Hugh Laurie. I'm not sure I've ever laughed so often (and out loud) while reading a book. Cracking plot too.I absolutely cannot wait to read this, either! I've heard nothing but great things about Hugh Laurie's writing.

Methinks we've quite similar reading tastes, Perks. :)

[johnnysannie]

"Coal Tattoo" and "Clay's Quilt" by Silas House

"The Time Traveler's Wife"

Adriana Trigiani's Big Stone Gap books "Big Stone Gap", "Cherry Holler", "Milk Glass Moon."

Those are a few that come to mind; I read a great deal but unfortunately a large percentage of contemporary novels are dreck to me.

[bsolah]

I think I've mentioned this before, somewhere else, but 'Norwegian Wood' by Haruki Murakami. It's brilliant and one of the best books I've read in a while.

[katiemac]

For sheer enjoyment of style, I really loved The Gun Seller,by Hugh Laurie. I'm not sure I've ever laughed so often (and out loud) while reading a book. Cracking plot too.

I had no idea he wrote. Now I'm going to have to check this out.