I thought it'd be fun to start a "Summer Reading" thread to get some ideas and recommendations from you all. I've been a reading machine this summer, since nothing (relatively) good is on tv. What are you all reading this summer?
Here's what I've read:
The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger. Very creative and original story. I thought it was a beautiful love story and really well written.
Interesting book. This is the first book about money that I've ever read, other than Suze Orman. The author tended to be a bit self-congratulating and there were several really bad spelling/grammar errors that REALLY bothered me, but other than that, very worthwhile.
The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory. Wasn't sure about it at first because it seemed to be a glorified romance novel, but that turned out not to be the case at all. It's the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, told from her sister Mary's perspective.
I can't recommend this book enough.
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe, by Katrina Firlik. She's a neurosurgeon and writes about being a neurosurgeon. It's interesting--some parts are rather gross--but she's not the best writer. It was good, and it was a nice quick read.
VERY funny. For you grammar/spelling/punctuation junkies, this book was highly entertaining.
Currently reading this one. It's about a 1996 Everest expedition where a dozen people died. The author was on the expedition and has interviewed all the survivors to try to get an accurate depiction of what happened. I'm really enjoying it.
these sound good! i just put the two finance + the time traveler's wife in my library queue!
my summer reading:
eat this book - it's about the competitive eating circuit. interesting, but surreal read so far.
bitter is the new black - about a vp who suddenly becomes unemployed. i really enjoyed it, but dayyam this girl is a bitch.
baby laughs - i like tmi's, but not from jenny mccarthy.
from diapers to dating - a parent's guide to raising sexually healthy children. i really recommend this book for any parent! it gives very good, realistic advice.
the greatest of marlys - lynda barry really captures what the middle school years are like. basically, cruel!
Oh, dear lord...ya really want to know? (note: I am not working more than a couple hours a day, boyfriend is gone for summer, and it's too hot to leave the apartment and I don't have cable...that's why there are so many!)
Piers Anthony- Xanth Series (the funniest, easiest fantasty series ever-- filled with puns)
Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong- Witches and Demons
Glasswrights' Progress and Glasswrights' Apprentice by Mindy Klasky- No magic but pretend medieval times...castles and armys and such.
Karavans by Jennifer Roberson- Magic..castles and armies and such.
The Cup of the World by John Dickinson- Surprise surprise...magic and castles.
Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass- Again...magic and castles.
And I am waiting on these to come in to the library...I'm next on the list!
Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton- Vampires and werewolves.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova- Vampires.
The next three in the Xanth Series by Piers Anthony.
(Yes, I might have a slight problem with fantasy novels. )
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"But I want you to remember, I intend this breast satirically." Susan from Coupling
How was this book? I love books on vampires, such as the Lestat series- this looks good!
I liked it a lot! It got a bit cheesy at the end, but it was very engrossing. It's a great book about the academic side of Dracula. It was more DaVinci-code than Anne Rice to me, though.
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"We live in an age where unnecessary things are our only necessities." --Oscar Wilde
halleybird how was the Penelopiad, I'm considering recommending that as our next book club book.
relrel I love fantasy books also . The Xanth books are so silly and fun - I was actually thinking about digging them out of my parents storage shed yesterday!
lilyann I really loved the Historian. I thought the gothic mood of most of the novel was great.
halleybird how was the Penelopiad, I'm considering recommending that as our next book club book.
That was our book club book! It was so-so for me. A little shortish, but that's good for our club b/c they usually don't finish the books. It makes for some fun discussion, though. I do sau your group needs to be pretty familiar with The Odyssey (basic storyline) for it to be really worthwile IMO. The people in our group who'd never read it were sort of lost.
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"We live in an age where unnecessary things are our only necessities." --Oscar Wilde
I've spent my summer knitting trying to get ahead on Christmas gifts & making MYSELF sweaters (well, a sweater) but I just started reading again late at night. It's ironic that I enjoy it but it puts me to sleep.
I'm in love with this author - I highly recommend him to anyone that likes murder mystery. I had these 2 books in my house that I hadn't read yet:
I am reading this one now:
And this is one pagers that I keep going back to but haven't finished - hysterical for the knitting girls!
I'm such a trash reader. You girls make me feel it even more!
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Who do you have to probe around here to get a Chardonnay? - Roger the Alien from American Dad
Ok, I am too lazy to post pictures, but here is what I have read so far.
Nick Hornby--How to be Good: Hated the book. It was boring. I was dissappointed because I loved About a Boy and High Fidelity.
Nick Hornby--A Long Way Down: An alright book, but a bit boring.
Sophie Kinsella--The Undomestic Goddess: Was apprenscious because it didn't feature Becky Bloomwood (the Shopaholic) but really liked the book. Very cute.
Anita Diament--The Red Tent: This was so well-written. Loved it.
And then a few more random chick-lit books that were all entertaining but nothing to rave about.
jacL wrote: Nick Hornby--How to be Good: Hated the book. It was boring. I was dissappointed because I loved About a Boy and High Fidelity.
That's so funny! I loved that book, but I had just gotten divorced & my ex went crazy religious - so I could so see us in that book. I guess it was perspective at the time. I wonder what I'd think if I read it now....
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Who do you have to probe around here to get a Chardonnay? - Roger the Alien from American Dad
I went to the library yesterday and finished (in one day!) the Adrian Mole Diaries. Seriously so cute. It's like Bridget Jones + Harry Potter + crack. It's awesome. I can't wait to read the rest in the series.
I'm currently making my way through Slut also. Very interesting read.