Tuesday, May 5, 2009

What Should I Read?


Well, I'm at that stage again. (Cover your eyes, fellow Inkers) I've read a dozen mysteries in a row ranging from Alexander McCall Smith's Tea Time for the Traditionally Built to Louise Penny's A Rule Against Murder. I loved most of the books I read but folks, I need a genre break. I'd love to read a moving women's fiction novel or an imaginative historical fiction or even a fantastically original sci-fi or fantasy book. In fact, I love a good YA novel as much as any middle-schooler, so the field is wide open.

What I don't want: The Oprah Book Club  gloom and doom but oh-so-literary type of book. It's spring and I"m in the mood for renewal, not suicides or overdoses. 

I know our blog followers are voracious readers. You have given me incredible recommendations before - many of which I would not have discovered without your guidance.

So think back over the past few months. What book did you talk about most? What book did you pass on to a friend and say, "Put this on the top of your TBR pile!"

Summer's coming and I bet we could all benefit from a new reading list so please share.

And congrats to G.M. and Joanna for being on the prestigious Malice Domestic Agatha Awards ballot. To me, you both won right from the get-go. It was great to see you gals. (And Alan too!) 

10 comments:

Paul Lamb said...

I continue to recommend Explorers of the New Century by Magnus Mills. What is it about? Good question. It's a fascinating, fictional read. Not too long either. And what about those mules?

Lisa Bork said...

I recommend WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen or MIDWIVES by Chris Bohjalian. Our book club read both these books and everyone loved them. Oprah may have done MIDWIVES, but I wouldn't classify it with her usual depressing choices.

Alan Orloff said...

Here's a good SF/YA-ish book:

ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card.

(One of my favs, and my 11-year-old stayed up waaaay too late last night reading it.)

(Malice was fun--it was great seeing you guys, er, gals.)

jbstanley said...

I enjoyed Water For Elephants (except for the very end) and Alan, Ender's Game is one of my top ten reads of all time. Wouldn't that be the best film? I knew I liked you!

Sue Ann Jaffarian said...

Try 1001 Cranes, a YA book by Edgar winner Naomi Hirahara. It's a wonderful coming of age book about a 12-13 year old Japanese girl living in California. I loved it!

Jeanine said...

I recommend reading (or re-reading) the Emma Hart series by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Also, any of the ballad novels by Sharyn McCrumb. (I don't consider those to be strictly mysteries. I don't know how to classify them, but I love them and re-read them over and over.)

G.M. Malliet said...

Are you tired yet of hearing me recommend Last Night at the Lobster? Although that may be better as a wintertime read. I will think on this a bit...my brain may be ready to engage again soon.

I am still digging out from Malice and the Festival of Mystery in PA. Conferences always seem to generate lots of paperwork and email follow-up, not to mention laundry. But before too much more time passes I want to thank everyone for the congratulations, and say how great it was to be able to see and talk to so many of the incomparable Inkers. You guys are without question the very best.

Terri Thayer said...

My favorite read last year was the Art of Racing in the Rain.

Yesterday I picked up Michael Chabon's nonfiction, MAPS AND LEGENDS, and read it all the way home. It was like sitting next to the smartest, funniest guy in the room (in this case, on the plane). Great for readers and writers.

Keith Raffel said...

What about Richard Ford's trilogy that starts with The Sportswriter and goes on to Independence Day and The Lay of the Land? You can start with either Book #1 or #2. Another absolute favorite for me is C.P. Snow's Strangers and Brothers series. Start with Time of Hope. You lucky ducky, if you haven't read any of these.

Lisa Bork said...

I want to second Terri's recommendation of Art of Racing in the Rain. Loved it.