I apologize in advance if this is already a thread, but when I tried to search I got the message, "Fatal error." Anyway, has anyone read any good books this summer? Not necessarily pertaining to teaching. I have been reading so much, and the book I am reading now is not holding my attention, I need recommendations, please! :thanks:
You mean, besides Harry Potter 7, right? LOL! I read The Big Over Easy, and it was HILARIOUS! It's the true story of what happened to Humpty Dumpty.
I am taking a World Literature Written in English course, and here are a couple titles I would recommend: - A Walk in the Night by Alex La Guma; it is set in apartheid Africa, and reminds me of the movie Crash; there are two story threads, rather depressing, with a glimmer of hope after lots of sorrow; rather short. - The God of Small Things by Arandhati Roy; set in post-colonial India, follows the life (non-sequentially) of twin brother-and-sister Estha and Rahel. It's very sad, partially traumatic, and keeps you hooked due to Roy's choice to present the story in a non-linear fashion; very good! - A Distant Shore by Caryl Phillips; set in late 20th/early 21st century England. Starts as a love story between a black man and an older English woman (a retired schoolteacher of music); the plot progresses, and racism, isolation, and lonliness of a postcolonial world is explored. A love story of sorts. Keeps your attention throughout--also told slightly out of order.
Lately I've just been going to the library and getting books from the new book section. I've found some really good books this way-there's only been one that I didn't like. I read a ton-this past week I've read a book a day. I'm taking the summer off from working so I've been reading obsessively!
Well, the last really good book I read was The Road, and that has been a couple months ago. I look forward to Nicholas Spark's new novel.
Ooo, I didn't realize he had one coming out. I was just recently introduced to his books and have really enjoyed them. Finished The Wedding a couple days ago. Thank you all for your recommendations! I appreciate them.
I have been reading Catherine Coulter's FBI series. Really good books that don't take a lot of thought, lol! I have also read some James Patterson's in the middle of them. His book When the Wind Blows is the basis for his Maximum Drive Series for young adults. I'm trying to throw some young adult lit books in the mix but having a hard time doing so.
I keep a journal listing of all the books I read for pleasure. I read The God of Small Things back in 1998 and loved it. Books set in India fascinate me. The best books I've read this summer include: Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz Uphill Walkers by Madeline Blais (if you grew up Catholic in the 50s- 60s you'd love this) Wake Up, Sir by Jonathan Ames (hysterical) A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve (love this author) In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith (latest in the series set in Africa, very funny) Swimming Naked by Stacy Sims (funny and sad, family dynamics)
The Thirteenth Tale was great--an eccentric bestselling author who has been giving fake bios to reporters her whole life is dying and decides to finallly share her tale. also, The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani--set in 17th century Persia, revolving around a carpetmaker--amazing.
Wait! There are other books besides HP7? ( ) Actually I have read several children's books so far. The entire HP series-I wanted to re-read before I read the last book (which I have 2 chapters left to read). Septimus Heap: Flyte (book 2) by Angie Sage- Make sure that you read the first book before you read any others in the series. I finally finished this book. I must say that I liked the first book a lot more. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine- This is the same author that wrote Ella Enchanted. I was very excited to get to read this book. It was very good. It is a spin off the classic Snow White tale. Fairy's Return by Gail Carson Levine- I just purchased this one, but it includes 6 of her stories. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo-Another teacher told me that this is a really good book. I’ve read several books by this author. It's one of the next on my list. Charlie Bone and the Hidden King (book 5) and Charlie Bone and the Beast (book 6) by Jenny Nimmo -These are another couple of books that I’ve been waiting to read. I’ve really enjoyed reading the other books in the series. I just began to read #5, but was interrupted by the release of HP7.
I just finished Brothers by Da Chen for my book club. A bit melodramatic, but if you like Chinese settings and historical tie-ins it's interesting.
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo is my favorite children's chapter book! We started a book club on here that should start discussing in a week or so. We are reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Sophie Kinsella has a great series for very light reading - they all start with Shopoholic and ---- (Sister, Baby, etc...) If you enjoy Stephanie Plum Novels by Janet Evonovich, Sarah Strohmeyer has a similar writing style and her character reminds me of Stephanie.
Team Of Rivals The Political Genius Of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin Finally finished this one after school was out. Shows how Lincoln handled a very diverse and combative group in his cabinet.
Anyone who likes Arundhati Roy MUST READ Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance. It's absolutely phenomenal. I think most people have read/heard about Hosseini's The Kite Runner and he's got a new book out called A Thousand Splendid Suns.
I always love anything by Jodi Picoult. Her latest is called Nineteen Minutes and it's about a high school shooting. I'm also finishing up "Reading Lolita in Tehran." Took me a couple chapters to get into it but now I can't put it down. Well, except for HP 7, of course. I'd put anything down for that. ;-) I also read The Westing Game. That one is a children's book, but a great mystery read.
I just read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil since I recently visited Savannah where it is set... I am reading a Fannie Flagg book at the moment called Standing in the Rainbow. I have enjoyed a couple of her other books in the past. Flirting with Pete is another book I read and enjoyed. It is by Barbara Delinsky. Also read two others by her called The Three Wishes and The Summer I Dared. Light reading, I'd say...
I love John Grisham books...so far this summer I read The Runaway Jury, A Time to Kill, and The Rainmaker A Time to Kill was by far the best of the three! Also a Danielle Steele junkie...I've read so many of them and they're all usually pretty good if you like the romance novel type things. I just bought a new one Palamino...haven't had a chance to start it yet. HAPPY READING!!!!
I've read some of the suggestions already on here like the books about Lincoln and the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. They were excellent. Another good read is the Kite Runner.
Hey. Has anyone seen the new trailer for "Becoming Jane"? I'm looking for the book by John Spence and was wondering if it was any good. The movie looks good, and I'm a big Austen fan.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See- read it in one day, great! From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. See's engrossing novel set in remote 19th-century China details the deeply affecting story of lifelong, intimate friends (laotong, or "old sames") Lily and Snow Flower, their imprisonment by rigid codes of conduct for women and their betrayal by pride and love.
I've been working part-time at a bookstore this summer so have I got a list of books....Some of my favorites include: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson The Secret Life of Bee's bu Sue Monk Kidd A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (still working on this one but it's good so far) The Life and Time of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson Devil in the White City by Erik Larson The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan Anything by Jodi Picoult Anything by JD Robb Anything by Janet Evanovich
Yay for summer reading time! The Devil in the White City (sorry, forgot author) - GREAT for those who love historical tie-ins (1893? World's Fair in Chicago) and thrillers (a serial killer in the city at the time) Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier - historical fiction surrounding an art piece, I enjoyed the first a lot and the second is on my list! For YA reading, I laughed all the way through this series of 4 books by Catherine Jinks(or Jenks?), called The Pagan Chronicles - the first book is called Pagan's Crusade. An irreverent 16-yr-old squire goes along on the Crusades in the 1100s. I also loved The Tale of Desperaux! Also recommend any of the YA novels by Ann Rinaldi (historical fiction). Oh, I could talk books all day, but I'll stop now!
