Book Recommendations?

1. 59

   Jane@CMposted 14 years ago

   I need something to read.  I was so desperate last week I read my daughter's Twilight series (all four books). They were not the best, but better than nothing.
   
   I like Non-Fiction and Fiction.  Not big into Science Fiction. I like to get lost in books.
   
   Any suggestions?

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   1. 61

      A2shleyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hi!  I'm making my way through Time Magazine's 100 best novels (the list is subjective). I've just finished "Atonement" by Ian McEwan, "Lucky Jim" by Kingsley Amis, and "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner - all of which were very good.  I'm on to "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller.  Google the list...it should give you some good ideas.  Happy reading!

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   2. 59

      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      http://www.amazon.com/Ponder-Awhile-Moh … 1419646729
      
      In Ponder Awhile, poet and writer Mohit K. Misra challenges readers to embrace the simple joys and truths of bare existence. His is a delicate, calm and forceful world where philosophy bends to the whims of the spirit—a place where mankind is generous, sincere and introspective. How glorious it is to live, love and learn! This collection of fifty-one poems captures all that is pure, elegant and sweet in life. With titles such as “Mother Earth,” “Charity,” “Peace,” and “Married to the light, readers are in for a treat with this second printing of what has become an Indian classic. Each poem is written in the classical poetry style of Dohas or couplets, the style of the sages and mystics. Each work of poetic prose is highly readable and engaging and may be easily used as either a weekly mantra, meditation or simply as an inducement to get the reader’s mind and soul moving in the right direction—to enlightenment and beyond.
      
      Franklin Top Spiritual and Religious
      http://find.franklin.com/nav/ca/spiritu … r/ebooks/0
      4.Ponder Awhile-Mohit.k.Misra
      
      Best Book Buys- Philosophy-Religious
      http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Philosophy-R … books.html
      
      6.Ponder Awhile-Mohit.k.Misra
      
      Spiritualism
      http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Spiritualism-books.html
      
      7.Ponder Awhile-Mohit.k.Misra
      
      Poetry from 75,695 books
      http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Poetry-books.html
      
      
      36.Ponder Awhile-Mohit.k.Misra
      
      
      I love the Kural by Tiruvalluvar, The Glass Bead Game-Hermann Hesse and Book Of Mirdad -Mikhael Naimvy

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   3. 58

      video lostposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Following is an amazing short book and can be downloaded.
      http://www.scribd.com/doc/18990366/Free … a-Nutshell

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   4. 58

      judeeraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hi i just joined about a week ago. I dont much about Hubbing but am trying to learn. I will like to recommend a book like Da Vinci Code. You will definitely enjoy it.
      
      Thanks. judeera

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   5. 61

      sheristeeleposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Princess Sultana's books by Jean Sasson.  About the life of a true princess of the Royal family in Saudi Arabia. They are great true to life books about lives and the trials that women face today in the middle east.

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   6. 88

      Jean Bakulaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover is very thought provoking. It's about the life of a woman whose family didn't believe in education, and brought her up in a mix of ignorance and pretend "home schooling" thrown in. The Father was bipolar and the rest of the family pretended to be very God loving people, but were very abusive to their numerous children and never had much time for them. It's not an easy book to read, but is well worth the read.

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   7. 85

      swaliaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I am sure you will enjoy reading it.

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2. 0

   Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

   Pat Conroy's "South of Broad"
   Richard Russo's "That Old Cape Magic"
   Jim Fergus "One Thousand White Women"
   Goolrick's "The Reliable Wife"

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3. 61

   giantstepsposted 14 years ago

   Kim Edwards "The Memory Keeper's Daughter"
   Arundhati Roy "The God of Small Things"
   Banana Yoshimoto "Kitchen"
   Haruki Murakami "Kafka on the Shore"
   
   I'm currently reading "Happiness" by Will Ferguson. I just started reading that today. It's good so far.

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4. 0

   Pacal Votanposted 14 years ago

   René Guénon - Metaphysics
   
   But prepare for getting totally crazy.

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5. 79

   dohn121posted 14 years ago

   I don't care what anyone thinks...The Harry Potter Series is great for kids of ALL AGES.  It's simply pure fun.
   
   If you're looking for more of an adult book, I recommend, "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coehlo
   
   "Rose Madder" by Stephen King
   
   "The Stand" by Stephen King
   
   "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy (the movie's coming out soon)
   
   I got a few more, but I'd suggest these first!

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6. 59

   Jane@CMposted 14 years ago

   I'm writing a list for an Amazon order, keep them coming.
   
   Great suggestions. 
   
   I've read the Stephen King books and "The Memory Keeper's Daughter".
   
   I don't know why, but I can't bring myself to read the Harry Potter series.

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   1. 0

      Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think it's a lot of time to invest in kids books. But I did loved all of the HP movies.

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   2. 79

      dohn121posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I highly recommend it.  You'll plow right through it!  One of the best things about the book is that you actually SEE Harry maturing, especially psychologically.  I can't post it, but I did write a hub on Harry Potter.  If anything else, please take a peek!

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      1. 59

         Jane@CMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I think my daughter could quote back all the books to me.  She has read the series at least seven times LOL. She is actually packing them to take to college ???

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         1. 80

            TamCorposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Jane--I have probably read the HP series seven times, lol, and I'm 50!  A few years ago, my then-teenage son begged me to read at least one--I kept saying no--those are kids' books--I wouldn't enjoy them...finally, though, I caved, and was hooked by the second page, lol...
            
            And definitely read dohn's HP hub--it's terrific!

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7. 0

   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   Stop the World I Need to Pee by Cindy Vine, one of our fine hubbers.

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8. 77

   frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

   The Shack - William P Young.
   
   Enjoyed that one. Reading another couple by Valerio Massimo Manfredi now.

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   1. 59

      Jane@CMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Loved The Shack!

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   2. 60

      megs78posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      that was my suggestion too.   great book, but not long enough!

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9. 60

   EdG.posted 14 years ago

   Basically anything by Kurt Vonnegut. The Sirens of Titan and God Bless You Mr. Rosewater were two of my personal favorites. Also Mark Twain, especially his short stories and essays. These two guys are classic authors and they have plenty of excellent work beyond their more well-known publications.
   
   Just for the record though, I also found the Harry Potter series immensely enjoyable.

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10. 0

    Crazdwriterposted 14 years ago

    Any books by John Saul, Iris Johnson, and Dean Koontz! I totally recommend their books. they are definitely intersting and fun to read.

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    1. 80

       TamCorposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I agree--terrific authors here, too!  But possibly crazd means Iris "Johansen", instead of "Johnson"? Maybe not, but that is the one I'm familiar with!

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       1. 0

          Crazdwriterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          LOL yes I mean Johansen. I can never get her last name right. THANKS TAMCOR hehe

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11. 80

    LondonGirlposted 14 years ago

    Don't want to blow my own trumpet, but I did write a hub about 10 books, or series of books, that I really enjoy and would recommend. Have a look if you fancy it?

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    1. 0

       Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Well it's good to see you London Girl. Where have you been! Was wondering if I missed your flounce.

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       1. 80

          LondonGirlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          No, no flouncing, I never flounce. It's too boring for words (-:
          
          I've just been very busy, I'm afraid! But nice to see you all.

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    2. 59

       Jane@CMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       On my way over..

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       1. 59

          awsydneyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Hi Jane, Check out Ann Packer's Song Without Words, a great story about close friends. I like your hairstyle by the way.

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12. 61

    AllMomNeeds2knowposted 14 years ago

    I don't know if comedy but I love Sophie Kinsella, all of her books.  She really gets you into the characters heads.  She wrote the shopaholic series and other great books.

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13. 88

    SimeyCposted 14 years ago

    The Shack is really good! What about the old classics - One Flew over the Cuckoos nest - Brave New World - Nineteen Eighty Four etc.
    
    I'm also a huge HArry Potter fan - they are good too!
    
    You don't like Sci-fi - but what about Lord of the Rings - if you can get past the first 100 pages that is!

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14. 86

    rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

    there are so many good books.  BBC has a list of the 100 most popular books (2003) which is a great start!
    
    Here are some of my favorites:
     
    all the Jane Austin books
    The Other Boleyn Girl- fiction
    The Time Traveler's Wife- fiction
    The Passion of Artemisia- historical fiction
    Girl With a Pearl Earring- historical fiction
    Dan Brown books
    
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml
    
    check out the library first!!
    happy reading

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15. 62

    Bredaviesposted 14 years ago

    The Darwin Awards. It's really funny! and The Kite Runner..Really tragic but amazing.

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16. 0

    Leta Sposted 14 years ago

    "Perfume."  Or see the film.  It's very allegorical, and kind of hard to take, but the writing is superb.  Also, anything by E. Annie Proulx...particularly "The Shipping News" (I'm prejudiced).  Her writing is the stuff of dreams, it is so perfect.
    
    You'll get lost in those, promise, .

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17. 59

    Jane@CMposted 14 years ago

    I'm glad I started this thread.  So many suggestions!  Wow, great for everyone looking for books to read!

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18. 60

    megs78posted 14 years ago

    The Left Behind Series...really, really good!
    The Lovely Bones
    The Mayfair Witches Trilogy
    Any series written by Bodie Thoene (amazing books)
    Birds of Prey
    
    To name a few...couldn't put them down

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19. 66

    Ladybird33posted 14 years ago

    I like the Charlene Harris, True Blood series, it's on HBO but all books are great to read.  But I got a lot of ideas from here too.  Anything Stephen King or James Patterson...for me, are good.

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20. 79

    dohn121posted 14 years ago

    Has anyone read, "The Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons?  Time Magazine rated it as one of the greatest novels (never mind the fact that it's perhaps THE BEST graphic novel of all time) of the 20th Century's Top 100.  Moore actually wrote it on a challenge that graphic novels would never be respected in the literary mainstream.  By the way, he also wrote "V for Vendetta" as well.  The book is absolutely amazing.

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    1. 0

       Crazdwriterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       My husband read "The Watchmen" and said that it was really good. A LOT better than the movie too

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       1. 79

          dohn121posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          You have to read it!  Believe me when I say that it is not a comic book, just because it HAS comics in it.

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          1. 0

             Crazdwriterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             I'll steal it I mean borrow it from him once I get most of my books read that I already have. I myself have TONS of books I have yet to read. lol

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             1. 79

                dohn121posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Hmpf!!!  Then don't start reading The Watchmen just yet...Once you start, you won't put it down

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    2. 61

       A2shleyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That one is on my list but I wasn't sure...I'll bump it up in the ranks.  Is it long?

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21. 59

    asalvaniposted 14 years ago

    Rumble Tumble - by Joe R Lansdale

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22. 43

    LRobbinsposted 14 years ago

    Being Caribou: Five Months on Foot with an Arctic Herd  by Karsten Heuer (non fiction - might seem like an odd choice but my book club loved it)
    The Red Tent - Anita Diamant (fiction)
    The Red Scarf - Kate Furnival (fiction)
    
    Happy Reading!

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23. 0

    Ghost32posted 14 years ago

    Rather than science fiction, I would consider The Wheel Of Time series by Robert Jordan to be high fantasy--and the ONLY series for which I have an entire (and even redundant) collection today, through all of our many moves.  In fact, when I finish the 11th book, if I don't happen to have anything else "exciting" close at hand, I just start over with Jordan.
    
    He died before he could finish, but his widow has now hired a writer to finish up (in accordance with to the copious notes he left behind), and my latest understanding is that Book Twelve should be released in November. 
    
    When it comes to science fiction and/or fantasy, which is my own chosen genre as a writer, I never really care about the technology--which can be either of massive interest or a massive turnoff, depending on the reader--but about the CHARACTERS as they move through a world (or worlds) that become as real to me as planet Earth as we know it today.  And nobody produces characters that live and breathe and love and die in greater depth and richness than Robert Jordan.  No matter what else is going on in my life, such as even the financial drought we experienced for most of the summer and which had us sweltering in 100-plus degree heat, eating out of tin cans and none too much of that, I can ALWAYS open a Jordan volume, pick up where I left off, and BE THERE.  His work in a real sense sustains my life.
    
    The first volume is The Eye Of The World. Wikipedia sums it up fairly well.

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24. 0

    Linda Kabanposted 14 years ago

    I'm 52 and still love me some Harry Potter
    
    How about some adventure mixed in with learnin'.
    
    Dan Brown, Matthew Reilly, Clive Cussler, Lincoln Child and Douglas Prescott, who write together and separately.
    
    Just like Calgon's slogan "take me away", these books take you on a whirlwind adventure and bring you back a little changed.

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25. 92

    rmcrayneposted 14 years ago

    I really enjoyed Winds of War which ends with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and War and Remembrance, which picks up at Pearl and continues through the end of the war.  Both are by Herman Wouk.   
    
    Most all of the John Grisham book are page turners.  Likewise the Sidney Sheldons.  Sheldon books are super easy to read, the language at maybe a 6th grade level, but packed with lots of story and suspense.

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26. 82

    Ira Mencyposted 5 years ago

    I am currently reading Bear Spirit Mountain Ancestral Awakening about a guy who bought a site to build a dream home and found out it was an ancient graveyard ceremonial site.  I then wrote an article about the whole thing as it happened near my home.  Imagine telling your wife you just spend five digits on a graveyard and cannot build your dream home. (woopsie.)  <link snipped - no promotional links>

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    1. 87

       theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       Ira, this thread is nine years old.
       
       It's not a good idea to post your articles here unless you are looking for constructive feedback. It's discouraged by HubPages as shown by the message to the side of the screen when you post here.

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