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Good Reads

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Tue, 2006-08-22 11:58 — sista

A while back, big sis asked me for some titles of good books. Today is the day where I am getting around to that.

Time Traveler's Wife- Audrey Niffenegger: I found this to be an interesting take on the classic love story. As the title suggests, it is about a man who travels time and his wife. The story explains how they live, how they met (she was 6 and he was 30ish), and growing old together.

Memoirs of a Geisha- This is the best love story I've ever read. The story is about a young Japanese girl taken from her village to live in the geisha house. I have to thank this book for my love of sushi and green tea.

Prodical Summer- B. Kingsolver: I love Barbara Kingsolver. She is an amazing author. That being said, with each of her stories, she has an agenda. ONce you realize that and skim over the preaching, the book is excellent. The story is about several women's lives in a small rural area in the Carolinas.

Poisonwood Bible- B. Kingsolver: See note above. Story is about a missionary family in the Congo.

Life of Pi- Yann Martel: This has got to be my new favorite book! The story is about how a boy survives 270 days on a life boat with a Bengal Tiger. It is haunting.

Ella Minow Pea- Mark Dunn: A unique story about a civialization that loves words. They "worship" the alphabet and the sentence: A quick fox jumps over the lazy dog. A monument is put up with the sentence. But as time goes on, the letters drop off. As each letter goes away, the author no longer uses it in the book. The author is a genius!

The History of Love- :This is a story of an old man trying to be reunited with his son. And a 12-year old girl who is trying to find the author of a letter. A delightful read.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime- Mark Haddon : The story is about an autistic boy who is trying to solve the mystery of the death of his dog. From the point of the autistic child.

The Master Butcher's Singing Club- L. Erdich: Post WWI era... this is a really hard story to recap in a few lines. How 'bout: it is good. Read it.

The Kite Runner- Khaled Hosseini: Story of a family in Iraq before conflicts. Flourchil recommended this one to me, and it is a WOW!

Honorable Mentions:
Sue Monk Kid- The Secret Lives of Bees
Myla Goldberg- Bee Season
T. Chevalier- The girl with the pearl earing

‹ RECOMMEND THIS Does a cow say moo or moe? ›
Sat, 2006-08-26 09:27 — sista
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Little Children

Just finished "Little Children" by T. Perrotta in 3 days! Got to be some sort of record for me!

Tom is the author of "Election" which was made into a movie with Reece Witherspoon and Matt Broderick. HIghly Entertaining Movie. Good Book.

The story reminded me of "Nanny Diaries" in the way that it was written. Both are good reads.

Warning: Little Children does have a lot of adult topic with one character being a child molester just released from prison, a marrital affair, and internet pornography.

Tue, 2006-08-22 16:34 — flourchild
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A weigh in

Jaci could you please remove the "mmm muffin" in my comment box.  It is annoying. thanks.I have read several of sistas recomendations.  Barbara Kingsolver is by far sistas best recomendation for me. I love love love her books.   She is preachy but you have to just stop reading when she gets on a rant.  Like the last 1/3 of Poisonwood is just better left unread.  I am also in between authors.  I was reading some good mysteries but they werent GREAT so I won't mention them.

Wed, 2006-08-23 08:11 — sista
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Author

Have you read Jan Karon? You may really like the Mitford Series. Not something for me.... Since we have very differnet tastes in books, maybe you'd enjoy them. They are sweet, rural life stories. Very very popular.

Also Jane Evanovich. I hear she writes a hilarious mystery book described as "popcorn".

Wed, 2006-08-23 16:26 — bigsis
bigsis's picture

Loved the Mitford Series

A friend of mine recommended Jan Karon to me. Loved them! But you are right, they are not for everyone.
Right now, I am reading books by Francine Rivers. Most of her stuff is Christian romance. She is a Christian writer who lives just north of here. A lot of her stories are set in the Bay Area and so are fun to read for that sake alone.
The series I am reading of hers now is set in the Roman days about 100 years after Christ. It is about a young Jewess who gets captured and eventually fed to the lions. There are 3 books in the series and I have only finished the first book.
All the books I have read by her are very well written and really drive home Christian principals such as redemtion, right to life etc.
Probably not for everyone but I LOVE them!!

Thu, 2006-08-24 07:25 — sista
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The Red Tent

Have you read "The Red Tent"? Description from Amazon:

This piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah, we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets.

I have not read it. But I have borrowed the book from my friend, Janet who LOVED it.

Tue, 2006-08-22 17:07 — sista
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done

Its been removed... I am a bit sad that you never allowed the world to see it! (YOu knew didn't you that I would not be able to leave your profile picture alone while I was at it... ) I made a list today and I'll be heading to the library tonight. Hopefully I can find at least one that I can finish! But any other recommendations will be moved to the front of the list.

Tue, 2006-08-22 16:00 — Joni
Joni's picture

WOW

Good book list, love!
The only one I object to is The Girl with the Pearl Earring...
It was okay, but too much hype for book that's just O.K.

I'm wracking by brain trying to think of a good book for you...
John is currently reading (and loves) McCarthy's Bar
I'm currently reading: Madame Bovary, Far from the Maddening Crowd, and one called Trial by Ice and Fire. I'm not far enough in any of them that I'd be able to suggest them, though...
Hmmmm... Lemme think some more, and I'll get back to you.
I'm going to start working on your recommended list as soon as I have my plate clean...
I've read several of them, which leads me to believe you have great tatse in books and your recommendations should be followed!
:)

Wed, 2006-08-23 08:14 — sista
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To be on my list

I consider any book that I can actually finish, somewhat good. Yes, "Girl with Pearl" wasn't the best, but it was sweet, and it kept my interest enough for me to finish. Thus it gets an "honorable mention" listing.

Tue, 2006-08-22 12:00 — sista
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Recommendation for me?

Can someone give me a book recommendation. My nightstand is currently empty.