August 2, 2012

under the dim light.....


can you help me? i need a good book to read.
~
sadly, i don't like anything with history, but i love romance if it's written well.
i like anything funny and stories about families, especially if they have to fight for their kids in some way.
murder mysteries, not so much, but every now and then a good one finds its way into my hands.
jodi piccoult and elizabeth berg books have always been winners for me.
the last book i read was "a special relationship" by douglas kennedy.
i loved it and highly recommend it.
~
so, if this summer at your house has been filled with quiet nights of reading under the dim light on your night stand and you want to share what you've read, i'm here to take your suggestions.
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33 comments:

  1. I can't help you because I like there to be a hint of historical mood to many of the books I read. Picoult is a fine writer but I find such similar story lines from one novel to the next. Legal situation.. sibling rivalry. That having been said, I'm reading one of hers right now and it's pretty good, so far. Change of Heart.

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  2. I just read The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. It was fabulous!

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  3. I just finished reading Kristin Hannah's book called True Colors (got it at the library). Really good book - has family, small town life, is mostly current, horses, and a really good story line. I'm not much for murder mysteries at all.

    Another book I recently read (same author) was The Language of Flowers - a bit quirky and weird but sucked me in.

    I also like the Debbie Macomber books about the knit shop. There is a series (4 I think).

    But that first book that I just finished? Excellent!

    Martha

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  4. I just discovered Picoult this year and after the 3rd read I was done. The same formula over and over. I need variety! I read The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick recently and really liked it! A fictional account of a true story--two women walking from Spokane to NYC to win $10k and save the family farm. It's amazing how far women have come since 1896. The other book I read recently and loved was The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. A wonderful story told from the dog's perspective. Sounds cheesy, but it's a really good story. Good luck!

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  5. I just finished "The Five People You Meet In Heaven" by Mitch Albom just this morning. It is simply beautiful and wonderful.

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  6. Every summer I re-read "The Mermaid Chair" by Sue Monk Kidd. Just love it!!

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  7. I loved Wildflower Hill by Kimberely Freeman. Kristin Hannah's Night Road is a page turner for sure. Still Alice and Left Neglected by Lisa Genova were great.

    I belong to a bookclub of voracious readers- I can get you more title if you'd like :) Off to check out your recommendation- always on the hunt for something new!

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  8. I don't think you'd like the sorts of books I read, but one recommendation I can give that may be interesting for you is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein.

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  9. Loved The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I just read Sea Change by Karen White and didn't want it to end but I will tell you that it does have some history to it. It centers around St. Simon's Island off the coast of Georgia, which sounds beautiful. Three Junes by Julia Glass is one I thoroughly enjoyed as well. Happy reading!

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  10. I only read one by Jodi Pincoult, recently, "My Sister's Keeper" one of the best books I ever read. I noticed someone mentioned Kristin Hannah... that one was really really good too, listened to it on CD first and then read it.

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  11. Have you heard of Kent Haruf? He's just wonderful, writes "true to the rhythms and patterns of life..." Try his novel "Plainsong" or "The Tie That Binds." Every word is just right; every character real and elegantly flawed. You'll love Haruf!

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  12. I'm not going to be much "help"...I've tried Jodi Picoult and could never get into her. I've read all of Elizabeth Berg's work and she's now becoming repetitive to me..I like historical books and I like suspense and mystery so as I said...my list wouldn't help, but I have heard good things about The Language of Flowers and I see a lot of other people here recommending it...even I'm going to give it a go! Let us know what you decide on!

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  13. I second the recommendation of Plainsong by Kent Haruf. One of the best books ever!!!!!!

    Also recommend:

    Standing Under the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg

    All Over But the Shoutin by Rick Bragg

    Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl

    Patti Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik

    Family History by Dani Shapiro

    Zeiotoun by Dave Eggers

    Let me know if you like any of them!

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  14. I am actually going to steal some of the tips you got here. On the search for a good read myself. ;)

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  15. Im looking forward to reading The Language of Flowers, it's reserved at the library for me :) My latest favorite book is Imagine by Jonah Llehrer, it's not in your list of genres but I highly recommend it.

    Thanks for the info on the postcards, I printed them out with my computer ~ took forever! but they look beautiful :)

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  16. Can't really help you. I decided to dive into middle grade books this summer since that's what the book I'm writing now is. (I highly recommend Poppy by Avi! lol) I was thinking of The Mermaid's Chair next - I've had it for awhile - so I was glad to see it recommended up there. I tend to like historical novels myself. If you decide to try a murder mystery, a good one is Faithful Place by Tana French. It's more of a love story/family dynamics book than a murder mystery. I loved it!

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  17. so many good suggestions here. i loved reading them.
    i really did enjoyed "the language of flowers".
    xo

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  18. I haven't read a book on forever..... But have you ever read a year in Provence? A fun read! And the Mitford series by jan karon is really good....

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  19. I have a good one for you. It's "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt." It's all about family and friends with a 12-ish-year-old girl as the main character. It will charm your socks off and have you laughing and crying within the first 50 pages. (Berg is not the author, but she's one of my favorites, too.) I really think you'll fall in love with this one.

    (I also read The Language of Flowers, which I saw mentioned above. It's a good one, too.)

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  20. Oh, and the friends are not her age but adults who come into her life.

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  21. Have you ever read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn?" It's an old book but I loved it.

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  22. Right now I am reading Susan Wiggs books. I always like reading by the dim light of my night stand.

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  23. I love Alice Hoffman and thoroughly enjoyed The Ice Queen. She has lots of books to choose from, and she wrote the novel that Practical Nagic was based on. Love her!
    Enjoy the reads! If you find a funny sweet title, let me know. Those are my usual favs.
    Big hugs, Beautiful!

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  24. Hi Beth~~~
    Kristen Hannah books- kind of fluff but really like her! Also Jennifer Weiner books too.

    Thanks so much for the recent comment about college. You have been lucky in your situations. She is going without a car- for closer to home colleges we tried to entice her with letting her have a car, but she fell in love with the campus she is going to (soccer or not) and wanted to go there even though she knew she would not get a car :( My vision was Benedictine in Lisle- would have been perfect. Oh well... You are right- it IS about HER and finding herself and her wings. Thanks for your ssage advice...Happy Weekending!

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  25. The Language of Flowers is the second-best book I have read this summer.

    The best one is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It's very sad, but also funny and somehow, hopeful.

    Right now, I am reading Swamplandia! by Karen Russell, one of the books nominated for the Pulitzer this year. Also very good, though a little odd...

    Let us know if you come across any great reads!

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  26. I agree with others who commented here...The Mermaid Chair is a great read. Another prolific writer, who writes beautifully, is Anita Shreve. She can convey depth of emotion with very few words...good stories, sometimes tear-jerkers, but she's solid. And one of my all time favorite books is by Nicole Krauss, The History of Love. Simply brilliant. And one more that I'm currently reading, Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Don't you love that title?

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  27. I just finished "The dream team" about the 92 USA basketball team. You know, with the olympics going on and all.
    It's not about family and it's not funny at all ( except when Charles Barkley answered when asked about their upcoming game against Angola, "I don't know nothing about Angola but Angola's in trouble.")

    So, well, no, I guess I don't have a suggestion for you. Hope you find a good one though.

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  28. Nothing much on my night-table at the moment...but enjoying reading everyone's suggestions. And the image - is simply divine!

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  29. I'll suggest the following book.

    The Chaperone
    by Laura Moriarty
    Riverhead | June 5, 2012 | Hardcover
    USA Today''s #1 Hot Fiction Pick for the summer, The Chaperone is a captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in 1922 and the summer that would change them both.

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  30. Unfortunately...I do NOT have a suggestion for a book but I do have to say this photo is simplely gorgeous. So simple and pure but excellant!

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  31. I can't remember, did you read The Hunger Games yet? If not, don't expect it to lull you to sleep...

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  32. i read constantly but my favorites are not your taste .. however i read Tom Rachman's The Imperfectionists and totally loved it .. and it was not my usual suspense or sci fi or whatever the others are .. its like reading short stories that are all linked by the people in them all of whom in one way or another is involved in an American owned international newspaper in Italy back in the last millennium ..

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  33. Hi Beth wow what a way to give you endless lists.
    I've stole some while thinking about what to give you in return.

    I loved Nicolas Vanier he wrote L'enfant des neiges (Snowchild). And I love: PS I love You from Cecilia Ahearn all laugther and tears on one page.

    Have fun working through your new list.
    By Dagmar

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**I love reading the comments you leave, as they make me feel like we're sitting in my kitchen, having a cup of tea, discussing life and wondering where all the time has gone ...beth