I may read all year long, but I really pick up speed in the summer. Today Mikey and I spent the afternoon swimming in my parent’s pool. We later lounged on chairs, and I read from The Pillars of the Earth while he ate banana cookies. It was a great, if not entirely productive, day.
And that brings me to the question at hand. We leave for vacation in about a week, and I plan to devote at least one suitcase to books. I haven’t had the time to compile my summer reading list, unlike some more organized bloggers, but I do have some books already in mind.
I want to finish The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follet.
Once I am done with that, I am going to dive into the new David Sedaris book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames.
But what next? I’m in need of a few good recommendations.
What are you reading this summer? I ask not only because I am curious, but because I might copy a few books from your list. I love religious themes and Latin American literature, but I’m open to anything except romance novels and hardcore chick-lit. I just can’t read that type of book without wanting to crawl into the story and knock the main character off her pink stilettos. I am embarrassed to say I am unfamiliar with most American authors. I’ve been muddling my way through the classics for so long that I’m out of touch. That said, I do love John Irving, so I might read a few of his less well-received, earlier works (of course I’ve read The World According to Garp–it’s one of my favorites).
OK, your turn. Are you up to helping me? :)
What? You’re going on vacation? Are you planning to blog from your vacation or do we have to fend for ourselves while you are gone?
Well, speaking of books ��I have two books to recommend, though they are a bit older and not shiny new.
Women of Silk by Gail Tsukiyama. A friend introduced to me to it a few years back and I was hooked. I finished the book in 3 days. It’s an excellent insight into the Chinese silk trade of the early 20th century through the eyes of a very young Chinese girl.
Girl with the Pearl Earring. I know, I know… it was made into a movie, but the screenplay adaptation left out so, so much background info of the main character that you’ll find in the book.
That’s it, my 2 recommendations! Enjoy!
If you have never listed to David Sedaris’s books, I recommend it. He is so hilarious reading them that it adds a lot.
I’m like a broken record with this recommendation, but I love “Middlesex.” I resisted reading it for a long time, but it blew me away. it really drew me in, and stayed with me.
P.S. It’s interesting to me that cathe suggested “Women of Silk.” I will have to try that one. One of the fascinating things in “Middlesex” is in the first section, where the grandmother raises silkworms and makes the finest silk.
I’m going to try the Monsters of Templeton for my July 4 vacation. I’ve heard good things about it, so I’m actually going to buy it instead of borrowing from the library which is a huge commitment for me.
Eleanor Coppola’s “Notes on a Life” is fantastic. I’ve just started but I love her writing.
oh you are too much :) MY books are for 4th and 6th graders – ha!
I am looking around for some “real” books for me. Have you ever read anything by Wally Lamb? I love his books, totally dysfunctional but good characters!
Reading for pleasure? What is this activity you speak of?
Seriously though, have a great vacay-you deserve some R & R. I have all the Anthony Bourdain books if you want to borrow those, they are a very quick read, fun and light.
Keep all the recommendations coming! Good picks so far. :)
Brie, I have read Wally Lamb’s books! :)
Kara–when I was in law school I coldn’t even consider reading for pleasure. In fact, it took me almost 2 years after I was done to even think about picking up a book. I hear ya! :)
A book that left a lasting impression on me is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It deals with some difficult subject matter but the treatment of it is beautiful and has truly changed the way I think about death. Maybe not great for vacation, but if you haven’t read it, it is great. I also really enjoyed Shadow of the Wind by Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zaf�n; lots of mystery and intrigue. And a summer isn’t complete for me unless I re-read at least one Jane Austen novel.
Have a fantastic vacation!
The Lovely Bones was a great book. It left a lasting impression on me, too.
I’ll check out Shadow of the Wind! I’m terrible with Austen. I’m committing to reading at least one this summer. :)
Okay, Jules. You asked for it. Here goes:
O Pioneers by Willa Cather (classic American novelist)
The Year of Eating Dangerously by Tom Parker Bowles (yes, THAT Parker-Bowles’ son. He is very very funny and a gonzo food writer)
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson (proud to say I read this before the movie was made. The book is a delight and a nice beach read)
Any of the Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz (these are Young Adult books that I bought for my 12 year old son. Really well-written series about a boy who works for the British version of the CIA. Added bonus: movie made from first book with Ewan McGregor–fun for mom and son!! And your boys will love them when they’re older and it’ll give you stuff to talk about AND it’s book stuff!)
The Homemaker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (You will be amazed how contemporary the themes in this book feel and it was written in the 30’s. Really really good)
Beautiful Boy by David Sheff (have to suggest even though it will scare the SHIT out of you. It’s a memoir from a father of a great kid who almost loses him to meth. addiction)
I’ve got a million more if you want, but there’s a start!
I cannot begin to believe I am about to say this. (Hold on I need to take a minute.) Oprah has some really great books on her book club list. I have to go lie down now. I’m feeling dizzy.
Wow, thanks, Jen! I knew you’d come up with a good list! :)
Country Girl–I about fell out of my chair from laughing so hard. I know what you mean. Poor Oprah. She’s down such a service to reading, but people are always embarrassed to admit they read from her list, myself included! I actually bout her latest magazine because it said something about 27 great summer books. Still have to look at it!
A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
The Good Earth – Pearl S. Buck
East of Eden – John Steinbeck
shh…from oprah’s book club a few years ago.
I thoroughly enjoyed all three. I AM NOT (repeat ten times)a O fanatic, but O’s list has not disappointed me yet.
On my shelf waiting:
The China Study – T. Colin Campbell
Diet for a New America – John Robbins
No More Bull – Howard Lyman
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
She’s Come Undone – Wally Lamb (reading)
Anna Karenina – Tolstoy
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garc�a M�rquez
I hear The Last Lecture is good…cant think of the author right now but it was the last book club book (the one I went to but didnt read the book (insert blushing)). Anyways the discussion was great and everyone said they loved it. I plan to read it soon! Here is where everyone laughs hysterically!
Admission: I resisted “Middlesex” in large part because it was on Oprah’s list. But then my niece, who has good taste in reading, highly recommended it, and in truth, she reads all of the Oprah books (as well as a lot more).
I have a snob thing about not wanting to read whatever is most popular, but I’m getting over it. I finally gave up and read the first Harry Potter book last summer, loved it, and went straight through all the rest. Sometimes books are popular because they are good reading. Go figure.
I’m currently reading Lottery by Patricia Wood. It is fantastic and heartwarming, simple & complex. I love it. Some of my favorites are Big Stone Gap, Memoires of a Geisha, Wuthering Heights, and the entire Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanavitch. You will laugh your ass off and be scared all at once.
I love how similar our tastes in books are. :)
OrangeG–One Hundred Years of Solitude is one of my favorite books!
Michelle–Memoirs of a Geisha is another one of my favorites. :)
Everyone has given such great suggestions! Thank goodness I just signed up for paperbackswap.com!
working on the sedaris book right now! i have a stack of books that are waiting to be read after that. i always like to keep about 10 new books on hand since i read so many a month!
for a suggestion… “the year of living biblically” by aj jacobs. it is a fun and somewhat educational read. i am going to read “the know it all” soon, too. that one is where he reads the entire encyclopedia in a year.
another suggestion, that i suggest to every fashion lover i meet is “deluxe: how luxury lost its luster.” i even posted a blog entry about it on my blog a while back. it covers fashion history, globalization, marketing, etc. it is so good.
Good suggestions, Yen! I’ll check them out. We leave Wednesday, and I plan on hitting Borders by Tuesday.
The new Sedaris is pure joy.
I’m almost finished and I started it days ago.
Try David Mitchell’s “Black Swan Green”. It’s fun :).