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Thread: I'm out of books and nothing sounds good

  1. #1
    solid motherhubbard's Avatar
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    I'm out of books and nothing sounds good

    If I read another book about guided reading or how to be a teacher I will drop dead. Looking for suggestions. I need to work up an amazon order.

  2. #2
    Super papayahed's Avatar
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    What do you like?
    Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda


  3. #3
    solid motherhubbard's Avatar
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    I don't know. I think I want to try reading something by someone who isn't dead yet. I haven't done enough of that.

  4. #4
    You are going to get a lot of recommendations methinks.

    Here's mine:

    I've almost finished reading Cider With Rosie which I decided to read as an antidote to rubbish things. Well, I can tell you that I am really pleased with it - it's a beautiful little book/memoir and well beyond my expectation. I will be reading it again and again. Have a peak.

  5. #5
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    Well, what genres do you like? What have you read that you've enjoyed? Until we know this, you're going to just get a bunch of members' favorites lists, which may not be your cup of tea at all.

  6. #6
    Internal nebulae TheFifthElement's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by motherhubbard View Post
    I don't know. I think I want to try reading something by someone who isn't dead yet. I haven't done enough of that.
    Lost Paradise by Cees Nooteboom. Can't recommend it enough.

    Anything by David Mitchell, but particularly Cloud Atlas.

    And I get the feeling you'd like Room by Emma Donoghue. The subject matter might be a little off-putting, but it's charmingly written. I think you'd like it.

    None of those are dead yet
    Want to know what I think about books? Check out https://biisbooks.wordpress.com/

  7. #7
    Super papayahed's Avatar
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    Here's my list of highest rated books by non-dead authors:

    Someplace to be Flying - Charles DeLint
    Anansi Boys - Neil Gaimen
    New York Trilogy - Paul Auster
    The Alienist - Caleb Carr


    My list of low rated yet fun book by non-dead authors:

    Stepahnie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
    Big Boned by Meg Cabot
    The Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
    Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx
    Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda


  8. #8
    Hey what's wrong with dead authors anyway MotherH? Everybody knows that all the best books are written by dead authors. (I've put that last bit in for Brian as he likes to spot my sheep flask grammar mistakes, but don't tell him.)

    After reading all that teaching nonsense (and let's face it the people who deal with that are b£st+rds) you need escapism - and I still maintain my recommendation of Cider With Rosie - great writing never dies, no pressure though.

    Edit, edit:

    Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx
    Jesus, what sort of recommendation is that? That sounds awful. The lady needs a break, not something to take her over the edge.
    Last edited by LitNetIsGreat; 02-04-2011 at 08:54 PM.

  9. #9
    [no title] Armel P's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by motherhubbard View Post
    If I read another book about guided reading or how to be a teacher I will drop dead. Looking for suggestions. I need to work up an amazon order.
    "Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" by Haruki Murakami.

    "Trout Fishing in America" by Brautigan. He's dead but he probably would still be alive if he didn't kill himself.

    "Day of Creation" by J.G. Ballard. He juuuuust died.

  10. #10
    solid motherhubbard's Avatar
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    This is so exciting! I can't wait to get on Amazon.

    Most of what I've read has been classic literature. the thread about reading 11 authors you haven't read in 2011 got me thinking, but I don't know who's out there. I thought about going along with one of the book clubs, but those books seem so long. I'm afraid to get involved with something l...o...n...g. I'm not sure I could stick it out. Working out time for myself has been a challenge since I've gone to work.

    Thanks for the great suggestions. Keep it up and I'll be able to read right through the year.

  11. #11
    All are at the crossroads qimissung's Avatar
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    The Stephanie Plum series that papayahed recommended is side-splittingly funny.

    I'm also recommending "Happy All the Time," by Laurie Colwin. Unfortunately she is dead, but this is one of the most dear, charming, and beautifully written books that I have ever read.

    Also good:

    "Just Kids" by Patti Smith (You will not want this book to end)
    "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel (This is one of the funniest and most adorable books I have ever read)
    "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
    "Marley and Me" by John Grogan (if you haven't already read it!)
    "Kitchen Chinese" by Ann Mah
    "Things I've Been Silent About," by Azar Nafisi
    "Reading Lolita in Tehran," by Azar Nafisi
    "The Piano Teacher," by Janice Y.K. Lee
    "Free Food for Millionaires" by Min Jin Lee
    "Under the Tuscan Sun" by Frances Mayes
    "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
    "West with the Night," by Beryl Markham (awesome!)
    "Out of Africa" by Isak Dinesen (just in case you haven't read it)


    Whatever you end up getting, happy reading!
    Last edited by qimissung; 02-05-2011 at 01:09 PM.
    "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its' own reason for existing." ~ Albert Einstein
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  12. #12
    BadWoolf JuniperWoolf's Avatar
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    From what I know about you, I think you'd like Life of Pi. It's not drab or depressing. It's fairly optimistic actually, for a shipwreck story.
    __________________
    "Personal note: When I was a little kid my mother told me not to stare into the sun. So once when I was six, I did. At first the brightness was overwhelming, but I had seen that before. I kept looking, forcing myself not to blink, and then the brightness began to dissolve. My pupils shrunk to pinholes and everything came into focus and for a moment I understood. The doctors didn't know if my eyes would ever heal."
    -Pi


  13. #13
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    Books

    Try Rosemary Mahoney's books, Nabokov's Speak Memory, Eggers' A Staggering work of incredible genius, What is the What -- well that's a few suggestions. Check them out on AMazon used books.

  14. #14
    Internal nebulae TheFifthElement's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Armel P View Post
    "Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" by Haruki Murakami.

    "Trout Fishing in America" by Brautigan. He's dead but he probably would still be alive if he didn't kill himself.

    "Day of Creation" by J.G. Ballard. He juuuuust died.
    Armel P we have very similar taste in authors! HBW is my favourite Murakami novel, though I hear 1Q84 is being released in English in it's entirety in October and have already cleared a spot in my reading diary.

    Braugitan is such fun. I love The Hawkline Monster.

    Ballard is great at his trippy best in books like The Unlimited Dream Company. I haven't read The Day of Creation. I'll have to check in out.
    Want to know what I think about books? Check out https://biisbooks.wordpress.com/

  15. #15
    Kristina Faith faithosaurus's Avatar
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    Duma Key - Stephen King
    The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
    Something Blue - Emily Giffin (this is also a series of books)

    The first one's just a fun horror and the other two are pretty light.
    "I drag myself out of nightmares each morning and find there's no relief in waking."

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