I'm out of books and nothing sounds good

[motherhubbard]

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.

[papayahed]

What do you like?

[motherhubbard]

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.

[LitNetIsGreat]

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.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

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.

[TheFifthElement]

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 :D

[papayahed]

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

[LitNetIsGreat]

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.

[Armel P]

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.

[motherhubbard]

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.

[qimissung]

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!

[JuniperWoolf]

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.

[lorraineabelow]

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.

[TheFifthElement]

"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.

[faithosaurus]

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.

[papayahed]

Jesus, what sort of recommendation is that? That sounds awful. The lady needs a break, not something to take her over the edge.


It fits MH's requirements.

[motherhubbard]

Papaya, are you recommending crap? How would it take me over the edge. I like books that leave me thinking about them forever. Nothing scary though. I keep my husband up at night.

All of these suggestions are giving me hope for the future!

[Jozanny]

mother, for you I'd recommend Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope by Kay Bratt. See if its review on the Azmo is to your liking.

[papayahed]

Papaya, are you recommending crap? How would it take me over the edge. I like books that leave me thinking about them forever. Nothing scary though.


Of course I'm not recommending crap! Would I steer you wrong? The book is excerpts from a diary kept by Nikki Sixx, it is a little seedy but if you listened to music in the late 80's it's a pretty interesting read I think.

As for going over the edge, I'm not sure what Neely is talking about.

[qimissung]

I've read "Down the Nile" by Rosemary Mahoney. It was good. I didn't know she'd written other books, so now I'm going to have to check those out.

I found this:

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/21/books/at-lunch-with-rosemary-mahoney-reverberations-from-a-devastated-dream.html

And Fifth, I'd already put Mitchell and Marakumi on my list of authors to investigate.Your list has been helpful to me, too, MotherHubbard! Thank you.

[prendrelemick]

I discovered a little gem recently, " The Maytrees " by Annie Dillard. A restful book, perfect to unwind to and beautifully written. Its also short.

[SleepyWitch]

Angela Huth: Inviation to the Married Life (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Invitation-Married-Life-Angela-Huth/dp/0349103135/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297180343&sr=1-1)
One of the most realistic books I've ever read.

[Armel P]

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.

Nice!

I was blown away by Murakami. Great stuff. That book is the only one I've read so far. I think Kafka on the Shore is next for me. What do you think?

Brautigan is hilarious. I read In the Watermelon Sugar too which is equally fun. His poetry is great too. I'll check out THM.

The Day of Creation is not his most known book. Sometimes I think I'm the only one that's read it but it is pretty cool. Very bizarre. I was going to read Super Cannes next but maybe I'll go with TUDC since someone with similar taste likes it.

[jmnixon95]

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.

I've been thinking about reading this one.