WarriorMama Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Twice in the last few weeks, I went into a bookstore and left with NOTHING. Okay, not true. I left with stuff for my kids, and a mental list of non-fiction I'm interested in getting from the library, and a heaping dose of depression at not finding a new novel to knock my socks off. I've been reading almost exclusively non-fiction for a few years (homeschool-mom research-mode, I think? :tongue_smilie: ). And I really want to read something FUN and ENTERTAINING. But time is so scarce these days, I'm scared of picking up a bad book and wasting the little free time I have. Yes. I have paralyzing book-choosing fear. Please save me. :lol: I would love to hear your very best, most-favourite, couldn't-put-it-down fiction titles. Any genre! The best of literary escapism. Lay it on me! :D I'm sure the wise and mighty Hive won't let me down! :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIS0320 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 My To Be Read Pile has these books in it: Shop Class As Soul Craft (it was mentioned in a thread here!) Hunger Games trilogy books 2 and 3 The Lady of the Rivers by Phillipa Gregory The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter Kreeft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 My top two light and easy picks for someone who hasn't read fiction in five years... :) The Hunger Games, obviously. It's engaging, quick and easy to read - lots of action, some romance, some fashion, some issues to think about... The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is another quick and easy read - very sweet, very old-fashioned romance, very touching... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 (edited) Sorry. Double post. Edited April 24, 2012 by aggieamy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is another quick and easy read - very sweet, very old-fashioned romance, very touching... :iagree: How about a classic mystery? The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins is EXCELLENT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 I recently finished The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White) by Ted Dekker. I really enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Game of Thrones, by George Martin (The series is called The Song of Ice and Fire It's pure escapism. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman It's harder to explain that one, but it's an amazing read. Johnathon Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke. It's not an action packed book, but you enter a whole new world (in an alt-history kind of way). There are so many books to read, and so little time. Happy reading, whatever you find.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristenR Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Well I love mountain climbing which may be why this novelization of George Mallory's summit attempt of Everest was so appealing to me. I got Killing Lincoln as a gift and was actually surprised by how much I liked it. It read like a novel. Gosh- I think those are the only two pleasure reads I have done this year. Eek- that's sad. I'll be listening in to this thread. EDITED to add- I second someone's suggestion of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia64 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Just a silly, fun, beach-read, but it held my attention: Summer Rental. It's perfect if you need something light and airy, but well written. Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnionJack Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Some of my favorites: The Brothers K by David James Duncan... Peace Like a River by Leif Enger Little Princes by Conor Grennan (non-fiction, but an amazing story and hard to put down) The Glass Castle (a memoir by Jeannette Walls...very interesting and quirky) Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (again...non-fiction...but so good!!) The Princess Bride by William Goldman The Paris Wife by Paula McLain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is undeniably one of the most entertaining books that I have ever read. I read *a lot*! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 I recently read Winter Bloom. It's on the ' light' side, but with heavy topics (Nazi death camps, divorce, adoption, domestic abuse etc). As I read, I knew I was being played. Yet. It's about a blooming garden and love. It won't leave you depressed for days. It takes place in Ireland, and the author knows all the buttons to push. However, I didn't feel quite as manipulated as I did when I long ago read my first and only Jodi Picoult novel. ;) Garden Spells is another book in this same vein, minus Nazis etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Just a silly, fun, beach-read, but it held my attention: Summer Rental. It's perfect if you need something light and airy, but well written. Alley Who wrote this one? I found one titled Summer Rental, but it's release date is May 8, 2012 :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is undeniably one of the most entertaining books that I have ever read. I read *a lot*! :iagree: Some others to consider: The Night Circus Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Colony The Remains of the Day or any of the ones on my Goodreads Favorites shelf ETA: Not all of them are 'fun & entertaining', as some are more serious. All are fabulous, though, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtoamiracle Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 The Blossom Street Series by Debbie Macomber. Very light and nice. Nothing dark or depressing. If you Could See me Now by Cecilia Ahern do you have a kindle? you can get free books daily by subscribing to pixelofink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 One of my very favorite new series that is fun and full of mythology and fantastic nerdy stuff such as quotes from Princess Bride and Star Wars is called the Iron Druid by Kevin Hearne. His character is Atticus Finch, a 2000 year old druid who runs a coffee/book shop in Arizona. I was drawn in quickly and this very morning the latest one was downloaded to my Kindle!!! There are four of them now with the next due out in November. For a fun, fast read, it doesn't get much more enjoyable than these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorMama Posted April 24, 2012 Author Share Posted April 24, 2012 Wow, you guys ROCK!! :party: I'm making a list on my phone to take on my next trip to the bookstore and/or library. Entertainment SHALL BE MINE!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIS0320 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 I would like to throw The Eight by Katherine Neville into the ring as it was a very entertaining book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Check out the author P.G. Wodehouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 For contemporary romance fiction, I'd recommend Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas. For historical romance, try Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn or The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (currently on reduced in price at Amazon, I see). Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OK Family Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton :iagree: LOVED that one, and her other two novels as well. I'm currently about 1/3 of the way into The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and really enjoying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIS0320 Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 I'm currently about 1/3 of the way into The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and really enjoying it. I liked that book too! It was a quick, entertaining read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OK Family Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 :iagree: LOVED that one, and her other two novels as well. I'm currently about 1/3 of the way into The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and really enjoying it. Ok I just picked up this from the library. Not very far into the book, but so far I like it! Thanks for that recommendation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 ABSOLUTE AND ALL-TIME FAVORITES Harry Potter books A Thousand Splendid Suns - this one, by far, is amongst one of the best books I have ever read The Help The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende and anything else by her, but this is her best. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Allende :D The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy .. but the first book is quite boring and confusing in the first 60-70 pages. Hang in there. It does get better! Yes, they are graphic. But I tend to look beyond that and just focus on the story The Geography of Bliss – non-fiction, very insightful Mindset – non-fiction, a book that one should read at least once – really gets you thinking Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea OTHER BOOKS THAT I HAVE LOVED (not in any particular order) The Five People You Meet in Heaven - if you're in the mood for a very, sweet and easy read - as are all of his books - Tuesdays with Morrie - and pretty much any other Mitch Albom book – we even got the DVDs of three of his books and really liked them Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg and most of her books - very sweet and light - and quite funny Funny in Farsi - if you need a nice laugh as well as her other book Laughing without an Accent Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett The Secret Life of Bees The Book Thief Books by Maeve Binchy – light, fluffy, but also very accurate about human interactions and relationships Outliers … and all Malcolm Gladwell books Confessions of a Prairie B*tch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated – some painful stuff, very engaging, entertaining, lots of humor – loved this book - but more enjoyable if you liked the TV series Middlesex – Jeffrey Eugenides The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver The Housekeeper and the Professor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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