athomemom Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 It doesn't have to be Christian, but it would be nice to find a 'decent' book. Is that possible? I like a wide variety & summer is upon us. Let's start a list! Go!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I have been working on trying to read some classics, Journey to the Center of the Earth was pretty good and I enjoyed Robinson Cruesoe although there were a few gruesome parts, but not nearly as bad as a lot of things that are out there today. I also enjoyed the Cost of Discipleship by Bonheoffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 A recently found books by Charles Martin. Love them. Set in the Southeast which is a bonus since I know most of the places. Start with When Crickets Cry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnionJack Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal I loved this book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5wolfcubs Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I keep recommending this, but I can't help it: A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. I just finished listening to Little Men which follows Little Women (read years ago) and it was very inspirational to me as a homeschool mom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Eighty Dollar Champion is a true story about a plow horse who becomes a champion show jumper. Sometimes the writing bugs a little (I could have done with several fewer references to "spills and thrills"), but it's a charming story. And the horse, of whom there are plenty of photos, is adorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnionJack Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Another one I read a while back was Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. It was excellent!! She also wrote Seabiscuit, which I've been wanting to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAS in LA Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I've just started the Father Brown stories by G.K. Chesterton. Wonderful descriptions and clever plots (they're mysteries). Also they are short enough to read one or two in an evening (no need to commit anything to your long-term memory!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett_ashley Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Another one I read a while back was Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. It was excellent!! She also wrote Seabiscuit, which I've been wanting to read. :iagree: Amazing, with an incredible twist you will love. It's nonfiction but reads like a novel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfamilygal Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Just read the Song of Fire and Ice series! Woot! (There is sex, but I just skim those parts.) I'm really like Jane Eyre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frugalmama Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Both of these are e-books, but they were excellent when I read them recently. Prison Nation by Jenni Merritt 30 Pieces of Silver: An Extremely Controversial Historical Thriller by Carolyn McCray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutamattatt Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I just read Fireflies in December by Jennifer ???. Really, really good! I read it in one sitting - and ended up pruney in an ice cold bath, but I couldn't put it down!:001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 It doesn't have to be Christian, but it would be nice to find a 'decent' book. Is that possible? I like a wide variety & summer is upon us. Let's start a list! Go!! :D I recently finished the CIRCLE trilogy by Ted Dekker: Black, Red, White. It was really good. I haven't read Green yet, but I hear it's not as good as the others, so I'm in no hurry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I've been really into Amish fiction lately (which is odd as I'm an atheist) and have read the following in the last few months and enjoyed them all. These 4 are all books with 3 short stories in each An Amish Gathering An Amish Wedding An Amish Christmas An Amish Love Daughter's of the Promise series by Beth Wiseman includes the following 5 books Plain Perfect Plain Pursuit Plain Promise Plain Paradise Plain Proposal The Land of Cannan series by Beth Wiseman spin off of the above series and includes Seek me with all your heart The Wonder of your love New one called His Love Endures Forever comes out in OCT Patch of Heaven Series by Kelly Long which includes Sarah's Garden Lilly's Wedding Quilt The Hearts of Middlefield Series by Kathleen Fuller which includes A Man of His Word An Honest Love A Hand to Hold Sister's of the Heart Trilogy by Shelley Sheppard Gray includes Hidden Wanted Forgiven I'm currently reading Winter's Awakening by Shelley Sheppard Gray. Yep it was a lot of books but they are all quick reads because they seemed to suck me in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I recently finished the CIRCLE trilogy by Ted Dekker: Black, Red, White. It was really good. I haven't read Green yet, but I hear it's not as good as the others, so I'm in no hurry. These were fun. I liked Green too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missouri Okie Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 These are not new, but two of my favorites from recent years are: Cold Sassy Tree and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Both are not "Christian" fiction but very clean and compelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share Posted May 15, 2012 What a wonderful list! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Some "decent" books that I have enjoyed this year: A Lantern in Her Hand The Housekeeper and the Professor Summer at Tiffany Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Well, for a heavy Christian series, I just finished Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series. It was a great series in my opinion. There are three books in the series and were available at my library with multiple copies of each so hopefully it will be an easy find for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 (edited) These are some of my favorites... How Green Was My Valley by Llewellyn Villette by Charlotte Bronte Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis Persuasion by Jane Austen Edited May 15, 2012 by Heathermomster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Nothing Christian about it, and there are occasional curse words, but it's so witty and funny that I try to ignore those parts. Basically it's a fun read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talltexan Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I was on a WWII era kick a couple of months ago, and I read two novels that I really enjoyed: The Book Thief and Those Who Save Us. Highly recommend! I tend to lean toward historical fiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewingMom2many Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I've been really into Amish fiction lately (which is odd as I'm an atheist) and have read the following in the last few months and enjoyed them all. These 4 are all books with 3 short stories in each An Amish Gathering An Amish Wedding An Amish Christmas An Amish Love Daughter's of the Promise series by Beth Wiseman includes the following 5 books Plain Perfect Plain Pursuit Plain Promise Plain Paradise Plain Proposal The Land of Cannan series by Beth Wiseman spin off of the above series and includes Seek me with all your heart The Wonder of your love New one called His Love Endures Forever comes out in OCT Patch of Heaven Series by Kelly Long which includes Sarah's Garden Lilly's Wedding Quilt The Hearts of Middlefield Series by Kathleen Fuller which includes A Man of His Word An Honest Love A Hand to Hold Sister's of the Heart Trilogy by Shelley Sheppard Gray includes Hidden Wanted Forgiven I'm currently reading Winter's Awakening by Shelley Sheppard Gray. Yep it was a lot of books but they are all quick reads because they seemed to suck me in. Thank you for posting this list. I love Amish fiction and am looking forward to reading these! I enjoyed reading Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman) a little while back. It was a fast, easy read with nothing bad or even sad. A nice happy book! I wish I could find more books like it. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls was good in a totally different way. Other than that I've been reading lots of non-fiction, healthy eating books which are enjoyable to me but I wouldn't consider them fun reads :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I just finished rereading A Room With A View and am about to begin a couple of Josephine Tey mysteries that I somehow never read: A Shilling For Candles and The Singing Sands. Tey was British and wrote clever, unformulaic mysteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnitWit Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Til We Have Faces is quite possibly my favorite book. I have recently enjoyed Kate Morton. She wrote The Forgotten Garden, The Distant Hours, and The House at Riverton. I also second the suggestion for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Well, since you said it didn't HAVE to be Christian, I'll guess that Christian is okay! I recently finished 3 books by Lynn Austin- the Chronicles of Kings series. It starts with Gods and Kings and it's a fictional story of King Hezekiah. I only read it because it was a free Nook book one time, but I was really hooked! It would have been a great read even if it wasn't based on a bible character (this was the first Christian fiction I have EVER read and enjoyed) but it kept sending me back to the bible to read about King Hezekiah to know what was fact and what was fiction. I learned a lot- but it was also just really enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Inna* Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Just finished "Below Stairs" by Margaret Powell. It's the book that inspired the Downton Abbey series. Quick read and the lady is hilarious. I would have loved to meet her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share Posted May 15, 2012 Well' date=' since you said it didn't HAVE to be Christian, I'll guess that Christian is okay! I recently finished 3 books by Lynn Austin- the Chronicles of Kings series. It starts with Gods and Kings and it's a fictional story of King Hezekiah. I only read it because it was a free Nook book one time, but I was really hooked! It would have been a great read even if it wasn't based on a bible character (this was the first Christian fiction I have EVER read and enjoyed) but it kept sending me back to the bible to read about King Hezekiah to know what was fact and what was fiction. I learned a lot- but it was also just really enjoyable.[/quote'] Yes! Christian book recommendations are great! The type of books I liketo read don't have to be Christian, but a 'clean' book is good! :D I haven't heard of the books you mentioned. I love Christian historical fiction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share Posted May 15, 2012 Well, for a heavy Christian series, I just finished Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series. It was a great series in my opinion. There are three books in the series and were available at my library with multiple copies of each so hopefully it will be an easy find for you. This series is my all time favorite. I couldn't put them down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LillyMama Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Another one I read a while back was Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. It was excellent!! She also wrote Seabiscuit, which I've been wanting to read. This is definitely in my "top ten books I've ever read." And I read a LOT of books. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett_ashley Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 This is definitely in my "top ten books I've ever read." And I read a LOT of books. :D :iagree: It would have made my top ten even if it was fiction, but that it was nonfiction and so thoroughly sourced.......WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtoamiracle Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I've been really into Amish fiction lately (which is odd as I'm an atheist) and have read the following in the last few months and enjoyed them all. These 4 are all books with 3 short stories in each An Amish Gathering An Amish Wedding An Amish Christmas An Amish Love Daughter's of the Promise series by Beth Wiseman includes the following 5 books Plain Perfect Plain Pursuit Plain Promise Plain Paradise Plain Proposal The Land of Cannan series by Beth Wiseman spin off of the above series and includes Seek me with all your heart The Wonder of your love New one called His Love Endures Forever comes out in OCT Patch of Heaven Series by Kelly Long which includes Sarah's Garden Lilly's Wedding Quilt The Hearts of Middlefield Series by Kathleen Fuller which includes A Man of His Word An Honest Love A Hand to Hold Sister's of the Heart Trilogy by Shelley Sheppard Gray includes Hidden Wanted Forgiven I'm currently reading Winter's Awakening by Shelley Sheppard Gray. Yep it was a lot of books but they are all quick reads because they seemed to suck me in. I adore Amish Fiction! have you tried Wanda Brunstetter and Cindy Woodsmall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maeintx Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Bianca's Vineyard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtoamiracle Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I just finished rereading A Room With A View and am about to begin a couple of Josephine Tey mysteries that I somehow never read: A Shilling For Candles and The Singing Sands. Tey was British and wrote clever, unformulaic mysteries. LOVE J0sephine Tey!! Have you read Brat Farrar? Oh it's my favorite! I also love Miss Pym Disposes. I read Tey over and over! I am also a Pearl S Buck fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 How about Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series? It's a fun murder mystery series set in 1950s England. The heroine is an 11yo erudite, spunky girl named Flavia. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LillyMama Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 There's a Welsh author, called Jasper FForde, who writes an amazingly unique set of books. The first in the series is The Eyre Affair. I cannot even explain it- it's fun, satire and brainy- nothing like anything else I've read. I remember it being clean. I would HIGHLY recommend reading it, if you like it, you'll love everything he does. Also, and this may be a no-brainer- but the Stephanie Plum novels, but Janet Evanovich, are hysterical. I think they're pretty clean, although they're pretty absurd. (And if you fall in love with them like I have, you'll understand how RIDICULOUS it was to cast Katherine Heigl, who I adore, as the lead in the upcoming movie. Just not a good fit!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I have been working on trying to read some classics, Journey to the Center of the Earth was pretty good and I enjoyed Robinson Cruesoe although there were a few gruesome parts, but not nearly as bad as a lot of things that are out there today. I also enjoyed the Cost of Discipleship by Bonheoffer. I recently finished Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, it was really good too. These are not new, but two of my favorites from recent years are: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society My friend recommended this to me, she told me how she and her mom both found it hilarious. So, I bought it for a plane ride. Terrible mistake. As a military wife, I had a completely different experience. I cried and cried. I hate when books make me cry on a plane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Just finished this one and thought it was great. They even homeschooled for awhile, in Africa: Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of an African Childhood http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Chickens-Saddle-Childhood-ebook/dp/B001D9T80U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337055555&sr=8-1 Also -- to Lee, if you enjoyed the book A Town Like Alice, then I'd highly recommend the mini-series based on it. It's one of my favorites! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081949/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I wouldn't say this is exactly summer reading, it's enormously long, but I have found it to be quite engrossing. "Peter the Great" by Robert Massie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I loved this one.. http://www.amazon.com/Coop-Family-Farm-Pursuit-Good/dp/0061240443/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337080920&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 My friend recommended this to me, she told me how she and her mom both found it hilarious. So, I bought it for a plane ride. Terrible mistake. As a military wife, I had a completely different experience. I cried and cried. I hate when books make me cry on a plane! Huh. My sister, a military wife, is the one who recommended The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to me. She found is super funny (as did I)! So I'm not sure you found it different just because you are a military wife (my sister had had it recommended to her by another military wife who also found it hilarious). It's interesting how books will strike people completely differently. Some books I've read recently that I absolutely loved: - Matched and Crossed (that's two books) by Ally Condie. Reached is the third book and it won't be out until November which is the only problem with reading the other two now. The series is dystopian. Kind of 1984 meets The Giver. - The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. This was one of my daughter's assigned books (I always read her assigned books because then we can have a real conversation about them). She finished it yesterday and loved it as much as I did. Then books I haven't read recently, but recommend highly: - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - The Goose Girl series by Shannon Hale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 The Chronicles of the Kings series by Lynn Austin is FANTASTIC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misidawnrn Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Only a kiss or 2. (little peck) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 (edited) Didn't read all replies but I like Colleen Coble books. She lots of series out. Most libraries around here have them. They are definitely Christian - usually mystery with a little side story. Edited May 15, 2012 by Liz CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Huh. My sister, a military wife, is the one who recommended The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to me. She found is super funny (as did I)! So I'm not sure you found it different just because you are a military wife (my sister had had it recommended to her by another military wife who also found it hilarious). It's interesting how books will strike people completely differently. How many funerals has she attended? How many widows does she know? That may be the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson. So, so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I just finished I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Such an enjoyable book. I also enjoy Angela Thirkell and Miss Read. Not much action, but that actually suits me as the school year winds down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry. Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Here are a few I have read recently and really enjoyed: THEY ALMOST ALWAYS COME HOME http://www.amazon.com/They-Almost-Always-Come-Home/dp/1426702388/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337124331&sr=1-1 Great story about a lady whose husband doesn't come home as expected from a fishing trip. WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=walking+on+broken+glass&sprefix=walking+on+br%2Cstripbooks%2C162 Story about a young alcoholic that enters treatment. Not what I would normally read but very thought provoking WE'LL HAVE THE SUMMER http://www.amazon.com/Well-have-Summer-Dutch-Henry/dp/1603818375/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337124449&sr=1-1 Touching story about a husband and wife and a horse ALL GOD'S CREATURES http://www.amazon.com/All-Gods-Creatures-Carolyn-McSparren/dp/0967303583/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337124494&sr=1-1 Story of a female vet---similar in style to James Harriot's boots None of these are specifically Christian books but overall quite wholesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 It doesn't have to be Christian, but it would be nice to find a 'decent' book. Is that possible? I like a wide variety & summer is upon us. Let's start a list! Go!! :D I'm on my way out the door, so don't have time to list all my recent faves, but if you are up for a good Christian fiction read, try fictionfinder.com where you can plug in your preferred genre and see what's available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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