I hope this isn't an inappropriate question to ask on this venue, I don't think so though....
ANYWAY, before I was married and had my beautiful boys, I was the ULTIMATE bookworm. I would read late into the night, all day, all sorts of stuff. I stopped reading due to my wifely and motherly duties. Now my boys are a bit older, 10 and 6, and I have more time so I want to read more. I was hoping for some suggestions from you fine people. I love historical fiction, with love, lust and betrayal mixed in.
I have read 50 Shades already and all requisite copy cat books thereafter. I have had my fair share of those and have learned too much. I have read the Hunger Games, loved it. I actually read Battle Royale way back when, excellent read. I love Danielle Steele. So if you got some time, I would appreciate any suggestions.
(As a sidenote, I practically serve all my guys hand and foot, however my 10 year old is into yoga, drawing and writing so spends his time with HW and other pertaining activities. My 6 yo plays soccer, football and baseball and his dad is coach for 2 of his teams, just in case you may think I would neglect them while reading.)
THANK YOU ALL and have a GREAT DAY!
Great historical fiction: the Savannah Quartet and the St. Simons Trilogy by Eugenia Price. (4 books in the first set and 3 in the second, important to reach them in order). Based on real people and set in a real place, written in a very powerful and beautiful way (most set in the Civil War era, taking place in Georgia).
i rarely recommend books because no one else's recommendations ever work for me<G>. books are SO personal.
but i just finished 'fingersmith' and was blown. a. way.
for the first time in years i was racing to finish because i couldn't wait, and lonesome and bereft when i was done. and even though now i know all the marvelous and agonizing plot twists, i bought a copy for my own because i know i'll want to revisit the exquisite writing.
:) khairete
S.
whoaaa! Wait a minute! Why are you justifying your time spent reading?
Grow a pair & grab a book....& read!
Those men can learn to wait on themselves.
Preach over....
lots of good suggestions already posted. My Book Journal is packed away.... so this is all from memory:
I second JD Robb, Iris Johansen, David Baldacci.
Dean Koontz....Odd Thomas series.
James Lee Burke....love the Dave Robicheaux series, but don't know if it's dated or still stands strong
Lee Child....Jack Reacher
F Paul Wilson....Repairman Jack series
more in the romance line: Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie
I'd recommend hitting the store & just browse. Makes for a perfect hour or 3. Book Lovers Unite!!
My favourite historical fiction was Pillars of the Earth and World Without End by Ken Follett.
As mentioned below good reads is a great site for finding a book and thriftbooks.com is a great place to buy them. Paperbacks are just few bucks with free shipping.
As to your historical fiction taste, I loved The Paying Guests, The Last Queen, Pillars of the Earth & Burning Bright.
That being said I can't stand Danielle Steele, will never read fifty shades and think of Hunger Games as a kids book so our taste clearly differs. The titles above are VERY true to history with drama weaved through, I found them all to be really enjoyable.
Why do you feel the need to justify doing something for yourself? However you choose to spend your downtime is your business. Your boys should see you focusing on lots of things besides mothering.
If your spending time reading for pleasure while they fend for themselves you are not only giving yourself a break but also modeling healthy behavior. They see you enjoy reading, they understand they are not the center of the universe and that you are not put on this earth to cater to their every whim and they learn how to make their own snacks.
It's a win, win, win!
Have you tried "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon? I'm currently reading
"Voyager," the third book in the series. My co-worker and I are addicted and talk about it at work all the time. (Shh, don't tell!)
ETA - When I read the title of your post, I thought of the website https://www.goodreads.com/ It's a good site. You can create a list of the books you've read, and the website will periodically give you suggestions based on your preferences. You can write reviews, ask questions, answer questions, look at what other uses have read and what they recommend. Lots of good book ideas there!
a parent who has no interests of her own except her children gets pretty bored pretty fast. I love to read. And because I love to read my children all love to read. Its a win win! :)
these are my favorite authors
Nora Roberts stand alones and also a lot of trilogies
J. D Robb (nora roberts writing futuristic cop / romance )In death series
Jayne Ann Krentz current day romance / mystery
Jayne Castle (Jane Ann Krentz Futuristic paranormal mystery)
Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz historical romance / mystery)
Kay Hooper Horror paranormal (blood, chill, fear series)
Iris Johansen some stand alones but a good long series about eve duncan
John Grisham legal thrillers
David Baldacci legal thrillers
Elizabeth lowell some series but mostly stand alone historical and current day
Susan Elizabeth Phillips laugh out loud romance some series but mostly stand alones
Did you read The Other Boleyn Girl? It was fantastic.
And as a side note...no need to justify having an interest of your own! We are more than just wives and mothers and are allowed to do things for our own pleasure, benefit and relaxation without needing to explain or apologize. I have 4 kids and have never stopped reading. It's one of those things that gives me great joy and we all deserve some time to ourselves!
Definitely read the Outlander series! Be forewarned, it will suck you right in!
The Cartographer of No Mans Land--Takes place during WWI, but is not necessarily a war book.
Hotel and the Corner of Bitter and Sweet-- A love story that takes place in Seattle during WWII between a Chinese boy and a Japanese girl who is sent to a Japanese internment camp.
Those Who Save Us-- Germany in WWII and the desperate things a woman does to,save herself and her son.
The Poisonwood Bible-- A family of missionaries in South America
Sarah's Key-- A girl who loses her brother in WWII.
The Light Between Oceans-- A young couple who live on a remote island and man a lighthouse who find a baby washed up in a small boat.
In the Shadow of the Banyan--Young girl growing up in Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime. (This one really hit close to home for me because my husband experienced many of the same things that the main character does.)
Address Unknown-- Oh my gosh! A very short book, but one of the MOST powerful books I have ever read!!!!!
State of Wonder-- A woman researcher goes into the Amazon rainforest to find out what happened to her mentor who has disappeared.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter-- A nurse keeps a Down Syndrome baby that she was supposed to deliver to an institution.
The Secret Life of Bees--1960s South Carolina
A Lesson Before Dying-- The impact that a teacher makes on a young black man in 1940s. I've read this one several times and love it every time.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Series-- fun stories about a "traditionally built" woman in Botswana who starts a detective agency. Love these books!
Little Bee-- Very powerful book about a young African woman who goes to England.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn-- A coming of age story from the 1900s. I've read this book several times, too.
Joy in the Morning-- Young married couple in Brooklyn in the 1920s.
Hyacinth Blue-- About a Vermeer painting.
The Girl With the Pearl Earring-- About the same Vermeer painting.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society-- After WWII a young writer begins a relationship with a man who tracked her down when he finds her name written inside a book.
I really hate questions like this! ;) I spend way too much time answering them!! Happy reading!
No need to try to justify! There are a number of bookworm moms on this site, and every few months, one of us posts looking for our next good book to read.
Here is the last time I posted a similar question, and I got a bunch of excellent book recommendations.
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/12706463694348091393
My more recent good reads have been:
The Glass Castle
Kitchen House
Beautiful Lies
Under the Wide and Starry Sky
I'm in the middle of the 1st book in the Game of Thrones series. The TV series is based on it. I don't watch the series, but the book is good with lots of intrigue. I have no idea what is going to happen.
For fun and laughs along with a mystery plot, there is the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.
ETA: Also, I really like some juvenile/young adult books. I just recently read Harry Potter because my child started the series. I really enjoyed it!
I think the best book ever written is probably The Pillars of the Earth. At World's End is also very good! I just read Cleopatra's Daughter, and I was super impressed. The same author also wrote a book about Madame Tussaud that explained so much French history it was amazing.
I love the Odd Thomas books as well. I have been using a site called bookbub.com and they have free books that you just download to your device from different stores. I have been using amazon and the kindle app on my android phone and been pretty happy. I just look at the free books and see what seems like it might be good. You can narrow down your preferences also.
Please don't think that if you want to read it makes you a bad mom! All people should have some down time, it is a necessity to good mental health!
"the five people you meet in heaven " by mitch albom and "tuesdays with morry"..also by mitch album..more later..K. h.
Since I read my first "In Death" book I can't hardly stand to read anything else.
J D Robb is actually Nora Roberts. The name is a combination of her son's initials and these books are dark, a bit gory at times, graphic murders, and hot hot hot sex between the cop and her husband.
There is a whole host of wonderful characters that make the whole series tie together and keeps me interested so I can find out what they're up to next.
I used to love Judith McNaught back in the days. It's got all those things you're talking about - love, lust, betrayal. Check them out!
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is good.
Also anything by Amy Tan
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom is one of my favorites.
