Looking for a Few 'Grab-my-attention' Books.....

"Angry Housewives Eating bon bons" was an excellent book that has stayed with me for five years. There is also a series by Diana Gabaldon starting with "Outlander" (I've turned four very different women onto this series, they're really long, but great). I actually named my first daughter after a character in the Outlander books, silly I know. "The Lovely Bones" was one I read while in the hospital delivering my son this past October, very good too. Have fun on vacation.

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A couple of classics that I very much enjoyed.

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"
"The Good Earth"

And recent novels

"The Kite Runner"
"The Secret Life of Bees"
"Crescent"

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I have a GREAT one for you that will keep you guessing as you read it.....it's a fictional love story / marriage / mystery type novel and it's only 200 pgs - it's an easy read where you won't be able to put the book down.

It's called "The Story of a Marriage" and it's by Andrew Sean Greer. It came out about 9 mths ago(?)

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The Time Traveller's Wife
The Kite Runner
Peace Like a River
Many Lives, Many Masters
Water for Elephants
The Red Tent
Pope Joan

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Hi,

I couldn't put down "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini.

Have fun.

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"Good In Bed" by Jennifer Weiner, there is also a sequel called "Certain Girls." The book if very light, funny, and the perfect vacation book. It was an awesome book, best I've read in a while. I am the same way as you and won't finish a book unless it grabs me.

Someone else suggested Dan Brown, these are also excellent booksbut require more concentration that your traditional "chick lit" so if you will be taking care of baby as you read, you may want something lighter.

Enjoy your vacation!

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If you haven't read the Harry Potter books, now would be a good time to start. They're not just for kids. I'm 28 and have been a diehard fan since I was 19 and read the 1st book. I have read them many times over and I always pick up on something new every time. I made my husband read them and he couldn't put them down. He was bringing them to work with him and reading them at lunch! And it looks like I'm not the only one suggesting it! I promise that you will love them!

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Water for Elephants, by Sarah Gruen, is fantastic.

Also, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, was amazing!

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I am also a big DS fan, but they are not the "stay in your mind" books that you are looking for. If you want some books that will linger long after you put them down, try The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns (both by Khaled Hosseini), Five People You Meet in Heaven (by Mitch Albom), and The Secret Life of Bees (by Sue Monk Kidd). We're leaving for Jamaica tomorrow & I have The Memory Keeper's Daughter and Into the Woods tucked into my carry-on. Both came highly recommended. My husband's been hooked on Lisa Gardner books for a few weeks now. I haven't read any yet, but he's usually a pretty good judge of books. Happy Reading!

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Janet Evanovich... start with "one for the money" and work your way through the series. You can't go wrong here!

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Some really fun (and somewhat raunchy but not too bad) books are the Janet Evonovich Stephanie Plum series. She has 14 of them out now but you should read them in order. It is about a female bounty hunter from Jersey and her amusing adventures in catching "bad guys". Complete mind fluff, but who wants to think too hard when on vacation?

I also absolutely LOVE the Harry Potter books. If you haven't read them yet, I highly recommend them. My mother refused to read them b/c she thought they were stupid children's books and she didn't like the movies. I forced her to read the first one and she finished it in two days then came back to get the rest of them AND the movies. Now she raves about them. Lots of fun!

If you are looking for more intense books I would highly recommend Jodi Piccolt books. She is an amazing author who writes about very sensative subjects and draws you in by telling the story, not from one angle, but by all of the main characters angles. She also has the ability to make you "feel" very strong emotions (usually sad or empathy) with her writting. Some titles by Jodi Piccolt are:

Salam Falls
The Pact
My Sister's Keeper (As a mother, this was hard to read)
Vanishing Acts

She has more but these are the ones that I read.

I also enjoy Jane Auels Earth Children Series
The Clan of the Cave Bear (I named by daughter after the main character, Ayla)
The Valley of the Horses
The Mammoth Hunters
The Plains of Passage
The Shelters of Stone

These are set back in Cave man times and they are very long but totally worth the effort.

Some other titles I enjoyed are:

The Red Tent (I think every woman should read this)
The Lovely Bones
Marley and Me
Memiors of a Geisha
The Time Travelers Wife

I hope you find something that you like. Enjoy!

J.

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"The Other Bolyn Girl" / "The Constant Princess" / "The Bolyn Inheritance" - All by Philippa Gregory - Perfect trilogy - can't put down.

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Anything by Jodi Picoult is amazing - hooks you in right away, but you don't need to think too much! Nineteen minutes, Salem Falls, Plain Truth, etc....are all excellent! Enjoy!

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I read all of the books the other moms suggested and agree!

I also recommend Greg Iles: Quiet Game, then Turning Angel, then anything else he wrote!

Rosina Lippi "Tied to the Tracks", "Homestead" (I haven't read "Pajama Jones" yet)

Sarah Donnati - who is acually a pen name for Rosina Lippi - (start with "Into the Wilderness") or Diana Gabaldon (start with "Outlander"), if you want very large books that have 6-7 in the series.

For shorter books Sue Monk Kidd "Secret Life of Bees" and "Mermaid Chair"

Hey Moms - we should start a book club!

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I HIGHLY recommend The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Its my favorite modern novel, I actually have two copies, one for myself and one to loan out. Everyone who reads it loves it.

Have Fun!

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The God of Animals. Excellent.

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1) the kite runner by khaled hussein
2) one hundred years of solitude by gabriel garcia marquez
3) the stand by steven king

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Hi J..
Are you only looking for "Danielle Steele love stroy" type books or are your open for other types?
Within the last year, I discovered Janet Evanovich. She writes light who done it's. Very funny. The main character in this series of books is Stephanie Plum, who works for a bail bondsman as a bounty hunter, but she's not very good at this. The books are in order by number....One for the Money, Two for the Show, ect; I just bought book #10 to take on my own vacation.
Also, anything by Luanne Rice is good. And, who can ever put down any book by Nora Roberts?
Have a happy vacation.

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If you haven't read them yet, The Harry Potter books...they are can't put them down books...I know they've been out for awhile but I never jumped on the band wagon(I typically like Mary Higgins Clark)but for Christmas I bought my son the first book...he didn't pick it up so I thought I'd trick him into reading it...I'd read it in front of him and make it look like I was really enjoying myself...well the trick was on me I LOVED the book so much I read all of them in the weeks that followed...the boys have knicked named them the giggle books because I was seriously laughing out loud reading them, now I get it...the whole Harry Potter craze :)

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Hi J.,

Some of the authors that I really enjoy reading are Allison Brennan, Hannah Howell, K. Marie Moning, Christine Feehan, Lisa Gardner. Just a little about some of these, Allison Brennan writes mystery, who done it, tupe books. The first series is a trilogy - Hear no Evil, See no Evil and Fear no evil. Her second set is The Prey, The Hunt, The Kill. ( I have only read The Prey and haven't had a chance to read the other two.) Christine Feehan writes series books about vampire (Carpathian) romance, I know that probably sounds a little wierd, but they are not strictly vampire blood sucking type of books. They are set in different time periods and there is a "right order" to read these in. (if you should want the first few, let me know) Their are 19 books in "The Dark Series"!! She also has a series called "The Ghostwalkers" (there are 6 in that series) and the 3rd series is the Drake Sisters (there are 7 in that one).

Lisa Gardner is also a crime/mystery type of Author. There are 10 books in her series. The Perfect Husband is the first and it is really fabulous.

K. Marie Moning and Hannah Howell both write romance books mostly to do with the Scottish Highlands.

Have a good time on your vacation, hope this is helpful.

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I'm the same as you; if I can't get through the first chapter I put the book down. I recently read "The Second Assistant" Claire Naylor http://www.amazon.com/Second-Assistant-Bottom-Hollywood-L...
and "Yoga Mamas" Katherine Stewart http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Mamas-Katherine-Stewart/dp/B00...

Both books were fun easy reads told in the first person.

Memoirs of A Geisha was great book that was earlier recommended. My best friend recommended it to me then I passed it on to another girlfriend then bought a copy for my Mom. While reading it, I constantly recited the chapters to my husband. I couldn't get it out of my mind. Written by Arthur Golden a scholar in Japanese art and history.

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Anything by Jodi Piccoult is wonderful! I love them and once I start one I can't put it down.

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I just read Annie Freeman's Fabulous Travelling Funeral by Kris Radish which was great. I also loved The Interruption of Everything. Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer was another recent read that I found I couldn't put down. I'm also a big Jodi Picoult fan - My Sisters Keeper was my favorite but also 19 Minutes, Plain Truth, 10th Circle (Picture Perfect wasn't worth reading though)

Enjoy your vacation and your summer reading. I'm hoping to read 15 books like I did last summer :)

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Anything by Nora Roberts. Also, Julia Spencer-Fleming has a series starting with a book called 'In the Bleak Midwinter'. It will hold your attention and also cool you off with all its references to snow in upstate New York. Enjoy your vacation.

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Hi J.,

I'm a big fan of Jodi Picoult. I started with My Sister's Keeper (which is soon to become a major motion picture), and was hooked. Her novels are all written in a stylistically similar manner, so I wouldn't suggest reading them back to back. I've read a good number of them, and am captivated each time. Good luck with your search and enjoy your vacation!

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Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a great vacation read. She spends 4 months in Italy exploring food, 4 months in India and 4 months in Bali. This book is a great way to travel without leaving home!

Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle is another must read that will grab you in and inspire you to connect with food on a different level. She normally writes fiction but is a fabulous writer.

enjoy that week off!

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I love to read and once a find a great author I read everything they have written. When reading my goal is just to have some down time and enjoy nothing too serious! My new favorite author is Debbie MaComber. She writes fun easy to read books with great insight on woman. Here's her website http://www.debbiemacomber.com where you can find a complete list of her books. Right now I'm reading the Blossom Street series which I love, but if you don't want a series she's got plenty to choose from.

Other favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks and Kristen Heitzmann. Both authors always grab me from the start.

Enjoy your vacation! And don't forget to tell us what you decided to read. I keep going back to all of your responses and have started a book list from all the advice! Someone suggested a book club - great idea!!!!

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I just finished "Whitethorn Woods" by Maeve Binchy. I loved the way she tells the story. For mysteries, anything Michael Connelly or James Patterson.
Have a wonderful time!

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A thousand splendid suns was great, but a tough subject (women in afganistan-fiction) i could not put this book down. anything my janet evanovich is an easy fun read.

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try SHANTARAM. amazing story, and you'll probably just need to take this one book. don't be daunted by the length of it...it's the best and most exciting thing that i've read in a long time.
cheers, C.

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You have to read The Kite Runner! I had been told that repeatedly and finally read it a couple of weeks ago. It is exactly what you describe: the ones that grab ya and you can't put down. And then, after you read them they stay in your mind for a while.....

Have a wonderful vacation and enjoy!

S.

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In addition to many that have been recommended these are other books I have loved:
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Any mystery featuring Kay Scarpetta, by Patricia Cornwell
If you enjoy wine, Love by the Glass by Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher is fun to read. This is non-fiction.
Khalid Hosseini books are great, but could be painful to read given the subject matter.
The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak.
The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards

Enjoy your vacation, and read, read, read.

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Anything by Nicholas Sparks is great! The Notebook is his first one, and it's wonderful. Also The Green Mile by Stephen King is great. Those are my 2 favorite authors.

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All of Dan Brown's books are 'grab your attention' books. I preferred Angels and Demons to the Da Vinci code - but ALL are good. The Five People you Meet in Heaven is a sweet and quick read. Great for vacations. David Sedaris writes very funny non-fiction books. And Jennifer Weiner's books are all great, too. Wish I had time to read more.... :(

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hi J. try ,Janet evanovich,she has a series of books easy reading.I like her alot.S. C

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I just finished Sail by James Patterson. I don't have much time to read but this was so good I was reading it late into the night!
I highly recommend it!
Have fun!

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Normally I tend to read non-fiction but my favorite fiction writer is Sophie Kinsilla and her Shopaholic series are hilarious. I can never put them down once I start. She comes out with about one a year. I started with the third one first since it happened to be in the English section when I lived in Germany. She gets married and has two weddings planned on two continents and it got me hooked. You don't need to be a shopaholic to enjoy the books. They are pure fluff and fun.

Someone mentioned the other Bolyn girl. My daughter loved it. My all time favorite book is probably Gone with the Wind. I read it when I was twelve and in the hospital. It took a whole week to read though! Timeless book for any generation.

S. Hoehner
www.sharethecause.com/detoxqueen

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'something borrowed' then read 'somethinkg Blue' .. both are good one leads into the other.

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I second the Greg Iles recomendation! Love everything by him. I also enjoy Vince Flynn- good political thrillers. Start with "Term Limits"

Laurie R King is also fabulous. She has written a few stand alone novels and she has two series. The stand alone novels are excellent "Folly", "A Darker Place", and "Keeping Watch". The series are my faves though one is about a modern day detective in San Francisco - Kate Martinelli -- first book is "Night Work". The second and my favorite series is The Mary Russel/Sherlock Holmes novels. Set in the early 20th century; Mary Russel is Holmes' new apprentice. They are just great! You really do get lost in them. I am re-reading the whole series now in anticipation of the new book next year! The first book is "The Beekeepers Apprentice"

I also enjoy Anne Rice's work but she may be a little much for vacation reading.

Have fun!

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I just finished reading "The Time Travelers Wife". I am not a reader in general. It takes me a year to read one book. Well, this one was 500 pages and I couldn't put it down. I am still thinking about it. It's a romantic drama with a twist and keeps you thinking.

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Anything by Phillipa Gregory is amazing. She wrote The Other Boleyn Girl and I had a hard time putting any of her books down!

Hi Eat Pray Love- GREAT book
50 Acres and a poodle - cute true love story
Middlesex
Me talk pretty one day- hilarious
Anything by Marian keyes- Rachaels Holiday, Watermelon

The Kite Runner is a great book, and also his next book, (can't think of the name)If you want more romantic type then anything by Beatrice Small....it will transport you in time. Jennifer Weiner books are easy reads and entertaining. I also love Mitch Album books, great books and easy to read. Running with scissors is also good, a little wierd.

try the "mermaid chair" just go on www.amazon.com for the author sorry it just slipped my mind awesome book
(it is by Susan Kidd Monk, I think (same author who wrote the Secret life of Bees);
also "Vanishing Act" by Jodie Picoult or my sister's keeper by the same author;

or "the girl with the Pearl earing" just loved that book;

have fun D.

I would recommend anything by Christopher Moore.http://www.chrismoore.com/

Hi J.-
I'm new to this site and just saw your request. For the future, I wanted to let you know that I am a middle school librarian and I have just started a new online book recommendation site. It's bibliotechies.com.
We have book suggestions for children of all ages and then we have an "All Grown Up" section. I think you might find this helpful! I'd love to know what you think!!
-L.