Need Some Good Books to Read

I am not a reader... but once we had to read a book for a couples group we meet with once a month... the book...

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

was a wonderufl book... we think everyone should read it...

Then we attended a sunday school on the book called...

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

What an excellent book!!!!! I recommend it to everyone!

I just started reading 'Falling Leaves' by Adeline Yen Mah yesterday. I'm halfway through it already! I've been having trouble putting it down. A good read!

I am on a website called goodreads.com. People read books and then offer a review of the book. There are also online book clubs to join. It is a great way to get LOTS of recommendations for books. It also allows you to review books. I have found so many great recommendations there that I can't keep up with the reading! :) It provides lots of options, though, if I am looking for a certain genre (which I find changes a lot for me). Good luck!

Hi S.,

I noticed a lot of the books people suggested are rather heavy books--very emotional, etc. If you're just looking for some escapism, some light and FUN pool-side reading, you need to discover vampire romance. :))

Start with the Twilight series, and that'll get you warmed up. And when you're done and find yourself really frustrated because they are teenage books and don't have nearly enough sex, then go for the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. The first is Dead Until Dark, and they are the books that the HBO super-popular True Blood series are based on.

If you find that Twilight is not for you (I'm a HUGE fan, but they are frankly not very well-written books. Twilight was her first book and I think it shows in her writing...but that didn't stop me from reading the entire series FOUR TIMES.) :) But if it's not for you, go directly for Sookie Stackhouse. Charlaine Harris's books are light, fun, clever, and well-written. Oh, and really sexy! So they are like romance and mystery novels rolled together. There are 9 of them altogether, so you will have a lot of material if you like them.

S.,
I got an e-book reader for Christmas and Sony will occasionally offer free books, so I picked up a trilogy by Charlie Huston (Caught Stealing, Six Bad Things and A Dangerous Man). I had never heard of the guy so I didn't rush to read them - I finally got around to starting the first book on Friday. I finished the last one last night. They were riveting!! If you like crime fiction, I highly recommend them.

I'm also a huge fan of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series (Darkfever, Bloodfever and Faefever).

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Reaching Your Summit by Casey Treat
Renewing the Mind by Casey Treat
How To Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy by Earl Wilson - this one is out of print but you can find on Amazon. AN AMAZING LIFE CHANGIN BOOK THAT EVERY ADULT SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO READ!
The Shack by ?? can't remember
The Little Book of Letting Go by Hugh Prather
Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen

I like books that help me grow, learn and see life more clearly and get the most out of it. These are ALL books that will help do just that.

One other one that I've already listened to twice and intent to do again (have it on CD in my car) is LEADERSHIP by Rudy Gulianai - PHENOM!

Kim Harrison (Rachel Morgan is a white witch bounty hunter), Jim Butcher (Harry Dresden is a wizard solving preternatural crimes in modern day Chicago they made a short lived SciFi series on it which was quite good), Charlaine Harris (Telepathic Sookie discovers she cannot hear Vampires thoughts and starts to associate with them, which in turn brings about several murderous mysteries to solve)
The Twilight series was awesome as many people here agree, but if you like that there is another series called "The House of Night" series by P.C. and Kristin Cast that is equally addicting. The first book in the series is called "Marked"
Lastly Mercedes Lackey is a good story teller, although I've found many gramatical errors in her books.... maybe bad editors?

Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy, We were the Mulvaney's by Joyce Caro Oats, The Princes of Ireland by Edmond Rutherfurd.
I am a big reader and those are my favorites.Enjoy!
- i also dont care for Oprah's Selections.

"A Dirty Job" by Christopher Moore

I also love to read and don't like Oprah book club books!

One of my favorites is "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant. It is well-researched historical fiction about Jacob's only daughter Dinah. It's all about the female social circle in a family tribe at the time. I know it's based on a Biblical story, but I promise it's not religious:)

Do you like Dan Brown? I just found Kathleen McGownan. She's writing a series of books about the Jesus/Magdeline line kind of like Dan Brown except better researched. But it's the same idea where it jumps around plot lines as the "bad guys" try to keep the "truth" hidden. At the end she includes an Author's Note to talk about the research she did and what parts are true and what parts she has made up based on her research. The first is "The Expected One", the second is "The Book of Love", and she's writing a third called "The Poet Prince".

I just re-read Harry Potter as well:) You can't go wrong with those!

Try dean koontz or L. gardner. They are fiction/mystery books.
L.

The Lovely Bones is one of my all-time faves. Also, my whole family read "The Devil in the White City". It didn't seem like my kind of book, but they all loved it so I tried it. I really, really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down! Also, "Chosen By a Horse" and "The Horses of Proud Spirit". I don't think you have to be a horse lover to really enjoy these books. The Ya-Ya series was good and of course, there's Harry Potter. I've also read some Sophie Kinsella books (Do You Remember Me and Confessions of a Shopoholic). HAPPY READING!!!

Not sure what you are interested in but here goes:
If you like fantsy and haven't read the Pern series McGaffey you might read them.
If you like Inspirational books there are a lot of good ones by Steve Eicher.
If you like light mystery with some humor the "My Vampire" series by Michelle Bardsley.
Light romance? Nora Roberts, Diana Palmer, Kathleen Eagle, and Linda Lae Miller are decent.
More serious series Christine Feehan.
Janet Evanovich has a good series too.
Billy Crystal's bio "700 Sundays" is good as is the one about Annette Funnichillo (sp).
"The Other Boylen Girl" and the other historical novels by this author are pretty decent.
I read some James Patterson, Dean Koontz, John Saul, and some Stephen King (I have backed off on his books but some of the older ones are very good). I also enjoy reading or rereading some of the older authors, Ian Fleming, K. Woodweiss, etc.
If you haven't read the Eragon series or all of the Harry Potter series they aren't a bad read either.
Good luck and happy reading.

Hi S.,

Awhile back I remember responding to a similar question, so if you can check the archives you'll find more; maybe the same ones but certainly not all!

Dearest Ones by Rosemary Norwalk. The author put together her journal entries and her letters home during the years 1944-1946 when she volunteered in Europe for the Red Cross. Great!

Joy Street by (I forget). Another WWII collection of letters between Mirren and her boyfriend Jock. Sad but good.

A life Interrupted: the Diary of Etty Hillesum 1941-1943. I THINK that is the title, I would key-word search Etty Hillesum (might be spelled Hillisum). Jewish woman living in Holland (I think) who ends up in concentration camp.

The Accidental Bride (I forget the author). Very funny! Readers with Ohio connections will see veiled references to Cleveland and Columbus, as well as Ohio State U.

See you in a hundred Years by Logan Ward. A young family goes to live on a farm using only what would have been available in 1900.

Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Excellent--if only we all lived this way!

The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw.

Any book or short story by Rumer Godden (British writer). I love all her stuff--for children or adults.

I could go on.......

Happy reading!

K. Z.

Ransom...Lions Lady....by Julie Garwoood(any of her books set back in scottland or england)(Romance)

Tailchasers Song.....Tad Williams (Fantasy...its about a cat)

Sebastian....Anne Bishop (Fantasy)

As High As The Heavens....Kathleen Morgan

Strangers...Dean Koontz (Mystery/horror)

Dragonlance Chronicles....M. Weiss and T. Hickman (fantasy)

A Child Called "It"....Dave Pelzer (autobiogrophy)

my top authors...julie Garwood, Clive Barker, Dean Koontz, and Jonathon Kellerman...You won't be dissappointed with Ransom.....GL

T.

I recently have read "The Millionaires" by Brian Meltzer; it is a great book about 2 brothers who want to help their mother and get caught and are on the run- it really holds your attention. Any John Grisham books are good. I also just read "Dolores Claiborne" by Stephen King and I do not like most Stephen King stuff, but this was rec to me by my son and it was a great read! About an abused woman as she tells her story- it is easy reading and you feel like she is talking to you. I also watched the movie and they changed quite a bit from the book, of course.

HI,
I have two words for you, JAMES ROLLINS. HE will keep you entertained and hanging in suspense all summer long. My favorite book of his is Ice Hunt, the last six inches of words will leave you up at night lol And he has a series of books which will keep you coming back for more, if you like to see favorite character again ,I would definitly suggest them. The first Sigma Force book is Sandstorm. His other Non Sigma books are also really good I can't get enough of him. I've been trying to find his "fantasy" books under the name James Clemens but I haven't been able to get my hands on them yet. lol

Also other good authors being as you don't specify a specific genre, Carl HIassen-Double Whammy, Victoria Holt has some very good romance, mystery, historical books that are really easy to read. If you have not read them yet, I really liked the "Clan of the Cave Bear" series by JEan Auel. And The Harry Potter books are way better than the movies. Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness by Frank E Peretti are a fiction story about Spiritual Warfare. It has alot of behind the veil type of things with Angels and demons and what Prayer does. They're really good if you are interested. If you take any of these suggstions I 'd really like to hear back from you. I'm a book NUT and I never get to talk about them...much. Seriously, though try James ROllins :) you won't regret it

Hi, try J.D.Robb Nora Roberts, Janett Oke, John Grisham, Janet evonavich , there are so many. If the library isn't your cup of tea. try yard sales and flea markets. they'r cheap and when you finish them , donate them to a local nursing home , rehab center, or church. they can help recycle them.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
World Without End and Pillars of the Earth (any order) by Ken Follett
East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Although I see myself as a bit old for the series, I have recently finished the Twilight series. I have to say, it has been a LONG time since I have enjoyed reading a book so much. I've had a lot of people say things like..."I'm not into the whole vampire thing" but really that is only a part of it, and a rather small part in the grand scheme of it all. Its really more of a love story than anything.

just finished twilight and it was awesome - wasn't sure how i'd feel about it, but i couldn't put it down! now i'm reading new moon, which is the second in the series, and am loving it. i've heard the time travelers wife is a great book, too - will start that one soon. good luck!

I am the same way. I am a wife mother and grand mother 53. I just read the entire Twilight series. Took my grandson to meet some of his female friends at the show and stayed to watch. It's about vampires but is cute not campy like some. I could not put the books down and I cannot wait for the next movie. They are mainly written for teens but I did like all 4 of them. I really enjoied the Harry Potter books too. Also I just read the Davinci Code and it's sequel. I liked that they were kind of religious but had enough fiction to thrill me. Another group of cool books is the left Behind series. I also like the movies. End of world stuff. They were also hard to put down. I prefer to read SciFi or romance type books that are historical. Good Romance books I have read were by Cassie Edwards many of them are love stories involving native Americans. If you want to save big bucks on books go to your local library. Hopefully you have one near by. They Hamilton County almost closed ours but readership increased and we as a community pitched a fit. Well they found the funds to stay open and now they are thinking of closing again. I understand lack of funds. We have no income NO disability or SSI. We both have severe health issues and have been told not to work. Thank god for angels we pay no rent. Sorry to get on my soap box but I hope the books listed help you to find something.

I just took 'The Other Boleyn Girl' to the beach with me and COULD NOT put it down!! Also, if you haven't read the Twilight series, it's actually really good! Much better than the movie!

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is hilarious!! If you need a good laugh with a little bit of crude humor and romance, this is the series for you. Start with "One for the Money"...they all have a number in the title so you know which one comes next. The Twilight series is another good one. Jodi Picoult is another great author, but her books tend to be more on the serious side.

On a side note, I'm glad you asked this question...I am always looking for good books to get from the library and everyone's responses can be another list for me! Thanks :-)

Nichols Sparks, James Patterson, Heather Graham, and Lisa Jackson are some of my favorite authors.

I have a couple more authors to suggest. Catherine Coulter, Iris Johansen and Lee Child. They are very hard to put down. LOVE the Lee Child series with Reacher.

I just read two of Ann Rule's books, she is a true-crime author, before that she was a policewoman in Seattle. I read Every Breath You Take, story of a wealthy man who had his ex wife killed and I read Bitter Harvest, women in Kansas City who set her house on fire. I get very involved when they are true stores. A lot of movies of Lifetime are based on her books.

Good luck

S.,
I love all types of books, but right now I'm into anything that will make me laugh. And "The Interruption of Everything" is one such book. Since you're my age, I think you'll enjoy it. I laughed til I cried. My husband said, "What is so funny??" And I just said, "You wouldn't get it." (being a man, and all...)

Hope you pick it up at the library and give it a try. If you do, let me know if you like it.

Have fun reading!
J.