Brain Food
January 5, 2008
I love to read. When I get into a book, I’m lost until the very last page has been devoured and my brain is licking it’s fingers in a last ditch attempt to savour the deliciousness of a story. I long for dessert on many of the books I read.
The thing is, I’m out of the loop. WAY out of the loop. Sure I visit the bookstore but it’s overwhelming how many choices there are and I’m not one to waste money on a book. If I like an author, I read every single thing he/she’s ever written.
If you were going to recommend a novel (or novels) to your best friend, what would they be? My brain is hungry for a deep dish story with extra toppings.
Stuff I like? Drama, murder, mystery, suspense, stories where the women are intelligent and powerful.
Stuff I’m not keen on? Sci-Fi, space, aliens, and that gross bald, hunched over dude, Golum. Golum makes me want to throw up.
EDIT: Okay so I’m looking at this picture tonight and thinking: “OH MY GOD. People are going to think I posted this particular picture because of 2girls1cup, but it’s like 2cups1girl (DO NOT GOOGLE THIS - ASK ELIZABETH) and holy crap that back cup LOOKS like the crap from 2girls1cup (I’ve been told) and OH MY GOD I hope people don’t think I posted that on purpose.” Because dude. I couldn’t even watch it. Kentucky Gurl explained it on Avitable’s blog when he posted the link the video and I couldn’t watch it after that, just KNOWING what was going to happen. Not a chance.
Oh and one more thing. Is it weird that I watched all 5 episodes of My Fake Baby on YouTube tonight and CRIED over episode three? I’m not even PMSing.
January 5th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
A dark comedic well written book is Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk - The dude who wrote fight club.
http://books.google.com/books?id=1YNzxDkrYvAC&dq=invisible+monster&ots=7wezyR4EP0&sig=QU0mwg7_wtfSOmAVJLQzHuB0Zqg&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=5Cv&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=invisible+monster&spell=1&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail&pgis=1
Micah Baldwin’s last blog post..Top Posts and Searches of 2007
January 5th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I pretty much constantly recommend The Devil in the White City because it’s good enough for me to read every time I’m on an airplane. It weaves together the story of the World’s Fair in Chicago with that of a serial killer who lived in Chicago at the time. History + brilliant writing = amazingness. (I should also point out that dailylit.com is a fun way to get books emailed to you in small doses. For free!)
Rachelskirts’s last blog post..Facts of Life
January 5th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Suspense and murder:
A Simple Plan by Scott Smith
Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill (This is good but has gore and disturbing themes - the author is Stephen King’s son.)
Sweet story:
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Female characters who have brains (but maybe not so much power):
The Witch’s Trinity by Erika Mailman
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Right now I’m reading Coraline by Neil Gaiman. It’s in your library’s juvenile or young adult collection. The young female character is brave and smart. It’s one of the scariest things I’ve read in a long time. Suspenseful, for sure.
Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris - It’s told from an odd perspective. Since you worked in an office setting before, I think you’d enjoy it.
coolbeans’s last blog post..Fourteen Years
January 5th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
The Devil In The White City is good. So is Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
coolbeans’s last blog post..Fourteen Years
January 5th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I pink puffy heart everything by Douglas Coupland. Also, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and related titles by Gregory Maquire. Gods in Alabama and Between, Georgia both have strong women characters and are GREAT reads.
January 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is fabulous. I LOVE it! And it’s about ancient women and their strong connection to each other and their place in their families throughout several generations. It’s just wonderful. I’ve read it thee times since I discovered it 4 years ago.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon is also awesome. Unlike any book I’ve ever read.
If you want to laugh you should definitely read The Princess Bride. Most people like the movie and the book is about a hundred times better.
I also read My Sister’s Keeper (along with everyone and their dog and cat) by Jodi Picoult and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides a while ago and really enjoyed both of them.
Those are some suggestions that jump to mind.
Shannon’s last blog post..no scrooges allowed!
January 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I’m the exact same way.
I love reading everything by an author. I’m working through Michner (Hawaii is terrific). Herman Wouk is good–Winds of War, War and Rememberance and Marjorie Morningstar are all fabulous. I’m also a big fan of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels. Their hysterical, fun and fast.
Oh looking above I need to second the recommendation of Middlesex. It was sooooo good.
MammaLoves’s last blog post..A Peek Behind the Curtain
January 5th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Check out This Post over at Rocks in My Dryer. Shannon just posted tons of her faves and her readers chimed in with tons of suggestions too! Hope this helps!
Christy’s last blog post..Brrr.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
i second the votes for the red tent and water for elephants.
also “the time traveler’s wife,” by audrey niffenberger (spelling?) and anything by joshilyn jackson (i assume you have read those, tho).
i’m sure there’s more but these are my current fave raves.
janet’s last blog post..Bowling for dollars
January 5th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I’d recommend the stories about Anne Boleyn - there are a bunch of stories by Phillippa Gregory “The Other Boleyn Sister” and “The Boleyn Inheritance” - I recently just read both and loved them; historical novels that really take you back to that time. Scandalous, love stories - very good. I also enjoyed Ken Follett’s “Pillars of the Earth” - really good about the midevial (sp?) times and a builder who wants to build a cathedral. Good luck and let us know what you read and how you like it.
Beth B. (mommy to a precocious 4-yr old)
January 5th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I really need to make the time for myself - even if it’s just a few pages before bed.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Time travelers wife-good read.
Sue Monk Kidd books
Anita Shreve-most of her books are good.
These are all easy reading but good story line=page turners
Glass Castle
Alice Seybold Books
ps Im not a part of Oprahs book club. I swear. But some of these might have been on her list unknown to moi.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I read way too much
Go check out Mooshinindy.com She had requested books to read and she now has a fantastica compilation of some great books rec’d up on her site.
Good luck!
Rachel’s last blog post..They Call Him The Streak
January 6th, 2008 at 12:17 am
January 6th, 2008 at 9:26 am
If you have a minute, visit my blog, click on book reviews and see if you agree with any of my takes on books. If so, email me and I will happily send you my top books (those earning an 8 to a 10 on my 10 point scale) from the last 10 years! Yes….I have been keeping a compulsive book journal on an Excel spreadsheet for 10 years.
Di’s last blog post..The Colors of Depression
January 6th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Although they’ve been out awhile any of the Diana Gabaldon books in her time traveler series would thrill you for days. I still go back and re read them occasionally when I want a book that will last more than a day.
Asthmagirl’s last blog post..Animal Planet
January 6th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I’m alternating between a manga I’ve been reading and re-reading the Anita Blake series (I’m replacing that one because it’s in the pile of stuff I’ll never see again.)
Pand0raWilde’s last blog post..I think it’s because…
January 6th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I love the anita blake series!
Asthmagirl’s last blog post..Animal Planet part two
January 6th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I go to the library and hit the recommended reading shelves. I get to read a lot of different authors at no cost and if I don’t like a book, I don’t feel guilty for not finishing it. I would recommend some but I read so many, I couldn’t possibly keep track of their names.
Jeannie’s last blog post..There are some good people in the world
January 6th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
You totally know what I’m going to suggest but…
TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer.
Sarcastica’s last blog post..An Uninteresting Interesting Person
January 6th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
The two best books I have read in a long time are Middlesex and The Kite Runner.
mamatulip’s last blog post..2007: A brief recap
January 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Blue Smoke by Norah Roberts
My friend gave it to me and wasn’t too sure about it, but when I finally read it, loved it. Great plot, nice romance on the side, good suspense.
Secrecy by Belva Plain
My aunt gave this book to me and I really loved it. I was about 1/4 of the way into it when I realized I had seen the movie. Much better than the movie.
Kim’s last blog post..Improving My Hobby
January 7th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I am in the middle of reading “Long Way Down” by Nick Hornsby. I’m counting the minutes until my lunch hour so I can read some of it!
January 7th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I had no idea what “2 Girls 1 Cup” was, so I googled it and went to the site, and now I am SO, SO sorry that I did. Even though I clicked the page shut after approximately 3 seconds, the image of what I did see is burned into my head, and I don’t know what it’s going to take to forget I ever saw it. I just, I just have no words.
Elizabeth’s last blog post..Winner of the Popcorn and Netflix giveaway
January 7th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
January 7th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
The Time Traveller’s Wife
Love in the Time of Cholera.
Franny and Zooey
three of the best books i’ve ever read.
ali’s last blog post..Hot Mamas Know?their jeans underwear
January 7th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
When your site loaded with that gorgeous chocolate fruit confection my jaw literally fell open.
Jen M’s last blog post..The Wrinkle Rexic Shares
January 7th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Yee-gads…it does look like it *retches*
The explanation wasn’t nearly as bad as seeing it. *pukes*
January 7th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Have you tried the author Mary Stewart? A few of her titles include “The Moonspinners,” “This Rough Magic,” and “My Brother, Michael.”
January 8th, 2008 at 1:06 am
‘Love Walked In’ by Marisa de los Santos is good for a quick read. The book flies by and the story is entertaining and sweet. Or anything by Tom Robbins. My faves are ‘Skinny Legs and All’ and ‘Jitterbug Perfume’.
InterstellarLass’s last blog post..Bittersweet Surprises
January 9th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Mmmm, swirly chocolate poop.
Avitable’s last blog post..Distraction
January 9th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I’ve got two classics about morals and ethics that I absolutely loved. Both books were written by Ayn Rand…’The Fountainhead’ and ‘Atlas Shrugged’.
Lisa’s last blog post..Worlds Collide
January 9th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Gotta second the Gabaldon series. There are seven so far, with two more scheduled. It’ll be a triple trilogy. I have read these books at least a dozen times and find new stuff each re read. The first book will take you about 40 pages to get into, but amazing doesn’t even describe it.
carmen’s last blog post..Just keep peddaling
January 9th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I really recommend The Picture of Dorian Gray, I’ve been reading it on dailyreader.net and I’m almost a third of the way done and I’ve been really enjoying it so far. Super good book!
January 10th, 2008 at 1:00 am
I’ll go with sarcastica, loving the twilight series, but since you don’t seem to be into fantasy type things, I’m not so sure you would like it. It’s YA as well.
I do like Anita Shreve too. I got hooked on her one summer after The Pilots Wife and spent about three months going through everything she wrote.
My most recent book? The Tenth Circle. I’ve been reading it for EIGHT months. That’s how much I like it. That’s not saying much, as it usually takes me no more than 48 hours to go through a book.
Natalie’s last blog post..I?m Stuck on You
January 12th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
What the hell is 2girls1cup? What have I been missing? Can you fill me in? Otherwise I’ll have to google it and something tells me I’ll be sorry if I do.
Dana’s last blog post..Liveblogging the Packer Playoff Game
February 4th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
[...] his whole family over and we gave Grandma The Time Traveler’s Wife and Water For Elephants, as per your recommendations. I bought the latter for myself a while ago but haven’t started it yet. Daren made stuffed [...]