On My Night Stand
I love when I take a poll with my readers and get such wonderful feedback. Thank you for directing me to Moneyball with my Oscar poll. I thought it was truly fascinating to learn about baseball from a mathematical angle…and math is my least favorite school subject! I thought Jonah Hill killed his performance and truly stole the show on more than one occasion.
With that said, I’ve decided to ask your help on another topic. My night stand. Particularly, the books on my night stand.
I love the written word. No matter what it is, I love the process of diving into the life of someone else with each turn of the page or click of a button. Words are my life. I’m also a dork and love to write down all the books I read in my journal. Page three is specifically saved for listing out the literary works I absorb each year.
I used to have a list of books that I carried around in my purse to use as a quick reference of what I still needed to purchase or borrow. Unfortunately, that list has dwindled down to a handful. I was thinking the other day, “Surely I haven’t read everything out there that’s worth reading! That’s impossible!”
So I decided to not only give my movie watching choices to the avid readers of iHateGreenBeans, but also my page turning choices! Before you get all John Grisham on me, allow me to provide you a few parameters of what I’m looking for in the next few months.
I recently went through a literary works classic phase. I assume it was because watching Midnight in Paris made me feel like a kid who cut English class in high school to go smoke in the bathroom her junior year therefore totally missing out on Hemingway’s contribution to American Literature. After a healthy dose of Austen and Bronte and an inspiring couple of weeks with Francine Rivers’ “Mark of the Lion” books (if you haven’t read these, do so now), my path turned into a brief stint in current classics which included “Lonesome Dove” and “Prince of Tides.”
My taste in books resembles that of my iTunes. It’s sort of eclectic, varying from current favorites, heartfelt classics, trendy young adult fiction and anything that is being adapted into a screenplay. Right now, my brain is ready for something lighter or funnier. This is where you come in. I would ask that you stick one level above chick flick and don’t suggest anything that will make me cry. Just so you know, I’m proficient in all things Harry Potter, Hunger Games trilogy and Twilight Saga. There’s no need to suggest Nicholas Sparks. Biographies are always fun. I completely identified with Tina Fey’s “Bossypants” and Mindy Kaling’s “Is Everyone Going Out Without Me?” I just cracked open a book called “Beginner’s Greek” because I read somewhere that it is both charming and enthralling. I have one more book on deck (“Quitter” by Jon Acuff) and I’m done.
Help me out IHGBers! What should be on my night stand? What have you read lately that you absolutely loved? What books to you love so much you could read over and over again? Sound off in the comment section!
I just read Mindy Kaling’s book this week. That was going to be my suggestion! I really liked it. I also read The Carrie Diaries, which is chick-lit, but I kind of liked it because there was a lot of emphasis on being a strong woman.
I always love Sarah Dessen’s YA books.
Janet Evanovich? I like those for light reads where you laugh a lot but don’t have to concentrate too much.
Jen Lancaster?
Anything by Sophie Kinsella or Jodi Picoult
Books by Bill Bryson
Currently reading At Home: A Short History of Private Life
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/billbryson/books.html
Have you read redeeming love by Francine rivers or atonement child? They are both great. The yada yada prayer group books are good. Laura Jensen walker is also a great author. Her books make me laugh out loud and one was about breast cancer. My oldest daughter recommends these also and that says a lot because up until 5 months ago she hated reading. (she’s almost 18.) happy reading
Sorry that names are not capitalized. I can’t figure out how to do that on the iPad yet.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I was so skeptical at first and then I had so many people recommend it that I gave it a try. I’m totally hooked and on book 5 of the series, although book 1 is a great read all by itself. It isn’t exactly light, but it won’t make you cry either (I don’t think so anyway).
I recently loved “Birthmarked” by Caragh O’Brien. Her sequel “Prized” was also really good. She’s even working on her 3rd book to complete the trilogy (it comes out later this year).
For a brief moment, I thought I had discovered the next Hunger Games series. Unfortunately, she killed her chances of that happening when she threw her political views all over the second book. I was disappointed.
I was going to ask if you’ve read Redeeming Love and Atonement Child by Francine Rivers too. Some of my favorites.
I also love Lynn Austin. My favorite is” All She Ever Wanted.” Also love “Hidden Places” by her. Everything she writes is great.
Have you read the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy? Heavy, but really gripping (once you get through a slowish first chapter)
Any and all of Lauren Winner’s books- Girl Meets God, Mudhouse Sabbath specifically.
The NY Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance was also killer funny.
If I were you, I would re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
I read Project X last summer and it’s the best book I’ve read in years! It’s about a couple of alienated middle school boys who plot a Columbine-like massacre to get even with the kids who have made their life (in their minds) a living hell. The book is gripping from the first page. You grow to love Edwin, the main character, and just want to rush in and help him. But on the other hand, you’re not really sure how you could help him. No easy answers here. I’ve never read a book with a more “real” character. I’m a middle school teacher and I can tell you that he and his friend ring so true. It’s a rough read (language and subject matter) but I coudn’t put it down.
Marian Keyes is my favorite author. I’ve read and loved every one of her books. She’s Irish and most (all?) of her books are set in Ireland, Scotland, or England. Her books are not as breezy as, say, Bridget Jones or the Shopaholic series, but they’re not too complex or heavy either. I highly recommend you pick one up! Several of her books follow a family of four sisters (one book focuses on each of them), so if you start with one of those, you might want to go for the one that was written first chronologically.
Have fun with all of your recommendations!
I’ve been on a Dianne chamberlain kick lately. Oh and Sarah Addison Allen (author) is good… Shanghai Girls and the sequel by Lisa see… I loved cold sassy tree! The matched trilogy is good if you want a YA series. I love books, can you tell?
Swan House by Elizabeth Musser
Such a great read!!
I’m with you- eclectic. I’m currently enjoying a bit of reading myself. My most recent (and best!) book I’ve read is called “Born To Run” by Christopher McDougall. it was extremely enlightening, fascinating and one of the best-written books I’ve ever read.
Even if you don’t care about running…. It was amazing. I’m currently recommending that to anyone who will listen.
(and Moneyball is on my next-to-read list as well. seems fascinating- a la Freakonomics)
Oh, and for a quick read from the Young Adult section, I really enjoyed “Life as we Knew It” by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I read this book before Hunger Games… and before I knew there was a “buzz” about Hunger Games.