Favorite books, that is! Summertime is looming, and I'm sure we will all be lounging by the pool or on the beach every day. ;) I know I need some fresh reads, so why don't we trade book lists today? Here are some of my faves:
Diane Mott Davidson, The Goldy Schulz Culinary Mysteries
There are 15 books in this series about Goldy Schulz, a caterer in Colorado who stumbles upon crime scenes at nearly every event she caters. It's a cozy series that has likable characters and an ongoing hint of romance as well as fun recipes throughout the books. I recommend reading the books in order starting with the first, Catering to Nobody. This is by far my favorite series.
Kathy Reichs, The Temperance Brennan Novels
Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist, and her work is the inspiration for these novels and for the TV show Bones. Temperance Brennan is a forensic anthropologist who works in both Charlotte, North Carolina and Montreal, Quebec. The books alternate between the two locations and there is a healthy dose of French much to my delight. If you like shows like CSI and Bones you will probably like these as there is quite a bit of technical jargon. The stories flow easily, and I have read 10 of the 11 volumes. I did not read Deadly Decisions as it was about motorcycle gangs and I just couldn't get interested.
Mary Higgins Clark
I love (almost) all of her books--they are full of suspense but without tons of violence. I don't actually read these anymore, though, I listen to them. Her books are our favorite road trip audio books because they keep us enthralled even through the straight, unending stretch of I-75 through Georgia. The one book of her mysteries that I didn't care for was No Place Like Home, and I didn't finish reading it because I was TOO SCARED. Given the books I read, that's saying a lot. I'm not a real fan of her Christmas books, either.
I could go on (and on, and on), but I want some ideas from you! Do you have a favorite series? A favorite author? Let's call this "Titles Tuesday" and throw out some reading recommendations!
11 comments:
Pak Karamu reading your blog
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Rachel I have Alexander McCall Smith's series, The Ladies #1 Detective Agency, and I highly recommend them! Light and fun reading with good morals. Good for reading with little ones around.
I also love the Stephanie Plum series (Janet Evanovich). They are really hilarious and silly. I actually laugh out loud when I read these.
Garison Keillor (of Prairie Home Companion fame) has some great books of essays. Lake Wobegon Days, Leaving Home, etc. are all funny. I read these aloud during long road trips and we are all giggling! (I even have a few of his books on CD!)
Other books I love for summer reading are:
Syliva's Farm by Sylvia Jorrin
Angel's & Demons by Dan Brown (I thought it was better than the DaVinci Code)
Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou
Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France, Queen of England by Ralph V. Turner PhD (A biography that is awesome!)
A Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky: The Best of the Sun: Two Volume Set by Sy Safransky is also fantastic writing from the Sun Magazine. I LOVE these and read them over and over.
And, because I am a real weirdo, I also enjoy reading cookbooks.
White Trash Cooking by Ernest M. Mickler - the notes that accompany some of these recipies are hilarious and the recipies are excellent!
Moosewood Restaurant New Classics by Moosewood Collective is excellent if you like organic/vegetarian/natural cooking.
Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes by Maya Angelou has great stories accompanying these recipies.
I attempt to read books that win the Pulitizer each year. This year The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz won and I am looking forward to reading it thsi summer.
Frank McCourt wrote Angela's Ashes (Pulitizer winner), 'Tis: A Memoir, and Teacher Man and are all excellent reads. Warning: SAD books.
I loved The Red Tent (Anita Diamant), Kite Runner & One Thousand Spendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini), I have both of Obama's books which are interesting and I have Dutch which is about Regan (Dutch was one of his horses). I see that I am going on and on, so I'll leave it at that! Too many, I know.
ARRRRGH! I just wrote an essay comment of my book recommendations and lost it when I tried to post it! Frustrating!
I don't have time to rewrite all that, but I look forward to hearing all of your recommendations. I love a good book!
I liked the Stephanie Plum Series as well- good recommendation Bressy!
I also recommend:
The Time Travelers Wife by Robert Schwentke
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The King Hanery series By Philippa Gragory (the Constant Princess, the other Boleyn girl, the Boleyn Inheritance)- King Henry was crazy and so interesting...
Ted Dekker is a Christian suspense author. His books are a little scary for me, but I got nightmares from Scooby-doo so it doesn't take much for me. He co-authored a book with Frank Parittie (House). His book Three was VERY good (they made it into a movie).
Francine Rivers is also a good Christian author. Every book I have read I have loved.
I am also a big Harry Potter fan and I just reread the all 7 books in a row... J. K Rowling does such a good job laying out the story.
Donna- I hate when that happens! I always copy my text before I post now becuase it happened to me so often...
I also highly recommend the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series and Harry Potter. And Twilight. And The Spellman Files (there are 3 in that series) by Lisa Lutz. The Mitford series by Jan Karon is good, too. So wholesome and sweet. I love all of the Princess Diaries books by Meg Cabot and one of my favorite authors is Sarah Dessen, if you're into YA. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is excellent, as are the Jessica Darling books (Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, etc.) by Megan McCafferty. I could go on and on and on and on. Books are kind of my "thing." But I'll stop there. Unless I think of some more later, then I'll post another giant comment. I got kind of hung up on the YA there at the end, so I might need to redeem myself. ;)
Thanks for the awesome lists! I'm going to print out these comments and just take them to the library with me! I keep hearing about the Ladies #1 Detective Agency, so that may be where I go first.
Great job today--keep those recommendations coming!
I have all of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency, so you don't have to go to the library for those.
I know I don't read much. But, I really got into Iris Johansen novels when I was deployed. They were really good.
I've heard you talk a lot about the "Culinary Mysteries." They sound really good. I think it's cool that there are recipes in them too.
hmm is anyone on shelfari.com? I LOVE to read but don't have time to write out my favorites. You can view my shelfari books on my blog. http://linsbaker.blogspot.com/
I think we should have a books swapping party, or at least let each other know what books we own so that we can borrow them from each other instead of trying to get them from the library (I always end up with fines.....lol)
For example I have the first 5 books in the Alexandra Cooper series by Linda Fairstein for all you murder mystery type fans.
I have all of the ones I mentioned. Borrow anytime!
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