I was asked recently for some book/author recommendations. Yes, I read. I read a lot! One of my all-time favorite things is to hang out at the library and imagine all the possibilities of what I could read.
I am a cheap date. Set me up in the library or a good used book store and it's an evening to remember!
So, here is what is on my nightstand. Truthfully, this is the FRONT stack. There is also a BACK stack that is right behind this stack, but one stack at a time, people. One stack at a time. : )
First up, the one I am currently reading. I am about 1/3 of the way through this and you want to talk about a page-turner! Well, this book is definitely that. "The Castle in the Forest" by Norman Mailer. Don't you love one of those historical novels that leaves you wondering how much is truth and fact and how much is Sr. Mailer's imaginings? I do. And as soon as I finish this book I will research all I can and see if I can separate fact from fiction in my head. The fantastical elements of this book remind me a bit of The Satanic Verses, which is one of my Top 10 Books.
Sitting underneath "The Castle in the Forest" is a piece of crap called "Dear John". This horrible travesty of writing was put out by Nicholas "Let's pump out some more tear-jerking swill and see who wants to make it into a movie" Sparks. I don't know why I own this book. I was possessed by something evil when I was walking the aisles at Target and my hand reached out and put it into my cart, shopping cart, buggy or whatever you want to call that trolly that we shop with. DO NOT waste your time on this book. I would go so far as to say DO NOT waste your time going to see the flipping movie either. Crap, crap, and more crap. Nicholas Sparks, you owe me my money back and I would appreciate a few hours of my life back as well.
Next is "Committed" the follow-up to "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I soooooo loved "Eat Pray Love"! That book spoke to so many people. So I have high hopes for this one. I will let you know as soon as I read it. Don't you hope it's good? And that she is not a one-hit-wonder? Me too!
And the last one in this stack is "La Isla bajo El Mar" by Isabel Allende. If you know anything about me, you should know that I have read Every. Single. Book. by Ms. Allende. I adore her! When we lived in South America I started reading her in Spanish since that's the language she writes in. And I tell you, what a way to increase my vocabulary and learn at the same time I was being not just entertained, but thrilled! I also OWN Every. Single. Book. she has written! She did a wonderful set of 3 (so far) for kids that are just beyond the Harry Potter stage in addition to all her other books. She wrote the saddest book I have ever read "Paula" about when her daughter was deathly ill. If you haven't read any Isabel Allende, you must start. And you must start with House of the Spirits. It is a masterpiece.
You know how people always ask if you could have any 5 people over for dinner, living or dead, who would you choose? Well, Isabel Allende would make my list. That is how much I am in love with her and all her talented writing.
Any recommendations?
Oh, yum! I love this post. I, too, am a voracious reader. I have two stacks sitting on my nightstand, too, oh sister reader.
ReplyDeleteDon't you hate badly written books? Nicholas Sparks...I won't even go there. I remember reading The Devil Wears Prada and throwing it against the wall when I was finished. I was so disgusted that it made the NY Times bestseller's top 10.
Here's my pile: (Now mine are some I'm reading and then other's that I keep there when I need inspiration because I love them so much. I also have an overflowing bookcase upstairs and stacks next to my tub, in the bathroom, anywhere I can stop and rest for a minute.)
Sleepwalking in Daylight-Elizabeth Flock. (A Target throw in the cart one. Pleasantly surprisingly good.)
Mennonite In A Little Black Dress-Rhoda Janzen (I also read more than one book at a time. Beautifully written memoir. Funny and sweet.)
Eat, Pray, Love-Kissed this book when I finished it
The Year of Magical Thinking-Joan Didion. Joan Didion is my Isabel Allende. And this book is one of the most powerfully poignant books I've ever read. So raw, so amazing. I don't know if this will make sense, but it stripped my heart down to its inner core. I really felt this book. Joan Didion, I do so love her.
The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain-Mark Twain is one of my writing idols, along with Joan Didion.
When You Are Engulfed In Flames-David Sedaris. Oh, that man! To have him and Mark Twain across the table from me, with a few bottles of wine! Oh My!
You Better Not Cry-Augusten Burroughs. Sorry to say, I didn't finish it and it's a short book. Usually I love the wicked, hilarious writings of Augusten but lately, not so much. He's been into writing serious and he's much better at the snide, bad boy style.
That's it. Sorry to be so rambling. I could just talk about books FOREVER. Thanks for this post. It was a great one.
Who are you and how did you read my mind?!?
ReplyDeleteI loved Eat, Pray , Love and am looking forward to reading the follow up and I too hope that it is as good as the first.
Isabel Allende is probably my all time favorite author and yes, House of Spirits was my first of hers that I read. I have a signed copy of Paula, which I will never let go and cried horribly while reading that.
I have not read her young adult trilogy, although it is on my Amazon Wish List.
I envy you for reading her in Spanish, I'm not nearly that courageous. I think I may need to go back and revisit all of Isabel's novels (and yes, I feel I can refer to her by her first name...although never to her face).
I have a policy that if after 1/4 of a book if it hasn't grabbed me, I'll jump to the end and read how it ends and if the end captures me enough to want to find out how they get there, then I'll finish the book. If the end doesn't interest me, then I'll set the book aside and move on to something else, because there is ALWAYS something else!!
Joann, love Mark Twain, love David Sedaris and I also love ole Augusten Burroughs. Funny, funny men.
ReplyDeleteIt is really odd to me that some authors can be so fabulous and downright shoddy in one book after the next.
I discovered Angela Carter and fell head over heels in love with her and when I found out that she had died a few years earlier it just about did me in! So I have collected a few signed 1st editions of hers that make me feel a little bit better about coming so late to the party.
Andrea... meet Lisa. Lisa.... meet Andrea (aka ABBA).
ReplyDeleteI am so not a deep reader. At some point I will become embarrassed by this and change, I believe. I do average a few books/month, but pretty much all crime/lawyer fiction. I plow through Grisham, Michael Connelly, Linda Fairstein. Half Price Books does love me...
ABBA, welcome! You obviously have fabulous taste in friends AND reading material. Make yourself at home, pull up a comfy afghan and within minutes you will have a cat or two vieing for your lap.
ReplyDeleteFavorite SIL - there is nothing wrong with a little Grisham or Patricia Cornwell or even old school Agatha Christie. When I want light, mindless stuff to make me happy I always go back to The Sweet Potato Queen. I have all of her books and I made her sign them all and we had our picture taken together in Full Queenly Regalia! She is awesome! And a much better writer than she gives herself credit for. Thanks for bringing ABBA over!
We need a pic of the stack!!!
ReplyDelete