I'm needing some ideas ladies. Headed to the library in the next few days. I'm waiting for a Year of Fog, so until then I need something. I skimmed the new fiction at the library but didn't see anything that interested me.

So what are you reading?

By Tink on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 11:08 pm:

A series by James Patterson that was turned into Women's Murder Club, the TV show. Nothing amazing but nice murder mysteries and a great group of women. I'm also reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, which has been very good so far and Positive Discipline and I love it.

By Pamt on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 11:19 pm:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. My sister and I are going to Chicago next month for a girls weekend and she suggested I read it before we go. It's nonfiction, but reads almost like fiction. It's an interspersed story going back and forth from the construction of the 1893 Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) in Chicago, including great tidbits about the architecture, the invention of the Ferris Wheel, the US competition with France over the Eiffel Tower, etc.---to the tale of Dr. H H Holmes who is largely regarded to be the first serial killer in the US. He built a "hotel" to capitalize on World's Fair sightseers. His hotel was full of gas chambers, torture chambers, and a kiln large enough for a human. He tended to kill single woman then dissect them, reassemble their skeletons, and sell them to medical schools. It is a horrid, but fascinating tale that gives one great insight into America at the time, the history of Chicago, and the workings of a psychopath. I can't put it down.

I've also read a bit of Sue Miller (The World Below) for brain candy. After my current book I think I'm going to read a biography of Jane Addams (again to prepare for my trip to Chicago--my sister wants to go to the Hull House) and The Time Traveler's Wife.

By Karen~admin on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 06:55 am:

I just bought several books for us to read on our flights/vacation the next week. Between DH and me, we will probably read 4 entire books, the flights are long, and we often read before going to bed.

I'm a James Patterson junkie, so I am bringing 3 of his books that I've never read:

The Beach House
The 6th Target
Jack and Jill

DH requested that I get What Happened (Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception), by Scott McClellan, so I'm sure that will be the first one HE reads.

And *just* in case we need another, we are bringing Crisis by Robin Cook.

By Kaye on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 07:38 am:

I love this time of year, we are all reading junkies at my house.

So I have read the twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. This is written for teens, but is was an enjoyable read.

I just finished "a spot of bother", it was okay, but not near as good as the authors first book "the curious incident of the dog at nighttime" or something like that.

I am just about to start "Glass Castle" by walls. It came highly recommended by several people.

I read the first "shopaholic" book, and have to say it was just okay. I loved "The Undomestic Goddess" by sophia kinsella. This is a fluff read.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 08:43 am:

I thought Shopaholic was hysterical! LOL! I've read all her books.

Right now, I'm working through the Cedar Cove Series by Debbie Macomber. I just finished the 5th one and need to get to the library today, to get /b{6 Ranier Drive}. She has a nice way of not resolving all the plot lines, so you need the next one right away, to help the suspense! LOL! I'm glad I'm reading these now, and not when she was writing them, because it would be like waiting for the next Harry Potter book!

My book club read Devil in the White City last year. I didn't think I would like the book, but had a hard time putting it down.

By Angellew on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 08:52 am:

I LOVE all James Patterson! I've read them all and wait for more. Thankfully, he's one of those writers that shoot them out quick!

For a HUGE change of pace for me, I'm reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series! I'm on Two for the Dough! Pretty cute... Jersey girl turns bounty hunter! Light, funny and still a bit criminal minded! I just really needed something light for the summer and there are a ton of them for me to caught up on!

By Tink on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 12:13 pm:

I've read the Plum series, they are cute, quick reads. Kaye, Glass Castle was amazing! I felt about the first Shopoholic book like you did but I read a few others and they grow on you. Undomestic Goddess is my favorite by that author though. I've heard great things about the Twilight series. Let me know what you think of them.

By Tunnia on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 02:15 pm:

I recently finished "Change Me Into Zeus's Daughter" and then "Fierce" both easy reads, both good, and both by Barbara Robinette Moss. Now, believe it or not, I have begun "Lord of the Flies", again. I saved a few books from my high school English classes that I really liked (Alas Babylon, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies) and sometimes when I want a quick read and something that will fit in my purse and travel, I revisit the classics.

I've never read James Patterson. What type of books does he write?

By Karen~admin on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 08:03 pm:

Angela, James Patterson has some others that are not out in paperback yet - I am refusing to spend the extra money for the hardcover! LOL

By Reds9298 on Saturday, June 14, 2008 - 08:16 am:

Thanks ladies! I've read a few James Patterson, all with the Women's Murder Club. I think they seem fluffy, although my mom and sister are Patterson junkies!

Glass Castle is fantastic! I just finished the The Ture and Amazing Adventures of the Hunt Sisters that was recommended on another thread and it was GREAT.

I've found myself going through my bookshelf and revisiting books I've already read. Count of Monte Cristo is my all time favorite book, without question, but it's 1100 pages so not everyone is interested in even starting it. I've read it about 6 times. I also re-read all my Khaled Hosseini books, who is an amazing author.

I've not read the others mentioned but now I have a good list for the library. Thank you very much!

By Karen~admin on Saturday, June 14, 2008 - 08:21 am:

Stacy, did you watch the new series *Women's Murder Club* this year? That is just one of his book series. I have to say though, the show was cheesy compared to the books. I LOVE them. I had such a real sense of the characters when reading those books. I have one to read on our trip tomorrow.

Then he has the Alex Cross series - about a detective in Washington D.C. - more than one was made into a movie - Along Came a Spider (with Morgan Freeman), also Kiss the Girls (with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd). Also have 2 of the Cross novels to read on my trip. LOL

Patterson mainly writes adult fiction mystery/suspense thrillers and action/adventure.

By Angellew on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 12:02 pm:

If you like James Patterson, you may also want to try Robert Tannenbaum! He does a series focused on Butch Karp and his wife Marlene Chiampa! Very good, but to get the most out of them, you really have to start at the beginning and work your way up! Good stories with really funny moments. I also really like John Saul and John Sandford.

By Kay on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 12:09 pm:

I'm about to finish Patricia Cornwell's Book of the Dead and I have James Patterson's Sail waiting for me at the library.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 05:51 pm:

74 Seaside Avenue, by Debbie Macomber

and

Scurvy: How a Surgeon, a Mariner, and a Gentleman Solved the Greatest Medical Mystery of the Age of Sail, by Stephen M. Bown, about figuring out why sailors got sick at sea and needed citrus fruit on a regular basis. (Was on my book-a-day calendar, from last year.)

By Luvn29 on Saturday, June 21, 2008 - 10:57 pm:

Dawn, do you realize there is an entire series of those books by Debbie Macomber? Like seven of them or more? I'm getting ready to read the latest one.

She also has a great series called "The Blossom Street" series. I love all of her books!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, June 22, 2008 - 12:14 am:

I've read the first six already! One of my co-workers told me about the "books with an address as the title" by Debbie Macomber.

So, I started out with book 2! Then I realized that I'd actually read the second one first! So, it was a bit weird reading the first one, AFTER the second one! Since all of them, except the last one, have been at the library already, I've only had to wait a day or so, to get a new one, when I'd finished the one I had. After "74," then I'll have to wait for "8."

Cedar Cove Series

16 Lighthouse Road
204 Rosewood Lane
311 Pelican Court
44 Cranberry Point
50 Harbor Street
6 Rainier Drive
74 Seaside Avenue
8 Sandpiper Way, to be out in September 2008!

From Debbie Macomber's Blog

I've also read all the Blossom Street books, too!

The Shop on Blossom Street
A Good Yarn
Back on Blossom Street
Twenty Wishes

My Shelf on Shelfari (A place to keep track of the books your read!)

By Colette on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - 08:39 pm:

I read Sail by James Patterson in an afternoon - couldn't put it down and now I am in the middle of The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, I also have been reading a lot of Laura Lippman lately.

By Sunny on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - 08:27 pm:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson - I really enjoyed this book. Are you planning to visit the site where the house stood? (I don't think it's there anymore) Have fun!

The Time Traveler's Wife - I really enjoyed this book, too, but it does take a while to get into only because it jumps back and forth.

Glass Castle was a sad and interesting read.

I have a list of about 40 books I want to read! LOL right now I'm reading Lady Chatterley's Lover. I'm kind of on a classics kick, having just finished Howards End, Sense and Sensibility and Pillars of the Earth (not a classic, per se, but still a good read). One a highly recommend is The Book Thief. Excellent book!

Maybe when I get on my other computer I'll post the other books I've read recently. For some reason I can't think of them right now!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 03:07 am:

I've finished 74 Seaside Drive, and now I have to wait until September, for 8 Sandpiper Way. I did like how Seaside ended, though. Didn't leave me quite as hanging, as some of the other books.

By Luvn29 on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 10:29 am:

I just finished it, too, Dawn. I really enjoyed it. She says she has a contract through book 9, but doesn't see it stopping there! Yay!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 11:54 am:

I know. I read that, too! Woohoo!

By Karen~admin on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 12:23 pm:

Colette - I've been waiting for Sail to come out in paperback. LOL Can't wait to read it.

I read THREE Patterson books last week, and one Danielle Steel (I love her books, they are my *cheesy book candy* type of books).

By Colette on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 04:13 pm:

I got it from the library. It was really good.

By Bellajoe on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 04:36 pm:

A False Sense of Well Being, a novel. It's pretty good so far

By Luvn29 on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 06:51 pm:

My mother and I just finished a book that we both agree is one of the best books we have ever read.

It's a fun, light read, that is just a good book in every way.

Catch of The Day, by Marcia Evanick.

And I am on the second book of a trilogy by a new author I am just in love with now!

The books are by Sherryl Woods. She has a ton, and she loves to do series, and I love to get involved with the characters and just love when I get the stories of many of them.

These books are Stealing Home, A Slice of Heaven, and Feels Like Family.

I've also read one of her books "Back-up Plan" which is the first in a series, also.

By Enchens on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 12:57 am:

You've all mentioned some really interesting books.

I'm going to start A Thousand Splendid Suns. My mil is letting me borrow it. I've already read The Kiterunner, though you don't need to read one before the other as they are not a series. I like Khaled Hosseni's writing style. Very vivid.

I tried reading a sci-fi book my 5 year old randomly chose for me. I let him choose my reading material from certain sections of the library sometimes. I got to about page 40 and had to call it quits. lol