Summer Reading

thanks for the great book list, everyone!
to those who liked "the girl with the dragon tattoo" and other books by stieg larsson:
you might also enjoy henning mankell's books about (fictional) tired swedish detective kurt wallander. there may be close to a dozen in that series; some of the titles include "the dogs of riga", "firewall" and "the white lioness".
my little description of him just now probably doesn't show how much i liked those books - quite a lot! also, some of those 'wallander' books were turned into movies. might find them on public television.
an excellent book that i wish everyone could read (and then act upon in letters to 'the powers that be', etc.)is "bayou farewell" by mike tidwell. it's sadly not fiction - about how the efforts to re-route and control the mississippi river over the past several decades has badly hurt the louisiana coastline and the people, marine-life and other creatures there. it's one of my "top five" books of all time - and especially pertinent now, given the bp oil spill. (sorry about the book buzz-kill for bringing up the disaster).
thanks again.

Ali: I would highly recommend "Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger. It's a wonderfully written, redemptive tale. I also think you can't go wrong with Barbara Kingsolver, especially her essays. She's brilliant! Happy reading!

wow, so many good suggestions for books to read! Now to go put them on hold at the library :).
A few of my favorites - like I mentioned above, any book
by Ruth Reichl
(Tender At the Bone,
Comfort Me with Apples,
Garlic & Sapphires: The secret life of a critic in Disguise)
Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler
Angry Housewives eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik
Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
Double Take by Kevin Michael Connolly
The Girls by Lori Lansens
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
It Sucked and Then I Cried by Heather Armstrong (Dooce!)
Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward
The War of Art: Break through Your Blocks and Win your Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
All 5 star books I've loved! Hope you find some good reads too :)

I second the people that recommended Life of Pi-Yann Martel (love it) Water for Elephants- SARA GRUEN another favorite. Sophie and the Rising Sun- by Augusta Trobaugh, another love. I couldn't get into the girl with dragon tattoo, but think I will try again.

I'm also working on THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS - I like it, but don't love it even though I do love science writing. If you like historical fiction, I loved both MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER by Robin Oliveira and THE LOST SUMMER OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT by Kelly McNees - almost the same period, but totally different writing styles.

Two books that I recently read and recommend are Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and Lift by Kelly Corrigan. I am just starting The Hunger Games. I am enjoying reading everyone's recommendations!

This summer I have read a few books but my absolute favorite was "My Name is Memory" by Ann Brashares. It reminded me of Time Travelers Wife. I think you would love it, please check it out. Happy Summer reading everyone!!

I've been reading "Life with Pop: Lessons on Caring for an Aging Parent" by Janis Abrahms Spring, Ph.D. and really have enjoyed it. It opened my eyes to how much our lives come full circle with our parents and the struggles that we face and will face as they grow older. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it. She wrote snippets here and there of her experiences with caring for her father.

I quite enjoyed Little Bee when I read it several months ago. It's always a happy day when the Newsletter comes in the mail from the local bookstore with a whole new crop of reading possibilities.

No side note.. My mom used to wish I get in reading. I just don't.
but want to say... lovely picture of you at beach with sun flares!

This is awesome!! love the recommendations!
Some of my summer favorites are Secret Life of Bees, loved it! I, Capure the Castle was wonderful, really like the writing style! Loved Mr. Darcy's Diary, tastefully told from his perspective. Just finished Major Pettigrew's last Stand, very feel good book. And to through this in my all time favorite book Jane Eyre!

I just finished "The Help" and haven't read a book that touched me as much as that one did in so long! It was so good.
I have "Dragon Tattoo" on my Kindle but haven't been able to get into it. I have a feeling it's one I'll need to start when I'm not about to fall asleep.
For a quick, fun read, I enjoyed "Garden Secrets" just before I read "The Help."

I too knew the ending before I got to it! i still enjoyed reading the story :)

Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda.
I recently finished it for the 2nd time and loved, Loved, LOVED it (yet again)! It was just as hard to put down this time as the first and I finished it with in a few days. The characters are so real, and believable. It is rare when I actually will buy a book...but I received this one as a gift after raving about it.
Currently in the middle of Looking For Anne Of Green Gables : The Story Of L.M. Montgomery And Her Literary Classic by Irene Gammel
Although it is interesting to see what might have inspired Gammel, it seems a little dry at times...still I am determined to finish it!

I'm not doing too much reading at the moment.

I read the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks about two months ago after hearing an interview with the author on public radio. I loved it! It was never a book I would have just picked up, but after hearing the interview, I ordered it immediatly from Amazon. I have tried to recommend it to friends, but no one else seems interested. I was thrilled to hear that you are reading it.

Loved Devil in the White City. Not the type of book I usually read - but so fascinating. Who knew what all went into the making of the World's Fair?

ditto

Last two reads were the first two Scrapbook mysteries by Joanna Campbell Slan 'Cut, Crop & Die' and 'Paper Scissors Death' Good reads when you just want to be entertained. Currently reading 'Atlas Shrugged'. Quite a social commentary! Keep looking at the Tatoo series - may have to get the sample on Kindle.

The Middle Place was one of my favorite books I have ever read. Can't put into words exactly why but it is just a good story and all the better because it is real life. Very touching! I read her newest book: Lift but did not care for it as much.