Give me recommendations for books to read.

TarheelMama202 · April 2014

I need to get some new books.

I like informational/nonfiction, a good memoir/autobiography/biography, historical fiction, and realistic fiction.

Not a huge fan of chick lit, science fiction, or fantasy. I have a lot of access to young adult fiction, so I'd like to stay away from that, please.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand: GO.

Drea926 · April 2014

I recently read a book called The Good House by Ann Leary. It's fiction, and a fun read. It's about an older woman who's an alcoholic realtor in a small New England town. It's interesting because she's an intriguing narrator, but an unreliable one.

colinsfebmommy · April 2014

The Devil in the White City is a really good book....

TarheelMama202 · April 2014

ByeByeBooze said:

Team of Rivals, Killer Angels, Autobiobraphy of Joshua Chamberlain (my historical crush)... can you tell I like the Civil War?

If you like historical fiction, Ken Follet does a nice job. The Century Trilogy is beautiful - Fall of Giants and Winter of the World are out and the last one is out over the summer. It's roughly WW1, WW2, and Vietnam times. He also has a more ancient series with Pillars of the Earth and A World Without End. They're written well, but I don't think they're as compelling as the Century Triology.

Outlander is one of my favorite series - it's semi historical fiction and semi-science fiction. It's about a woman who walks through a stone henge (lowercase) and ends up 200 years in the past. If you can get past the time travel, the story is historical and fun. The main male is my #1 literary crush. I thin kStarz is making it into a series soon too.

I just read A Fault In Our Stars. If you want to sob, try that one.

John Green brings all the tears! I absolutely adored that book. I cried like a babe in arms when I finished it.

Girl, I also love the Civil War, or as some of my Southern compatriots call it, the War of Northern Aggression. (bahahahahaha.

)

).)

I have got to check out those books! They sound so good.

TarheelMama202 · April 2014

@byebyebooze I have a friend who is so intensely into the Civil War. She seems like a totally normal person, until you speak to her for a while and realize that her favorite book is "The South Was Right." Whaaaaaaatttt? It's bizarre. What part of the Carolinas did you frequent? I'm so sorry that you ran into some crazies who called you Yankee and all of that foolishness.

Also, South Carolina is wayyyyyyyyyyy worse than NC. I do not give a single shit about saying that, either. #sorrynotsorry to any possible SC-dwellers who lurk on this board.

Drea926 · April 2014

UponAStar63 said:

Sarah's Key which is a tearjerker but amazing (opened my eyes to some WWII events that I am embarrassed I never knew about before). The Historian which has some vampire action in it but has a big travel/history component. The Bone Garden which is a fictional crime/medical novel going back and forth between present day and the 1800's. Thunderstruck which is by the same author as Devil in the White City mentioned by PP. This author writes non-fiction about a major historical event and a real life crime that happened at same time and goes back and forth between the two. I could go on for days...

Heh heh.

kelly321 · April 2014

I would like to second the Outlander recommendation. It sounds so utterly corny but is so amazingly good (says everyone I've ever known who has read it), and the author does great historical research. The series isn't finished, but there are enough books to keep even a speed reader like myself busy for a couple of weeks.

TarheelMama202 · April 2014

lrtrauth said:

TarheelMama202 said:

@byebyebooze I have a friend who is so intensely into the Civil War. She seems like a totally normal person, until you speak to her for a while and realize that her favorite book is "The South Was Right." Whaaaaaaatttt? It's bizarre. What part of the Carolinas did you frequent? I'm so sorry that you ran into some crazies who called you Yankee and all of that foolishness.

Is this the same friend who had sex in a portapotty? X_X

NO! A totally different girl! Can you believe it?

TarheelMama202 · April 2014

You totally do, @lrtrauth. I also like to have amusing people around for giggle purposes.

elliespiral · April 2014

Huge bookworm over here! Recent favorites:

Seating Arrangements, Maggie Shipstead
The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri
We Are Water, Wally Lamb
Someone, Alice McDermott
The Interestings, Meg Wolitzer

Drea926 · April 2014

@UponAStar63 I'll add it to my list! I love books that take place locally!

eriannc22 · April 2014

kelly321 said:

I would like to second the Outlander recommendation. It sounds so utterly corny but is so amazingly good (says everyone I've ever known who has read it), and the author does great historical research. The series isn't finished, but there are enough books to keep even a speed reader like myself busy for a couple of weeks.

I'll go ahead and third this. Outlander is my favorite book.

Poppy523 · May 2014

Completely unrelated, but this reminded me of all the times I meant to tell you, Tarheel, that DH's family lives in NC. Since we are in TN now, we visit much more often and I HATE my in-laws. His family is by Hickory, so probably still a few hours from you I am guessing, right? But, maybe, just maybe we could unite!

Give me recommendations for books to read.

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