I read every night before I go to bed. If I don't, I feel weird. Bed and reading go together. Like peanut butter and jam. Salt and pepper. Wigs and kittens.
I used to read every book I picked up from beginning to end regardless of whether I thought it was great or not. I don't do that anymore. If I get ¼ of the way through a book and the only reason I want to open it is on the off chance the pages burst into flame like in a magic trick , I know it's time to take that magic course I always wanted to. Plus it's time to get rid of the book.
There are too many good books out there to read, to suffer through something boring, stupid, pretentious, bland or difficult. The odd time you get these things ALL ROLLED INTO ONE BOOK! For me that book is often written by Jonathan Franzen.
The stack of 5 books below are ones that I've read. It's a list that includes both the books I loved and one I gave up on by page 58.
The Rosie Project is a really fun little book about a professor who may or may not have Aspergers Syndrome. It's funny, thoughtful and an easy enjoyable read.
The Book Thief is one of the many books I've read that focus on the time during the holocaust. You need to read this book. Now.
Secret Daughter is also an easy read and engaging. The story revolves around a baby who is given up for adoption in India and the lives of her birth parents and adoptive parents.
The Casual Vacancy, by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was about something. I have no idea what. I couldn't force myself past page 58. J.K. Rowling is an incredibly talented writer whose book I was hoping would burst into flames.
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy sat on my desk for a year before I read it. I was a huge Maeve Binchy fan years ago because she is a true storyteller. But her more recent books seemed to be missing something. When she died I vowed to read her last story. And I did. It was a cute, story about a multitude of flawed but likeable characters. In true Maeve Binchy style.
These, on the other hand, are the books I'm going to read. And I'm looking forward to each and every one of them. Except one.
Don't Get too Comfortable by David Rakoff is a book I tried to read a year and a half ago but just couldn't get into. I didn't wish flames upon it, I just wasn't in the right state of mind to read it I think. Apparently if you like David Sedaris you'll like David Rakoff. I happen to love David Sedaris.
N-W by Zadie Smith will be the second novel I've read by this British author. The first was On Beauty which I really liked, but sadly can't remember a single thing about. I'm gonna be honest with you. Of the list of 5 books this one kind of worries me. Poof!
The Woefield Poultry Collective by Susan Juby is another bit of a risk. When a novel only has 6 reviews on Amazon despite being published 3 years ago ... you've gotta worry a bit. But an Art of Doing Stuff reader recommended it so I'm givin' it a shot!
We are Water by Wally Lamb will be the 3rd novel I've read by this American author. The other two, I Know this Much is True and She's Come Undone were both pretty darn good. Besides as a general rule any book with the word "water" in the title can't burst into flames. It's just common sense.
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini is the book I'm most looking forward to. Hosseini has authored two of the most remarkable novels I've read over the past several years; The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns . Like his previous two works, this story takes place in Afghanistan.
Books like any other form of artistic endeavour is very subjective. You may love it, I may hate it. But the odd time there are books that are almost universally loved. If I had to recommend 3 books from these lists they would be A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Book Thief and The Rosie Project.
I really can't imagine anyone not liking them.
Feel free to leave your comments now telling me all about how you got ¼ of the way through one of them before it burst into flames.
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Mindy
The Kite Runner was hands down one of my favorite books. I have the second one sitting in my room, ready for me to pounce. And then I can read the third. You know, when my three kids are in college. I'm gonna pin your other faves to my "Books I Wanna Read" Pinterest board.
Cathy
Hi Karen, I'm curious if you ever read The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I loved it and from your list I think you would too!
Bonny
I agree ~ 'Shadow of the Wind' is a treasure.
Marilyn
Lonesome Dove is my all time favorite book.
Also enjoyed The Goldfinch. The Mountains Echoed was my least favorite of Hosseini's books. Loved A Thousand Splendid Suns.
So many books so little time!
Karen
Yup. That's my all time favourite too. :) A close second would be A Prayer for Owen Meany. ~ karen
Bobbi
OMG....I, too , loved A Prayer for Owen Meany.....most excellent !!
And could NOT finish A Casual Vacancy.
Patti
I started The Book Thief but it wasn't really doing it for me, so it's one of those books I just walked away from. Should I go back and pick it up?
Karen
Yup. I did the very same thing. I picked it up at ... well ... let's call it a dark time in my life, lol and I just didn't care about it. Plus the first few pages made it seem like it was going to be ... I don't know ... odd. But it isn't odd, it's a fantastic book. Definitely try it again. ~ karen!
Robin
I'm in to two series - one by Louise Penny - it's about a chief of police in Canada and a little fictional town "Three Pines". Wonderful - funny, suspenseful! The second series - Chet and Bernie mysteries. Very funny - narrated by Chet the dog.
Also, loved A Thousand Splendid Suns and the Book Thief - they are both in my top five. The others in my top five are by Barbara Kingsolver - The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer.
Oh, and also, Cutting for Stone was great!
Karen
The Poisonwood Bible was a great, great book. ~ karen
Jodi T.
I have about a gazillion books listed (somewhere) that I want to read. I'll be adding the last three you mentioned.... Isn't it you who recommended Water for Elephants? I think it was, and THAT is one of my most favorite books ever. Love it. I had my Mom and my Great-Grandmother read it and they loved it as much as I did.
Thanks for the recs! I know where I'm going during lunch. ;)
Karen
Yup. That was me. It's in my list of "Circus Books I love". :) ~ karen
korrine
I, too, am a bedtime reader. Even if I go out and get piss drunk I will literally read with one eye for as long as I can before I pass out. I will then re-read that portion the next night.
Anna
I am a drunk reader too, except I enjoy reading out loud to people while drinking....it doesn't always go so well.
Tracy Wasser
One book I recommend to everyone is Insane City by Dave Barry - it is hilarious!!!
Debbie Neal
I just finished " a Year in Provence" by David Mayle and it was great. It's about a British family relocating to France and all of the situations they get into while settling in. You feel like you are there with them! He has about 5 books.
gogothrift@etsy.com
Just finished The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love,which I did not read)
LOVED IT!!
Now reading Goldfinch by Diana Tartt.....LOVING IT!!
will try The Book Thief when I'm done, thanks for the suggestion
marilyn
reading is like breathing..i must do it every day!! the rosie project was fun! the kite runner and a thousand splendid suns were awesome..there are just way too many books out there!
Janet Thomson
Hi Karen
The Woefield Poultry collective is funny, quick to read, and definately worth your time. Not The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying,,,,, just funny and light.... made me want to homestead!! I also loved The Age of Miracles. Stay warm, drink tea and READ!!
~JackieVB
I'm listening to 'And the Mountains Echoed' now, I don't always go for audio books but I also listened to The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns and they are beautifully done. I've been reading the Outlander series and enjoy those as well - they are going to be a (miniseries or regular series don't know which) on the Starz channel sometime in early spring. Oh and the book that burst into flames was The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Except that it didn't burst into flames like it should have. The first three, maybe four chapters were great but it was like they had a different editor for the rest of the book. It was during a stage where I too was determined to finish a book no matter what. Those days are gone - life is too short.
Donna
I tried to read The Casual Vacancy also--so boring, going no where, skipped to the last few pages and still did not get it!! Will not read her books again. Just read The Orenda by Joseph Boynton and Brain on Fire, both good.
lisa
I think my copy of Casual Vacancy might have actually burst into flames! So disappointed in that book.
I've recently started reading Jo Nesbo, a Norwegian crime fiction author. Very good!
Bobbi
LISTENED to all of Jo Nesbo's books on my way to and from work. Great audio reader they picked.....sat in my car more than once to finish a chapter.
Annie
I've read a bunch of Nesbo's - I went Norwegian after I exhausted my list of Swedish crime fiction ;)
Blaire
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is my most favorite book of all time. At my suggestion (ok, insistence) my husband read it.......my mom read it........my dad read it.......they all loved it. My dad even tried to convince a person on a plane to read it when they asked what he was reading. We are all hooked.
Jodi
This means you, Barbie. Listen to Karen. READ READ READ!
Dannie
I love to read. Just like you ladies, I read in bed almost every night. Fave book of all time for me To Kill A Mockingbird. Least fave Catcher in the Rye. But most of my fave books are easy reads ie. Nicholas Sparks, Jude Devereax, Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison. I don't usually go for thought provoking books. I have to think to much in real life. In a book I just want to run away :)
Jodi
My best friend Sarah and I were lucky enough to briefly meet Markus Zusak during a special screening of the movie adaptation of his wonderful book, "The Book Thief" . It was a moving film but an absolute heartbreaking epic of a book, please go read it now! Karen is right. Markus chatted with one of our local movie reviewers (who was a bit of a douche to be honest - I was sitting there wishing it was someone else asking the questions) and he also answered audience questions, and then patiently signed books for about 1000 people - I'm exaggerating but we were in the back of the very slow line - and he remained focused and gracious the whole time. You have to read this book. And buy it if you can afford to.
Reg
I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner. Looks like I'll be off to the Library for his newest book.
Reading in bed is such a guilty pleasure for me. Until I retired from work I couldn't get past a paragraph or two before falling asleep and then I wouldn't remember what I read the next time I picked up the same book.
Reading in bed is right up there with ice-cream and dark chocolate.