mathmom, I wouldn’t worry about the title of the thread. It has long since evolved into a discussion of different kinds of books and not just the ‘best’ books. 
My favorite thread on CC and the one most responsible for my logging into Amazon.
Argh - my library doesn’t have “Fourth of July Creek.” The reviews look great!
Okay, you guys talked me into continuing the The Goldfinch. I can decide to ignore what bugs me; I’m curious to see where it goes.
I enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook and I knew there were times that I would have skimmed quite a bit had ai not been listening. There were always things that left me glad I didn’t skim. For the life of me, I can’t remember how it ended though. I may have to go back and listen again to the last few chapters.
Thanks to all who recommended The Husband’s Secret. Good reading (and good book club discussion fodder, if anyone’s looking ).
“All the Light We Cannot See”–Anthony Doerr. Luminescent! The writing is gorgeous from start to finish, the story is moving, the characters complex and interesting. I can’t say enough about how much I loved it.
^ I recently read “All the Light We Cannot See” and enjoyed it as well.
^^^ It’s waiting for me at the library. Good to see the thumbs up here.
I just finished Lonesome Dove for the CC Book Club (discussion starts August 1). It well-deserves a mention on this thread. Highly, highly recommended.
Has anyone read Life after Life? I started it today and am undecided.
@ignatius, I loved Lonesome Dove!
Another oldie but goodie… not sure if it’s been mentioned… Memoirs of a Geisha. It’s the kind of fiction that I love because it teaches so much about history and culture. A very compelling tale.
A while ago I mentioned Peter Heller’s “The Dog Stars,” and now I just finished his second fiction novel, “The Painter.” Again, it is among the most thought-provoking stories I have read. His style is spare, a clash of characters in an introspective plot line (complete with fly fishing), think a cross between John Irving and Cormac McCarthy.
^^^
I loved The Dog Stars and wondered if Heller’s second (fiction) book would be as good.
My book club read “Life After Life.” I didn’t. Everyone else really liked it.
I loved the “Life After Life” by Jill McCorkle, one of my favorite wrtiers, all time, but it had the misfortune of
coming out the same time as the other one. I recommend it.
I thought Life After Life by Kate Atkinson was well written and interestingly constructed. What I didn’t like about the book was the way the author kept revisiting a certain gruesome fictional incident that took place during the Blitz in London.
In addition, I thought the story became increasingly far-fetched and implausible as it went along.
What I liked best about the book was its affectionate depiction of the life of a family in England before and during WWII.
I loved Life After Life. I am enjoying Fourth of July Creek now.
i’m reading 'life after life. Thus far, I’m not crazy about it.
I won an advanced reader’s copy of “The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing,” a debut novel by Mira Jacob, on one of the readers’ websites. It’s really, really good.
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
Still reading my way through books recommended on the Lariat list. So far I’ve enjoyed reading “Dog On It,” “Reconstructing Amelia,” and “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter.” I’m part-way through “They’re Watching” (Gregg Hurwitz) - kind of unbelievable but entertaining.
I wish I could get my hands on “Fourth of July Creek”!