<p>I’ve been making a stack of “potential reads” for this year’s spring break, so this is a great thread. Unfortunately, my stack is already falling over, and will take a suitcase all of its own, at its current size… however, there are several new titles that I’ve added to my to-read list from this thread. I’m famous for voracious reading on vacation…I try to bring a few “beach reads”…those that I read in a day…and then add something more substantial for later in the week. I guess I’ll take “Pillars of the Earth” for my substantial title this year, based on the above recommendations.</p>
<p>Echoing some others’ recommendations…Jody Piccoult (My Sister’s Keeper was my favorite), Water for Elephants, The Glass Castle, Janet Evanovich (for really entertaining beach reads–the Stephanie Plum #'ed series). Also agree that I was annoyed with Edgar Sawtelle…have specifically not recommended it to my reading friends. Another recommendation that I got from CC a while back was Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees. (same author, but much different book from The Poisonwood Bible). </p>
<p>p.s. I also bought some reading sunglasses…bifocals where the top is regular sunglasses w/o reading correction. I don’t feel quite as matronly with those on. But, I’m much more self-conscious about how the rest of me looks in the lounge chair…my eyes/reading glasses are the LEAST of my worries!!!</p>
<p>My beloved Kindle has some new additions thanks to this thread. As to Edgar Sawtelle, I’ll admit to disappointment in the ending, but still liked it, and it is beautifully written.</p>
<p>Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and ??
True story, pretty amazing. Some of it reads like a fairy tale.
He’s the mountain climber that has built over 60 schools in the mountains of Pakistan and Afganistan.</p>
<p>Y’all really like Ken Follett? Back in the day, *On Wings of Eagles <a href=“the%20story%20of%20Ross%20Perot%20getting%20together%20a%20group%20of%20EDS%20employees%20to%20break%20their%20fellow%20employees%20out%20of%20an%20Iranian%20prison”>/I</a> was pretty much mandatory reading here in Dallas. So then I picked up another Follett book at the airport…at one point in this book whose title I don’t remember, he had a female character describing childbirth as being like having a large bowel movement…I stopped reading at that moment and haven’t picked up Follett again!</p>
<p>Can’t stand Ken Follett. Don’t like Ludlum - don’t even like Lee Child!</p>
<p>But there are a lot of male thriller/police procedural/mystery writers I do like: Michael Connelly, Mike Koryta, and a new one, Josh Bazell. (He’s not in pbk yet.) Also most of T. Jefferson Parker’s books.</p>
<p>Late to the party here, but I’ll stick my oar in:</p>
<p>My favorite historical fiction of the past 20 years or so is Mario Vargas Llosa’s The War Of The End Of The World. It is a little violent and depressing toward the end, but it’s a really rich, well-done, well-researched book on a subject you are sure to know nothing about – a millenarian peasant commune in northeast Brazil in the 1880s that was violently suppressed by the left-wing government. I usually describe this as the best 19th Century novel written in the 20th Century. It’s full of vivid characters and Big Issues.</p>
<p>If you are going to be in Arizona, and you’ve never read them, you should check out some of Tony Hillerman’s Navajo-centric mysteries. The early ones are spotty, and the recent ones sloppy and second-rate (Hillerman got old). But his middle period is superb. I recommend the Skinwalkers - Coyote Waits - Sacred Clowns sequence. (Hillerman was energized by reclaiming the rights to his original detective character from the movie studio that had controlled them for a decade.) Beautiful southwestern landscape and skyscape descriptions, and tons of multi-culti stuff. </p>
<p>My favorite Cormac McCarthy book – actually, one of my favorite books ever – is All The Pretty Horses. I think it’s better-written than The Road, and much less depressing (although it has its moments).</p>
<p>Everyone in my family loved Kavalier & Clay and Yiddish Policemen’s Union. Everyone also loved Middlesex. All of them are significantly historical.</p>
<p>Another great set of historical novels that people haven’t mentioned recently, but that were a big deal 10 years ago (and I thought deserved to be) is Pat Barker’s trilogy Regeneration - The Eye In The Door - The Ghost Road. British soldiers of different classes, temperments, and orientations in WWI.</p>
<p>Until reading this thread, I had never heard of The Time-Traveller’s Wife.</p>
<p>cpeltz, I agree, although I did finish the book. On GoodReads (an online book group - those of you who don’t know about it might want to check it out) I gave it a 3/5, and I can’t tell you how many angry responses I’ve received. I think the message is admirable and deserves to get out there, but it’s not a well written book.</p>
<p>If you’re interested in mysteries, you might want to look at “Into the Woods” by Tana French (her new book, “The Likeness”, is suposed to be wonderful.) It’s one of those storiss that lingers with you, and the writing is superb.</p>
<p>Also try “The Grift” by Debra Ginsburg. It’s about a fake psychic that suddenly develops real psychic powers. Unusual and well-written.</p>
<p>Agree with the Pat Conroy recommendations but not the book; my pick is Beach Music if you haven’t already read it.</p>
<p>His gift with words and ability to literally take you there reminds me in some ways of Hemingway’s ability to say so much with so few words. You can practically smell the Italian food cooking and hear the din and cacophony of the busy streets. I could not put it down when I read it years ago on a vacation.</p>
<p>This one is not always appreciated by some women I’ve recommended it to but those who liked it, loved it. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. It has a cult following of sorts. You can’t believe the number of sites, blogs and posts dedicated to it on the internet.</p>
<p>I led a book group discussion on it a few years ago and to this day have people comment about it thank me for recommending it. My copy was so dog eared and annotated that I bought another to re -read. Incidentally the movie adaptation with John Cusack was very dark and really missed the mark…the book is much better and much funnier. My wife found it funny in a pathetic sort of way, my best female friend absolutely loved it…</p>
<p>Well written historical fiction set in the late 1800s detailing life in the southwest territories. It is at heart a family saga (and some romance) of sorts, but it has wonderful historical details and character development and is mostly based in Arizona. It is a great length and an involving read. It has a lot of depth to it and is extremely well-researched.</p>
<p>Ok, History buff, vacation reading
Sarah Vowell–“Assasination Vacation”- funny, clever, you will smile and laugh at times.
(her newest The Wordy Shipmates isn’t in paperback) </p>
<p>If you are a foodie-
“Tender to the Bone” or “Garlic and Safire”- Ruth Reichl
“Julie and Julia” -by Julie Powell , soon to be movie with Meryl Streep</p>
<p>Just finished Bel Canto. It started out so slow that I put the book down a few times. But this last time I just pushed through and the story and the characters were enchanting. </p>
<p>Into the Woods is my next book up. I read the first paragraph of the prologue and the writing is so outstanding!</p>