<p>Thanks everyone. Just ordered Suite Francais by Nemirovsky from Amazon.</p>
<p>The Lonesome Dove is the best book I ever read.</p>
<p>So; recommended by rskibum, written by Larry McMurtry, and a Pulitzer Prize.</p>
<p>Can’t go wrong!!</p>
<p>I must be the only cheap person on this forum because I “ordered” a bunch of these books online from my local public library. They get delivered to my branch,they call me at home when my books are in, I pay 50 cents, read em and take em back. See you amazon.com!</p>
<p>mom on hill stumped me–I haven’t read even one of those books–and that’s a rarity.</p>
<p>I was a real library hound when I was a teenager. Read through the classics section systematically. Then, when I had a bit of extra cash, I discovered how much I love to buy hot-off-the-press books–especially those published by Farrar Strauss and Knopf. Also, I wanted to ‘establish’ a collection of children’s books for the boys.</p>
<p>I give away a ton of books every year as I am not a scholar and don’t (intentionally) re-read books. </p>
<p>At least once a year I buy a book and start to read it before I realize I’ve already read it. Not a scholar and a numbskull to boot. Lovely.</p>
<p>My S1 gave me his copy of Roths’ ‘American Pastoral’–which had some classic commentary on upwardly mobile American life. Didn’t enjoy the plot device pinned to one character–but it was a good read overall. And, may I jsut say, Roth writes sex scenes with perfection.</p>
<p>They might keep him from getting a Nobel but I like them! ;)</p>
<p>Cheers, the monthly Booksense picks are a great source for me. I just go through the list and read the blurb about each book, and check out the ones that grab my attention. I get the Booksense fliers at a local indie bookstore, but I end up checking most of the books out from the library since they’re still only available in hardcover at that point. You can also check out the Booksense lists online: <a href=“http://www.booksense.com%5B/url%5D”>www.booksense.com</a>
I have heard good things about American Pastoral, so perhaps I’ll check it out.</p>
<p>A few books that I forgot to list on my post above:</p>
<p>“My Latest Grievance” by Elinor Lipman (I also loved Lipman’s “The Inn at Lake Devine” , several years ago)</p>
<p>“A Long Way Down” by Nick Hornby</p>
<p>“Beneath the Diamond Sky” by Barney Hoskyns ( a non-fiction history of Haight-Ashbury, in San Francisco, from about 1965-1970)</p>
<p>momonthehill,</p>
<p>I liked Goodby Columbus and disliked Portnoy’s Complaint as well!
Another Roth book I liked was: The Human Stain. American Pastoral was good for about 2/3 of the way in and then I started to lose interest.</p>
<p>Another prolific author I find rewarding is Joyce Carol Oates.</p>
<p>I would love to borrow most of my books from the public library, but unfortunately I live in a city with a low priority on books (and education). Funding is practically nonexistent for new books, especially if they are not on the best seller list.<br>
I recommend checking out the New York Times (online) for new book reviews. Also, Costco offers a number of great books at a significant discount.</p>
<p>ripped,</p>
<p>To enjoy reading, you don’t absolutely need new books. Plenty of great old books available–do you have those in your library? Amazon offers pretty good prices for second hand stuff and/or you could re-sell your books after reading.</p>
<p>Just curious --could you tell us the general region of your city that doesn’t like books? Any colleges or universities within an hour or two driving where you could stock up on books second hand? or get reading privileges at the library?</p>
<p>Ripped, does your town library have a setup where people can donate paperbacks and anyone with a library card can just take them home for as long as they want? Because there’s no need to invest in securing the paperbacks and checking them in and out (and not much time put into organizing them other than categories like “mystery”, “fiction”, etc), it doesn’t cost the library much, other than shelf-room and the initial time to make sure it’s in good shape and stamp it so you remember where you got it from.</p>
<p>Ripped,</p>
<p>I’m glad you mentioned Louise Erdrich. That reminded me of two by Michael Dorris (her former husband): A Yellow Raft on Blue Water and Cloud Chamber. Yellow Raft wasn’t one of my top of the list favorites, but you need it first to lay the groundwork for Cloud Chamber, which I loved. </p>
<h1>1 Ladies Detective Agency was one of my airport books last summer, good and funny!</h1>
<p>And I liked another Guterson novel, East of the Mountains–totally different story than Cedars, but also gentle, sad, very good.</p>
<p>Yes pye, that character/plot device in Pastoral was the source of my complaint too. The whole thing got unbelieveable and uninteresting. </p>
<p>I use the Times (London) and the Independent as my book reviews now–and FS and a few other CC posters. And my S1–he’s handed me a couple of real winners. There was a time I thought he would never read fiction again–but he’s come back to the fold and now reads a mix. Thank goodness!</p>
<p>I do buy books used from a local bookstore. I also buy books on ebay and half.com, so I can frequently obtain books at a great discount. I usually justify the expense by sharing the books with my family and friends. I actually enjoy owning books that I love.
I’d prefer to not reveal my location, since my D is paranoid that her friends will figure out that her mother is spending time on CC.</p>
<p>Oh that brings up a happy thought. The Goodwill finally re-opened, so I can drop off my used books and see what they have. (That’s my main book source beyond the library).</p>
<p>Finished Mountains Beyond Mountains and loved it. I was scared he was going to die at the end of the book…Thank you to whomever recommended it!</p>
<p>That book gave me an idea for a Plan B for my life!</p>
<p>Okay, I’m going to jump start this thread again by telling folks that I am finishing Suite Francaise and have found it exceptional. The best book I’ve read this year. I am in awe of the author’s balance and compassion given what ultimately happened to her. Thank you, those who recommended it.</p>
<p>SuNa–</p>
<p>Thanks for re-starting–maybe we’d get more response from a new thread “Your favorite book in 2007”? I didn’t want to jump the gun on you and start it myself–so would you start it for us?</p>
<p>I’ll post there…</p>
<p>Hadn’t read the thread before, so I took notes! Filled up my paper before I was through, though, so I’ll have to come back. I read a lot, across the genres, but never remember book titles or author’s names! When I was in Germany, and had to buy books by title only on Amazon, I forced myself to read every single one, no matter how I felt about it. I found Saturday a tedious read. I also found Reading Lolita in Tehran slow going, but fascinating if you could get past the verbiage. I’m not into flowery writing or extensive description.</p>
<p>I’m so happy to be back at my free English library! (ebeee - I can’t believe you have to pay 50 cents! Mine is totally free!)</p>
<p>My favorite book of all time is probably Orson Scott Card’s Enchantment. It is also one of the favorite books of my two sons and daughter. Rare that we all like the same book.</p>
<p>
Interesting choice. I liked it very much, but I have to admit I’m not sure I’d put it on my top ten list. If I’m allowed to put an entire series (which I maintain is one long Bildungsroman), I think I’d put Lois McMaster’s Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan books near the top of my list. I love rereading them.</p>
<p>Mathmom - not surprising - I’ve been known to have quirky taste. Although that’s not necessarily the word everybody uses. 
</p>
<p>I read for enjoyment, for escape, for down time, and therefore, can’t stand books that I feel are manipulative or have bad endings or are too much work. I admire those who read for personal growth, but I’m not one of them. </p>
<p>I was actually fascinated by some of my friends’ recommendations to me. My best friend, who is a lot like me, loved Saturday, and I ordered it on her recommendation. Not at all what I was expecting, but did help me understand her a bit, I think. Another friend raved over The Secret Life of Bees, so I ordered it and was greatly disappointed - one of few I actually threw away when I was done with it - but again, gave me some insight into my friend. I actually enjoy that part of reading others’ recommendations, even if I don’t care for the book itself.</p>
<p>I’m a mystery fan, and as cojett mentioned earlier in this thread, the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child has me hooked.</p>