Monday, July 06, 2009

Book Recommendations

I'm doing some belated birthday shopping on Amazon, thanks to generous birthday gifts from Bob and Alex. In addition to some non-book items I'm interested in, I also confess I do love to have a pile of brand spanking new books waiting to be read that no one else has thumbed through, creased or otherwise left their mark (yes, yes, I know I have issues, but I figure if inhaling the smell of a brand new book is quirky, then I'll embrace the weirdness).

So, recommend away. What should I order? Some are some recent good reads? Or a favorite book that everyone should read?

8 comments:

Erin said...

The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my favorites. Jane Austen's books are fabulous. Have you read Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns? Both are sad stories, but page turners nonetheless.

Be sure to give Doyle a woo-hoo! for the additional WI internet sales tax you'll pay at checkout. I bought some prints from Snapfish today and paid an additional 53 cents. Who knew that 53 cents could get me so pissed off?

Bob said...

Hope you find something good! (Amazon has come a long way from the days of CD's and books).

Cate said...

Erin, I know you won't be too surprised, but I've read every single one of the books you recommended and loved them all save one-- I enjoyed reading The Time Traveler's Wife but didn't love it on completion. I am the odd man out on that book, though, b/c everyone else loves it.

Any more suggestions? Clearly we have similar taste. :)

Yes, they have, Bob. I'm still contemplating a pair of sandals which, by the time I order, will be completely useless since it will be fall, probably.

Cate said...

Erin,

Don't you listen to our governor? He said he didn't raise taxes for what, 99% of Wisconsinsites? You must be one of the 1% that actually uses the internet to shop...

MOST with an attitude said...

...and the only 1% of Wisconsinites that owns and uses a cell phone. There's a new tax on those now too!!

sixty-five said...

Maybe it's time for a Kindle? Notice that the price just came down again. Ibby seems to love hers. Alternately, the latest Newsweek is devoted to "What to Read Now". Lots of very interesting choices. Their top pick: "The Way We Live Now" (Trollope, 1875). Have you read any Marilynne Robinson (Housekeeping, Gilead..)? I think you'd like her. I just finished Olive Kitteridge (Eliz Strout) which I loved. Also a huge Alice Munro fan. Then there's Jhumpa Lahiri ... I could ramble on and on.

Erin said...

Have you read any Margaret Atwood? She is really good. Blind Assassin is my favorite.

Non-fiction? Have you read Nathaniel Philbrick? In the Heart of the Sea or Mayflower. Thick reads...but excellent.

John Addams by David McCullough.

Bill Bryson is good for a laugh (avoid a short history of nearly everything). His books on the English language are really interesting/ entertaining.

The Tummy Trilogy by Calvin Trillin. He's a liberal...but he is a great writer.

Oprah has good taste in books, except for maybe Toni Morrison. When I need a good book, I look on her list for something I haven't read. Literature is possibly the ONLY thing that Oprah and I have in common.

Cheryl said...

Cate, check out my personal "to read" list in my sidebar and see if that gives you any ideas. They are all books that I have heard good things about. Also, have you read Kleinig's Grace Upon Grace?