Book recommendations?

[anna_esq]

I recently finished reading Wideacre by Philippa Gregory, which is quite a long epic book, and have been trying to get into something new for the past week or so. I've already tossed aside Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and Lucifer's Hammer, by actually-I-don't-care-who-because-they-can't-write-their-way-out-of-a-paper-bag, in disgust. Life is

Comments

[manley1]

I keep wanting to read any of Sarah Vowell's books since many people are singing her praises.

[anna_esq]

Partly Cloudy Patriot duly added to wishlist! Thanks! :-)

[grizzlygrumble]

Oh geez... I love to read... but I will be brief here.

First, if you liked Confessions of a Shopaholic, you should definitely read the sequels, there are 4 if my memory serves me right. Also, Sophie has written a few other books that are just down right great Chick Lit (I was so engrossed, I would read while driving).

Second, I don't know how you feel about essays, but David Sedaris is f'n hilarious. Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, etc - they're all good.

Do you like happy or sad books? Plenty of good books just have sad(dish) endings and I'm not always down for that. But if YOU'RE down, then Atonement by Ian MacGregor is a good one, so is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is possibly better than Kite Runner...

...OK, I'll stop, sorry! Hope these are helpful!

[grizzlygrumble]

Ahh, I didn't mean to tell you those books are kind of sad because that could be seen as spoiler-y!! But they're reeeeeeeeally good!!

[anna_esq]

Hahah -- no worries, I read Kite Runner so I think I can guess that Thousand Splendid Suns, also set in Afghanistan, is not exactly going to be a romantic comedy.

[anna_esq]

I did like Shopaholic, and knew about the sequels, but didn't think I'd bother with them because honestly, how many books can be written about the same girl's shopping compulsions? But if you think they're entertaining I'll check them out.

When exploring Mark's suggestion above of Sarah Vowell, Amazon also suggested David Sedaris to me. I enjoyed Chuck Klosterman so I do like well-written, entertaining essays. Which would be the best Sedaris book to start with?

As for sad books, I'm often torn -- Kite Runner, for example, was incredibly moving, well-written and engrossing. But (SPOILER ALERT) it was also stomach churning and sickening and certain awful images lingered in my mind long after I'd finished the book. I realize that this is the point, and I feel like a better and more edified person for having read it. But, it was not an easy book to read. So, I've been a little nervous to try A Thousand Splendid Suns. Will add to my wishlist though!

Thanks for all the recommendations!