I've been having fantastic reading luck lately. I just loved, GOOD EGGS by Phoebe Potts, a graphic memoir about infertility, Judaism, and art. I can not rave enough about A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD by Jennifer Egan, which is just fantastically written. And I'm also enjoying THE FRUGALISTA FILES by Natalie McNeal, which is a sort of memoir, financial self-improvement mash-up.
Ernessa T. Carter
I'm reading an ARC of Chevy Steven's second novel, NEVER KNOWING, about a woman who sets out to find her birth parents, to shocking results. A psychological thriller. I admire everything about her writing - characterization, theme, style and of course, a unique plot. Her debut, STILL MISSING, was probably the creepiest literary thrill ride I've ever been on.
-Malena Lott
I'm reading CJ Box's COLD WIND. This is a mystery
series featuring a game warden in Wyoming. He's brilliant with
character, plot and setting--one of my favorites!
Lucy Burdette
Bellfield Hall and A Gentlemen of Fortune by Anna Dean --Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen
The Drowning River by Christobel Kent--contemporary mystery set in Florence
The Lost Temple by Tom Harper--action-packed thriller set in post WWII Greece
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton--mystery/gothic-inspired story of a woman who is intrigued when she learns that her mother was evacuated from London during the Blitz and lived in a castle, but never spoke of it
~Sara Rosett
I've been reading a lot of young adult lately, since it's something I'm really interested in writing. I absolutely loved Meg Cabot's THE PRINCESS DIARIES, which is every bit as adorable and charming as the movie (how much do I love Meg Cabot?!), as well as Sarah Mlynowski's BRAS AND BROOMSTICKS, which was really funny and just cute, cute, cute. I then picked up Sarah's GIMME A CALL, which is also really funny and is loaded with charm. It's very high concept: the book is about a girl who can use her broken cell phone to call herself... three years earlier! So, she gets to make up for a lot of mistakes that she made in her past and create a whole lot of new ones.
Amazon just delivered Laura Dave's latest, THE FIRST HUSBAND, so I can't wait to dig my teeth into it. I absolutely loved Laura's first two books, so I know that I am in for a real treat with this one.
Brenda Janowitz
A Visit from the Goon Squad was fantastic. Some books I know I could write; others are far beyond my abilities. The book dances back and forth in time and across a key cast of characters. One of the reasons I enjoyed it was because it wasn't chronological. Whenever I picked it up, I would try to orient myself by asking "Which now is it?" All of the "nows" were equally valid, whether it was 1984 or now or the future. Most books build from past to now, and the implication is that the present is all that matters. I read it while a friend was dying, and the thought that her past "nows" were as true as her current horrible (at the time - she has since died) "now" really appealed to me.
April Henry
My recommendation is a book I just reviewed called THE NINTH WIFE by Amy Stolls - very witty and smart!
Sarah Pekkanen
HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford. Loved this book, which is perfect for readers of any age. Henry Lee is a wonderful protagonist, and it was just a very sweet and touching story.
BEAUTIFUL DISASTER by Laura Spinella. Our own Girlfriend does a great job spinning a modern-day Romeo and Juliet type romance between college girl, Mia, and Harley-riding rogue, Flynn. Will they end up together when Mia's best friend is convinced Flynn is a serial-killing vagrant? You'll have to read and see if love conquers all!
COMPACT WITH THE DEVIL by Bethany Maines. If you like "Covert Affairs" on the USA Network, you'll enjoy Maines' two spy spoof novels featuring undercover Carrie Mae cosmetics sales rep, Nikki Lanier (the first was BULLETPROOF MASCARA).
Now reading Charlaine Harris' DEAD RECKONING. Can't wait to get deeper into it (I'm just about on page 30).
Susan McBride
I have to say that Tina Fey's Bossypants kept me up all night laughing. If you were a child in the '70's especially, you'll love it!
Leslie Langtry
Daniel Judson's noir crime novel Voyeur, about a former P.I., forced into early retirement, on the womanhunt for a former flame whose own mother may or may not be out to kill her.
Lauren Baraz-Logsted
Iam reading/listening to Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby. It is so funny and spot-on about relationships. Also read Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson, who I love. Very eager to read The Bone Yard, Jefferson Bass's latest. Oh, and if you can get your hands on Janis Owen's My Brother Michael, it's brilliant!
Sheila Curran
Do you have any reading recs? Love to hear them
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Earnestine,and I am a big reader. Reading is my passion, and have been since I was 5. I read the book titled Chocolate Mama by Helen Bradley Hall, and I was into that book. The book takes you on the journey of the characters, and it displays everday life tragedies. It is a must read book, you will not be able to put it down. I wasn't able to.
I have not heard of this one but it sounds good! I love this website! I am discovering so many new books and authors! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMargaret
singitm@hotmail.com
I went to Helen Bradley Hall's book signing today, and she did a seminar as well on how to self publish a book. From looking at her picture, you wouldn't have known she was such a little bitty lady Lol! She was an awesome young lady. She was very sweet, I talked with her for an hour and she enjoyed it as much as I did.
ReplyDeleteShe told me how she is in school taking up criminal justice and she just received her associates in criminal justice and now she is working towards a bachelors in forensic science, and get this, she is only 37 years old. She has been writing since her early twenties and she has started her own publishing company and she done so back in 2003.
This lady has been down a long hard path and she shared that with us today. All I can say is wow! She is an awesome yound lady that struggles with two autoimmune diseases and they are Crohn's disease and lupus and she looks great! KUDOS! To you Helen Bradley Hall for all your accomplishments and more.
I love your blog, and am also inspired by your writing advice. I'm looking forward to reading "Visit From the Goon Squad" - it just moved up to the top of the list based on your post.
ReplyDeleteI just finished a book by an author I'm working with. It's called “Born Under a Lucky Moon” by Dana Precious and it’s a tale of a dysfunctional yet loving family from Michigan, behind-the-scenes Hollywood drama, and some romance...it's funny and sweet. It would make for a great summer/beach read, and also is good for book club (mine loved it).
The book is available at Amazon and also as an e-book. Check it out here: http://amzn.to/lfoMAZ.
Born under a lucky moon sounds interesting, what is that story about Alex? I'm going have to go out and get it. But you got to read Chocolate Mama, by Helen Bradley Hall. This book is awesome. This book has a sequel, you can tell just by reading it, and I can't wait for her sequel, but I am waiting on her next book Baby Robber's based on a true story, from what she says in her book for upcoming titles.
ReplyDeleteEarnestine