I’ve always loved reading. I was reading at four years old. I learned by memorizing words. My mother claims I just got tired of her saying, yes, I’ll read to you in a bit. I absorbed the words. I ate them for breakfast, lunch and dinner and everything in between. I’ve always had a great imagination and reading took me to new worlds. It helped me escape. I was safe, in the pages of a great book. reading was like air. I needed it to live. I’d read anything. Truly. Anything.
When I’d get in trouble, my mom would take away my current book. She knew it made more of an impact then removing my TV, friends or video game privileges. She was a very wise and super mean woman. ha. I do the same thing to Morgan. Well that and her prized possession, the iTouch. I am lucky that all three of my kids adore books.
One of the things that I’ve lost in the past eight years is reading. It’s just the thing that dwindled away until it’s no longer existent. I read to my kids all the time. I read blogs. I read Twitter streams. I read the back of the shampoo bottle as I bathe Harrison. But somewhere along the way, I lost reading books.
I’ve tried many times to get back into it. I’ve joined book clubs, online and off. I’ve bought books that I never read, because I forget to take them some places. I sit in doctors offices, in the carpool lane, in the Starbucks and read my Twitter stream or emails, because I never remember to have a book with me. I’ve probably averaged a book or two a year since having kids. I used to read that many in a single week. Sometimes more.
For my birthday, I received a Kindle. A gift from someone amazing. Something so unexpected and wonderful that four days later, I still have no words.
What I do know is that I’m in LOVE WITH IT. Ahem. It’s shiny and pretty and so amazing. I’d always wanted one. The best thing is? I can take it everywhere with me. It easily fits in my purse.
It took me an hour the first night to come up with a single author that I liked, to see if they had a new book. An hour. An entire hour.
Right now? I need something to be for just me and I think this is it. I’m struggling right now. A lot. I need something to take my mind off of my life and Twitter just isn’t cutting it these days. I spend way too much time alone.
I need help. I need book suggestions badly. So tell me, what is your absolute favorite book of all time? Your current favorite book? The last book you read? If it’s from years ago, it’s okay, I’m likely to not have read it.
I don’t like romance novels and I’m not into vampires, but all suggestions are welcome.
55 Responses to For the love of a good book
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My mom and SIL are reading The Help right now and really like it. David Adams Richards’ Mercy Among the Children is one of my favorites. Not really uplifting, though. For pure fluff…The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc.
.-= Allyson´s last blog ..Relief =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 9:55 am
@Allyson, I think I’m in a fluff mood right now. But I’ll hold onto the others for later date.
Middlesex — I read it so many years ago and it still makes me smile. It’s not the kind of book you’d ever think that would make you smile, though.
Books is like Calgon to me, too.
.-= Lesley´s last blog ..Running Day #2 is Always the Worst =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 9:55 am
@Lesley, I am thinking I might own that one. I’d doubt that I read it though. Am going to have to see if I can find it.
I love Middlesex as well. Also, anything by Dave Eggers. East of Eden has always been one of my favorite books. You might also find the website goodreads.com helpful. Good luck!
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 9:59 am
@KTC, I will definitely have to check that out. Thank you.
Read “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins!! You won’t be able to put your Kindle down.
I am jealous of your Kindle.
.-= txtingmrdarcy´s last blog ..New Theme: Under The Influence =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 9:59 am
@txtingmrdarcy, I already can’t put it down. ha.
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I so rarely get to read anymore, so when I do, I want something that will just take me away. Fantasy land. No politics. Nothing too serious.
I love silly murder mysteries. Diane Mott Davidson Joanne Fluke Tamar Myers
Sue Grafton, James Patterson, Anne Perry for more serious mysteries.
And if you really want to laugh? Janet Evanovich. The Stephanie Plum series will have you ROLLING.
When I get home, I’ll peruse my bookshelves and email you some more ideas. I have holes in mah brain and can’t remember any more than those.
.-= avasmommy´s last blog ..GTT Was Hacked, So I Took This Opportunity To Bitch Instead =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:00 am
@avasmommy, Me too. I am in a fluff mood. I adore silly murder mysteries. I’ll have to look up some of these. Never heard of a few.
Charles Meyer wrote a couple of mystery books. They’re about an Episcopal priest who solves mysteries (usually serial killers) with his “God Squad” of ex-cons. They’re pretty easy reading.
I also like Marion Zimmer Bradley for Authurian fantasy. And Phillipa Gregory for historical fiction. She wrote “The Other Boleyn Girl.”
Hope this helps! Other than reading textbooks and the Louisiana vampire books, I barely read these days.
.-= Ruby Soho´s last blog ..Geez, y’all! How about an update? =-.
I LOVE my Kindle. I got one for Christmas and it’s been one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten. You can download books on the fly, and being able to slip it into my purse is awesome. No more lugging around huge books.
At lunch I started the new Jodi Picoult book. I like her stories because they tap into something current, but they’re usually a little depressing. If you want to laugh, read anything Jen Lancaster and Laurie Notaro. Jane Green, Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner are good bets.
Happy reading!
.-= Mo´s last blog ..Skin Deep =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:02 am
@Mo, Sometimes she depresses me. The last one I read was way too much like the Columbine shooting. Haven’t really read her since.
But the others I’ll look into. Just downloaded a blogger’s book. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor. Was laughing my ass off.
Did you name your kindle?
I agree, The Help is one of the best books i’ve read in a while. My other favorite is Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants. Anything book by Jennifer Weiner, I’m partial to Good In Bed, Little Earthquakes, Certain Girls, and Goodnight Nobody. Jemima J by Jane Green. The Year of Living Biblically, by AJ Jacobs. Snowflower and the secret fan by Lisa see. Shanghai girls by Lisa See
Those are all I can think of off the top of my head. Hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you want more suggestions!
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:03 am
@Molly, no, this is awesome.
For some reason, I’ve never gotten into Water for Elephants. not sure why.
I will echo the people who suggested Middlesex and The Help (which takes place in my hometown & the author went to our rival high school, holla! Only not, because it’s NOT a flattering image of the city AT ALL). And right now I’m reading “American Wife,” which is really really good, even though it’s basically a fictionalization of Laura Bush’s life.
.-= cindy w´s last blog ..My Patella-ella-ella =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:04 am
@cindy w, It’s funny, but I’d never even heard of The Help. But I’ve now downloaded it.
Oh, and I love pretty much anything by John Irving, if that helps.
.-= cindy w´s last blog ..My Patella-ella-ella =-.
My favorite authors are:
Jodi piccoult
Phillipa gregory
Ken follett
Pat conroy
Janet evanovich
Enjoy your new toy! Since having kids, I read much more slowly, but have not lost the ability to make time for reading, which I’m thankful for; reading is definitely my favorite pasttime!
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:05 am
@erin, I’ve found that just in the last week, I will read if I have it with me. Also? it keeps me off Twitter…which is a good thing.
Huge fan of John Grisham.
Also believe it or not…. Boy and Going Solo by Roald Dahl. I must have read them no less than ten times and have just started again =)
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:06 am
@Mum2five, I do love Grisham. Not sure I’ve read him in years, which is good, I probably have a few to read.
The Book Thief. Amazing book. I love Isabel Allende, she’s written a bunch of books. Um, Jitterbug Perfume is one of my all time favorites, although I don’t like all of his stuff (Robbins). I just finished Let the Great World Spin. It was really good, but dense, a tough read.
Really light reading? I just reread all the Ann of Green Gables books. I LOVED them. Again ;0) But, I’m a total geek.
XO. Happy reading.
.-= anymommy´s last blog ..Conclusions to things I’ve mentioned and I’m sure you’re not up nights worrying about =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:08 am
@anymommy, LOL. I am with you on Robbins. I liked that one only.
I never read Ann of Green Gables as a kid. Maybe I should now.
I’ll have to look up The book Thief too. I’ve heard of it, but never looked at it. Thanks friend.
My favorite author of ‘easy’ fiction is Dorothea Benton Frank. Warning: there is an element of romance in her books, but they are not typical romances. They are about the Carolina coast….”Isle of Palms”, etc, and I swear I can smell the salt water when I read them. Think: Pat Conroy lite. (Who is actually my favorite living classic author.) The other cool thing about those books is that characters from one book show up in another. Kinda makes it fun. Definitely beach-type books.
.-= Headless Mom´s last blog ..A Let-Down Day =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:12 am
@Headless Mom, Eh, a little of it doesn’t bother me so much. It’s the romance books that bug me. Just not my thing.
The Red Tent. I don’t know who wrote it, but it’s a great book, kind of a feminist version of a bible story, fictionized. I also loved The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:12 am
@Mary, I’ve actually read that. A long, long time ago though.
Memoirs of a Geisha is a book I have read loads of times, I love it. The life of Pi, Eat,pray,Love, and The Commitments.
Jaysus my brain won’t work, it too early to be up on a saturday morning!!
.-= J from Ireland´s last blog ..Happy St. Patricks Day =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:13 am
@J from Ireland, Eh, mine never works, so you are all good. ;0)
Two of my all time favorite books are The never ending story and a boy called it. Poles apart in everything but both great books.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:14 am
@Sharon, One of my favorite movies, but I’ve never read the book. In fact, I didn’t know that it was a book.
The Boy Called It, is one I’ve read. Sigh. Too real. But thank you.
I love anything by John Grisham, but my new favorites are Brad Meltzer and David Baldacci. Erica Spindler is good too.
.-= Becky ´s last blog ..Guess what you didn’t know you didn’t know =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:15 am
@Becky, I’ve sadly never heard of the last three. Adding more to look up.
I recently read on my Kindle:
The Help
On The Divinity of Second Chances
Like Water for Elephants
I just recently found out that there are quite a few downloads available for FREE on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/
Happy Reading!!
.-= GreenInOC´s last blog ..Watch "Food, Inc." =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:16 am
@GreenInOC, Ooohhh I likey free.
I downloaded The Help. Along with five others so far. Ahem.
Uh, I don’t know why I added to the title of that third suggestion, or maybe I was reverting to my valley girl days!
The title is “Water for Elephants”…
.-= GreenInOC´s last blog ..Watch "Food, Inc." =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:17 am
@GreenInOC, I SO thought it had like before it. Snort.
This is a short book, but I find it hilarious. It’s one of this utterly silly series of stories about a bunch of pirates. The more you get into the whole shtick of it, the funnier it gets.
http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Adventure-Ahab-novel-ebook/dp/B0037BS312/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1272185170&sr=1-3
.-= Jen the Trephinist´s last blog ..Resurrected Post: Deadline Rap =-.
Oh, and congrats on your Kindle! I love mine. (Her name is Paige.)
I keep meaning to post about the Kindle, but I love it so much that whatever I write about it does not even sound sane. I’m just like BEST THING EVAAAAAAAAAR and I WILL STAB YOU IF YOU SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT MY BEST FRIIIIIIEND so I keep having to stop.
Yay Kindles!
Hi, I can’t stop commenting. Also, I just pulled a Kindle post out of draft and published it because your post reminded me to. I believe this is the second time one of my posts has come about because of one of your posts. I might be stalking you. Just FYI.
I love to read and I love my Kindle!
Water for Elephants is one of my all time favorite books.
The Help is good.
If your like suspense Harlen Coben is the best.
Pillars of the Earth is fantastic as is the sequel World Without End.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is also amazing.
Right now I’m reading The Life of Pi because I’m one of the only people on earth who has never read it!
.-= Twenty Four At Heart´s last blog ..Life’s Simple Pleasures =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:18 am
@Twenty Four At Heart, *raises hand* Nope, I haven’t read it either.
I’ll have to wait until I am home to give you a good list, but I second the anything by Philippa Gregory suggestion. I have read several of hers and recently finished The Queen’s Fool. I also recently read The Help, which was good and have Middlesex, but haven’t gotten to it yet. The Red Tent is one of my all time favorites, as well as The Handmaid’s Tale and Roots. I have a pretty wide array of interests.
.-= Susan @ Sassafrassery´s last blog ..A little something, a lot of nothing =-.
I agree with avasmommy, Oh my goodness, I love Janet Evanovich. Her Stephanie Plum series and she has a bunch of little novels in between. So funny.
murder/mystery/comedy is JD Robb series by Nora Roberts
good laugh/mystery – Sisterhood series by Fern Michaels
Other good writers I know of (and you’ll have to read back of books to decide)
Sandra Brown
Catherine Coulter
Marry Higgens Clark
Nora Roberts
Fern Michaels
I love to read and since I can’t do much and my aunt has a library of books here, I am in heaven. BTW, what is a kindle? I have heard them but do now know what exactly it is.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:23 am
@Laura, DUDE!!!! The Kindle is the bestest thing ever. It holds like 1,000 books or something. It’s awesome. I lurve it.
I like Jodi Picoult. I’ve just started reading Jennifer Weiner and Jennifer Cruisie. I was the kid who hid under the covers reading, but the transition to “adult” books sucked and I stopped reading so much.
.-= ~a´s last blog ..My name is not Anya =-.
I love Jodi Picoult, her new book is on my list of things to read. I just recently purchased Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass. I’ll be reading Wicked soon too.
I’ve been coveting a Kindle for some time…it’s on my wish list!!!
.-= AmazingGreis´s last blog ..California Dreamin’… =-.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:25 am
@AmazingGreis, Let me know on a depressing scale of 1-10 how it is. I like her…i just find some to be too sad.
Right now I’m reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and I can’t put it down.
I also bought Freakonomics, but I get the sense I might be too dumb to understand a word of it, lol.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:39 am
@Diapers and Wine, Did you see they are making that into a movie?
I loved it. Might read it again.
you know i suck lately. i just now saw this.
i read. alot. all the time. i have lists and lists of books i can recommend.
email me or txt me or something. tell me what kind of stuff you like. i will get back to you this evening with a list. ok? ok.
Issa Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:40 am
@Alissa, DUDE! Did you join Twitter????
It’s okay friend. Promise.
Anything novel/fluff like would be good. Also mysteries.
The Time Travelers Wife.
5 People You Meet in Heaven.
The Lovely Bones.
Nora Roberts’ Brides Quartet series.
The Help.
.-= MommyGeek´s last blog ..Joy =-.