I'd like to try reading...what would you recommend?

[Shirley]

Please post here if you have been thinking about trying a new genre or author and would like suggestions from the rest of the group...

[Erica]

I can't decide whether I should try Game of Thrones. in general I steer well clear of fantasy as I don't like anything implausible. I don't mind future dystopian sci-fi like Hunger Games etc but would never touch Twilight (vampires are to far-fetched for me). Do you think Game of Thrones seems "plausible" or convincing enough that I'd like it?

[Erica]

sorry about the double post...comp was taking ages to load

[LauraT]

I liked the books so far. Not a complicated read, but full of promts

[Book Ninja]

Games of thrones is a great story. The only problem is that there are too many characters! That's the only reason I'm rethinking about reading the entire series. It's so difficult to keep track of all these characters(and I know I whine about it a lot on goodreads). Also unlike Hunger Games the GOT has really long books! But if you are up for it and you are a fast reader then just go for it. It's always fun to read new things :)

[LauraT]

Rahat wrote: "Games of thrones is a great story. The only problem is that there are too many characters! That's the only reason I'm rethinking about reading the entire series. It's so difficult to keep track of ..."

Definitly too many!!!

[Leslie]

Erica wrote: "I can't decide whether I should try Game of Thrones. in general I steer well clear of fantasy as I don't like anything implausible. I don't mind future dystopian sci-fi like Hunger Games etc but wo..."

I am in the minority opinion on GoT - but keep in mind that I read only the first book in the series. It was a fast read for me but in my opinion just a 3 star book. I like fantasy so I have read several of this type of created world book, and this is not one of the best although not bad. I much prefer Anne McCaffrey's Pern series (which also has dragons) or David Brin's books such as The Postman or Glory Season.

I thought that Martin ignored some important aspects of the world he created so I didn't find it completely plausible. Also there are intimations of some sort of undead creatures "north of the wall" - in the first book they are a minor part but I could see that they would become important later, so if you don't like paranormal creatures you should be aware of that aspect.

[[deleted user]]

I thought Game of thrones was great. The 1st book is definitely most plausible but then some supernatural stuff does come in as Leslie mentions. I think it's dealt with in a quite a realistic way

[Robert]

Loved the Game of Thrones books.

It does get a bit bloated as the books go on but I think most of the characters are pretty easy to keep track of. I ended up so engrossed in them that I read them all in a few months.

As for plausibility, well, there are fantastical elements but the main strength of the books is the character drama. I think one of his main inspirations was The War of the Roses, and a lot of things that happen in the books are influenced on actual events and people that existed.

[Gigi]

ATTENTION: Isabel Allende Fans
I have never read any of her books.... yet.
For those of you who have read most of her works, which title would you suggest for a 'first introduction' to her works?
BTW: I can only read the Kindle versions.

[B the BookAddict]

Gigi, I'd try Maya's Notebook; very, very readable.

You can look at my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[LauraT]

Gigi wrote: "ATTENTION: Isabel Allende Fans
I have never read any of her books.... yet.
For those of you who have read most of her works, which title would you suggest for a 'first introduction' to her works? ..."

I think her best ever is her first, The House of the Spirits, but I've not read ALL her books: for istance Maya's Notebook is still in my TBR list!

[Gigi]

Bette BookAddict wrote: "Gigi, I'd try Maya's Notebook; very, very readable.

You can look at my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Thank you for the suggestion.

[Gigi]

LauraT wrote: "Gigi wrote: "ATTENTION: Isabel Allende Fans
I have never read any of her books.... yet.
For those of you who have read most of her works, which title would you suggest for a 'first introduction' t..."
So far you are the fourth person to recommend House of Spirits. Sadly, I am unable to read anything that is not in Kindle format (eye issues) and it is only available in paperback (new) and Hardbound (used.)
I will keep Maya's Notebook in mind.
Thank you for your input.

[Dhanaraj]

Has anyone read Nella Larsen? I just bought in a second hand bookshop for 2 Euros the book Quicksand and Passing. She seems to be an interesting author.

[Chrissie]

I agree with the others who like The House of the Spirits best. That IS her best. Her earliest books are much better than her newer ones. I have in fact given up on reading them. You can get Daughter of Fortune on Kindle and it follows HOS. After that comes Portrait in Sepia. Both are very good. If you like non-fiction, Paula is excellent too. Allende writes her very best when she is writing about her own family. Just don't even try her newer books.

[EleonoraF]

Chrissie wrote: "I agree with the others who like The House of the Spirits best. That IS her best. Her earliest books are much better than her newer ones. I have in fact given up on reading them. You ca..."

Paula is a wonderful book

[B the BookAddict]

Chrissie wrote: "I agree with the others who like The House of the Spirits best. That IS her best. Her earliest books are much better than her newer ones. I have in fact given up on reading them. You ca..."

Chrissie, I've read the House of the Spirits and Daughter of Fortune and agree with your summation. But I did also read and love Maya's Notebook which I think is her latest one.

[Leslie]

Dhanaraj wrote: "Has anyone read Nella Larsen? I just bought in a second hand bookshop for 2 Euros the book Quicksand and Passing. She seems to be an interesting author."

Never even heard of her, but sounds like you got a bargain :)

[Gigi]

Has anyone read Ines of My Soul?

[Bionic Jean]

Gigi - -wherever you initially mentioned this, I wrote you a message. I seem to be muddling my threads at the moment. And no, I'm not speaking metaphorically... :D

[Dhanaraj]

Leslie wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "Has anyone read Nella Larsen? I just bought in a second hand bookshop for 2 Euros the book Quicksand and Passing. She seems to be an interesting author."..."

Yes. She seems to be an interesting author and I was fortunate top have two of her 'well known' works together in a collection and that too for a cheaper price.

[Chrissie]

♪Eleonora♪ wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I agree with the others who like The House of the Spirits best. That IS her best. Her earliest books are much better than her newer ones. I have in fact given up on rea..."

Absolutely, Paula was excellent.

[Chrissie]

Bette BookAddict wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I agree with the others who like The House of the Spirits best. That IS her best. Her earliest books are much better than her newer ones. I have in fact given up on rea..."

I am on my way to check out Maya's Notebook. I guess I should try a newer one, and this one looks like it is anchored on events and a place that she is familiar with. What exactly did you like about this one, Bette? Many classify this one as YA. What do you think?

[Debs]

I like to read multiple books at time to fit my moods or location (format needs). I seem to stuck in historical fiction and looking for a fun read. Something in the line of Garden Spells. Any suggestions? I also love quirky southern characters. Thanks :)

[Andrew]

What about good action or thriller novels?

[Dhanaraj]

Debbie wrote: "I like to read multiple books at time to fit my moods or location (format needs). I seem to stuck in historical fiction and looking for a fun read. Something in the line of Garden Spells. I came across this book accidentally last week. I have not yet read it. It seems an interesting read and I am planning to read it later.

[LauraT]

It seems that the reply button doesn't work!
I wanted to tell Debbie: "Have you tried Fannie Flagg's books?

[Dhanaraj]

@ Laura T: Thanks. I was confused. For I too wanted to suggest Debbie a book. And I never succeeded. Now I understood the problem.

@ Debbie: Try this: Which Witch?. Last week, I stumbled upon it quite by an accident. It seems interesting and I too am planning to reaad it later.

[LauraT]

Dhanaraj wrote: "@ Laura T: Thanks. I was confused. For I too wanted to suggest Debbie a book. And I never succeeded. Now I understood the problem.

@ Debbie: Try this: Which Witch?. Last week, I stum..."

I love Eva Ibbotson!!!
Now it seems to work ...

[Chrissie]

Exactly the reply button is messed up, so I ended up deleting my earlier message which got messed up when I tried to edit it.

Debbie, check out A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. This is a light very fun read about a three generational family in the South. I was totally astonished at how good it was. Great modern dialogs. . DO listen to it narrated by the author if you ever do audiobooks! The narration is the icing on the cake.

[Debs]

Thanks for all the suggestions :) I think I am going to start A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty tonight.

[Debs]

Andrew wrote: "What about good action or thriller novels?"
Yes open to those that are well written and I cannot guess the ending early into the book....I hate when that happens :) Have any to suggest Andrew?

[Debs]

LauraT wrote: "It seems that the reply button doesn't work!
I wanted to tell Debbie: "Have you tried Fannie Flagg's books?"
I have read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe and actually have Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man on my shelf that I have not read. So great idea read a book I own already LOL :)Thanks Laura

[Amber]

Hey Debbie if you like thrillers and mysteries: The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is pretty good. I am now up to book 12 in the now 21 book series and it is pretty good. def check them out.

[Chrissie]

Debbie wrote: "Thanks for all the suggestions :) I think I am going to start A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty tonight."

Hope you like it. I DO hope you can listen to it rather than read it!

[Debs]

Chrissie wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Thanks for all the suggestions :) I think I am going to start A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty tonight."

Hope you like it. I DO hope you can listen to it rather than read it!"

Well in that case, I will listen tomorrow while at work, thanks for the tip!

[Chrissie]

Debbie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Thanks for all the suggestions :) I think I am going to start A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty tonight."

Hope you like it. I DO hope you can listen to it r..."

The author's narration is really good. Enjoy.

[Andrew]

@Debbie - Maybe check out the author Vince Flynn

[Debs]

Andrew wrote: "@Debbie - Maybe check out the author Vince Flynn"

Thanks Andrew, I will check him out.

[Joy]

Dhanaraj wrote: "@ Laura T: Thanks. I was confused. For I too wanted to suggest Debbie a book. And I never succeeded. Now I understood the problem.

@ Debbie: Try this: Which Witch?. Last week, I stum..."

Which Witch? is fun, but it is definitely a children's book. You might still like it (I often like children's books) but it's not YA but for younger children.

[Leslie]

Andrew wrote: "What about good action or thriller novels?"

Hahaha!! I could go on for a week! Tell me some that you have liked so I can narrow it down...

[Dhanaraj]

Joy wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "@ Laura T: Thanks. I was confused. For I too wanted to suggest Debbie a book. And I never succeeded. Now I understood the problem.

@ Debbie: Try this: Which Witch?. ..."

I have made it a policy to read Children's classic every once a while to feel good and to warm the heart with pleasant sentiments.

[Leslie]

Dhanaraj wrote: "I have made it a policy to read Children's classic every once a while to feel good and to warm the heart with pleasant sentiments..."

Yes, me too - it is nice to be reminded of the wonders of childhood occasionally.

[Everyman]

Dhanaraj wrote: "I have made it a policy to read Children's classic every once a while to feel good and to warm the heart with pleasant sentiments. "

Are you familiar with the Swallows and Amazons book by Arthur Ransome? Wonderful books. If you don't know the series, read them in order, starting with Swallows and Amazons.

My father's family was British (English, Irish, and Scottish mix), and books were the preferred Christmas and Birthday gifts. Arthur Ransome was a reliable and very welcome gift. I grew up on him, raised my children on him, and am waiting impatiently a few more years until my grandchildren are ready to have him read to them.

[Dhanaraj]

@ Everyman: Thanks for the recommendation. The series looks interesting but is quite very long.

[Gill]

Dhanaraj wrote: "@ Everyman: Thanks for the recommendation. The series looks interesting but is quite very long."

Maybe you should try one of them to start with, Dhanarah. They are very evocative of a certain time and place in English childhood. I'm not sure how many children such a time and place existed for, mind. But it was lovely to read about it in this series, and imagine you could be one of the children.

[Rushyenka]

I've just finished typing a paper on Francis Bacon and reading The Goldfinch so any suggestions for books about painters/paintings? Preferably fictional works and not biographies. :)

[Dhanaraj]

Gill wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "@ Everyman: Thanks for the recommendation. The series looks interesting but is quite very long."

Maybe you should try one of them to start with, Dhanarah. They are very evocative ..."

That is an added reason for me to try that author. As you suggested I may begin with one of her books in the series, preferably the first one. Thanks.

[[deleted user]]

I haven't read the whole series but Swallows and Amazons was a favourite as a child, would definitely recommend.