Books you should read

[Rebecca]

Stevie, I was going to suggest two books but both are by male authors. I would love to suggest my own (definitely female) but I think that would be like being invited to a party and asking to bring my family along :). I'll go home and look through my library and come up with some of my favorite female authors :)

[Gemma]

I've just finished Dawn French's A Tiny Bit Marvellous. It was really good, so that would be my first recommendation! Now that I am trying to think of female authors, it is surprising how they make up such a minority of my reading.

[[deleted user]]

Rebecca wrote: "Stevie, I was going to suggest two books but both are by male authors. I would love to suggest my own (definitely female) but I think that would be like being invited to a party and asking to bring..."

Thanks for participating, Rebecca. We will probably hold our first vote towards the end of March.

[[deleted user]]

Gemma wrote: "I've just finished Dawn French's A Tiny Bit Marvellous. It was really good, so that would be my first recommendation! Now that I am trying to think of female authors, it is surprising how they make..."

Thanks Gemma! I looked up Dawn's book on Amazon; it looks like one I'd enjoy. We will probably have our first vote near the end of March.

[Rebecca]

This is a book I loved by a little known author. Fire in Beulah, Rilla Askew.

[Cinta]

I would definitely suggest any book by Jane Austen, my favourite author. I can also recommend Tess Gerritsen, a great writer of thrillers. My good friend Dawn G. Torrens wrote her true story in a really moving and inspiring book, Amelia's Story.

[[deleted user]]

Cinta wrote: "I would definitely suggest any book by Jane Austen, my favourite author. I can also recommend Tess Gerritsen, a great writer of thrillers. My good friend Dawn G. Torrens wrote her true story in a r..."

I am definitely going to wind up reading Jane Austen. We have several members who have mentioned her. In fact, she will probably become one of my favorite writers.

[Cinta]

Stevie wrote: "Cinta wrote: "I would definitely suggest any book by Jane Austen, my favourite author. I can also recommend Tess Gerritsen, a great writer of thrillers. My good friend Dawn G. Torrens wrote her tr..."

The good thing about Jane Austen is that her novels are atemporal. I mean, you can read them now and still get good advice for your life, no matter if they were written back in the Regency Period.

[Katherine]

I would like to have a little more background on what your favorite books are...favorite authors et al. If it's in a different thread just point me there. Thanks!

Katherine Owen

[Claire]

You mentioned you like YA, is that straight contemporary or do you like to stray into dystopian and/or paranormal?

[[deleted user]]

Katherine wrote: "I would like to have a little more background on what your favorite books are...favorite authors et al. If it's in a different thread just point me there. Thanks!

Katherine Owen"

Hi Katherine,

Yes, it's under the thread called "genres."

[[deleted user]]

Claire wrote: "You mentioned you like YA, is that straight contemporary or do you like to stray into dystopian and/or paranormal?"

I haven't read a lot of dystopian other than Hunger Games. I liked it, but don't think I'd want to read it all the time.

As for paranormal, someone else suggested "City of Glass" so I'll be asking about that. I also want to read the Twilight books at some point if you all let me.

[Rhoda]

If you like YA, I suggest the 'Noughts and Crosses' series by Malorie Blackman. It's very dark, but oh, so compelling.

[[deleted user]]

Rhoda wrote: "If you like YA, I suggest the 'Noughts and Crosses' series by Malorie Blackman. It's very dark, but oh, so compelling."

Rhoda, I've added "Noughts and Crosses" to the to-read list. I know it deals with racial prejudice. Would you say there are feminist elements to it? I am all about the feminism...

[The Lit Bitch]

I read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern in Jan and I LOVED it!!

[[deleted user]]

The Lit Bitch wrote: "I read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern in Jan and I LOVED it!!"

I keep hearing good things about "Night Circus." I will add it to the next poll!

[Jessa]

Before I began writing fiction I was primarily into non-fiction, particularly political and socio-economic books so I hope you don't mind if some of my suggestions veer into that 'realm.'

Just offhand, I'd have to suggest:


and



I also loved:

and

[[deleted user]]

Hi Jessa,

That is crazy... but I just read Shock Doctrine, read Nickel and Dimed some years ago, and read Cisneros's other book House on Mango Street for school. I love Barbara Ehrenreich- have you read This Land is Their Land or Bait and Switch?

Shock Doctrine was pretty scary. After reading it I cringe a little when I hear people talk about how the troops are fighting for our freedom in Iraq, knowing how the troops are being used to protect multinational corporations.

I guess this means I have to read Ntozake Shange's book. I'll probably like it since I liked all your others.

[Jessa]

I haven't but I just marked it as 'to read.'

I had to pace myself with Klein's book, reading it in pieces and giving myself ample time between sit downs. Seriously, it was, for me, akin to being poisoned, having to absorb everything she divulges. Though I'm glad I read it.
(I'm reading a book right now where I find myself forced to do the same. Just call me an info masochist with a purpose lol)

[The Lit Bitch]

Stevie wrote: "Claire wrote: "You mentioned you like YA, is that straight contemporary or do you like to stray into dystopian and/or paranormal?"

I haven't read a lot of dystopian other than Hunger Games. I like..."

I was going to suggest City of Glass....Cassandra Clare also wrote the Infernal Devices series (the prequel to City of Glass/Mortal Instruments series) which I liked better in some ways. I would start with Clockwork Angel by Clare and go from there. I also finished Divergent by Veronica Roth which I REALLY liked, most than Hunger Games personally but that is just me :). Divergent was a great dystopian read if you are into or new to the genre :). Happy reading!!

[The Lit Bitch]

Stevie wrote: "The Lit Bitch wrote: "I read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern in Jan and I LOVED it!!"

I keep hearing good things about "Night Circus." I will add it to the next poll!"

You will love it, I think it's one of the best kept secrets in current contempo lit :)
It is so beautiful and colorful...made me believe in the power of imagination all over again :)

[The Lit Bitch]

Hi Steven (and group!)

Just throwing out another suggestion for a female author...I can't remember if I suggested to you or not. Diana Gabaldon is one of my FAV authors. She wrote the Outlander series which is one of my all time fav series. It has a little bit of everything for female and male audiences a like....history, time travel, romance, mystery...every thing! I can't say enough good things about this series!! Anyway happy reading everyone!!

[Crystal]

I mentioned in my introduction that I've done a lot of non-fiction reading, especially about gender issues. Some of my favourites include The Lolita Effect by Gigi Durham and Delusions of Gender by Cordelia Fine. I am currently reading Pink Brain, Blue Brain by Lise Eliot too.

Another topic entirely, but I also read Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra: A Life. It's a pretty hefty read, but I found it a really interesting portrayal of a historically significant woman.

[[deleted user]]

I tried reading Cleopatra. I had the audiobook, but I gave up. It is pretty heavy, like you say, and I had too many other things going on.

What is Pink Brain, Blue Brain about? I am adding all your suggestions to my "to-read" shelf. Do you know of any other biographies or memoirs of historical women?

[Crystal]

I'm also reading a recent Catherine the Great bio, written by Robert K. Massie though. I'm sure I have others and I'll have a look.

Here's the link to Pink Brain, Blue Brain: Pink Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grow into Troublesome Gaps--and What We Can Do About It

[Jessa]

Third book in the series and I'm loving it/them.

[Andrea]

Hi, my name is Andrea Hintz and I am the author of The Tesoro Series! The first book was recently released, and the second book will be coming soon. It is a treasure hunting book series and has had all five star reviews on Goodreads so far! Here is some information about the first book!

Tesoro: Secrets of the Hidden Treasure (Volume 1) by Andrea Hintz

What would you do if your wild, thrill-seeking cousin who is known for deceiving you into going on disastrous road trips and “disadventures” asked you for a ride? Daphne Bleau (that’s right, like the color) is not the kind to be tricked easily. She’s conservative, boring, and has a tremendous fear of trying anything new and exciting. She’s also brilliant, but her consideration and concern for her mischievous cousin causes her to fall for another one of her cousin’s antics. But this time, her cousin is caught up in something different . . . The Tesoro project is one that requires solving difficult riddles and puzzles in order to track down artifacts left behind by a dangerous pirate group known as Tesoro who lived back in the late 1600s. What starts off as more of a leisure activity ultimately takes over and seems to permanently captivate whoever joins in on the search, making the people involved take extreme measures to stay ahead of each other. The clues start off simple, and gradually become more dangerous. By the end, their lives are at stake. To make matters more complicated, Daphne and her teammates have run into an uncle who has been almost completely absent for the past fifteen years. Her family has been secretive of the reasoning behind his whereabouts. The story begins in the beautiful Hamptons and unexpectedly transitions to Rome, Italy. Throughout, there are flashbacks focusing on the story of Johnny Higgins; a rebellious, teenaged pirate who has been trapped in the Tesoro crew for years. His attempts to escape have failed him, and he feels as though he is living in a world not his own.

It is available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Tesoro-Secrets-...