In the order they were read:
That Was Then, This Is Now
by S.E. HintonThis Side of Paradise
by F. Scott Fitzgerald**Atonement
by Ian McEwan**The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar WildeA Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith**A Moveable Feast
by Ernest HemingwayA Painted House
by John GrishamPost Office
by Charles BukowskiNight
by Elie Wiesel**Because of Romek
by David Faber**A Million Little Pieces
by James FreyThe Film Club
by David Gilmour** are books I would recommend reading.
One of my New Year's resolutions for 2009 was to read 19 books (I read 18 in 2008) but as you can see, that did not happen. But it's okay, because I think what I lack in quanity I made up for in quality. One of my co-workers got me into reading memoirs (as you can see by the last 4 books I read. Well, 3 1/2 since we all know about the James Frey fiasco) And I already have some other ones lined up. Have any of you read any of these? Thoughts? Comments? Opinions? Also, what books are a must-read for 2010? I need to get my book list started!
I loved East of Eden, Fall on your Knees, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Fatherland, Eat Pray Love, The Golden Compass series, Angela's Ashes, Boy's Life, The Road, The Greatest Salesman in the World (highly recommended! esp for the holiday season!), Believing Christ, Can You Keep A Secret?, The Handmaid's Tale... Hehe. I know, it's a lot! I'm gonna check out those books you recommended. I need something for winter break!
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Oh, wait, you already had A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.. Hm. I should've read it more carefully! I just saw books and went bizerk!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read the first two, they are pretty similar in context.
LOVED A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Such a great ending! How about the 13th Tale... a mesmerizing drama. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteNight is one of my favorites, such a moving novel. i haven't had much time to read lately but i definitely will check out a few of these on your list! :)
ReplyDeleteOh man, I'm a librarian and could go on and on, but the best book I read this year was The Hunger Games and its sequel, Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. They are young adult novels, but don't let that deter you.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys! I'm writing all these down so I'll remember to look for them!
ReplyDeleteElaine: I've read Eat Pray Love... such a good book! It makes me believe that good things do come out of crappy situations. I've heard really good things about Angela's Ashes, too! I definitely need to check it out. thanks for all the recommendations!
Jen: If you like Night, you should definitely read Because of Romek. It's longer and way more detailed. It made me look at life differently, in all honesty.
What was your james frey fiasco? Out of your list, Night was the only book I have read. I loved how it has such a big impact with being only 120 pages (if I remember the page numbers coreectly). I own a couple of the other books you listed and I should really get to reading those. Try The Feast of Love. I dont want to sound cheesy with 'Love' being in the title, but I loved it. There is a movie thats been out a couple years or so if you have seen that.. but of course the book is better. Check it out!
ReplyDeleteThe James Frey fiasco was the whole thing on Oprah where it came out that a lot of the stuff he wrote about wasn't true, so technically it's not a true memoir. I read it knowing things were made up, so I read it more like it was just a book and not somebody's actual life.
ReplyDeleteLove being in the title doesn't make a book cheesy at all! One of my favorite books is The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. The Feast of Love is going on the list!
Thanks, Kendra!
I used to read SO MUCH, but this whole past year I've done about as much leisurely reading as I might have done previously in a month or two. So sad. Not like I haven't been doing my fair share of academic reading! This might be the formation of a new New Year's Resolution...
ReplyDeleteA Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my all-time favorites. I re-read it every few years and something new always catches my attention...Here are a few you might like if you haven't already read them: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genious by Dave Eggers; My Antonia by Willa Cather; The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (this one took me until page 80 to get into then I didn't sleep until I finished it because I couldn't put it down).
ReplyDeletethe sequel to a million little pieces (my friend leonard) is very very good. i know frey was busted for fabricating some things (if you google him you'll find it is only a couple of tiny parts of the story) - overall it was really blown out of proportion (way to go, oprah). his journey through recovery and writing ability is still pretty amazing.
ReplyDeleteWas the James Frey book at least well written and interesting? I would happily read it as fiction as long as it was still decent.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I didnt mean it was cheesy because love is in the title. I just felt cheesy saying I loved a book that has love in the title. That makes sense right? Oh by the way! Im trying out your truffle recipe this weekend at a holiday party I am attending. Its great that it is only two ingredients besides the toppings! Im sure they will be a hit!
ReplyDeleteSnidder: Their Eyes Were Watching God and the Posionwood Bible were both books I had to read in highschool, which means I don't remember a thing about either of them haha. I keep hearing how good The Posionwood Bible is, so I want to give it another try. I've read a Heartbreaking Work and really liked it. I like Eggers writing style and have been meaning to read something else by him... Have you read any of his other books?
ReplyDeleteCLW: You're right, the main point and concept of a Million Little Pieces is true, it's only details he made up. I did google him after I finished the book and saw a couple of interviews he did where he said he was just trying to write a good book, so I really don't hold anything against him. I'd read something else by him.
Renee: A million little pieces is a good book. It has a different kind of writing style, but it's good. It kept me interested, I would recommend reading it (as long as you don't find vast amounts of cursing offensive. haha)
Kendra: Yes, that makes sense.. thanks for clarifying haha. Good luck with the truffles! I hope everyone loves them!
I haven't read anything else by him yet. Any recommendations? Oh! Here's one for you (not by Eggers): Jennifer Government. That one is a fun read - about a dystopian society (ours) in the future in which people's last names are the company or organization they work for. It's fast-paced and tongue-in-cheek. I need to read more!
ReplyDeleteoh yay! a cute blogger with good taste in books!
ReplyDeletebased on your list (and the mcewan, smith, and wilde are at the top of mine, too), i'd recommend zadie smith's on beauty, jm coetzee's disgrace, claire messud's the emperor's children, and mcewan's black dogs.
xoxo.
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