I’ve always liked to read. When I was a kid, I adored Beverly Cleary books with Ramona and Beezus (how did you pronounce her name? I pronounced it Bee-zus, but I’ve heard it pronounced Bee-Zeus. Weird.) I also loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and can remember my mom reading them aloud to me.
In 5th grade I discovered the scandalous books by Judy Blume. Sure I’d read her Superfudge books, though I guess you could consider Superfudge slightly scandalous. Do you remember when Peter peed in the plant? I remember when my 3rd grade teacher read that part of the book, she had a hard time getting all of us to stop laughing. Her truly scandalous books discussed divorce, racism, sex, and masturbation, but I didn’t really care about any of that stuff! In 5th grade I was far more interested in the topic of PERIODS. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret became my bible. Oh how I wanted to get my period after this and how I wanted to talk about getting periods with all my friends. (Why?!?) I read that book over and over, dissecting every page and feeling like the book had been written especially for me. I still love Judy Blume and wish she’d write another adult book, like Summer Sisters, which is one of my all time favorite books.
I go into bookstores now and it’s really overwhelming. I’ve read everything by my favorite authors (Judy Blume, Wally Lamb, Rosamunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy…) and don’t know who or what to read next.
It’s time to develop my 2009 booklist and I need your recommendations. My 2008 booklist is sitting over in my sidebar with it’s arms crossed, a scowl on it’s face, and it’s lips pursed. I KNOW I DIDN’T READ EVERYHING ON THE LIST! And I’m FINE! FINE! with that.
I’ll just move those books I didn’t read to this year’s booklist. So HA!, 2008 booklist.
So! {clap, clap} What should I read this year?
Here’s what I have so far…
1. Hunger Games (already finished it and I can’t wait for the next installment!!!!)
2. I’m currently reading The Poisonwood Bible (I’ve read it before, but I can’t remember what happened. Thanks a LOT, Placenta Brain.)
3. I plan on participating in Anglophile Football Fanatic’s PMS Bookclub and the first book is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
4. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (Dana didn’t exactly give this one a good review, but I’ll read it anyway)
5. The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Heidi recommended this one.)
(Edited to add because I forgot about this one) 6. Living in Little Rock with Miss Little Rock (a Mr. Lady certified recommendation)
What else should I read?
(I want to be sure to give a big “HOLLA!” to all of you who participated in Delurking day yesterday, it was so, so great to meet those of you I had no idea about! )
Edited to add: No need to recommend the Twilight series. I’d rather not read the remaining 3 books.
Margaret (Nanny Goats)
January 14, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I’ll never forget reading Wifey by Judy Bloom in junior high. Why my mother let me read that I’ll never know, but that was totally scandalous and secretly passed around at school.
Depending on your sense of humor, one of my favorite books is Lamb by Christopher Moore. It’s subtitle is The Life of Christ’s Childhood pal, Biff (or something like that)
Margaret (Nanny Goats)´s lastest post..Honky Without the Tonk
Mags
January 14, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I recently finished The Eight by Katherine Neville. If you like mysteries and liked the Da Vinci Code, you would like this book. It’s long though…600 pages!!!
Mags´s lastest post..Vacations!!!
mep the braggart
January 14, 2009 at 9:45 pm
If you love Maeve Binchy (so do I), you might enjoy Sharon Owens, who writes novels set in Northern Ireland (in my head, I think of her as my “new Maeve Binchy”).
I heartily second the recommendation for A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel. It will remind you of your beloved Indiana. Plus, it has a sequel that I ADORED.
Some all-time favorites of mine are The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood and Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson.
Some women authors whose books are easy to read but still give you something to think about, try Elinor Lipman, Jeanne Ray, and Mameve Medwed.
I review books on my blog fairly often. If you visit, do a search for “Book Beat” and those posts should come up.
Happy Reading! Reading the comments here has given me a lot of ideas of things to read next. Thanks!
mep the braggart´s lastest post.."My toe is sick."
Michelle Kostya
January 15, 2009 at 2:35 am
I was going to say Time Traveller’s Wife, Marian Keyes (anything), Water for Elephants and a few others – but they were mentioned.
One that I don’t think was mentioned was Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield oh and Shadows of the Wind by Carlos Zafon. If you love books – these are amazing.
Oh, for a good epic/love story Enemy Women is good.
For good measure Bel Canto.
Michelle Kostya´s lastest post..Twitter: The Friendly Social Network
Kaytabug
January 15, 2009 at 10:21 am
Jumped over here via AFF, I apologize for not taking the time to look through all of your comments to see if someone suggested any of these already.
Small Wonder by Kingsolver is a book of essays and is wonderful! I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees.
The similarities in our childhood reading is uncanny. My Mom read to me the whole Laura series, which I loved. I also loved, LOVED Cleary and Bloom!!
Did you ever read A Wrinkle in Time, and the rest that followed in that series?
I have so many favorites it’s rather disgusting. Have you ever delved into Vonnegut’s world? If the answer is yes, and you liked it then what about his son Mark’s book The Eden Express? Loved it!!
I should go now.
Kaytabug´s lastest post..Finally!!!
kristin
January 15, 2009 at 10:58 am
I’ve been bad lately about reading, but one of my favorites from a while back is Jodi Picoult’s book called “My Sister’s Keeper”. I liked it way better than 19 minutes. I read it in about 1 day in a half – it was very hard to put down!
kristin´s lastest post..My Christmas Wish
ali
January 15, 2009 at 11:00 am
i always pronounced it bee-zus…
i’m reading a book right now called “THe History of Love” it’s REALLY good.
and did you read Love Walked In? SOOO GOOD. the sequel is good too.
ali´s lastest post..brainfreeze
Binks
January 15, 2009 at 11:48 am
I loved all those Beverly Cleary & Laura Ingalls books.
And Judy Blume was the best at 12.
I wish I could recommend something good, but all my reading selections are more mystery and thriller selections.
I did enjoy Eat,Pray,Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Fast read. It will make you laugh, cry and look at life a little differently.
Binks´s lastest post..DMV Hell
storyteller
January 15, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I loved Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Madeleine L’Engle, and oh so many others … and I loved the Diana Galbaldon series a few years back … and reading Wally Lamb’s latest THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED, but if you haven’t read SHE’s COME UNDONE or THIS I KNOW IS TRUE, those are great too. The problem with reading lists is keeping up with all the new ones while savoring the older ones I missed while I was busy teaching too. Happy Reading!
Hugs and blessings,
storyteller´s lastest post..Thursday Thursday #45 – Trashy Stuph …
Texan Mama
Twitter: TexMama
January 16, 2009 at 12:09 am
I’m not a very “deep” person when it comes to literature. But here are my 2 recommendations:
“The Art of Racing In the Rain” by Garth Stein. It was recommended last summer on the Early Show on CBS. It was really awesome. If you’re a dog person, it’s even better. It’s a story told from a dog’s perspective. Not at all tacky. Very very good.
#2: anything by Jen Lancaster, but I’d suggest “Bright Lights, Big Ass.” Although she has 2 other books out and a 4th coming out in May. They are satire, like Sedaris, but told from the viewpoint of a thirty-something, dog-owning, extra-pounds-carrying, executive-turned-temp-turned-author, hilarious writer.
Texan Mama´s lastest post..So Happy Together
Texan Mama
Twitter: TexMama
January 16, 2009 at 12:10 am
Oh, and one more thing, Did I miss something? I thought AFF’s pick was About The Author. That’s what it said in her post from 1/13/09.
Texan Mama´s lastest post..What Would You Do?
Stimey
Twitter: Stimey
January 16, 2009 at 6:49 pm
The Road. Or anything by Cormac McCarthy.
Stimey´s lastest post..Proof
iMommy
January 18, 2009 at 6:36 pm
The Time Traveler’s Wife. Amazing book. Not too sci-fi or fantasy.
iMommy´s lastest post..Good morning to you, too
Angela
January 19, 2009 at 8:26 am
If you haven’t read it… The Life Of Pi is one of my all time favorites. I look at it a different way each time I read it.
Angela´s lastest post..Princess Sunshine
Yell no | Playgroups are No Place For Children
February 5, 2009 at 7:48 am
[...] a completely unrelated note, I just want to thank those of you who recommended that I read The Book Thief a few weeks ago. WOW! I LOVED THAT BOOK SO MUCH! DO YOU HEAR ME?! I LOVED [...]