I need to read something great for myself. Not a mom how to book but a great literary piece of work to enjoy. A few books I remember loving: Where the Red Fern Grows, Pride & Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird.
I was thinking of trying a Nicholas Sparks book. Is he good? Any other suggestions?
I think I’ve read two Nicholas Sparks books in my life. If I remember correctly, they are good stories, but rather descriptive of love/romance scenes. I can’t remember how much cursing there was in his books. I do remember that I cried so much I had a headache the next day. Definitely tear- jerkers.
My favorite for-fun reading has been Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray, Zorro by Isabel Allende, the Knights of Arrethtrae series (young adult books).
If I want candy-type books, I reach for a Dee Henderson or Mindy Starns Clark (tho I think she’s a bit less twaddly than Henderson), or a John Grisham or David Baldacci book.
Right now I’m enjoying Mr. Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson.
I’ve been trying to read some of the classics I somehow missed! I recently read 1984, which was sobering but certainly worth reading! I just started the audiobook of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which is just beautiful. I recently finished the Narrative of an American Slave by Fredrick Douglass. I am also reading The Screwtape Letters, which is great (another difficult but worthy read!).
I have read The Giver. That would be worth another reading. I started The Awakening of Miss Prim last night. I think I will read Uncle Tom’s Cabin, also. I started that one but never finished it.
I just remembered – I read a thrilling, couldn’t-put-it-down non-fiction book recently. The title was The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
It was so interesting and really made connections between the Chicago World’s Fair and a particular crime and Edison, other inventions, etc. I have the rest of Erik Larson’s book on my “To Read” list.
I really enjoy non-fiction essay forms, especially Wendell Berry and Gene Logsdon. They truly tie our responsibilities of conservation and ecological farming to the spiritual (Berry is a pastor in Kentucky). I also enjoy Barbara Kingsolver (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a good one to start with) to broaden my perspective.
Have you read the Mitford series by Jan Karon? They are wonderful!
I am finally getting around to reading some of the Miss Read books and I am enjoying them very much.
I love Pride and Prejudice as well and have also enjoyed Emma and Sense & Sensibility by Austen.
Jane Eyre is another favorite of mine.
Anne of Green Gables is one of my all time favorites so lately I have been working my way through Montgomery’s other novels on my kindle. While none of them compare to Anne IMO, I do love her style of writing and find myself wanting more every time I finish one of her books.
I also really like Janette Oke, Beverly Lewis, and Francine Rivers for some more modern writers of Christian fiction type books. Janette Oke is one of my go tos when I just want comfort reading. I’ve read her books over and over through the years.
I sometimes have trouble getting through Dickens but even I read quickly through David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. The books are a lot more Christian and redeeming than any of the movies. For a peaceful light Christian read try Rose Among the Thistles or Lady with the Sun lamp by Jean A Rees. They are out of print but amazon or Abe books has them. They are Godly, peaceful and funny.
Recently really enjoyed A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens, which surprised me since I didn’t think I was all that crazy about Dickens. Now I want to read more of his works and see if I appreciate him now that I am not in high school. LOL
Laddie by Stratton Porter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was completely delightful on so many levels for me.
If you like mysteries, I enjoyed Josephine Tey’s book Daughter of Time. Don’t forget Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.
Inspirational fiction:
The O’Malley Series by Dee Henderson (a few others, like Danger in the Shadows)
Jan Karon’s Mitford books are great.
For historical fiction series (both are Christian authors):
Prelude to Glory by Ron Carter – Revolutionary War
The Zion Chronicles by Brock and Bodie Thoene – WWII
I also enjoyed reading the book called How the Heather Looks, a book about a family as they tracked down the places written about in books by Kenneth Grahame, Beatrix Potter, A.A. Milne, and others. Just fun to read and imagine.