As a kid my sister Erin nicknamed me "Read-y Head" I'm pretty sure it was in retaliation for something mean I said to her, but it stuck because it was true. I love to read and there are times when it's all I want to do. This year I did a lot of reading for school so I didn't read as much for pleasure as I would have liked so this goal is good for reminding me to do something I really love. My beach trips gave me time to catch up on books I'd been wanting to read, and I still have a stack on my bedside table waiting to be read (or finished.) Here's my list so far of the books I consider "real literature." I will admit to some pieces of brain-candy in between some of these, I do love a good trashy chic-lit read now and then!
A great memoir from someone who attends the Cordon Bleu in France. I love the stories about the teachers, the successful (and some failed) recipes and how much work it takes to learn the classic French techniques.
House of the Seven Sisters
Pretty good story, a quick read. The relationships between the sisters, their lives and the family bakery that they run...I really like it
The Wise Woman by Phillipa Gregory
This one creeped me out a bit but was good. I got hooked on Phillipa Gregory with The Other Boleyn Girl a few years ago and will read just about anything she writes. The Virgin Earth is still my favorite by her, I think.
The Girl with The Dragon Tatoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larson
These are two of the biggest summer hits so I won't say much. I loved them both, they're very intense and were GREAT beach reads as well as being well written! Now I just need to wait for the 3rd to come out in paperback
The Spanish Bride by Laurien Gardiner
Another Catharine of Aragon story. I am ADDICTED to novels about Henry VIII, his wives and daughters. This was a great one, though it's always a sad story.
The Winter Prince by Cheryl Sawyer
I love period English stories...can't really tell you why.
Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan
I really didn't love this as much as I wanted. The story is well done, but I think Amy Tan has written better books.
Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy
I really enjoyed this. It wasn't a challenging read, but the intertwining stories in the books are so great. I loved that it took me more than the first half of the book to really see how all the short stories were starting to touch on one another. I don't think I've read anything by her I didn't like.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
There is nothing on the book to tell you what it's about...so I won't ruin it. Just read it. The book is great and really emotional. Thanks to Erin for passing it on!
Okay, so there are the first 10 books. I'm going to try to do a better job of tracking books because I know there have to be more than these...I'm just blanking at the moment. Also...do you think I can count books that I read for my grad classes but was surprised to like? If so, I'll have 2 more to add...Gung Ho! and The Outsiders.
I'm off to do some more relaxing. I'd love some recommendations for what to read next...I'm planning to start Racing in the Rain this afternoon.
Have you read Water for Elephants? It was AWESOME. I also want to read that book about Lemon Cake...haha, the title escapes me, but it's about a girl (?) that can taste the feelings of the person who made the food she eats. Something like that.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I LOVED The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo and its sequel!! I did not expect to get that into it, but I plowed through both of those books. I'm waiting for the last to come out in paperback, too...$27 is too much for ANY book (except HP books).
Sara...thanks for those recommendations, I'll have to add those to my B&N wishlist!
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