I realize that I am opening up a can of worms that shan't ne'er be closed after posting this question, but I just hafta'. I just really really hafta'.
So Santa brought me a Kindle this year. Did I already mention that? I did. Well, here I go again: Santa brought me a Kindle. (Eat it, Scott Willmon!) And I am looking to fill that puppy up with some new books. So I am needing some suggestions.
Do not suggest Going Rogue. I am exhausted by this.
But before you all leave me a list of books from hither to yon let me tell you what I like in a book, then, if the shoe fits, well, you know the rest...
I like nail biting suspense. But I do not like blood and guts.
I like love stories to some degree. But I refuse to read anything with a shirtless man on the cover.
I like things that make me feel good right before I go to bed, like anything from Jan Karon's Mitford series. I always went to bed with sweet dreams after reading those.
I like things I can't put down (a' la, Twilight).
I like biographies of Dolly Parton. Oh wait, read it already. 3x.
I like any Christian books that challenge me or condemn me. And sometimes I like them both at the same time.
I like books on discipline, raising your children or family living.
I like Biblically based books on child rearing or marriage building.
I would really like that Eat Right for Your Blood Type book, but I don't know my blood type. So if anyone knows my blood type could you leave it in the comment section for me? Thanks.
I don't like Stephen King. Though I'm sure he's a nice man.
I have not, nor am I ever going to "give Harry Potter a try."
Don't suggest anything having to do with History, how Texas seceded from the Union or Betsy Ross. (Somewhere my 12th grade History teacher is cringing.)
And although I like to consider myself intelligent, I reserve Jane Austen for the movies. Sorry, I know this is sacrilege to some, but I have not got enough hours in the day to figure out what she is saying when Keira Knightley says it just perfectly.
And though I love my Kindle I reserve the right to purchase cookbooks so I can hold them in my hand and drool over the pictures.
I like anything, anything at all by Erma Bombeck or anyone even similar to her.
I don't want to read anything having to do with business. Ever. No Bill Gates. No Seven Steps To Having The Company of Your Dreams. No CEO 101. (In fact, I almost fell asleep typing that sentence.)
Okay, so there you have it. Have I quenched any one's spirits yet? If so, then just leave me a comment telling me how disappointed you are in my reading choices. I admit, I will never get hired on as a book reviewer for The Times or The Post, and that's okay. I plan on having a book on the chart someday, so there! And when I do it will be titled...
So Santa brought me a Kindle this year. Did I already mention that? I did. Well, here I go again: Santa brought me a Kindle. (Eat it, Scott Willmon!) And I am looking to fill that puppy up with some new books. So I am needing some suggestions.
Do not suggest Going Rogue. I am exhausted by this.
But before you all leave me a list of books from hither to yon let me tell you what I like in a book, then, if the shoe fits, well, you know the rest...
I like nail biting suspense. But I do not like blood and guts.
I like love stories to some degree. But I refuse to read anything with a shirtless man on the cover.
I like things that make me feel good right before I go to bed, like anything from Jan Karon's Mitford series. I always went to bed with sweet dreams after reading those.
I like things I can't put down (a' la, Twilight).
I like biographies of Dolly Parton. Oh wait, read it already. 3x.
I like any Christian books that challenge me or condemn me. And sometimes I like them both at the same time.
I like books on discipline, raising your children or family living.
I like Biblically based books on child rearing or marriage building.
I would really like that Eat Right for Your Blood Type book, but I don't know my blood type. So if anyone knows my blood type could you leave it in the comment section for me? Thanks.
I don't like Stephen King. Though I'm sure he's a nice man.
I have not, nor am I ever going to "give Harry Potter a try."
Don't suggest anything having to do with History, how Texas seceded from the Union or Betsy Ross. (Somewhere my 12th grade History teacher is cringing.)
And although I like to consider myself intelligent, I reserve Jane Austen for the movies. Sorry, I know this is sacrilege to some, but I have not got enough hours in the day to figure out what she is saying when Keira Knightley says it just perfectly.
And though I love my Kindle I reserve the right to purchase cookbooks so I can hold them in my hand and drool over the pictures.
I like anything, anything at all by Erma Bombeck or anyone even similar to her.
I don't want to read anything having to do with business. Ever. No Bill Gates. No Seven Steps To Having The Company of Your Dreams. No CEO 101. (In fact, I almost fell asleep typing that sentence.)
Okay, so there you have it. Have I quenched any one's spirits yet? If so, then just leave me a comment telling me how disappointed you are in my reading choices. I admit, I will never get hired on as a book reviewer for The Times or The Post, and that's okay. I plan on having a book on the chart someday, so there! And when I do it will be titled...
How To Raise Your Children In a Suspenseful, God Fearing Society
While Falling In Love to Dolly Parton Songs
And Finding Joy In Your Blood Type:
The Story of Anyone Besides Betsy Ross, The Chairman of Enron
or Those Guys Who Created Facebook.
Look for it. It's gonna be awesome!
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37 comments:
You MUST read "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan if you have not already!
I am not a huge reader, therefore you are doing very well that I can even suggest a book besides the good o' B-I-B-L-E! :-)
jennifer
I love Lorna Landvik. The best was The Angry Housewives eating BonBons. Easy, enjoyable read. Although you may be a bit to young:)
Randi
I LOVE the "Mark of the Lion" book series by Francine Rivers. Could not put the books down - nor could any of the people I shared the books with!!!
Also, I just finished (2 days ago) a book series by Lynn Austin called "Chronicles of the Kings". It is based on the scriptures regarding the life of King Hezekiah and his descendants.
Now, I know you are thinking, "Seriously?Books based on scriptures form 2 Kings and Chronicles?" But, I am telling you.. GREAT!!! There was intrigue, suspense, some romance, mixed in with the truths of the Bible and how God dealt with his chosen people. There are 5 books in the series and I am so glad I took the time to read all of them.
The books brought the Old Testament to me in a knew light.
I am looking forward to see what other people recommend.
Happy New Year!!
have you read anything by Lisa Samson? sounds like we like the same stuff and I love her
Wanna be challenged? Not Even a Hint by Joshua Harris Wow
Have you read anything by Francine Rivers? She is a fabulous Christian author. My favorite is The Last Sin Eater but everything she writes is wonderful!
I have read most of Nicholas Sparks...Dear John and The Wedding (sort of a continuation of The Notebook)are my favorites.
Some of my other favorite authors are Jamie Langston Turner, Elizabeth Berg, Lisa Tawn Bergren and Jessica Barksdale Inclan. I have read, most if not all of the offerings from these authors over the past year or so. Good stuff. All of them explore various marriage, friendship type relationships. I have esp really liked Elizabeth Berg and have started buying them to add to my own library. Another book I read recently is called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It's a story of God's redeeming love of a woman rescued from prostitution set in the Gold Rush era.
Lisa, Jamie and Francine are all Christian authors. Jamie Langston Turner has a book series that are all set in the same small South Carolina Town featuring many of the same characters, each book focusing on a diff person's story/POV, exploring really poignant and often convicting aspects of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Really (really) excellent.
I have also read several from "author du jour" Jodi Picoult too over the past year and have enjoyed her as well - The Tenth Circle is quite good.
Happy reading!
Charles Martin is an awesome author! When Crickets Cry and Chasing Fireflies are some of his titles! I suggest When Crickets Cry with the highest recommendation!
I have Kindle on my iphone and LOVE it! The first book I read on it was "The Help"!
Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. It's my favorite "comfort food" book!
I haven't read it, though I'm dying to, but a friend of mine just finished "Adopted for Life" by Russell Moore. She said anyone would love it, especially someone who has adopted babies!
Good luck and happy reading!
Skunkle says you should try "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls.
Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore...Just finished it, loved it! Next, I'm trying to get my hands on Grey Gardens (I haven't seen the movie yet either, so after I read the book, I'm going to get the DVD). Crazy Love is also on the list for me to read! Have you read any of these?
My suggestion for the most Awesome Book for Bible-based marriage building is Rocking the Roles (Building a Win-Win Marriage) by Robert Lewis and William Hendricks
My suggestion for motivation and inspiration is The 4:8 Principal (The Secret to A Joy-Filled Life) by Tommy Newberry
My suggestion for laughs out loud would be any book by Anita Renfroe (I'm sure you've heard her sing The Mom Song, if not http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0ZpuA8_YYk) also any book by Celia Rivenbark will give you more laughs than you can handle
I also recommend any thing Francine Rivers, but more specifically, "Redeeming Love", and "The Mark of The Lion" Series....BEST ever.
Lori Wick and Kathryn Cushman are my two favorite authors. Anything by them is terrific.
Poisonwood Bible
Bringing up Boys.
Poisonwood is very different, but very intriguing. Bringing up boys is a Must!
Wow-out of 17 comments no one suggested Karen Kingsbury. I have read just about everything that she has written. Seriously, I'm talking I start it at night and finish in the wee hours b/c I can't put them down. I also like Neta Jackson's series called the Yada Yada Prayer Group - they will make you crack up. Happy Reading.
Jen
(BTW - thanks for my comments. You made me laugh out loud about the tree.)
Again, I'm sooo jealous!!! I want one of those!!!
I'm currently reading Mitch Albom "For One More Day". I can't say I love it yet, because I'm only a few pages into it. It does appear to be very good though.
Redeeming Love was the best book I read this year! Francine Rivers is pretty much my favorite author. I also enjoy the Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James. It was very light and sweet.
Melissa you've got some great suggestions so far (and yes I've copied every one down!)but I'll add just a few. I've had my Kindle for about 6 months and love it more every day. Just wish it would allow me to share books with my sister! Anyway I love murder mysteries - even serial killers. Actually those are my favorites. I don't like Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes or those kind - just the more current ones. In saying that Iris Johansen has a great series about a forensic sculptor but the first four were the best of that series. I don't care for anything medieval so much to my surprise I loved The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It's also about time travel so that offset the medieval part. :) I loved the Twilight series too so you might like the Sookie Stackouse books but I can't remember the author. Google it and it will come up I'm sure. They're very light reading. Very light. I also love Linda Howard's books and even though they're romances or mysteries and sometimes similar to a Harlequin she has the best sense of humor - keeps me laughing. Robert Parker wrote a series about a police chief named Jesse Stone (Robert Sellect made-for-tv movies) which are excellent. James Patterson's books are goo but really only the ones he wrote by himself and not so much these newer ones by him and someone else. I'll probably think of others after I quit typing! blessings, marlene
I love pretty much anything by Dee Henderson or Terri Blackstock. Good, suspenseful, Christian novels. Not much blood and guts.
Our church's moms' group just went through a GREAT book: "When People Are Big and God is Small" by Ed Welch. I highly recommend it.
Someday You'll Thank Me (Gayden Metcalf)
South of Broad (Pat Conroy)
The Help (Katherine Stockett)
Francine Rivers Redeeming Love is my all time favorite book. I really wanted a Kindle for Christmas, but my santa thought it was too much money. I guess I wasn't a very good girl this year. Perhaps I didn't put out for ol' Santie Claus enough. Sigh.... Note to self for next year.... lol
Okay... I deleted my comment because you should probably read a book before you recommend it... and at about 70% it got to be a little to much for me. Good thing it was free.
Not sure how I found your blog but I have to add $0.02 ;)
I LOVE Wally Lamb books:
I know this much is true
&
Shes come undone
Are the 2 best books I have read in a long time!
The Shack by William Paul Young and The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I've read them both in the last two days.
http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Chiaverini/e/B001IGQLEO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1262279652&sr=8-1
These books are a lot like the Mitford Series. Jennifer Chiaverini is the author. She has a whole series about a quilting guild. Nice and relaxing. :)
I totally agree with Francine River's book "The Last Sin Eater". All time favorite book. Loved to Yada Yada Prayer Group Books, loved the Sister Chick series ( good bedtime reading). Cookbook: The Pioneer Woman's Cookbook...if you can't kindle it, buy it...she can flat out cook, as my grandma would say.
Hi Melissa, you may remember me (or not!). I was friends with Jamie and Aimee and came to your youth group often.
Anyway, I second or third France Rivers' Mark of the Lion series. LOVE it.
And Crazy Love by Frances Chan is just awesome.
If you are OK with non-Christian stuff, Jodi Picoult has some great books (My Sister's Keeper author). She has some very suspenseful stuff but no blood and gore. Maybe a few bad words- I can't remember for sure.
Have fun reading!
Bringing up Boys by Dr. Dobson is great.
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
followed by:
Something Blue by Emily Giffin.
They are FANTABULOUS girly reads - you won't be able to put them down!! I promise.
All I can say is:
1. I covet your Kindle
2. I plan to camp outside Jan Karon's House until Father Tim comes out of retirement.
nuf said?
I guess I would be one of your blog "stalkers" since I read a lot, but don't comment. However, since you mentioned books and I LOVE them I thought I would suggest Patti Lacy's An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw. Also LOVED Michal by Jill Eileen Smith.
Okay, I am a bit of a lurker, but had to comment on this one! I agree with everyone that said "Mark of the Lion" trilogy by Francine Rivers. It fits the categories of "can't put down" and "challenging." Not challenging in actually reading it, but challenging to how you live your life. The first one is "A Voice in the Wind," the second is "As Sure As the Dawn," and the third is "An Echo in the Darkness." Absolutely begin with the first one. Don't skip around. Also, I would recommend a trilogy by Liz Curtis Higgs. It's a trilogy that takes place in 1700's Scotland. It is basically historical fiction that is the story of Rachel, Leah, and Jacob in the Bible. But as if they lived in the 1700's Scotland. I could not put any of them down. The first is called "Thorn in My Heart", the second is "Fair Is the Rose," and the third is "Whence Came a Prince."
Hope this helps! :)
Hmm...this is my first time commenting on your blog, but I wanted to throw in my recommendations. If you're looking for a bibically based marriage book, Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas will convict/encourage/challenge you in ways that no other book I have read before does. I really enjoy is view points on marriage, and it's refreshing to read a book that isn't 10 steps to a perfect marriage type of thing.
For every day reading, The Glass Castle is great. A true story about a womans childhood that you won't be able to put down. Firefly Lane is another amazing book, you will laugh and bawl your eyes out so be warned, but it's one of my favorite. A super easy read. Sarah's Key is another heart felt book that is an easy read.
That's about all I have. I love your blog and read it all the time!
I just purchased it from our church book store but our pastor has been doing an outstanding sermon seires from the book "The Hole in Our Gospel" written by Richard Stearns.
Our small groups have also been doing the studies for the last few weeks.
I'm telling you, EVERY Francine Rivers book is a MUST (but don't start with Scarlet Thread, it's the worst--but still better than most books you'll read). I've read Redeeming Love and the Mark of the Lion series at least three (maybe four??) times each!
You also MUST READ Adopted for Life. Here is my review:
http://learninghowmuchidontknow.blogspot.com/2009/12/book-for-everyone.html
enjoy! :) and share with us what is great so we can read it too! :)
Redeeming love by Francine Rivers is one of the best books ever. But, my all time favorites are a series by Liz Curtis Higgs... You won't be able to stop reading... They are called, Thorn in my Heart, Fair is the Rose, Whence came A Prince, and Grace in Thine Eyes.
I promise they are all amazing!
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