Recommend some books for me to read!
I do a LOT of reading. I’m either working, reading, writing, reading & walking (yes at the same time, why is that so hard to believe?), or photographing.
I write the stuff that I love to read — the something’s wrong and I gotta fix it, but there will be a happy ending kind of book. I prefer the more superficial – don’t make me think – kind of stories because I just can’t get into the deep stuff. I live in the deep stuff.
I don’t like it when kids are kidnapped, women are raped or tortured or abused or stories are completely realistic (what most would probably consider literary fiction). Conflict is a natural part of life, but don’t kill of the favorite characters!
Sure, there can be deep moments, but I want to take myself outside of my own world to read … that’s probably why I read a lot of romance, chick-lit, fantasy and mystery (along with Dora, Diego and Backyardigans with my girls). 😉
I can’t read Nicholas Sparks anymore because someone dies (or died) in every book! 🙁 Sorry if I just gave away the premise of his books. I just don’t want to cry tears of sadness, but I will cry tears of joy and triumph. I couldn’t get into the Shack (and I tried three times!).
I also can’t stand weak-willed women. Probably a reflection of me (sometimes), but I must absolutely have strong women. Southern is a-ok as long as she’s not the damsel in distress. Oh my goodness …
And as much as I love romance, erotica is NOT on the list. I love a good love story! 🙂
So if you have a book you’d recommend, post the name and author here and I’ll either buy the book (if it fits the budget) or grab it from the library!
Hi Aimee! I haven’t started it yet, but I have had some conversation on Twitter with author Patsy Clairmont. She recommended “The Guernsey Literary Club and Potato Peel Pie Society” to me and I bought it. Figured if a well known author recommended a book to me, it is probably a good read and well written!
I have loved most of what I’ve read from Francine Rivers, I started with Redeeming Love and find it to be the most memorable a year after reading. I loved the Ruth and Tamar books in her 5 novella set especially.. Bathsheba, Mary, and Rahab are also in that set. Finally, I found the last book in the Mark of the Lion series to be particularly riveting! It is a trilogy. Here is a link to reviews and info at amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Lion-Voice-Wind-Darkness/dp/0842339523
Glad to see your recent book list, too, I will go check out what you’ve got listed!
Happy Reading!
Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer! I’ll check them out! I have a STACK (literally stacked because I don’t have bookshelves for them) of books I’ve read at home. I will eventually, uh, well, hopefully soon, add them to the library. My kids think I AM the library with the number I have. 🙂 Can’t wait to check these out!
Hi Aimee,
This is a great idea; I’m always looking for a good book to read. I have a Kindle, so I always have something to read. I recently read a book that was very different, The Shack. This is the story of the murder of a little girl, but more about how the father deals with this loss, spiritually. I understand what you said in your article about this kind of a story, but it’s spiritual angle is amazing. I also recently read “My Sister’s Keeper”. I prefer to read the book than see the movie. The Reader was also very good. Happy reading and writing!
Thanks Cindy! I tried the Shack … over and over. Just couldn’t get passed the book cover — which is odd for me because I am a devout Christian and everyone said it would be worth it in the end. I just … can’t. 🙁
I read My Sister’s Keeper. Jodi Picoult is an AMAZING author. AMAZING. I have a hard time reading her work too because I go the way of the teary sadness. Go figure, hunh? 🙂
You probably wouldn’t care for my first novel, Redeeming Grace, for reasons you list in your blog. However, I think you’d like The Cabin, my second novel. Check it out at my website! I’ll also throw in another plug for a book someone else just recommended, The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society. I just finished it and loved it!
Everyday Grace by Marianne Williamson, The Secret, and anything by Carly Phillips 🙂
Sis,
What’s funny is that I was about to email you and tell you that I just finished an amazing book, and then I saw on your Aimee Laine page that you’re asking for suggestions! So….drum roll please….My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I saw that someone else has suggested it as well. It’s so moving and thought-provoking and will definitely make you cry….but CLEANSING tears, not really SAD tears. Well, yes, sad tears, since you’re a mother and it will touch you differently than it did me. 🙂
Okay, oops, I just read the REST of your entry about wanting recommendations for books and My Sister’s Keeper doesn’t match what you want AT ALL! BUT, all the better reason to try it out. 🙂
Yeah, already read it. Read quite a few of hers, but the “sad” part eats at me too long. I have to be in the right mood to be able to handle those emotions! 🙂