I'm a voracious reader, and I've devoured pretty much everything in my library at least twice, so it's time for my monthly book binge. Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm a fan of modern fiction, historical fiction and short stories (I just finished the Paris Review of Books Anthology, and the New Yorker's best of). Not so keen on mysteries, and picky about my Sci Fi.

So, have you read anything good lately?

Morgan

Nightfall by Nelson Demille or anything by him is great

Lions Game
Plum Island
Up Country
Word of Honor (personal Fvaorite)
Gold Coast

If you're looking for some phenomonal historical fiction, Read, "The Game of Kings" by Dorothy Dunnett. It's a challenging book, but extremely addictive.

Sharon Kay Penman is also very good.

If you read these, please let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Three wonderful books for someone who loves to love

Big Breasts & Wide Hips by Mo Yan; Ardor by Lily Prior; and A Tale of Love & Darkness by Amos Oz

I just finished reading this for the first time. (I know...I know...get with the program!) Wow, what a hilariously disgusting read. One of the funniest books I have EVER read. It won the Pulitzer for fiction many years ago. Try it. You'll like it. If not, you can spank me.

Peter Tremayne has a series of books set in Ancient Ireland that are very interesting to me.  The most recent is Badger's Moon.  The series centers on the primary character, Sister Fidelma of the Celtic church who is also the ancient Irish equivalent of a trial judge.  Ancient Ireland was very much equal opportunity with women able to hold any office and job that a man could hold.  The English and/or the RC Church screwed that up amoung other things when they took over.  Anyway, the book is available at Amazon.com.

I just finished the Chili Queen and the Broker, both excellent.

I found myself trying to read it in one sitting.  I laughed out loud a couple of time, which I don't usually do.  Actually chuckle about the book even after I had finished it.  Just a bit bizarre.

Gregory Maguire, has taken some classic fairy tails, and add a twist to them. The books are defently Adult books and not for children. A very entertaning books.

there is Wicked the story of the wicked witch of the west.

"Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister'
"Mirror, Mirrior"
"Lost"

all were really good

Morgan,

    Based on your posts, you seem to be a woman who would enjoy this book.  It's called "Amusing Ourselves to Death," by Neil Postman.  It's not fiction, and it was written in the early-to-mid eighties; however, the critique it offers on electronic media and the "informed public" is still powerful today.

You also can't go wrong with any of Dan Brown's books or my personal favorites, the Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles and New Tales of the Vampires.

Hope I could be of help...

One of my favorite writers of "macabre fiction:" whether horror or science fiction, there was always a twist meant to give one a true frisson of horror or dread. Look for the collection "The Howling Man," which collects Beaumont's stories. If you liked "The Twilight Zone," for which he wrote, you'll like these.

--b.

I just finished "March" by Geraldine Brooks-- superbly researched and written prequel/extension of "Little Women" in which she imagines the real-life drama of the March family father in the Civil War. Can't recommend highly enough, though a bit difficult to take sone of the war atrocitites against the slaves. Let me know if you check it out!

In a previously unknown letter, Hemingway wrote that he wished he could write as well as Beryl Markham did in her book "West With the Night."  It's an amazing read. I highly recommend it. The book was long out of print, but when Hemingway's letter was uncovered, it was reprinted. From Amazon.com review: "Ernest Hemingway said about West with the Night, "As it is she has written so well, and marvelously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer. I felt that I was simply a carpenter with words, picking up whatever was furnished on the job and nailing them together and sometimes making an okay pigpen. But she can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers." Coming from an author who was renowned for his ego and lack of respect for other writers, this is high praise indeed, and West with the Night deserves it."

Amazon.com has used paperbacks as little as fifty cents..


-- Modified on 6/2/2005 3:30:42 PM

It'll rock yer world- sex, cloning, psychpathologies, orgies, kooky religious cults- the book has everything, and it's by one sick and talented French dude with the most acid pen that ever spewed out words.
Also by Houellebecq: "Platform" which delves into the world of sex tourism/ East/West conflicts and religious fanaticism

I'd agree with Game of Kings.  The main character, Lymond is one of the best, most complex heroes in fiction, imo.  And if you like GoK, there is the rest of the series to enjoy.

I also like Penman.  Philippa Gregory is another good historical writer.

Aphra

Currently reading "Bangkok Tattoo" by John Burdett, his sequel to "Bangkok 8" (which is a terrific novel). Yes, they're both murder mysteries, but so much more than that. I recommend reading "Bangkok 8" first. Also dipping into Harlan Ellison's massive collection of short stories "The Essential Ellison" -- the quintessential speculative fiction writer of our time.

I agree it is a fookin' classic!

"I Am Charlotte Simmons"  Tom Wolfe (eom)

read... Eleven Minutes : A Novel by Paulo Coelho

I liked much of what he wrote. This one is a good story. I suggest the Alchemest too.

I'm not sure how I missed this when it came out, but I recently read "How To Be Good," by Nick Hornby. I didn't enjoy it as much as I did "High Fidelity," but it was a compelling read in any case. If you enjoyed "High Fidelity" or you've never read any of his books, give it a try.

On a side note, if you've never read "High Fidelity" read it today...even if you saw the (surprisingly good) movie.

I love Hemmingway, and I loved 'West With the Night'. I also just finished 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter'.

Wow...Thanks I'm off on Holidays...

Good to know I'm not the only book worm on here.

Thanks for all of the recommendations - I've got fodder for at least a summer's worth of reading from your replies.

I just grabbed the new O Henry award winners, and 'Best NonRequired Reading', which is always a great anthology. I'm planning on also picking up the sequel to 'Running with Scissors', Augesten Burrough's wonderful autobiograpy.

Off to Jamaica with a bag full of new books - be well, all!

Morgan

Tres bizarre - but very, very good.

I read the book, and I saw the musical version here in Toronto. The book was better, trust me. They 'happied' up the ending to the extent that they should issue a warning for diabetics...

Morgan

I would highly recommend *anything* by Kim Harrison.  She's an interesting author, and writes so practically about things like magic, vampires, and werewolves that it makes you almost believe that they could be real!

...that fact that I can't read.