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Help me keep my nose inside a book all summer

CrazyLemonade — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:40:06 -0800

I need to compile my summer reading list ASAP. Please give me some suggestions. Two years ago I asked for some book suggestions and MeFis, as always, turned out to be great at just that. This time I'm looking for books to keep me entertained all during the summer, as I'll have a lot of free time (I'm a teacher and master's student).

I like fiction novels, long-ish, and prefer if they're recent books (as in, "not in the mood for oldish classics").

Books I've read and liked (some of them because I learned of them in here in the Green):

Middlesex
The Historian
I Know This Much Is True
The Time Traveller's Wife
The Kite Runner
Life of Pi
Pillars of the Earth (and) World without End
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Books I read and didn't like very much:

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay
The Loser's Club (I think amazon suggested that one, and it sucked)

I figure whoever's read any of these recognizes them without needing the author.

I know there's already tons of questions about books here, but in this community with lots of types of readers, I'm hoping you can help a lot better than Amazon's "people who bought this, also bought this."

cold fiction for the hot summer?

taz — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:44:01 -0800

Two of my favorite books for summer are "Winter's Tale" by Mark Helprin and "Smilla's Sense of Snow" by Peter Hoeg; I'd like suggestions for other (preferably hefty) novels with complex/absorbing story lines and wintry settings or themes to help me stay sane 'til September. Got an ice book to recommend?

Help me find the perfect book to read this summer!

tastybrains — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:45:55 -0800

Help me find the perfect book(s) to make my summer complete. I've got a strong preference for almost realistic horror and things that might creep me out. Bonus points for books that involve old school sanitariums. Of course you'll find more specifications in the First & foremost, I have read this thread, but it doesn't do it for me. Why?

I hated House of Leaves. I wanted to like it, but it was neither scary nor engaging.
I've read most of the common suggestions in that thread already.

However, I'm really desperate to find something new & exciting to sink my teeth into this summer. It's been a long year and now all I want is a sunny spot, a glass of iced tea, and a good book. Unfortunately, all my friends either like cheese (Anita Blake!), historical fiction, or stories that are more about people than an exciting plot.

Here is what I do like:

Suspense! and/or dread.

At least one character who is interesting.

A short leap away from reality.

Zombies, but only if done sort of believably.

Bonus Point Settings: Hospitals or Mental Hospitals. I don't know why.

Medical or biology related stuff.

Psychology related stuff.

Stephen King, especially The Shining, Pet Semetary & Cell*.

Some fantasy, e.g. George R. R. Martin.

Some sci-fi, e.g. 1984, Never Let Me Go, Brave New World, Ender's Game

Smooth but long reads - I read for fun, not to get my eyes crossed trying to read spiraling footnotes.

Here is what I do not like:

Chick Lit.

Vampires.

Vampire-themed chick lit.

Other stupid monsters including werewolves, mystery beasts, aliens, etc.

Flat, yawn-inducing characters.

All character, no plot.

An extremely long leap away from reality.

Totally reality-based and/or non-fiction.

Murder mysteries, government/military thrillers, etc.

House of Leaves**.

Historical fiction.

Oprah book club fodder

Thanks for any suggestions!

* Zombies!
** I have to reiterate that I hated House of Leaves, because I picked it up expecting to love it. Unfortunately, it seemed to me that the author was more concerned with playing with formats and voices, leaving the story, when you break it down, pretty bland and yawn-inducing. IMHO. Also, I know it's everyone's favoritest book ever and I'm probably just an idiot who doesn't "get" it. But that doesn't make me like it. ;-)

Books on presidents

state fxn — Wed, 24 May 2006 10:11:06 -0800

Bibliophiles: I want to read a book on every US president for my summer reading project. Recommendations? I never really learned 20th century US history in high school because we had to cover it in four days before the AP test. Having paid attention to politics for the past few years, I feel like I should catch up on that. So for summer (and very possibly, year-long) reading, I want to read a book on every president, figuring that reading about their life will help me understand the history of the times and the issues during their administrations.

So I'm looking for books that are biographies with a focus on their presidencies. What good books have you read?