Anybody got any good book recommendations?

[skygazer]

I always get my 25 year old daughter a book for a gift and she loves my choices but I'm at a loss for this birthday. She likes things like -

Neil Gaiman
Wicked
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Margaret Atwood


Smart, thought-provoking fiction. Any good ideas?

[Hugin]

1. I am currently reading some smart, thought-provoking NON-fiction...

:shrug:

[skygazer]

2. I'm mostly a non-fiction reader

But she prefers fiction and I've kind of run out of new ideas.

What are you reading? I'm always on the lookout for good non-fiction.

[LostinVA]

17. I'll answer, too, because I read mainly NF

"Leni," the new bio about Leni Riefenstahl. Good book.

[skygazer]

23. I almost bought that yesterday!

When I was shopping for a book for my daughter. That's what I always seem to do - buy one book for a gift and two for me! Looked interesting, though - I'll check it out. :hi:

[LostinVA]

31. I'm about halfway through -- VERY good

And, I do the same thing. Or, I read the gift book before I wrap it.

It's a sickness, I think.

[terrya]

3. I'm reading "Heyday" by Kurt Andersen

It's a novel that takes place in America in 1848. It's a brillant, historical novel that's very, very entertaining. I'm throughly enjoying this book.

[skygazer]

5. That's good to hear

I've been eyeballing that book. Sounds right up my alley as a history buff (and that era is very interesting to me). I don't know as if would fit her interests but I think I'll check it out! Thanks. :hi:

[AllegroRondo]

4. "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Excellent sci-fi book released last year.

[Hobarticus]

6. Boy, that was bleak as hell, wasn't it?

A page-turner, nonetheless.

[AllegroRondo]

16. amazing style, I loved it

but yes, very bleak.

[skygazer]

24. That's the book I went with - thanks for the recommendation

And I got dragged into it last night and read the whole thing cover to cover. Wow. Powerful book.

[AllegroRondo]

28. it drags you in and wont let you stop reading

one of the reviewers described it well, and pushed me into reading it.
he said that the bleakness and despair these characters faced made him feel like his reading about them was the only thing keeping them alive. that to put the book down was to abandon them.

what did you think of the ending?

[skygazer]

29. Honestly, I'm still absorbing it

It shocked me and I'm still sort of working through what I feel about it. Drained, mostly.

[MonkeyFunk]

7. I'm reading

Gaiman's Anansi Boys now. Very fun. If she doesn't have that one yet, it's a good choice.

[skygazer]

11. I got her that one for Christmas

Yes, that was wonderful. I just love Gaiman. Thanks. :hi:

[unpossibles]

8. Daniel Quinn's "Ishmeal" is good semi-fiction

I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan.

Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" is a great book. She also might like Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide) or James Morrow's "Only Begotten Daughter"

http://www.amazon.com/Only-Begotten-Daughter-Harvest-Book/dp/0156002434

Murray Katz, the celibate keeper of an abandoned lighthouse near Atlantic City, has been blessed with a daughter conceived of his own seed and a holy ovum. Like her half brother Jesus, Julie Katz can walk on water, heal the blind, and raise the dead. But being the Messiah isn't easy, and Julie, bewildered by her role in the divine scheme of things, is tempted by the Devil and challenged by neo- Christian zealots in this lively odyssey through Hell and New Jersey. Winner of the World Fantasy Award.

it's great. has the humor of Gaiman or Adams, and is a fun book, but also somewhat philosophical, like Gaiman's "Good Omens"

Also, some Tom Robbins is always good. My favorites are "Jitterbug Perfume," "Stilllife With Woodpecker" and "Skinny Legs and All" but they are all good.

[skygazer]

12. Thanks for the suggestions

Yes, Tom Robbins books are great. I'm not sure if she's read any of his stuff but I bet she'd like it.

edited because I'm suddenly incapable of simple grammar.

[GenDem]

26. 'Ishmael' is a great book, and I would highly recommend it.

I also read 'After Dachau' by Quinn. It was kind of an Orwellian tale weaving re-incarnation and revisionist history.

[youthere]

9. It's non fiction but "Consumed" is a good read.

by Benjamin Barber

The Crucible series by Sara Douglass is a good read..three books, "The Nameless Day" "Wounded Hawk" and there's another I can't remember. Oh yeah, "Crippled Angel". all fiction.

[youthere]

10. Isle of Woman by Piers Anthony is pretty good.

[unpossibles]

13. I might check that out

I used to be a huge Piers Anthony fan when I was young. Still enjoy them occasionally, but it's been a while since I picked one up.

[youthere]

19. There's a sequel called "Shame of Man"...

I have it here, but never read it. To tell the truth I'm still working on Isle of Woman (down to the last 40 pages or so), but it's been a good read so far. I don't read much fiction so it takes me awhile to finish. I have to be in the mood for fiction to read it.

[unpossibles]

21. I enjoy fiction, but don't read a lot of it lately

mainly because of lack of time. I usually have 2 or 3 books started/going at once, but take my time reading them unless I am on vacation or something.

[RetroLounge]

14. Just read The Curious Incident...

It was good, not great. Quirky. Kinda original. But didn't stay with me...

Atwood is always good. As is Anne Tyler.

How about Love in the Time of Cholera or 100 years of Solitude by Marquez?

Anita Shreve or Elizabeth Berg are good for disfunctional relationship type fiction.

RL

p.s. http://www.alibris.com/bookstore/xenithbooksellers

[elehhhhna]

15. The Poisonwood Bible

B Kingsolver

[RebelOne]

18. If she likes medical mysteries, any of Robin Cook's books

are a good read.

[QMPMom]

20. Maeve Binchy is a wonderful Irish author.

The Glass Lake is the first one I read and it got me hooked.

She's written several wonderful ones and some short stories, all top notch.

[philosophie_en_rose]

22. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susannah Clarke

[SteppingRazor]

25. "100 Years of Solitude" should be required reading for everyone on the planet

So, I gotta recommend that.


I just finished reading Curious Incident... recently. Good stuff.

[hippywife]

27. I recently read

The Children of Men and enjoyed it, except I was a little disappointed in the ending. So many possibilities there but I guess the author chose the one that suited her. Intriguing read, tho.

[GenDem]

30. A short list of my favorites

"The Poisonwood Bible" -- GREAT read
"The Kite Runner" -- he's got a new one coming out in May - I already have ordered it - 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'
"Ishmael"
"The Time Travelers Wife"
"Memoirs of a Geisha"
"We were the Mulvaneys"

I just took out "The Thirteenth Tale", and will start that tonight.