09 November 2009

Please Recommend

When I was still working in a public library, I read seven professional review journals every month, so I always knew what was happening in the world of publishing and I always had 30-40 books on hold and a good stack of reading material at the side of my bed. Now, I'm cut off. I'm perfectly aware of all the free review sites and recommendation sources available to the general public, but I really miss those review journals. My brother's leaving me his library card and the public library is just two blocks away, so I'm going to pay a visit there tomorrow. I have a short list of books I want to read

the new Barbara Kingsolver
the new Jeanette Walls
the new Anna Godbersen
the new Freakonomics
The Help by Stockett
The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Larsen

but I need more recommendations. Marmot Dad believes in backups, mostly (it seems) backup pants. I believe in backup book lists. I feel nervous if I don't have a long list of books to read. Tell me what you recommend. Please.

14 comments:

Courtney said...

I'm laughing to myself that I am about to suggest a book to the person who is my regular go-to person for my next read. Before actually suggesting I ran over to GoodReads to check out what I've loved and see if you've already read them. In doing this I discovered that 45.5% of the books on my "shelves" are already on your shelves and that of those books our tastes run 92% similar--doesn't really surprise me.

So here are the 2 books that didn't get crossed out because you have already read them:

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

I didn't check this one but if you are in the need of a bit of fantasy romance try Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier--except please note that I didn't care for the ending.

Now I'm off to compare some more people on GoodReads cause I didn't even know you could do that.

ldsjaneite said...

I really liked "Hotel..." as well.

Holly said...

These aren't new, but maybe that means you will find them on a shelf:
"Uprising" by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I listened to the audio version. Takes place in NYC

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin (language warning)

Schooled by Gordon Korman

I've got the long list for the Beehive award selections and could email it to you.

A sequel for "Graceling" is either out or about to come out.

The sequel for "Hunger Games" was recently released.

Since you are in NYC, you might try "Garlic and Sapphires: The secret live of a critic in disguise" by Ruth Reichl. I wasn't in NYC when I read it, but still enjoyed it quite a bit.

MBC said...

Yankee Girl--I actually have read Dairy Queen (and agree that it's good), but I'm putting Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and Heir to Sevenwaters on my list. Thanks!

Heidi--Glad to have the double recommendation.

HAH--I have read and enjoyed Garlic and Sapphires, but I hadn't even heard of Mistress of the Art of Death before and I haven't read most of the other titles either. Yes, if you don't mind, I'd love to have the long list for the Beehive selections.

eliana23 said...

The new Kingsolver is lovely 10 pages in. BROOKLYN by Colm Tobin was recently good and I Think it came out while you were away. And ADMISSION is light but fascinating. If you haven't read it before, THE HUMMINGBIRD'S DAUGHTER by...its gone now, you will have to look it up. Different from your usual but good.

CSIowa said...

I recently read and enjoyed The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. I am currently reading and enjoying All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren, although it took me nearly all of the first chapter (which was 50-some pages) to get really interested.

Ann-Marie said...

The newest Bayern Book "Forest Born" was pretty good. Not my favorite of the series, but a good light read.

I want to know what you think if "Splendor" I finished it last week.

Hope you are having fun in NYC!

MBC said...

Eliana--You always have great recommendations--haven't read any of those. I got the new Kingsolver at the library today and I'm liking it too.

CSIowa--Thank you! Adding to my list.

Ann-Marie--You know, I've never read any of her books. I should really read them all.

I tried to get Splendor today but the copy at the branch here is still in cataloging. It's the last in the series, right? No more cliffhangers?

SCS said...

Well, it's not a book, but certainly a good if very quick read. Okay, it's just a webpage. But GO HERE: http://www.buzzillions.com/review/men-marmot-precip-full-zip-pant-review-5779410

ready the WHOLE page. Too good to be true.

(Marmot Dad)

MBC said...

Holy cow! Marmot backup pants. Amazing!

E said...

I second the Hummingbird's Daughter. It's one of my favorites.

SCS said...

*sigh* You should know that Marmot Dad does not actually read books, despite being the king of backup this and that.

I've heard the new AS Byatt is good, and I heard an interesting interview about _Wolf Hall_ that sounds interesting and reminds me that I want to troll through the Man Booker Prize backlist sometime (despite a somewhat bewildering overrepresentation of Margaret Atwood . . . ) You've got time on your hands . . . start trolling.

MBC said...

I am aware that Marmot Dad does not read books, but he found backup marmot pants!

What do you mean I have time on my hands? Between my busy schedule of sampling NYC hot chocolates and using James and SK's Netflix account, I have no spare time at all!

Hadn't heard of Wolf Hall. Will investigate. And perhaps I can squeeze in some trolling between my important NYC vacation tasks.

Ann-Marie said...

I think you will like the Bayern books. Yes Splendor is the last in the Luxe Series.

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