Ten Things Tuesday « The Blue Door

Ten Things Tuesday

February 27, 2007 by mrschili

Interactive, literary edition!

I just finished reading The Girl With the Pearl Earring and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. I need suggestions on what to read next. These are ten books that I have in my personal library; suggestions are welcomed:

1. Johnathan Strange and Dr. Morrell by Susanna Clark

2. The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III

3. Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon

4. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

5. Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz

6. Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire

7. Lucky by Alice Sebold

8. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

9. The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan

10. Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow

Posted in ten things Tuesday | 17 Comments

17 Responses to “Ten Things Tuesday”

on February 27, 2007 at 9:38 am1 Suzanne

I recommend #3 if you are looking for a fun mystery with somewhat familiar characters. I would recommend #6 if you are looking for something filled with metaphor. #8 is not as funny as his “This American Life” segments, unless you read it as a running commentary by Sedaris inside your head. Then, it’s kind of funny.
on February 27, 2007 at 9:47 am2 Kizz

I agree with Suzanne, it depends on what you’re in the mood for. You’ve just finished a fairly slow and descriptive book AND a more rapid fire and clinical book. Where do you want to go from there emotionally?
on February 27, 2007 at 10:02 am3 meno

I tried valiantly to slog through the first one. I never made it.

#9 is good.

I don’t care for Alice Sebold, so i wouldn’t read that.

I like Gregory Maguire though.

No help am i.
on February 27, 2007 at 11:21 am4 Organic Mama

Let me know what you choose; I haven’t read any of these (except for the ones you have just finished) and I am always looking for a good book. I have heard good things about Jonathan Strange (It’s on my pile) but I hope to avoid slogging. : )
on February 27, 2007 at 11:28 am5 ESY

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sullystar/sets/72157594559987502/
This is my bookshelf. My coworker was looking for some books to borrow, so I took pictures instead of writing them all down.

I really liked:
Life of Pi
Time Traveler’s wife
Kite Runner
The Namesake
Four Spirits

And all the memoirs.

I know I liked most of the others too, but some I cannot seem to remember which story it was.

China Dog, Scribbling the Cat, and About My Sisters are new so I have not read them.
on February 27, 2007 at 1:41 pm6 Kizz

Life of Pi is awesomely mindbending without being a sloggy read. I am one of like 2 people in the universe who didn’t get off on Kite Runner.
on February 27, 2007 at 2:39 pm7 nhfalcon

I’d be willing to loan you some fantasy, if you’re interested. A series that Bowyer and I are particularly fond of is “A Song of Fire and Ice” by George R. R. Martin. The first book of the (at least) five-book series is called “A Game of Thrones.” I have it in paperback.

The books are long (800 - 1,000+ pages each), well-written, have well-developed characters and many interweaving subplots. Martin also does a great job of throwing the unexpected at you. I call the books fantasy, but there’s minimal magic and fantastical creatures for the genre. There’s more intrigue and politics than in your typical fantasy sagas. I once read a review that compared the goings-on in the series to the War of the Roses, with the manueverings of great Houses, etc.

Let me know if you’d like to give them a whirl.
on February 27, 2007 at 4:34 pm8 Organic Mama

IF you’re interested in a sort of woman’s Shogun (I saw that you read that), there is Daughter of the Empire, by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurtz. The link for Amazon is below.
http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Empire-Raymond-Feist/dp/055327211X

I loved these for some of the same reason the Martin books work so well - the political intrigue keeps things moving and the tension builds to a very satisfying and brilliant end. I have these, if you’re interested. Um, need to mention I have cred: Outlander…! : )
on February 27, 2007 at 6:23 pm9 floribunda

I listened to #1 on audio CD and liked it a lot — I don’t know if I would have liked actually reading it, though! Tried to read Diana Gabaldon’s first Outlander book and it made me insane after 50 pages. I have recently read “Flesh and Blood” by Michael Cunningham and loved it (he wrote The Hours, too). Also “The Girls” by L. Lansen (I think)
on February 27, 2007 at 7:36 pm10 Mrs. Chili

Outlander made me insane after the first 50 pages, too - I couldn’t STOP!
on February 27, 2007 at 8:18 pm11 Teacher A

I second “A Song of Ice and Fire.” You won’t be able to put it down. Another personal favorite (that I also like to give out as a gift to anyone in need of a book) is “Wild Swans” by Jung Chang. It is an increadible (and true) story.
on February 27, 2007 at 8:20 pm12 Teacher A

I also second “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” I wound up reading it in one night (all night) and it made me cry at the end. So good, but so sad!
on February 27, 2007 at 8:36 pm13 jrh

I third fourth fifth and sixth Time Traveler’s Wife.
From your own library, I recommend Lucky.
I have a book you might be interested in as well: “Why Do We Love These People?” by Po Bronson. Check it out on amazon, and let me know if you’d like to borrow.
on February 27, 2007 at 8:41 pm14 ciboulette

The Time Traveler’s Wife is indeed good as is Life of Pi — two of my favourite books. How about The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant. Absolutely divine read.
on February 27, 2007 at 9:31 pm15 mrschili

I have - and have read - the Time Traveler’s Wife, and I loved it. It was sort of my intro into an entire series of books that dealt with time travel, it seemed..

I’ve also read The Red Tent and Kite Runner.

I’m not quite in a good space to read Lucky. I think I should wait until the February blahs make their way past….
on February 28, 2007 at 9:37 am16 Grammar Snob

Did you like Girl? What about the Dog?

The Dog’s on my list as well.
on March 1, 2007 at 2:21 pm17 gerry rosser

I really liked Johanthan Strange and Dr. Morell.