Good Books to read

[katluvr]

I am looking for some new "stuff" to read.
Any good books you would highly recommend and why.
Not much into romance...or horror. Could use a good new read!

[Smilie]

I like Wilbur Smith. I would start with River God. He really gets you with the characters, and then of course you want to read more about their lives, which follow with The Seventh Scroll Warlock and The Qwest. You can find all of his books on those links.

I have read several of his books that cover generations, I really like all that I read.

[indysteel]

I am looking for some new "stuff" to read.
Any good books you would highly recommend and why.
Not much into romance...or horror. Could use a good new read!

First, give me an idea of what other books/authors you like. Fiction or nonfiction? Novels or short stories? Fluff or something a little heavier?

[katluvr]

I don't really have any author or genre that I specifically like.
I just wanted to hear from folks books they have read and just loved.
I am horrible about remembering author names.
I have enjoyed some of the "children themed" series lately. I must admit I am a Harry Potter fan. Read Narnia, Golden Compass Series. That was my latest.
Also the books by Gregory Maguire (??) Wicked, Son of Wicked, etc.
Also read Kite Runner and the other one....hmmm what was the name of that?
One of my most fave (lately) was Water for Elephants. I am really all over the place. Mystories. Non-fiction-ish or Fiction based on "real life".
Just looking for some new interesting books.

[Irulan]

www.goodreads.com is a fun site, sort of like facebook or a blog for readers. You have "friends" and can read each others reviews. Here's mine
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1528799

Sharon Kay Penman Here be Dragons etc, (12th century England/Wales)
Bernard Cornwell - the Pale Horsemanetc (8th century Saxon/Norse history)
Jack Whyte - Skystone, a different retelling of Arthur
Jaqueline Carey - Kushiel's Dart alternate world romance/intrigue
SM Stirling - Island in the Sea of Time ( silly alternate history)
Juliet Marilleir - Sevenwaters Trilogy, starts with Daughter of the Forest ( relling of the seven swans, incredible)

I second Wilbur Smith, I like the set that starts with Blue Horizon

[beancounterbeth]

Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series. Starts with "One for the Money" and each book is numbered similarly up to the latest "Fearless Fourteen". They are quick, light reads that will literally make you laugh out loud. My DH doesn't read books for leasure so he always looks at me funny when I'm reading a Janet Evanovich book and just bust out laughing.

I also liked Pillars of the Earth. I can't remember who wrote it but it is a pretty long book that isn't too deep but also not complete fluff. It was on Oprah's book club list.

Other than those two I love anything written by Harlan Coben if you like mystery. They aren't horror or scary, just suspensful.

[tulip]

One of my favorite books of all time is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.

Another one I recently read is The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

It would appear that there's a theme here, but I was not aware of it until I wrote this...hmmmm...