What are you reading?

[emily_in_nc]

As an English major and voracious reader, I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't even heard of most of these books! I'm strictly (almost) a pulp fiction reader - I want something that will entertain me, and that I can easily escape into. Basically, I want a TV show without TV (I once had an English professor who said that novels should be like TV for the mind. I guess it stuck). So, I read Kristen Hannah, Sandra Brown, Elin Hildebrand, Jodi Picoult, Anita Shreve, Chris Bohjalian... I do like to read New England-based authors - makes it slightly easier to envision the location of the story.

I am kind of the same, SheFly, and also haven't heard about most of the books or even authors being discussed in this thread. I like some of the same authors as you, along with southern authors, since I'm from the southeast, so authors like Anne Rivers Siddons, Dorothea Benton Frank, and others I can't even think of now fulfill that southern part of me. I also like crazy gory murder mysteries by James Patterson, Andrew Gross, Patricia Cornwell, and Jeffrey Deaver, Jonathan Kellerman, and the like. I make no apologies. Some of what I read is truly on the up and up, "literature", as it were, but as a psychology major, anything psychological is appealing to me, including biographies.

I read nothing but nonfiction for decades after graduation, for some reason, and have only started delving back into fiction since I retired in 2011 -- and realizing how very much I have been missing. My mother is very into British lit and British mysteries, so I've been getting into some of those as well, as she passes them along to me. I was skeptical but have ended up liking them quite a bit!

[salsabike]

The books others have mentioned aren't, I don't think, different from the ones that you guys just listed. I always feel a little badly when people put down what they read--to me, reading is GOOD. I don't really care what people read or whether it's in book, Kindle, audio, or any other form. Reading is wonderful, period.

By the way, Anne Rivers Siddons wrote one of the scariest books I have EVER read: "The House Next Door". I have reread it many times and every single time it is so quietly terrifying. Just got the goosebumps again thinking about it.

[OakLeaf]

I always feel a little badly when people put down what they read--to me, reading is GOOD. I don't really care what people read or whether it's in book, Kindle, audio, or any other form. Reading is wonderful, period.

+100 !!!!

I think I was pretty clear that I read a whole lot of noise in proportion to actual signal. I mentioned Seanan McGuire because she's some of the more entertaining trash I've read lately, but I read a LOT of trash that doesn't necessarily deserve any kind of a recommendation here. Reading is good!

[emily_in_nc]

The books others have mentioned aren't, I don't think, different from the ones that you guys just listed. I always feel a little badly when people put down what they read--to me, reading is GOOD. I don't really care what people read or whether it's in book, Kindle, audio, or any other form. Reading is wonderful, period.

By the way, Anne Rivers Siddons wrote one of the scariest books I have EVER read: "The House Next Door". I have reread it many times and every single time it is so quietly terrifying. Just got the goosebumps again thinking about it.

Thanks, Salsa, both for the encouragement and the recommendation for The House Next Door -- that's one I haven't read. I put it on my "want to read" list.

By the way, I don't know how many on this thread are members of goodreads.com, but I find it a great place to read reviews, review and mark what I've read (so I don't forget - ha!), and get recommendations on other books I might like. It's a really fun site if you enjoy books.

[salsabike]

And it's ELEGANTLY written--just beautifully, quietly done. Let me know what you think whenever you get to it!

[Catrin]

I've started Gaim's "Neverwhere" and am very impressed. I recently read "American Gods" which I thought well written and very creative. "Neverwhere" might actually be better - and just as creative with a very different worldview. I love well written creative fantasy that isn't dependent on an attempt to recreate Tolkien. I do love Tolkien, btw, but too many have tried to recreate him rather than to find their own unique voice. I do like GOOD sword and sorcery fantasy, but there is so little out there is actually worth taking minutes from my life to read. "Neverwhere" is far from sword and sorcery, well developed characters, and the premise is quite creative.

This makes me even more inclined to start checking out all of his published works!

"House Next Door" sounds intriguing, I will check it out.

I really like my Nook (no glowlight, all I can connect to is the Nook store via WiFi). I prefer actual books for NON-fiction for some reason, but for fiction/relaxation/escape reading I almost prefer the Nook. While the kettlebell training appears to be helping my arthritic hands, the Nook is more comfortable to my hands than holding a book for long periods of time. I read more with it

I am on Good Reads as well. Isn't it possible to start a list there that multiple users can interact with? It might be very interesting to see a "TE Recommendations" list. I will check this out in the next day or so.

[Irulan]

I'm pretty sure there is a ton of us on Goodreads. Are a ton of us?

[emily_in_nc]

And it's ELEGANTLY written--just beautifully, quietly done. Let me know what you think whenever you get to it!

Will do! I love ARS' writing.