Recommended books for spring summer 06?

Thank you for this thread Paula. I'm looking for a beach book, can't wait to see the suggestions. :clap_1:

I love Anne Rivers Siddons' books. Thanks for the recommendation. And if you haven't read the James Patterson tear-jerkers (refer to a thread from last summer) and you're a chick, read them. I think I have a few Stuart Woods' books to catch up on, too. They're quick reads, good for the beach, although I don't like the fact that the main female character always has a beautiful body and big boobs. Of course, RO would like that.

I just read "The Carnival never started" by Guy Lovelace. It is about starting up a hotel in Turks and Caicos on an island with no electric or water back in the 70's. Fun - quick read. Not the greatest novel ever - but enjoyable.

It's worth looking at the previous book threads as well. I still want to read some that were recommended on those, such as "the Time Travelers Wife". I like James Patterson, too.

I like to read about 3-4 books with a beach theme each year and then I tire of them and look for something else!

Can't wait to see what else is recommended on this thread.

Caveat:
Only one other person in my new book club liked The Time Traveler's Wife!
I was kinda bummed, but ah well, different strokes.

Some books I recently enjoyed:

A Thread Of Grace

Case Histories

A Thread Of Grace is WWII in northern Italy. The characters seemed so real.
It was a haunting story.

Case Histories is quite a page turner and I did not quite see the twist coming.

Hello--I'm not sure if the books I read are what you are looking for, but I just finished Little Earthquakes & Good in Bed --both are by Jennifer Weiner (author of In Her Shoes)--I loved both of them!!

I also love anything by James Patterson, I'm about to start the Lifeguard. Also, Janet Evanovich is always a good, laid back, easy read.
She has her Stephanie Plum (the bounty hunter) series, along w/ some others that are all very good! I'm a big reader so I'll try to check back in on this one to see what y'all have found!!

Caveat:
Only one other person in my new book club liked The Time Traveler's Wife!
I was kinda bummed, but ah well, different strokes.

Some books I recently enjoyed:

A Thread Of Grace

Case Histories

A Thread Of Grace is WWII in northern Italy. The characters seemed so real.
It was a haunting story.

Case Histories is quite a page turner and I did not quite see the twist coming.

Thanks. Just bought A Thread of Grace on Amazon based on your recommendation!

My father grew up in Italy and his family's house was the Red Cross station during the war for a while. His town spent 7 months on the front during the war and I still remember seeing the machine gun holes in the family house when I went there as a child and and young adult. I heard many stories about world war II growing up. My grandmother hid my father and his brother in the attic when the Germans came to take the boys and men away to work. And he hid from a soldier by hiding under a priest's long skirt once. My cousin Tony used to dance on the kitchen table to entertain the soldiers when he was 4. And the family used to run to hide in the mountains if they knew a bombing was coming. Sad, challenging times. So, I'm sure the book will be a sentimental journey for me (and my sisters will undoubtedly want to read it, too). Thanks again for the recommendation.

Paula
Wow, A Thread Of Grace is *definitely* the book for you! It likely will underscore the poignant family stories you have already heard.
Please let me know what you think once you read it.

Paula
Wow, A Thread Of Grace is *definitely* the book for you! It likely will underscore the poignant family stories you have already heard.
Please let me know what you think once you read it.

Cil: I'm sure I'll get a few tears in my eyes on the porch or beach when I read it... I can still sing parts of the Italian songs of the Alpinini (the Italian soldiers) "Sul capello, sul capello che noi portiamo..." (In our hat that we wear there is a feather...) and "Tapum Tapum..." (the sound of the drums). Thanks again for the recommendation!

Thank you all so much for your recommendations! I've been a pulling a string of loser books from the library shelves. Books that seem so good from the dustcover and yet they're so bad I don't get past the first chapter. I am flabbergasted at the garbage that gets published these days. What gives? I need a good book! (so thanks thanks thanks thanks)

I recommend Shem Creek, by Dorthea Benton Frank. I started and finished it at the beach last year. It is very good beach reading.

The Secret Life of Bee's. One my all time favorites.

Thank you all so much for your recommendations! I've been a pulling a string of loser books from the library shelves. Books that seem so good from the dustcover and yet they're so bad I don't get past the first chapter. I am flabbergasted at the garbage that gets published these days. What gives? I need a good book! (so thanks thanks thanks thanks)

Mermaid:

That's why I tend to buy novels at garage sales and the library for $1.00 or less. This way, I feel fine if I just stop reading after the first few chapters. I buy a book only if I get a very strong recommendation.

Another book that I loved is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. You can get it used at great prices on Amazon.com. Heck, I think I'll look up the "Mermaid's Chair" used on Amazon.

For the Beach, I like short books (The Red Tent would be two weeks at the beach so plan your vacation accordingly).

Mermaid:

That's why I tend to buy novels at garage sales and the library for $1.00 or less. This way, I feel fine if I just stop reading after the first few chapters. I buy a book only if I get a very strong recommendation.

Another book that I loved is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. You can get it used at great prices on Amazon.com. Heck, I think I'll look up the "Mermaid's Chair" used on Amazon.

For the Beach, I like short books (The Red Tent would be two weeks at the beach so plan your vacation accordingly).

Paula, I would recommend everyone read The Red Tent! It's a fascinating book. I bet Mermaid's Chair would be good, given how good Secret Life of Bees was.

Does anyone have any good trashy reading to recommend?

Paula, I would recommend everyone read The Red Tent! It's a fascinating book. I bet Mermaid's Chair would be good, given how good Secret Life of Bees was.

Does anyone have any good trashy reading to recommend?

harlequin's blaze series - red hot reads. excellent for mindless entertainment, i have saved up several month's worth for beach reading.

I have "Love In The Time Of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for my beach read. It was a gift that came highly recommended. Has anyone read it...Is it worthy or do I need to make a stop at Barnes & Noble before my trip?

I think I have a few Stuart Woods' books to catch up on, too. They're quick reads, good for the beach, although I don't like the fact that the main female character always has a beautiful body and big boobs. Of course, RO would like that.

:rofl: You must be reading the Stone Barrington series. Good books but his new character Holly seems to be the female equivalent of Stone. I like his older books much better - i.e. Heat & Chiefs.

Recommended reading for this spring and summer? Here are my new picks for easy beach reading:

"Waiting" by Ha Jin (romance taking place in Communist China -- doctor who is married to an "old school" woman with bound feet in village falls in love with young nurse where he is stationed -- clever ending that I wouldn't have expected) - you can get it online at amazon.com used for about $1.00 plus shipping.

"Islands" by Anne Siddons (I'm reading it now and not finished yet but am enjoying it very much. It's about a group of friends from wealthy Charleston who love the beach who meet in their 40's and 50s and how life changes over time -- I have a feeling there's going to be a twist in the plot soon...)

Both could be read in a week at the beach.

"Waiting" sounds good..I read "Islands" it is a funn book, and yes it has a twist!!!!!! I have read most of her books!

Hello--I'm not sure if the books I read are what you are looking for, but I just finished Little Earthquakes & Good in Bed --both are by Jennifer Weiner (author of In Her Shoes)--I loved both of them!!

I also love anything by James Patterson, I'm about to start the Lifeguard. Also, Janet Evanovich is always a good, laid back, easy read.
She has her Stephanie Plum (the bounty hunter) series, along w/ some others that are all very good! I'm a big reader so I'll try to check back in on this one to see what y'all have found!!

"Good in Bed" and "In Her Shoes" were both good books!! I was amazed at how well they made "In Her Shoes" into a movie..it was very well done. I believe she also wrote "Book Ends".
I also am enjoying listening to books on CD...some of my new favorites are anything By Lauren Weisberger ("The Devil Wears Prada" and "Everyone Worth Knowing") and Anyhing by Sophie Kinsella ("Confessions Of A Shopaholic", "Shopaholic and Sister", "Can You Keep A Secret?")...all very easy beach reading!!!

Paula, I would recommend everyone read The Red Tent! It's a fascinating book. I bet Mermaid's Chair would be good, given how good Secret Life of Bees was.

Does anyone have any good trashy reading to recommend?

"The Mermaid's Chair" was very good...TOTALLY different from "Secret Life Of Bees" but very good in it's own right.

Paula, I would recommend everyone read The Red Tent! It's a fascinating book. I bet Mermaid's Chair would be good, given how good Secret Life of Bees was.

Does anyone have any good trashy reading to recommend?

I agree Paula and Merwoman. The Red Tent - I really enjoyed this book, one of those that I still think about from time to time. It's a keeper - I won't lend this one out to my very very best friend.

another fun writer is Jane Green...wrote a very cute book called "Jemima J" and she is the one who wrote "Bookends" also "Straight Talking"...all great beach reads!!!

another fun writer is Jane Green...wrote a very cute book called "Jemima J" and she is the one who wrote "Bookends" also "Straight Talking"...all great beach reads!!!

I have "Jemima J" on my shelf right now...haven't read it. Will start! ;-)

I have "Jemima J" on my shelf right now...haven't read it. Will start! ;-)

OH DD it is a very cute book...you will enjoy it!!!

OH DD it is a very cute book...you will enjoy it!!!

ok..based upon your recommendation, i will read it. I don't really know why I never did. Bought it last summer to take to the beach, along with about 8 others. Guess I just never got around to it. Thanks!

ok..based upon your recommendation, i will read it. I don't really know why I never did. Bought it last summer to take to the beach, along with about 8 others. Guess I just never got around to it. Thanks!

let me know what you think