Recommended books for spring summer 06?

let me know what you think😀

k;-)

I am reading a wonderful beach book that was nominated for the National Book Award. It is entitled "The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home," and was written by George Howe Colt. It is a memoir of the summer this Boston family spent in their family beach house on Cape Cod, the year before they sold. Each chapter involves some activity they engaged in during their many summers there (fishing, sailing, tennis, cards, reading, rainy days, rennovations, etc.). The author also shares secrets from generations of his family that were discovered as he wrote the book. It's a wonderful story about a WASP family, complete with their closeness and dysfunctions and aunts/uncles in the attic. One of the most entertaining things about the book is the author's comments about Brahmin Bostonians' behavior and values, told with great respect and humor. Haven't read anything this enjoyable in a long time. :clap_1:

i just finished reading holy blood holy grail, which was very interesting subject matter written in a very boring manner. anyone know of any other interesting books along these lines ? other than davinci code and angels and demons.

Shakennotstirred
I have heard good things about Love in the Time of Cholera, but have not read it.

I did not like The Mermaid's Chair nearly as much as The Secret Life of Bees, but it was certainly readable.

I was not crazy about The Red Tent, either, but I know I am in the minority on that one!

These two are my all-time favorites. I think they would work well on the beach; they are both sprawling, engrossing novels. The first one is more of a woman's book, though I would not classify it as chick lit. It is more of a generational saga, but read through one woman's eyes, from birth to death.

The second one is for anyone, both my sons have read it. It is about a lad growing up in South Africa during WWII. It deals with racial issues but is more of a coming of age, spiritually and physically, of this boy.

The Stone Diaries

The Power of One

Cil - I agree with you regarding the Mermaid's Chair - a good read but not as good as the Secret Life of Bees. I'll let you know how the Cholera book is.

I am getting a lot of ideas from this thread to add to my "must read" list. Although this doesn't fare well for my summer project list. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

I did not like The Mermaid's Chair nearly as much as The Secret Life of Bees, but it was certainly readable.

I agree. For me, no comparison between the two.
A few years ago, I read Bel Canto at the beach, and I still rave about that book to people.
My favorite book from two years ago The Memory of Running, and last year's favorite was The Tender Bar. For fun, I've recently read A Girl Named Zippy, and the follow-up, She Got Up Off the Couch is in my waiting-to-be-read stack right now.
Right now I'm reading An Embarrassment of Mangoes. One I've been hearing a lot of great things about is Eat, Pray, Love; a book I thought might sound interesting to you, Alli! 😀

peapod

Thanks for reminding me about Bel Canto and The Tender Bar!
Maybe they are in paperback now?
I really want to read both.
(BTW: Moerhringer, author of The Tender Bar, is a one-time Denver writer.)
I will put them on my Amazon wish list so I won't forget about them again.

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!

Paula, sounds like you could write your own book that we would all enjoy!

Paula, sounds like you could write your own book that we would all enjoy!

Gee, thanks. :wub: We all have little stories to tell about our families and places (My family really romanticized these stories so they stuck, they even made the skeletons in our closet sound special!). I really should write something for the kids though about their family's past with photos (I think only our children would really enjoy these stories). You've inspired me, Franny. Gotta get out those old photo albums this weekend... Thanks.

I hope the kids have stories to tell about their days at the beach in SoWal someday. I know they'll remember catching frogs by the pool, sunsets, fireworks on the beach at New Years, Angelinas, Red Bar and more. They'll probably remember their mother spending time on the computer talking to her SoWal friends... though they do ask me what's going on in SoWal based on my online conversations.

Right now I'm reading An Embarrassment of Mangoes. One I've been hearing a lot of great things about is Eat, Pray, Love; a book I thought might sound interesting to you, Alli! 😀

Thanks Peazer!!! I will look it up...let me know how "An Embarrassment of Mangoes" is!!!!

just read vanish by tess gerritson - very good suspenseful read !

I just read "Isaac's Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History" by Erik Larson. I thought it was very good reading about the 1900 hurricane that devastated Galveston. It focused on the hubris of Isaac Cline, the "weatherman" who was a know-it-all and how his hubris (and the politics of the weather bureaus) delayed action. Mostly though, it was the story of people's lives before, during and after the storm. It also explains the "science" of hurricanes in some passages throughout the book.

I just read "Isaac's Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History" by Erik Larson. I thought it was very good reading about the 1900 hurricane that devastated Galveston. It focused on the hubris of Isaac Cline, the "weatherman" who was a know-it-all and how his hubris (and the politics of the weather bureaus) delayed action. Mostly though, it was the story of people's lives before, during and after the storm. It also explains the "science" of hurricanes in some passages throughout the book.

just a little light reading??😀 JK...sounds like a very interesting and informative book...makes me wonder when a book about Katrina will be coming out?

I just read "Isaac's Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History" by Erik Larson. I thought it was very good reading about the 1900 hurricane that devastated Galveston. It focused on the hubris of Isaac Cline, the "weatherman" who was a know-it-all and how his hubris (and the politics of the weather bureaus) delayed action. Mostly though, it was the story of people's lives before, during and after the storm. It also explains the "science" of hurricanes in some passages throughout the book.

We actually saw a special about Isaac Cline on history channel last year. It was very interesting and very sad. It also went into detail about the lives of the people that lived there before, and the few that survived, after the hurricane.

if you all like the davinci code, another good book is the templar legacy by steve berry. i am reading it now and it's very good.

Just finished The Kite Runner. I liked it, and since it was about Afghanistan, I learned some things too about the history and culture.

Thanks Peazer!!! I will look it up...let me know how "An Embarrassment of Mangoes" is!!!!

Alli--it was really good! I think you'd like it; it is essentially about traveling and eating! :clap_1: I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love now, and I think you'd like it, too. Finished She Got Up Off the Couch the other day. I think I liked her Zippy book better, but I highly recommend those for a funny memoir read.
Is anybody a Jodi Picoult fan? Her new book has been getting great reviews. The only one her books I really liked was The Pact. I had major issues with everything else I've read by her, but I'm going to give the latest book a chance!

i'm just starting let my people go surfing the education of a reluctant businessman, by yvon chounard, founder and owner of patagonia.

green is good.

just a little light reading??😀 JK...sounds like a very interesting and informative book...makes me wonder when a book about Katrina will be coming out?

Yeah, I had done a little too much light reading and was in the mood for some true drama. Now that we have a place in SoWal, I want to learn more about hurricanes and Isaac's Storm was a dramatic (not boring) way to learn. I'll NEVER stay in town when a hurricane is coming to town after reading that book! I thought about Katrina a lot while reading this book and it must have felt very similar for the people left behind during Katrina. Hubris once again seemed to contribute to the Katrina tragedy (e.g., "those walls will protect us -- everything will be fine").

i'm just starting let my people go surfing the education of a reluctant businessman, by yvon chounard, founder and owner of patagonia.

green is good.

Let me know what you think- I might get this for Bdarg for his birthday.

Just finished The Kite Runner. I liked it, and since it was about Afghanistan, I learned some things too about the history and culture.

I thought The Kite Runner was excellent too. When I tell people it is a book about two boys growing up in Afganistan, they don't seem too interested. The few people I know that have read it really liked it.

Has anyone read The Life of Pi? Another great one. Right now I am reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time So far so good. This is my current "carpool book." You know, the one you keep in the car to read while waiting in line or waiting in the doctor's office.

I have the Life of Pi but it was such a sloooow read in the beginning that I put it down and never got back to it. However, people love that book -- does it pick up the pace after the beginning? We have friends who like it so much that they've read it several times.

I have the Life of Pi but it was such a sloooow read in the beginning that I put it down and never got back to it. However, people love that book -- does it pick up the pace after the beginning? We have friends who like it so much that they've read it several times.

I totally agree that it is painfully slow in the beginning. The rest is worth it - I promise. Please let me know if you ever finish it. I would be interested in hearing your comments. This is not a book I would normally pick-up but I pulled through and it paid off.

DT

I'll get back to it this summer, then. So many people say it's wonderful -- thanks for the encouragement.

Alli--it was really good! I think you'd like it; it is essentially about traveling and eating! :clap_1: I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love now, and I think you'd like it, too.

Pea...I just bought "Eat, Pray, Love" on the internet...should come in soon!!!....will get "An Embarrassment of Mangos"!!! THANKS!!!😀