Help me find a book/book series to read!

[maryinaz]

I know these book threads come up occasionally, but I can't figure out what to read next! I love book series so I always know what I'm going to read next, but I can do singles too.

I'm all over the place with genres - I loved the Outlander series, Big Stone Gap series, the Dragon Tatoo series, HP of course... I read James Patterson and John Grisham a lot. I don't do much in the way of romance novels. Not a fan of Jodi Piccoult.

Anyone have anything to recommend? Single or series?

[luckyme]

Some good ones:

The Mortal Instruments (http://www.amazon.com/Mortal-Instruments-Bones-Ashes-Glass/dp/1442409525/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289259360&sr=1-2) series by Cassandra Clare
Since you liked HP, you might get a kick out of this series! Lots of fun, scares, twists and a beautifully described other world.

The Hunger Games (http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Trilogy-Catching-Mockingjay/dp/0545305497/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289259444&sr=1-4)Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Such an addictive read! So fast paced and full of action -- you can't put it down!

The Road (http://www.amazon.com/Road-Movie-Tie--Vintage-International/dp/0307476316/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289259073&sr=8-1)by Cormac McCarthy
It's a compulsive read -- I could not put it down because I had to know what happened!

Oryx and Crake (http://www.amazon.com/Oryx-Crake-Margaret-Atwood/dp/0385721676/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289259151&sr=1-1)by Margaret Atwood

Someone Knows My Name (http://www.amazon.com/Someone-Knows-My-Name-Novel/dp/0393333094/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289259229&sr=1-1) by Lawrence Hill

The Stone Diaries (http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Diaries-Penguin-Classics-Deluxe/dp/0143105507/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289259275&sr=1-1) by Carol Shields
My favourite book, ever. And I read a lot!

[carriesmom]

Perhaps the Thursday Next Novels by Jasper Fforde. I think there are about 5 in the series so far. First being The Eyre Affair. They are realistic alternate history. Main character can jump into books and solves crimes both there and in the real world.

I've heard good things about The Hunger Games but haven't read them personally.

[pewtertm]

I recently read Kristin Hannah's Magic Hour and Winter Garden...loved them both!

Others I've enjoyed recently (or not so recently)
Nordie's at Noon by Patti Balwanz
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart

Home Before Morning by Lynda Van DeVanter
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

[nikkiARNGwife]

If you like really really well written historical fiction then this is THE BEST...read in this order... by Sharon Kay Penman (especially The Welsh Trilogy)

When Christ And His Saints Slept
Time and Space
Devil's Brood
Here Be Dragons (Vol 1 of Welsh Trilogy)
Falls The Shadow (Vol 2 of Welsh Trilogy)
The Reckoning (Vol 3 of Welsh Trilogy)
The Sunne In Splendour

Pillars of the Earth (http://www.amazon.com/Pillars-Earth-Deluxe-Oprahs-Paperback/dp/B003PBULTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289260211&sr=1-3)and World Without End (http://www.amazon.com/World-Without-End-Ken-Follett/dp/0451228375/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289260211&sr=1-4) by Ken Follet

Anything by Anya Seton (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=anya+seton&sprefix=anya+seton) or Jean Plaidy (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=jean+plaidy&x=0&y=0)

[Leah]

The Help (http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289260400&sr=8-1) by Kathryn Stockett was my last read and it was AMAZING!

I'm reading The Murderer's Daughters (http://www.amazon.com/Murderers-Daughters-Randy-Susan-Meyers/dp/0312576986/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289260456&sr=1-1) by Randy Susan Meyers right now and it's really good so far too.

[KateD]

I've been looking for new books, too. I'm off to the library with a list in hand :)

I've been reading my kids' books. The Rick Riordan series (Percy Jackson & the Olympians / The Red Pyramid).

[lovely1m]

I've heard good things about The Hunger Games but haven't read them personally.

I have read them, they are awesome!

[maryinaz]

I'm copying down this list this time. I always say I'm going to do it and then I don't. These all sound amazing! Thanks all! :)

[Misty Cato]

If you like whodunits, I love the Three Pines Mysteries (http://www.amazon.com/Still-Life-Inspector-Gamache-Mysteries/dp/0312541538/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289267326&sr=8-1) from Louis Penny.

[*Celeste*]

If you like really really well written historical fiction then this is THE BEST...read in this order... by Sharon Kay Penman (especially The Welsh Trilogy)

When Christ And His Saints Slept
Time and Space
Devil's Brood
Here Be Dragons (Vol 1 of Welsh Trilogy)
Falls The Shadow (Vol 2 of Welsh Trilogy)
The Reckoning (Vol 3 of Welsh Trilogy)
The Sunne In Splendour


thanks nikki - her name always comes up and i didn't know what to read first. off to see if the library has that one.

i third the hunger games trilogy and if you liked harry potter read percy jackson. i also recommend his two new series the kane chronicles and the lost hero.

[breakingbrie]

Under the Dome (http://www.amazon.com/Under-Dome-Novel-Stephen-King/dp/1439149038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289267814&sr=8-1) by Stephen King - good book, and looong too, it'll keep ya busy for a few days if you like Stephen King!

Right now I'm reading The Memory Keeper's Daughter (http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Keepers-Daughter-Novel/dp/0143037145/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289267885&sr=1-1)by Kim Edwards. It's pretty good.

Other than what's already been mentioned, also I like Harlan Coben(although once you've read a few, they're easily figured out and they all start to sound the same), Joseph Finder(LOVE his books), and Robin Cook(medical murder/mysteries).

[MommaTrish]

I've been looking for new books, too. I'm off to the library with a list in hand :)

I've been reading my kids' books. The Rick Riordan series (Percy Jackson & the Olympians / The Red Pyramid).

How are those? We're about 1/2 way through the Wizard of Oz and the boys want to read Percy Jackson next, and I didn't even know there were books until they told me.

[jessica31876]

The Lovely Bones-Alice Sebold...was good but a little sad.
Where the Heart Is-Billie Letts...one of my favorite movies and books.
Before You Know Kindness-Chris Bohjalian...pretty good also.
also really loved The Pilot's Wife-Anita Shreve

[nikkiARNGwife]

Another one of my all time favorite trilogies is John Jakes - North and South/Love and War/Heaven and Hell....these were made into miniseries starring Patrick Swayze in the 80's (which was also good) but the books are better of course.

If you like young adult lit this is a good series... Inkheart Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Inkheart-Trilogy-Boxset-Scholastic/dp/0545265371/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289302882&sr=1-6)

and also this...Inheritance Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Inheritance-Eragon-Brisingr-Christopher-Paolini/dp/0375872035/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289303146&sr=1-11)

I also have The Help on my Kindle to read next and can't wait since I found out it's set in Mississippi :)

[mlewis]

The Passage by Justin Cronin was really good. I also enjoyed The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

[maryinaz]

Another one of my all time favorite trilogies is John Jakes - North and South/Love and War/Heaven and Hell....these were made into miniseries starring Patrick Swayze in the 80's (which was also good) but the books are better of course.

If you like young adult lit this is a good series... Inkheart Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Inkheart-Trilogy-Boxset-Scholastic/dp/0545265371/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289302882&sr=1-6)

and also this...Inheritance Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Inheritance-Eragon-Brisingr-Christopher-Paolini/dp/0375872035/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289303146&sr=1-11)

I also have The Help on my Kindle to read next and can't wait since I found out it's set in Mississippi :)
Wyatt has read both the Inkheart and Inheritance trilogies. In fact, we have the first two Inheritance first edition books signed by the author. When Wyatt was in 5th grade (5 years ago), we stood in line at the zoo to get them signed. He took them to his honors English class the next day to show them and he tore out the map in the back of one of them! :( I was sooo upset - completely ruined the value of that book!! (we had bought extras just to have signed) But he didn't know any better.

I remember the North/South series - loved it! I bet I would love those books too.

Still adding to my list!

[Jennilyn]

I'm currently reading the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay, Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris (always has "Grave" in the title), Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins and The Vampire Diaries series by L.J Smith.

[Lyd]

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a mustead in my opinion. It's one of the best books I've ever read in my entire life . . . ever.

[sczos911]

The Help is one of the best books that I have read this year. LOVE.
I read the first two books in the Bridal Quartet series by Nora Roberts & I liked them. Different, but romance.
I LOVED the Hunger Games.
I read The Passage by Justin Cronin (I think) and that was a decent thriller/vampire modern day book.

I am reading Eat, Pray, Love and have struggled through it. I liked the eating part, but the praying and loving I am having issues with. HA!

I'm not sure what's next for me to read. There is a new Stephen King book out there... I just don't know what I feel like but this list really helps.

[AmberK]

I love murder/mystery books- I love the In Death series by J.D Robb (its actually Nora Roberts writing under a pen name). In fact im reading the series for like the 3rd time now!

I also LOVED the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris.

[Angie4b1g]

Have you read the Sue Grafton alphabet ones? A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar etc. They're short/quick reads but I really like them. She's not quite to Z yet, but getting close. I think if you like James Patterson, you'd like these. They remind me of the Women's Murder Club ones he does in a way. I like them better, though.

[AmberK]

Oh yes- I do like the Sue Grafton Alphabet series too. The main character is a private investigator and they are really good and also easy reads!

[carriesmom]

Another good series might by the books by Kathy Reichs. They all have the name Bone in the title, they are the basis for the TV show bones.

[Nettio]

I am reading Eat, Pray, Love and have struggled through it. I liked the eating part, but the praying and loving I am having issues with. HA!

HA, I thought I was the only one! I'm reading the Pray part right now and I'm really struggling to get through it. I keep telling myself it has to get more exciting since they made a movie from it. Are you telling me that isn't true? :D

[nonnie]

I so needed a good list to get me going - I have read a ton in the last 2 months - and sadly nothing stands out so I have nothing good to offer for the list :(

[carriesmom]

HA, I thought I was the only one! I'm reading the Pray part right now and I'm really struggling to get through it. I keep telling myself it has to get more exciting since they made a movie from it. Are you telling me that isn't true? :D

I read and loved but I was seriously identifying with the lossness of Elizabeth. I've heard that people either love the eat part and struggle with the rest or love the whole thing.

[maryinaz]

Another good series might by the books by Kathy Reichs. They all have the name Bone in the title, they are the basis for the TV show bones. I just started watching Bones a couple of weeks ago on Netflix - I'm now in season 4. So I would probably like this series!