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I have a friend who is trying to get back into reading and wanted recommendations. Which got me thinking about what would you recommend to new readers and why?

I recommended Perfume: The Story of a Murderer simply because it has murder, passion and is really well written.

I find it hard to recommend books without knowing the person very well. Need an idea of somebody's taste because there's no such thing as a book for everyone.

That's true, but there has got to be a book you would recommend.

Anything I've given 5 stars to I'd recommend.

I think I would recommend Before I Go to Sleep and The Shadow of the Wind to pretty much everyone now.

I would recommend Atonement by Ian McEwan because it is the best book I have ever read.

For something lighter I think Wilbur Smith would be a good bet. For a guy, anyway.

Most books by McEwan is good. they are all so intense.The Cement Garden was shocking,The Dreamer was warm and tender,The Child In Time somehow touched me the most, it said so many things which are true but we take for granted or dont even realise.

Not read any of those. Added to my list...

Interesting. I've always kind of thought of McEwen as the English Updike. At least the books of his that i read gave me that impression.

The Walk by Richard Paul Evans is a book I recommend. It is a short and easy read with a good story.

Current books I have enjoyed are Room The Help The series of the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo was a real page turner .

I tried The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and got about a quarter through it then just gave up. It was boring me to sleep.

I'm interested in reading Room; as for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I thought it was ok (but I didn't think it was spectacular) I wonder if Kim has abandoned it yet?

It's still sitting on my desk with bookmark in place but I haven't felt like picking it up and finishing it.

In terms of what I've recently read, I would recommend:

Caleb's Crossing

The God of Small Things

A Visit from the Goon Squad(although I don't know if this would be the best recommendation for someone who hasn't read in a while.)

The White Tiger This is a great book, but I think the reader needs to have a certain "sense of humor" (maybe) in order to really enjoy this.

Kim wrote: "It's still sitting on my desk with bookmark in place but I haven't felt like picking it up and finishing it."

That's exactly what my copy is doing as well. xD I fear it will stay that way, since whenever I start reading it I can never focus on whats going on and I just feel bored. And yet I've heard so much good about this book! It's odd!


Barbara, I didn't enjoy A Visit from the Goon Squad at all. It was mediocre literature at best.


I recently finished The Sisters Brothers which is a western-based novel about two brothers who are killers. The narrative voice is very different, and the whole story was pretty wild, but I adored it.

I'd also recommend False Memory by Dean Kootz. It was scary and riveting and completely realistic and freaked me out so badly, but I loved every moment of it. As psychological thrillers go, this one is definitely one of the best.

Just finished and thoroughly enjoyed it.

ÓË¥X±ð²Ô¾±ÓË� wrote: "Kim wrote: "It's still sitting on my desk with bookmark in place but I haven't felt like picking it up and finishing it."

That's exactly what my copy is doing as well. xD I fear it will stay that ..."

I agree with you Xeni, in regards to what you wrote about "False Memory". I am not a super great fan of a horror genre, however I really enjoy a realistic horror story and this one was exactly what I like - all the elements of the narrative were so realistic and so chillingly scary that I read it day and night until I finish it. Also, if you enjoyed this one, you may enjoy "The Manchurian Candidate" (Richard Condon). I watched the movie and always wanted to read the book, and now you reminded me that I wanted to get the book to read it.
Booksy

I'm likely posting this in the wrong place but couldn't find one that was more appropriate. I am going quite crazy trying to remember the title of a book I read many years ago and am hoping someone might be of help. The basic plot was of two neighbors with small children and a small boy drowned in the pond of one of them while she was watching the other's children. I know that sounds vague but my memory...at any rate, I would like to read it again - superb book (unlike my memory). Thanks in advance for any help :)

Judy wrote: "I'm likely posting this in the wrong place but couldn't find one that was more appropriate. I am going quite crazy trying to remember the title of a book I read many years ago and am hoping someon..."

Sounds familiar, but I can't place it. There is a group for just this sort of question. It's called something like: "What's the name of that book?" or "Name that book"

Oh thank you so much - it is A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton. I greatly appreciate it!

I read that book and now cannot remember it, only that it was a great book. How did you get your answer?

Booksy wrote: "ÓË¥X±ð²Ô¾±ÓË� wrote: "Kim wrote: "It's still sitting on my desk with bookmark in place but I haven't felt like picking it up and finishing it."

That's exactly what my copy is doing as well. xD I fear it ..."

Oh yes! I am definitely looking forward to reading The Manchurian Candidate! When I saw the movie a couple of months ago I got chills down my spine... how realistic it is/could be!!

Xeni, I'm glad that you said A Visit from the Goon Squad is mediocre at best. I'm not quite halfway through it, and although I'm enjoying it I definitely do not understand why it won a Pulitzer and a National Book Critics Circle Award, in addition to great reviews everywhere. I keep wondering if I'll figure out why such a big deal was made over it once I'm finished. As I said, I do like it -- it's somewhat of a "fun" read, but in no way do I think it's great.

But it seems as though it's getting great reviews from readers here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ (not this group, but on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ in general), so I was very glad to see that there is at least one other person who doesn't think it's the "greatest book of the year."

Has anyone read by Herta Müller?

It got a lot of mixed reviews (actually, here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ it seems to have gotten a lot of bad reviews.) I have a copy at home, but haven't had time to start reading it. I read the first 10 or so pages and it seems pretty interesting.

I'm wondering if anyone here has read it, and what you thought of it???

Barbara wrote: "Has anyone read by Herta Müller?

It got a lot of mixed reviews (actually, here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ it seems to have gotten a lot of bad revie..."

It's an intense read and well-written. It's very different from the average novel. If you liked the first ten pages you'll probably like the rest of it.

Thanks Anne!! Now I'm looking forward to reading it!!

I'd like to hear what you think. It's dark, but it has to be.

Barbara wrote: "Xeni, I'm glad that you said A Visit from the Goon Squad is mediocre at best. I'm not quite halfway through it, and although I'm enjoying it I definitely do not understand why it won..."

I don't know why, It's interestingly formatted but there isn't enough in it to make a story, just a lot of snippets of a story. I'm glad people enjoyed it, but I'm sure I can find better books from 2010 worth reading (and I don't read many new books). Oh I just remembered one heaps better from last year that I did read; Super Sad True Love Story

Barbara wrote: "Xeni, I'm glad that you said A Visit from the Goon Squad is mediocre at best. I'm not quite halfway through it, and although I'm enjoying it I definitely do not understand why it won..."

Yeah, I don't really understand either why it got so many rave reviews! It's a fun read, but I didn't learn anything from it, unfortunately.

Barbara wrote: "Has anyone read by Herta Müller?

It got a lot of mixed reviews (actually, here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ it seems to have gotten a lot of bad revie..."

Hi Barbara,
I ‘ve read almost everything by Herta Muller, inclusive "The Appointment". Though this is not one of my favourite, I still recommend it. It is representative for Muller’s style, which I personally find breathtaking. It is strong and sharp, expressing sadness, frustration and even a kind of guilt of living within an oppressive regime, like that one of Ceausescu. A regime that forced people to become cowards and to renounce their humanity; and those who cared about their conscience remained alone, very alone, isolated, unable to rely on someone or something. Herta Muller does not forgive anybody, including herself. But what makes Muller to be a very special writer, in my opinion, is not only her obsession (with Securitate and Ceausescu), but her incredible force of playing with words, weaving them, creating wonderful and fresh associations, transforming ugliness in beauty. My favourite readings by her are “Nadirs� (a collection of short stories), “The King Bows and Kills� (essays about her youth in Banat), “Everything I possessed I Carry With Me� (what a cruel disappointment to find out that her best friend, the poet Oskar Pastior, who inspired her in writing this novel, had been a collaborationist himself!) and “Travelling on One Leg� (a very touching story about her experience in West Berlin, after her emigration from Romania). Her “collage� books with poems are very interesting as well …and very creative! Actually she could be a writer to explore, a very good "subject" for this group :)

Actually, I will copy/paste what I wrote here in the book's review :)

has anybody read or heard about a new series written by Haruki Murakami called "1Q84"? Apparently, a really fascinating read with multiple plots and never-ending narrative...

IQ84 was released in 2010. The English translations of Haruki Murakami's IQ84 is due to be released this October.

As a huge Murakami fan, I'm very excited about this-I can hardly wait!

Anda wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Has anyone read by Herta Müller?

It got a lot of mixed reviews (actually, here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ it seems to have gotten ..."

Hi Anda! THANK YOU!!! Everything you just wrote about Herta Muller has really inspired me to read The Appointment: A Novel and her other work as well!!!

The Appointment seems to be a great book for a book club discussion. Has it ever been discussed in this group?

Thanks again!!!
~Barbara

Hi Anne - I went to librarythings.com and they have a 'name that book' category. You answer a LOT of questions about the plot and they give you a list of books that match and tada...there it was :)

Anne wrote: "I read that book and now cannot remember it, only that it was a great book. How did you get your answer?"

Judy wrote: "Hi Anne - I went to librarythings.com and they have a 'name that book' category. You answer a LOT of questions about the plot and they give you a list of books that match and tada...there it was :..."

Could you post a link or explain where that is? I'm curious to try it out.

ÓË¥X±ð²Ô¾±ÓË� wrote: "Judy wrote: "Hi Anne - I went to librarythings.com and they have a 'name that book' category. You answer a LOT of questions about the plot and they give you a list of books that match and tada...t..."

Good to know.

Booksy wrote: "has anybody read or heard about a new series written by Haruki Murakami called "1Q84"? Apparently, a really fascinating read with multiple plots and never-ending narrative..."

I have heard nothing but good about Murakami and unfortunately I haven't read any of his works. 1Q84 is supposed to be a sort of play on of 1984 and has also been considered his magnum opus so I will most likely pick it up in October and make it my first experiment with him.

Barbara wrote: "Anda wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Has anyone read by Herta Müller?

It got a lot of mixed reviews (actually, here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ it seems to h..."

With great pleasure, Barbara :) I was really pleased to recommend Herta Müller. I hope you will like her! And as far I read here, this book hasn't yet been discussed.

How do you like The God of Small Things
? I read it three years ago and ... it overwhelmed me! The perfect technique (a kind of - how should I say -"literary pointillism"), the painful story, which does not miss the humor, the bond between the twins who share their being, the emptiniees and muteness! It is pitty that Arundhati Roy has not written anyting else since :(

Michael wrote: "Booksy wrote: "has anybody read or heard about a new series written by Haruki Murakami called "1Q84"? Apparently, a really fascinating read with multiple plots and never-ending narrative..."

I hav..."

Thank you Michael, I am also planning to get it soon ( it's a trilogy). I started reading Murakami with his short stories ( "The Elephant Vanishes") and I loved his surreal style. Highly recommend to start with his short stories and then move to his novels.

Hi Anda,

I am absolutely LOVING The God of Small Things. I have around 80 pages left, and if I didn't have so much work to do I would just be spending the whole day reading it. I like your description -- "Literary Pointillism" -- that's actually an excellent way to describe the style.

I agree -- it is very painful, but the humor is fantastic. I do have to admit, however, that there have been many times, while reading this book, that I just feel so confused!!

You know, I didn't even realize that Arundhati Roy has not written anything else since!!! In fact, I had been meaning to do a search on her name to see what else she's written, because I love her work so much that I would love to read more!!

I just finished the best book I have read in years: Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. Wow! What a story!

Stephen wrote: "I just finished the best book I have read in years: Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. Wow! What a story!"

Hello Stephen
Many thanks I will add Unbroken to my list as to read.

I,m reading The book thief this book is also the best book I have read in years

Best wishes
Alan

Anda wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Anda wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Has anyone read by Herta Müller?

It got a lot of mixed reviews (actually, here on Goodr..."
Actually she has written several books after it,but being a social activist she concentrated on writing on subjects of social relevance. That is why the general reader didnt come across her books.

I would recommend "Where the Red Fern Grows." It's aimed at younger readers, but the story itself is timeless, and it's the only book so far I have read more than once.