I have been devouring books this past week as I spend countless hours nursing. I am on my fourth novel. Once this one is done, I need another book! I usually enjoy classics, but I am not in the mood for anything that makes me think too deep or that I have to struggle with. I am looking for quick and engrossing reads--not fluff, but not Dickens if you know what I mean.
Can any give me some good suggestions?
Thanks!
In Christ, Laura
Sunday, June 28, 2009
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I generally enjoy classics as well, but I was recently given a copy of a book call "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn. It was great! It's a novel about a Chinese Christian man and his college roomate from Harvard being reuinited after many years. The roomate is a businessman and is jaded about Christianity. The Chinese man is a strong Christian, and a member of an underground church. There were a few scenes involving heaven that were a little bit interperative for my taste, but overall, it was a great book and an enlightening look at persecution of Christians in China.
Rebecca,
I loved that book!-and all his other ones, too--Deadline, Dominion, and Deception, in particular. I read those 3 the first week I had Haven and was nursing.
I think we have similar tastes in reading. Wasn't it you who enjoyed "The Woman in White"? That was a great book. Didn't you recommend Moonstone? Would that be a quick read or something that is good, but you have to plough through?
Thanks!
Laura
Laura, congratulations on the birth of your sweet baby! Lance and I are so excited for you and Cameron, and I'm so thankful for how well everything went during your birth. Praise God for his good grace! I was encouraging one of the pregnant ladies in our community group the other day with your birth story, so it was good to share God's grace in your life with others.
Have you read Lief Enger's books? They're SO good!! They are "Peace Like a River" and "So Young, Brave, and Handsome" (I think :) ). Easy reads and very good.
Hope you all are doing great! We miss getting to see all of you. Everything's going really well for us,and I'm loving being at home with our girls!
Laura-
I love Wilkie Collins' "Moonstone"! I didn't consider it something that has to be slugged through, but it might be considering how tired you are:-)
Here are my recommendations
Series:
Jan Karon's Mitford series
Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilt Series (start with Quilter's Apprentice)
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series
Books:
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (not fiction, but an amazing read!)
Grace at Bender Springs by Vinita Hampton Wright
Hope you find something that you like! Please let us know what you read! Blessings to you and your family.
Kimberly,
So good to hear from you! We miss seeing you guys. I don't think I have even met your littlest one! I read "Peace Like a River", but haven't read the other one. I am going to get it from the library. (already put it on my "hold" list!) :)
Leah, those are some great recommendations. I read "The Kite Runner" and LOVED it and just read this week "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by the same author and loved it even more! I also read "The Secret Life of Bees" this week--a good story, engrossing, but they worshipped Mary in it--kind of strange. I also read "Water for Elephants"--and I hesitate to mention this one. It was another engrossing read, but had lots of swearing and many explicit scenes that I had to skip over. I considered putting the book down on account of that, but found that they got less as the book went on. I don't know if I would recommend that one to anyone based on the content. I think I am going to check out "Seabiscuit" and the "Guernsey . . ." book I put on my list at the library just today. Was it good? So, "Moonstone" was good? I started it, but didn't get very far. I wanted to read "The Woman in White" first. I am going to check out the other ones you mentioned as well. I will read anything that others recommend! :) That way, I know I am sure to like it!
Right now, I am reading "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I am not that far into it, though.
I love reading!
Laura
Kristin Lavransdatter is excellent. It is a classic, and it is very long, but it is easy reading if you get the new translation. It is actually a trilogy, but you can buy all three in one book on amazon. That is the copy I have. It is on the sidebar of my blog. I think you would love it.
"The Moonstone" does start out a little slow (with a scene in India recounting the history of the stone), but once it gets going, it is a great mystery. It has been called the first detective story ever written. I loved it. And I second what Kimberly said about Leif Enger's books. His style draws you in and the stories are engaging and beautifully written. I would read Peace Like a River first...
I often use times when I need something to read but don't want something to deep, to read the books I plan giving our 10 year old to read. That way I can read them before she does just to make sure they are suitable. She reads so much that I can't always do that but then I give her the ones I know are safe. : )
Michelle
"Guernsey..." is a wonderful, easy to read, yet highly enjoyable book. It is written as a series of letters, so it is an unusual format that keeps you guessing as to how they are going to tell the story!
Another recommendation: "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett. It is truly an amazing, moving, engrossing story. My caveat: it has one (or two) 'sexual situations/scenes' that sneak up on you, but are brief. Other than that, though, it is one of the best modern books I have ever read.
Another series that is fun and engaging is "Big Cherry Holler", "Big Stone Gap" and "Milk Glass Moon" by Adriana Trigiani (I think there is a fourth to the series now as well). The series follows one woman's life living in the mountains of Virginia with lots of colorful characters!
Leah, I read Bel Canto and loved it! It is a great book! I haven't heard of the other ones you mentioned, but I am going to look into them. So many books, so little time!
Ginny, I got your email with the rec. and I am going to look into the ones you mentioned.
Michelle, that is actually a great idea!
Keep the recs coming!
Love in Christ, Laura
I have loved the Elsie Dinsmore books. Your daughters will probably love them too:)
I have read "Stepping Heavenward" by Elizabeth Prentiss after each baby was born.
I haven't been able to keep up with the reading, though, since everyone is constantly running now!! :)
Hi Laura! If you like to take a look I am writing book recommendations at my blog. They are not that much already as I concentrated on classical children's books but I also have joined www.goodreads.com, and I have put some widget of them at my blog, too. The books in the widget showing the german edition (apart from my widget where I have english books inside) but by clicking on the cover you will be linked to goodreads and there you can click on other editions and will find the english editions.
Laura,
Have you ever read anything by Francine Rivers? All of her novels are great! I really loved her trilogy that starts with "A Voice in the Wind."
"Stepping Heavenward" May be my all time favorite book. It is the only book I have ever read more than once : ) Christian hero missionary books are also great to read when you don't want something too deep. They always leave me feeling great and ready to take on the world in Christ's name.
Michelle
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