Books You Love

Crocuses blooming in March!

I have many friends with a love of reading and books, so I am turning to my wonderful readers for some book suggestions.

Right now I'm mostly needing books that don't take a lot of concentration, but instead fall in the category of 'comfort food'--not too fluffy that they are trite, poorly written or silly, but not so dense that I need to concentrate a great deal. They need to have enough quality to be genuinely enjoyable and distracting, but not so complicated that I can't focus or keep track of the story and characters. 

Examples of such books for me are:

No. 1 Ladie's Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smitth

Quilt series by Jennifer Chiaverini

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Books by Adriana Trigiani

The Mitford Series by Jan Karon

My two favorite books in the past two years have been The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder and The Help. I enjoyed taking on the challenge of listening to Cutting for Stone and Unbroken this year, but I am not in a place to focus on those kind of books right now.

What books do you turn to for pleasure? What books have you enjoyed these past few years? If you have some more intense books that you've enjoyed immensely, feel free to include them and I will tuck them away on my list for those days when I feel more focused. 

Our early blooming crocuses.

I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE children's and young adult books. Mom always teases me that once I got old enough to read chapter books, I stopped reading. Since I remained a dedicated student, even if I didn't read for pleasure, we find we are able to joke about my desire to socialize over read when growing up. Much to her relief, though, I've come back to enjoying books--even if it is in audio format instead of visually now.

What books did you enjoy growing up? Which books do you have the fondest memories of? What books are you enjoying now with your children?

I'd like to go back and listen to all of the classics and wonderful children's books I missed out on growing up and listen to some of the new authors coming out with books now. Hey, I will listen to the American Girl books if they are good. I'm open. Growing up I never even read classics like Anne of Green Gables.

My two favorite books growing up were Tuck Everlasting and The BFG. The most powerful children's book I've listened to in the past year is Rules--not fluffy, but phenomenal. The list of children's books is too long!

The crocuses should just be starting now, but they are already gone!

As you can tell by my lists I'm not a big fan of violence or over the top romance novels or fantasy. I have attempted, without success, to finish the Harry Potter series, Percy Jackson series, and The Hunger Games series. :P

Whatever you suggest, keep in mind that I'll be listening to it on audio--which is one reason I've fallen so in love with the No. 1 Ladie's Detective Agency series--the narrator is phenomenal. I really enjoy historical fiction, books that would be considered 'female'-oriented (The School of Essential Ingredients), books that take me to new places (Botswana in No. 1 Ladie's Detective Agency), books about children or others overcoming odds (Cooked by Jeff Henderson), books that deal with disability (Rules), and well, anything that makes me feel distracted and absorbed in the story!

I can't wait for your suggestions! I have so many friends who love books and reading that I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

And, thank you in advance for your ideas!!!! I'm looking forward to finding some ways to 'get out of my head' before bedtime, staying away from playing around too much on FB and email, and getting a little break from the medical and emotional work.

Blessings,

Emily