I've been doing a lot of reading lately and wanted to put some book recommendations out there. Most are on the best seller list. None are what I would call 'light' reading, but all are wonderful:
Water for elephants by Sara Gruen Probably the lightest read of the bunch. About a circus duing the depression. Just great storytelling.
Peony in Love by Lisa See In the spirit of 'The Joy Luck Club'. An ancient chinese ghost story. I loved this one. Her 'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' is great too.
Three cups of Tea by David Oliver Relin A few years ago, I read an article about an American man who was building schools for girls in the Middle East. I was so moved by his courage and generosity that I became a sponsor for his Central Asia Institute. This book is his story.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini 'The Kite Runner' author's second novel. An inside look at life for a woman in a third-world country.
A Long Way Gone by Ishamael Beah A true story about a boy soldier in Sierra Leone. Very intense and heart-wrenching
Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende A women's story of her life and adventure in 16th century Spain. Brutal and graphic with a very memorable main character. Loved this one.
Back Roads by Tawni O'Dell A modern story of a young man and his very dysfunctional family in a coal-mining town. The main character reminds me of Holden Caulfield. The story is a great mix of raw intensity and dark humor. I could read it over and over again.
What the hell, I'll add a movie recommendation as well:
Eastern Promises starring Viggo Mortenson and Naomi Watts You might remember that Viggo was in England filming this the same time Elijah was filming Oxford Murders. This is a great movie. Viggo gives a memorable performance as a member of the Russian mob who is more complex then he seems. Naomi Watts is great too as a midwife who crosses paths with the mob. I won't say too much in case I give spoilers away.
Wow, I didn't realize how much I read this month. Feel free to debate my choices or better yet, let me know what you're reading. Would love to pick up something new.
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nuke33) wrote,
contemplative
