Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF I can recommend two. "Was" by Geoff Ryman. It's an intertwining story about various people connected to or influenced by "The Wizard of Oz" in all its forms: book, movie, stage. It's a heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting story. It is fiction but real figures show up in various points through the book, like L. Frank Baum and Judy Garland. Though she's fallen out of favor with me over the years, one of my favorite books of all time is Anne Rice's "The Witching Hour." I read it once every few years and every time I just fall into it completely.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper "Between a Rock and Hard Place" - The story of hiker Aron Ralston's harrowing entrapment in the desert followed by freeing himself by cutting off his own arm. It was an uplifting story. The kind you don't hear much about these days.
Originally Posted By u k fan I quiote like the sound of "Was", I love the Wizard of Oz as a book (it's better than the film). In fact I would recommend that. Also, "My Point, And I do Have One" by Ellen DeGeneres. It makes me laugh so hard even after probably 100+ readings!!!
Originally Posted By Tiggirl "The Princess Bride" is my favorite book of all time. I read my paperback so often as a kid (sometimes twice a month) that it eventually just fell apart. A few years ago my mom bought me a hard back copy and I've read it multiple times. Its just such a fun book and of course the movie is great too. ~Beth
Originally Posted By mickeymeg The Harry Potter series and the Series of Unfortunate Events are favourites of mine. I like 'big kid' books too, but they're just not quite as fun as these 2 series.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. It's a humorous look at the Apocalypse with a very wicked sense of humor. I go back and read it a couple of times a year, and it never gets boring for me.
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF u k fan: I would warn you ahead of time about "Was." A few people who read the book based on my recommendation were startled by this. I just don't want anyone going into it thinking it's a lighthearted romp simply because it's about "The Wizard of Oz." It deals frankly with certain very adult subjects that some might find distressing to read. If you can stick with it to the end, though, I think you'll find it ultimately redemptive and rewarding.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan 'Purple Cow' by Seth Godin. It's a book about business, advertising and marketing at one level, but really it presents a new way of thinking creatively that can be applied to almost all aspects of life.
Originally Posted By Ursula I love Alice in Wonderland. It is such a fantasy story, it makes me a better person for at least a few days after a reading. My favorite story ever, is "Leaf by Niggle," a short story by Tolkien. Scholars call it a faerie tale, others call it an allegory for so many different things...I call it an escape and a guide on how to live one's life. I do try to avoid all literary discussions on it because I find it so personal; I don't want to hear anyone else's opinion on it but mine!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I only read books that are referred to as cozys. The murder has already pretty much taken place, not a lot of gore or sex or anything that makes you think or not sleep. I grew up reading Nancy Drew then went on to Agatha Christie (sp) and now it's authors like Daheim or Mott Davidson. A simple read, I slip in my Disney book mark and I'm off to sleep
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter (I had never heard that term before--cozy--but am glad to know it, as that is the only type of murder mystery book I enjoy!)
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Moving on to my own recommendations. . . The Bible, but since we're not in World Events, I won't get into the specifics as to why I recommend it. And on a radically different note, any of the Sweet Potato Queens books for pure, laugh till your sides hurt humor. These are some of the very funniest books I have ever read. If you're interested, start with The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love (and only read them if you can tolerate raunchy humor!) I would also recommend Ellen DeGeneres' My Point and I Do Have One--that one was hilarious as well. And for anyone who's in a romantic relationship or has a new baby, Paul Reiser's "Couplehood" and "Babyhood" are the kind of books that make you roar with laughter and also go "Oh my gosh, someone else has experienced *exactly* the same things I have!" For practical parenting advice, I highly recommend Kevin Leman's "Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours." Honestly, I think if every parent read this and put it all into practice, misbehaving children would be a rarity.
Originally Posted By Tiggirl I bought one of the Sweet Potato Queen books a few years ago on a whim and found them hilarious. Mark read one to me while we were driving and we were both laughing so hard we missed our exit and got lost. LOL! ~Beth
Originally Posted By alexbook [Rant on] Having worked in bookstores for several years, and I *hate* it when somebody just asks "What's the best book in the store?" or "What do you recommend?" without giving me more info. Do you want a recommendation for a good mystery or romance or fantasy or biography or western or history or self-help or what? Do you want something funny or serious? Is profanity or sexuality an issue? Do you like big words or little ones? Give me a clue, will you?! [Rant off] That said, some books I particularly enjoy turning people on to (in no particular order): Non-fiction: - Douglas Adams, "Last Chance to See" - Benjamin Hoff, "The Tao of Pooh" - Frederik Pohl, "The Way the Future Was" - David Koenig, "Mouse Tales" - Barbara Ehrenreich, "Nickel and Dimed" Mysteries: - Donna Andrews, "We'll Always Have Parrots" - Dorothy L. Sayers, "Murder Must Advertise" General fiction: - Daniel Handler, "Adverbs" - Philip Roth, "The Plot Against America" - Chuck Palahniuk, "Fight Club" - Mark Haddon, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" Science fiction/fantasy: - Roger Zelazny, "Nine Princes in Amber" - Isaac Asimov, "The Best of..." - Orson Scott Card, "Maps in a Mirror" - Jules Verne, "Around the World in 80 Days" - H. G. Wells, "The War of the Worlds" - Alan Moore, "Watchmen" - Neil Gaiman, "Preludes & Nocturnes" - C. M. Kornbluth, "The Best of..." - Frank Herbert, "Dune" - Robert Silverberg, "Dying Inside" Children's fiction: - Ridley Pearson, "Kingdom Keepers" I keep my reading list at: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/alexm_94109/" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/alexm _94109/</a>
Originally Posted By lesmisfan i strongly recomment the celestine prophecy, its one of those books that explain why we get deja vu or other things. even though its more fiction than fact, but you will never look at life the same way again.
Originally Posted By alexbook P.S. I would be remiss if I failed to mention my family: David Melnick, "Men in Aida" <a href="http://epc.buffalo.edu/authors/melnick/index.html" target="_blank">http://epc.buffalo.edu/authors /melnick/index.html</a> Daniel C. Melnick, "Fullness of Dissidence" <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ncon9" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/ncon9</a> Paula Rebert, "La Gran Linea" <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/029277110X/" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ ct/029277110X/</a> Karl Heussenstamm, "Toward the Maitreyan Revolution" <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ma66f" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/ma66f</a> Frances Heussenstamm, "Blame it on Freud" <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blame-on-Freud-language-psychology/dp/B0006F1698/" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Blame-on -Freud-language-psychology/dp/B0006F1698/</a> John Harris, "Against the Day of the Dead" <a href="http://tinyurl.com/llp2m" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/llp2m</a> Perry J. Melnick, "Cytoenzymology and Isozymes of Cultured Cells" <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cytoenzymology-isozymes-Progress-histochemistry-cytochemistry/dp/3437102370/" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Cytoenzy mology-isozymes-Progress-histochemistry-cytochemistry/dp/3437102370/</a>
Originally Posted By MissCandice >>>"Cytoenzymology and Isozymes of Cultured Cells" >>> Not to post a spoiler but I found the romance to be contrived in this book.
Originally Posted By JazzCat LMAO Candice!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh man! When I first read "The Secret Garden" as an adult, I couldn't keep my nose out of it!
