I've just finished these books and am looking for simliar recommendations...

Tuesdays with Morrie.

On the Road, Charles Kuralt.

Everytime I come to a thread to recommend Tuesdays with Morrie, someone has beaten me to it. So again, I will second that nomination.

Tuesdays with Morrie was on my radar already… looking for more! and they don’t HAVE to be like the ones I’ve named, I’m really just looking for a good read that’s not hard to get into. I need to NOT want to put the book down.

A Child Called It
and then make sure you read the followup: The Lost Boy.

My absolute favorite book is The Painted Bird, but it’s rather disturbing so it depends on what exactly you like to read.

@Vunessuh I read A Child Called It years and years ago, and I forgot what a great book it was until you just mentioned it. I think I will read that again!

Oh! And if you enjoyed Go Ask Alice, you’ll like The Best Little Girl in the World.

“One Child” by Torey Hayden. If you like it and want to know what happens next, “The Tiger’s Child” is the sequel.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (Mainly fiction, but fact-infused)
A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey (A fictional history of a woman through her correspondence with friends and family. She clearly has no idea how she comes across to other characters and the reader.)

Both were recommended by my sister, who was 14 years older than me and an English teacher. Despite those facts, both were an easy read and made me feel like I was eating a piece of decadent chocolate cake.

One more! I was totally and utterly engaged from start to finish with Fast Food Nation.

Holy crap. If you’re looking for a FUN read, do not read A Child Called “It”. It’s good. Very good. But not fun. At all.

i said “fun” with quotes because I don’t mean easy fun… I’ve read A Child Called It and it was VERY disturbing.

Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods is a funny, light and interesting travel/hike journal with a lot of great history thrown in the mix. There is no need to be a backpacker or hiker to enjoy it. I’d actually recommend any of his books.

Stephen Kings The Stand (the long version)or It are both kind of “fun”. Not so crazy about his later stuff.

My current and recent reading is listed in my profile, along with links and my ratings. You might find something of interest there.

Dave Barry’s “Book of Bad Songs”, with 3 disclaimers:
1.) It should be read in private. It made me laugh so hard that the house-mate was worried about my frame of mind.
2.) If you aren’t familiar with the 50’s – 80’s songs mentioned, read it with YouTube handy.
3.) If you DO remember some of these songs and recall how much you loved them years ago, you may now find them idiotic. But not in all cases; sometimes sentiment wins out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Barry's_Book_of_Bad_Songs

time traveler’s wife

I’m not quite sure if these are what you like, but it’s what I’ve been reading in my free time for a while.
The Anne of Green Gables books
The Rilla books (Anne’s youngest daughter is the main character)
Little Women

I would recommend any book by Jennifer Weiner…she is my favorite author, she wrote the book, “In Her Shoes” but keep in mind, the movie didn’t do the book justice..as usual.

@forestgeek recommended Bill Bryson’s A Walk In The Woods. I agree with the Bryson suggestion, but the books of his that had me ROTFLMAO were Mother Tongue and I’m a Stranger Here Myself, my Bryson faves.

Someone recommended Anne of Green Gables….but if you want an enchanting book by L.M. Montgomery (same author)......please, please read The Blue Castle. It is a lovely, uplifting story about an independent woman who is almost past her “marrying age” and what ensues. It was a story that you do not want to end. Pure, sheer escapism and yet intricately woven and well-written. I think it is her best work.

It is out of print, but you can find copies on Amazon. Don’t let the cheesy paperback cover fool you as it was re-issued in the 70’s. It is a classic book and quite beloved. I was lucky to get a hardback copy with a lovely castle on it.

For something a little different I would recommend Surely Richard Feynman’s essay collection Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) Feynman was a Nobel laureate physicist, but he also led an interesting life outside of physics. The essay format makes it easy to read the book in small chunks, perfect for summer reading.

If you want fun and easy reads – you need to check out anything by Sophie Kinsella, Jenny Colgan or Marian Keyes.
I especially recommend ‘Remember Me’ by Sophie Kinsella.
Enjoy! :)

Let us know what you read and if you liked it or not. Some of us might pick it up.

I have picked up The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (I am having a hard time getting into it, which is always a bad sign for me!), The Art of Racing in the Rain (which I am so anxious to read but I hear it’s sad so I’m glad I own it, but I am holding off on reading it), and The Wildwater Walking Club (seems like it will be an easy summer read, we’ll see) since this posting…

I am working on reading 20 Something, 20 Everything which a fellow jelly recommended… It’s a lot of work! But I’ve been doing that and reading magazines (which really are my favorite!).

But I have taken note of all the ones you have recommended! Thanks everyone!