Carole asked for Ten Books I Would Recommend to a Friend. While I might not recommend all of the following to the same friend, I would recommend them all to friends
1. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich.
2. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. (link to my review)
3. Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence. I didn’t care for Lawrence when I read him as a teen, but I devoured him when I re-read him in my 30s.
4. So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell. A practically perfect book.
5. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. This remains one of my all-time favorite novels for its humor and depth.
6. A Widow for One Year by John Irving. I credit this book for helping me to transform into a writer.
7. Saturday by Ian McEwan. I read this in a writing workshop years ago, and while I didn’t love it at the time, I haven’t forgotten it.
8. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. (link to my review)
9. The Delicacy and Strength of Lace by Leslie Marmon Silko and James Wright. (link to my review)
10. The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I’m in the camp that finds this book uplifting. Not all do. Be warned.
I don’t review books as much on the blog as I used to, but I almost always rate what I’ve read at Goodreads. Feel free to friend me there if you like! I’m always interested in seeing what others are reading.
Which leads to the obvious question: what book would you recommend to a friend?
ooh, this is a nice one to bookmark. thanks for the recs! (they were for me, right? :o))
Of this list, I have only read The Bell Jar. I received a copy of it at far too young an age but never truly loved it until I read it as part of my senior year literature class in high school.
I’m reading The Hotel New Hampshire by Irving now and while I’m not sure I like the Berry family, I do love Irving’s writing & my friend MaryEllen just finished Widow for One Year & loved it, so that may be my next Irving.
I will add these recs to my list!
Love The Bell Jar and D.H. Lawrence. Couldn’t bear to read The Road, though.
Just finished the HAPPINESS PROJECT. SLow and thoughful.
Kitchen Confidential…INTERESTING!
An all time favorite: Crossing to Safety. Anything by Wallace Stegner
Am reading MODOC, an elephant story right now.
Loved The Bean Trees etc by Kingsolver
Beryl Markham stories….excellent
I really liked Atonement by Ian McEwan and Saturday has been on my to-read list for a long time. I’m currently reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Saffron Foer. It’s the book my book club chose for this month, but I’m having a hard time getting into it. Some of my friends devoured it though and loved it. It should be a great discussion tomorrow night 🙂
I’ve read many on your list, in some cases other books by the same author. Everything is Illuminated has been on my list this year, but my book club picked Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (by my recommendation) and I need to read it (again) first. So many books, so little time, eh?
I love A Widow for One Year and it is probably time for me to read it again, and I’m definitely reading Everything is Illuminated this summer. My suggestion for a great summer read would be Mary Stewart’s Merlin trilogy:
The Crystal Cave
The Hallow Hills
The Last Enchantment
All three books were republished in one volume which I think is just titled the Merlin Trilogy.
I plan to check into #5 and 6. Wasn’t The Road good. Did you see the movie?
had to laugh at your #10 comment-i’m in the same camp! the only other on your list i’ve read is The Bell Jar, and that was in college. i do have Suite Francaise on my desk; i’ve just read a few pages.
I knew you would have a really smart & cool list!!
love jonathan safran foer – and have suite francaise on my bookshelf – now I’m going to read it! …and maybe try dh lawrence, too. thanks for the recommendations!
I am reading Everything is Illuminated right now — and loving it. Your list is fabulous!
Wow I own 2 of those books and haven’t read them because my hubby said I would hate them (and I’m pretty sure I would after reading the back). You seem to like deep books 🙂