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Friday, July 6, 2012

Would love some book recommendations!

I am currently enthralled with the HBO series Game of Thrones, and when I finished season 2 I decided to read the books. I have never been a big fantasy genre reader, but maybe I have been missing out on something.  The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin (the books on which the Game of Throne series is based) are amazing – as much as I love the series, reading the books provides so much more background and character development, and I feel as if I understand the story so much better. I am reading the series on my kindle, which is a somewhat new experience for me – I was a reluctant convert to the Kindle, but really enjoy it now.

Another series that I love, and often cite as my favorite books, are the Pillars of the Earth series by Ken Follett.  It is a sweeping series, the central theme of which is the building of a cathedral in 12th century England.  Any book with architecture as one of its central themes is a great book to me, but the stories and characters are spellbinding too!

CLick through to Amazon to read the descriptions.  And please let me know if you have any great recommendations for fiction books – I am in a big time reading mode this summer!


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20 comments:

  1. So happy to see you've fallen in love with The Game of Thrones - I agree with you wholeheartedly that the books give the background info that the HBO series cannot (and yet, the series has brought my hubby and I the best home date nights ever). My neighbor and I are reading The Brother's Karamazov (Richard Pevear's translation is best) and loving it. We plan to read a classic each month or so.

    xomichele

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  2. As a daughter of a librarian, granddaughter of an English teacher and former school counselor, reading is my all time favorite form of escape. I have a booklist on my blog here that I periodically revise http://ifstonescouldtalk.blogspot.com/2012/01/updated-book-list-from-mom.html. I would encourage you to read East of Eden by Steinbeck and Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Lighter reading fare would be the Divergent trilogy. Great futuristic story akin to Hunger Games. I concur that Brother's Karamazov is amazing (I was a Slavic Studies major in college so all things Russian are a fave of mine!), but it is definitely not light reading. I, too, am a recent, albeit reluctant, convert to the Kindle. I recently purchased Snow Child, Language of Flowers, and several books by Michael Gruber. Happy Reading!

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    1. Thank you! I loved East of Eden, but have not read it in years - it is a favorite. I will check out your book list!

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  3. I adore the HBO series, did not even think about reading the books until now! Based on the reviews, books 1-3 are superb - some say the best they have ever read. I am ordering now!


    Russ

    P.S. Pillars of the Earth is on my list too

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    1. I am on book 4 now - books 1-3 were fantastic (especially 3), book 4 dragging a bit - but still enjoyable.

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  4. I haven't read Game of Thrones or the HBO series but I am beginning to think I am missing out!
    I just blogged about Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walker today which I thought was a wonderful read.
    Hope you find some good ones, nothing better than summer reading when the pace slows down.
    Happy weekend,

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  5. My favorite historical trilogy is Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigfid Undsted set in fourteenth century Norway. The Nobel prize wining work must be read in its entirety to capture the depths of the heroine's character development over her lifetime. I have read the set a couple of times and have recommended it to my college students as an example of truly great literature! You won't be disappointed!

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  6. S U M M E R T I M E and the reading is easy!!! Anything by Pat Conroy a/o Anne Rivers Siddon a/o spiked lemonade....franki

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  7. I second The Mom's choice of The Fountainhead - a great classic. And if you've never read it, Loving Frank (as in Frank Lloyd Wright) will blow you away. Be prepared.

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  8. My most recent favorite grouping of historical novels are from a critical and painful part of our history. They include March by Geraldine Brooks, The March by E.L. Doctorow, The Known World by Edward P.Jones. Then, follow them w/non-fiction--The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. All these authors have distinct and wonderful voices, telling powerful stories. And, every so often, I go back and re-read Doctorow's Ragtime, just for fun.

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  9. OMG! Holly, we need to chat!!! I am the biggest game of thrones fan. HBO shows are amazing....so many plots and subplots. I love mama dragon...can't spell her name. I have not read the books....so don't give away the plots.

    And, I loved Pillars.....watched that on HBO, too. I plan on reading the books. Poor Tom Builder!

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  10. I'm an author and so I usually read a lot of stuff in my own genres (I write women's fiction and Paranormal) and have fallen in love with a few outstandingly fun reads:
    1)"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern. It's about a two magicians who are in a battle to the death set in a late 1800's mystique backdrop. It's simply magical!
    2)Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs. Another story filled with gifted children who may or may not be real. The images in the novel are all antiques and are all real. Very cool.
    3)"Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. It's set in a futuristic society in which we all live our lines online. The mastermind behind this online world has created a game in which online players who can solve his riddles will inherit his vast fortune. All of his riddles are based on the 1980's. It's such a fun book for anyone who lived in the 80's.

    Wishing you tons of great reading,

    Roxanne Price

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    1. Thank you for the wonderful suggestions! I got my daughter book 2 for Christmas - I am going to grab it and read it!

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  11. Thanks a lot for the book recommendations. I havent read the book yet so maybe I'll try and read it. Nice page indeed.

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  12. Hi Holly,
    My college aged son is hooked on Thrones and I've just recently watched a few episodes-I was lost but thought it was good.

    I just ordered The Rook by Daniel O'Malley and Lady Almina-The Lost Legacy of Highclere aka the real Downton Abbey!
    ~R

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    1. I was completely lost during season 1, then it all came together in season 2. Reading the books made me understand everything completely - I can't wait for season 3!

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  13. Well, this books will surely help me survive the weather for I am running out of books to read. Those books really looks interesting. Great page.

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  14. Roxanne - thanks for your recommendations! LOVED the Night Circus! Will have to check out the rest. . . I am a huge reader and love my Kindle, although I read most often on the Kindle app on my iPad (I am a nighttime reader and the light allows my husband to sleep and me to be in bed - plus the black page mode has so little light that I can read right next to him when he is sleeping and not disturb him!). I read anything and everything - love Pillars of the Earth plus John Patterson and Jackie Collins:) Thanks for the recommendation on the Game of Thrones. Just bought the first one (Kindle of course!) No recommendations but happy reading ;)

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  15. Holly,
    I too have enjoyed the HBO series but my adult son recommended the books as well. I may have to embark on that project. I am eagerly awaiting the latest Louise Penny book in her Gamache series. Her murder mysteries involve Inspector Gamache of the Surete du Quebec and are filled to the brim with such vivid descriptions of a lovely village, the great food they eat and the cast of characters. I often site "Pillars of the Earth" as my favorite book as well. :-)
    Karen

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  16. I have a ton of great reco's for beach reads and beyond!

    I'm having a bit of a Downton Abbey moment and have been reading a lot of Wharton including my favorite "House of Mirth." Also a good one is "The American Heiress" buy Daisy Goodwin and "The Uninvited Guests" by Sadie Jones.

    Follow me on goodreads - Lauren Finney - I have a huge list if you're ever looking for other reco's!

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