The Next Best Book Club discussion

As a writer I'm so busy writing, I'm not busy reading. As a teacher, I'm often so busy teaching, I don't have time to read the things I invite my kids to read. Now the book's finally out in the world and the school year's almost done, so...

I'm off to the library. I need ideas. What will knock my socks off?

I run toward the fantastical, like sci-fi/fantasy/horror. I've never read many mysteries as they seem too much by the numbers. I lean toward more conservative styles, so heavy sex / violence / language isn't my thing. My last few books have been YA to keep up with my class, so I'm hoping to find something more epic.

I'm looking for something immersive, not just light summer reading. Something that I can disappear into and, when I emerge, I wake up groggy and a week's gone by.

Any ideas?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

or

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Both of these books were well worth the time spent reading. And as teaching tools both of them worth above a $1 million price tag.

have you tried Joe Abercrombie? - i'm not a huge fantasy fan, but I loved the first book in his The Third Law series - now admittedly I did listen to it, not read it - but it has been described as epic fantasy - The Blade Itself

Theres always the classics. like J.R.R. Tolkein, H.G Wells, and Ernest Hemmingway. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is really a really in depth read, if you havent read it already. The Hobbit was my first love!

A couple great titles that are awesome reads as an adult but also YA titles that you can recommend to kids -- Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo and Pure by Julianna Baggott. Very gripping, and both are the first of trilogies down the road.

I was wowed by The Book Thief, The Magician's Assistant, Sparrow and Children of God ---

The Host is my favorite sci-fi/fantasy read so far. I liked The Host much more than I did Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series.

The Dresden Files is an awesome urban fantasy series on 13 books now.. With 10 more to come..
It revived my love for books, so it might do the same for you..
It's a series that just gets deeper and deeper the more you get into it, there are several plotlines, and supporting characters which evolve over the series..
It's heavy on magic, the main protagonist being a wizard, and there is plenty of suspense and action, without it ever really getting gritty.
It doesnt start out epic, but ends up being it around book 4-5..
It has one sexscene in the middle of the series, but other than that it's pretty "decent..
The audiobook version is particularly great, and really makes Harry Dresden come alive.. I found audiobooks a great way to get started with books again, after lawschool killed my need to read..
I recommend them highly..

Storm Front

I really enjoyed -

It's a sci-fi/adventure.

Uhmmmm.... Read anything by Garcia Marques, Borges, Jorge Amado... Something Latin-American ...

or a French novel =P

An oldie but goodie...The Belgariad Series. The first book is Pawn of Prophecy.

For me, the book that revived my love for books was The Poisonwood Bible. Still a favorite, after many years.

Stephen R. Donaldson anyone of his series are good. I'm partial to the White Gold Wielder/Thomas Covenant but maybe that's because I just bought the 1st volume in the 3rd series. =-)

If you're working with YA Lit, you've probably all-ready read The Hunger Games. If not, I'll guarantee you 'll "wake up groggy" at the end of the third book of the trilogy.
I also loved The Help and Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. Crooked Letter,although the characters were sterotypes, still had you wishing you could just sit down and talk to these people before they screwed up their lives.
The Help is Epic in my opinion.I think it will be the next "To Kill a Mocking Bird."
Another one I liked came from the UK -The Ghosts of Belfast. Although its' a mystery it has a bit of the Paranormal, prehaps. You never know if the narrator - is pyschotic or really talks to Dead People. It's also a trilogy,but I haven't found book 2 or 3 yet.

You should look into The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. It incorporates everything you mentioned above, a little sci-fi, fantasy and horror mixed with a bit of mysticism. Will keep you guessing the whole way through!

I'll second to the Lace reader :D

I loved The Poinswood Bible. It is one of the few books that I have read twice! It meant even more to me the second time than the first! This is Barbara Kingsolvers best work!

I've read a few of these, but a few I'll have to check out. Thanks for the insight (and if there are more ideas, bring 'em on). :)

Try Brandon Sanderson's adult books. My husband says they're really great and a breath of fresh air as far as fantasy goes! He keeps trying to get me to read them, but I haven't yet! :P

My suggestions would be:

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The Green Mile

A Separate Peace

After reading the first reply to your post,it reminded me to mention My Stroke ot Insight by Jill Bolte- a brain surgeon who woke up one morning with a headache and became immobilized by her stroke. Her recovery is described. It's good for talking about learning and tenacity.

Just finished reading the blockbuster 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking' by Susan Cain. The book explores the psychology of the introvert, and makes the case that introversion has plenty of benefits and advantages--despite the fact that our society has a deeply entrenched bias towards extroversion (which often makes introverts feel like second-class citizens--if not outright defective or diseased). I've written an executive-style summary of the book at newbooksinbrief.wordpress.com

Cheers,
Aaron

I agree with Nicole's suggestion of The Shadow of the Wind. If I had ever lost my passion for books, that would have restored my love for them. It's a stay-up-all-night book. Although, oddly, I disliked The Angel's Game so much, I couldn't finish it.

I'd recommend Shōgun by James Clavell.

A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES by John Kennedy Toole perhaps?

Or THE MASTER AND MARGARITA by Mikhail Bulgakov...immersive indeed!

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Erik wrote: "As a writer I'm so busy writing, I'm not busy reading. As a teacher, I'm often so busy teaching, I don't have time to read the things I invite my kids to read. Now the book's finally out in the wor..."

Although it can arguably be classed as YA, if you haven't already read it, you might try Diana Wynne Jones's "Fire and Hemlock"? It's essentially a reworking of "Tam Lin" within a modern setting but there are a number of other myths and fables which get a look in once the narrative gets going, so it's one you can re-read and get more out on a second occasion if you're so inclined. There are light hearted moments but equally a depth beneath that. Various other works also get a mention, so it's also a little like Jo Walton's "Among Others" in that respect.

"Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" if you haven't already read it? It's a lengthy read but totally engrossing and very well written!

The book that renewed my love of reading was The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. It isn't sci-fi but definitely is what I consider to be a horror story that builds suspense.

Written to knock your socks off...


by
Matthew Akers

http://www.sonofadam.org

Anything by Gail Tsukiyama

"Ask the Dust" by John Fante is a must read and for something sardonic I would recommend anything ever written by David Sedaris (love him to death !!!)

If you like sci-fi and fantasy, you might want to try The Age of Miracles by Karen Walker. I picked it up from the "new books" shelf at the library. I'm not totally into either of these genres, but I enjoyed this novel. However, I wouldn't say it's epic.

If you want epic, you might try George R.R. Martin's series A Song of Ice and Fire. Begin with the first one in the series. The first one is the best.

How about Ready Player One or Year Zero

Ready Player One had me going "I remember that" more times than I care to admit. Year Zero was a nice, humorous SF story that kept me amused for hours.

you should try the song of ice and fire series - epic fantasy it's great: A Game of Thrones
and also The Night Circus i loved it a world full of magic, good magic and love:)

The Night Circus, Wool, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Divergent were all really good books that I read in 2012. Wool has five parts to it but it's a surprisingly quick read. Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Divergent are both the first books in a trilogy. I also loved The Passage and the sequel to it (The Twelve) just came out this past year.

One more...The Book Thief was excellent!

These are nice suggestions folks, I might try to check these out when I finish my current selection.

For those of you who like YA, NA, have you read Rebecca Donovans Reason to Breathe and Barely breathing? I must say i was barely breathing reading some of it

I definitely agree with Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey and would also suggest some Neal Stephenson. I'd recommend starting with The Diamond Age or Snow Crash and once he's hooked you, hunker down to read Anathem.

Have you read Knock Knock??? by Suzanne McNear- a moving historic fiction that follows main character, "March Rivers," from her childhood during WWII, through to her wild career at Playboy (Chicago in the 60's) and into her older adult life. -- it's a fictional memoir.

Definitely Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey. Have you read any of Anne McCaffrey's SF books? The Crystal Singer Trilogy is my favorite of her books, with the Dragonriders of Pern books a close second.

Anything by Neal Stephenson. Try "Cryptonomicon" first. Seriously, read him; you'll thank me.

Wool Omnibus, then Shift Omnibus in that order...both by Hugh Howie. Outstanding! Best sci-fi I've read in years and years and years...probably ever!

Confederacy of Dunces by John Toole was brilliant and got me back into reading years ago.

The Last Man by Vince Flynni finished a bit ago and was some incredibly good writing. I will be reading more of his work for sure!

Fantasy: The Sword of Shannara series by Terry Brooks was amazing.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline was a very fun read if you grew up in the 80's. I my have finishe that in a day because i could not put it down.

I read The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard recently. Great story. I loved it!
Sue

Can't go wrong with Stephen King. I'm currently listening to the audio of 11/22/63 and it is riveting!

The only one on the list I have read is The Magus. I really liked it. It is very long, but awesome. I love John Fowles, and I like all of his books.

Oh... and it's bizarre too. If that helps!! lol

Hey...
I've read CeeCee and Water for Elephants,and while people seem to rave about Water for Elephants, I just thought it was okay. CeeCee I thought was better,but having lived in the South may bias me.I've heard lots of raves for Night Circus though.

The Night Circus was wonderful. One of my favorite books that I read last year. If you like YA sci fi you should pick up Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. The second book also came out not too long ago and it was even better than the first. I also liked the Divergent series (2 books so far, 3rd has yet to come out).