Chicks On Lit discussion

I'm going on vacation for two weeks this summer and need some recommendations for good beach reads. I have a ton of books on my shelf that I have yet to read...if anyone is interested, maybe you could give a suggestion from my to-read shelf. Or if there are any books in general, that aren't on my shelf, but that would make a great beach read, please let me know! I'm not even sure what exactly I'm in the mood to read and I think that's the problem. HELP!! :)

I'm reading The Forgotten Garden now and loving it. That one's on your TBR. And here's one that isn't: To Be Sung Underwater. Ooh, and this one! Outer Banks

Jackie...Heres a great beach read! UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, by Francs Mayes. A woman divorces, buys a broken down villa in Italy (her friends thinks she crazy) and begins to restore it. She's a bestselling poet, gourmet cook and novelist and this book is beautifully written. (pubbed in 1998, was a No. 1 bestseller)

Filled with stories about the lives and loves of her workers, her neighbors, all the little artists in neighboring towns. Also full of scrumptious recipes, history of Italy, and thoughts about life, love, and God.Its really a feast for all the senses. I thought it was a travel book but then couldn't put it down! A book I will keep forever!
Happy reading! Kiana

Author of OPIUM DREAMS, and THE SPY LOVER (in August)
kianadavenportdialogues.blogspot.com

On a trip to North Carolina beaches a couple of years ago, I read Garden Spells. I just loved reading that book which took place in North Carolina, at the same time that I was there. Not a "beach read" exactly, but loads of fun.

Kiana wrote: "Jackie...Heres a great beach read! UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, by Francs Mayes. A woman divorces, buys a broken down villa in Italy (her friends thinks she crazy) and begins to restore it. She's a bests..."

Actually, the plot from Under the Tuscan Sun is quite different from the movie. However, still an excellent beach read. So is Bella Tuscany.

Very true Tina! Under The Tuscan Sun the book is part memoir and part travel memoir & the movie is very different, in fact, completely different from the book! It's one of my favorite memoirs and would make a great 'beach' read too!

Tina...it is VERY different from the movie. The book is much richer and deeper! But I loved the movie with Diane Lane. This happens so often with books and movies.

The one movie I have always thought was better than the book was THE ENGLISH PATIENT. BRILLIANT. It got 8 or 9 Oscars. There is so much they did visually in the movie that was not possible in the book.
I loved Juliette Binoche, the nurse. And the young Indian sapper.

Jacki, from your to-read shelf, I enjoyed The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Lightning Thief. Both were fun books. I also see that you want to read The Poisonwood Bible. That is a great book, but one to be savored.

A book I accidentally took to the beach once (thinking it would be lighter and steamier than it was, though I was pleasantly surprised) was The Twentieth Wife. It's a historical fiction based on real people in India. If you like mysteries, The Virgin of Small Plains was a page turner. Juliet was also a fun book that I was sorry when it ended.

I always take too many books with me on vacation because I never know what I'll want to read when I get there! I hope you find some perfect reads and have fun on your vacation!

One more comment. I think everyone should read THE POISONWOOD BIBLE. Kingsolver is a wonderful writer. And the history in this novel is amazing. As well as its impact on a family living in Africa. A book with everything. Life, love, God, religion, politics, all seen through the eyes of a girl becoming a woman.

You will never forget it. She says it took her thirty! years to write it. Happy reading to you all!

Hello Jacki


Well I've heard a lot of good things about The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, although I haven't read it yet :-)
The next Stieg Larsson book, also on your shelf, I quite enjoyed.

I have a few other recommendations - depending on your mood :-)

YA
Over Sea, Under Stone - short, light and very well written. One of the few series I've re-read as an adult and not been disappointed.

The Shamer's Daughter well written and original.

Crime/thriller:
The Darkest Room I had to cheat and read the ending in advance because I couldn't bear to read on otherwise!

You might also enjoy
Tokyo Fiancée

Jacki,

I think you might like These Is My Words, a great story of a courageous woman.
I also see that you have The Glass Castle on your list. This was also quite an interesting story of how three children grew up with lots of bad parenting. Fascinating stuff...
I happen to love Pat Conroy so I would recommend his Beach Music as a wonderful summer read. There is a lot to it, but it is funny, sad, emotional and a great read.

Thank you for the recommendations, everyone! I'm sure I'll be taking more than a few of these titles with me....can't wait for long days spent in front of the ocean with a great book in my hand!

Have fun, Jacki. Another good one is Prodigal Summer, an all-time favorite of mine.

I would recommend The Innocent Kept Woman, a new e-book on Kindle. I just finished it. Loved it!

If you're in the mood for some YA summer beach reading, then The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is perfect, I loved this book and read the 2nd one fallowing also, still have the third to enjoy.

1. The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009)
2. It's Not Summer Without You (2010)
3. We'll Always Have Summer (2011)

My summer reading: Can't wait to start them!!!

And for something a bit tropical:

Oh, and you can never go wrong with

I'll second The Forgotten Garden. I just devoured it this weekend. Not a beach read so much though...my favorite beach read was Sullivan's Island. It goes really quick but it's just so entertaining and very beach like.

Kiana wrote: "One more comment. I think everyone should read THE POISONWOOD BIBLE. Kingsolver is a wonderful writer. And the history in this novel is amazing. As well as its impact on a family living in Afri..."

Kiana - Your comments are extremely persuasive; I just moved Under the Tuscan Sun and The Poisonwood Bible to the top of my TBR list. And I will also be renting the English Patient this weekend. Thanks for the suggestions.

I think the author Mary Kay Andrews has great 'beach' reads! My favorite was Savannah Blues.
And Barbara O'Neal's The Lost Recipe for Happiness was a great book.
and Elin Hilderbrand's The Blue Bistro or
Barefoot
For YA I thought Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins was great and I am never sorry to read any of Sara Dessen's books; Lock and Key or The Truth About Forever...to name a couple.
OK
that's enough...getting carried away looking through my book list!!

If you want light beach reads then i suggest "Life's a beach" By claire Cook, "And one more thing" by molly harper & Wicked business by Janet evanovich. Have fun on your vacation!

Jacki wrote: "I'm going on vacation for two weeks this summer and need some recommendations for good beach reads. I have a ton of books on my shelf that I have yet to read...if anyone is interested, maybe you co..."

Have you tried Freudian Slip by Erica Orloff? Fun and clever book.

When I think beach read I think Dorothea Benton Frank, Pat Conroy, or Fannie Flagg. Also The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood or The Saving Graces. Another fan of Beach Music here! My favorite book!!

Kiana, I also loved The English Patient. That scene in the dark with the painted icons....

If you want to get lost in a world, however, Dickens is hard to beat. For me, it's Bleak House.

Shelley, http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com

Kiana wrote: "Jackie...Heres a great beach read! UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, by Francs Mayes. A woman divorces, buys a broken down villa in Italy (her friends thinks she crazy) and begins to restore it. She's a bests..."

Love Under the Tuscan Sun . . . read it.

The Beach

ANY Elin Hilderbrand, but especially Blue Bistro. AMAZING

Eleanore wrote: "My sister is reading The Seeds of a Daisyand she said it is one of the best page turners she's read in years. I think they are going to have the book as a buddy read for the book. I'm taking it to ..."
I'll have to look for this one...hope you have a good weekend at the beach!

Kiana wrote: "Jackie...Heres a great beach read! UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, by Francs Mayes. A woman divorces, buys a broken down villa in Italy (her friends thinks she crazy) and begins to restore it. She's a bests..."

This book was made into a film in 2003. If you're on IMDB, here's the link http://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0328589/

Barley and Pea...are you two friends of the author, or are you sock puppets?

Barley, this is your only comment in this group. You have only reviewed 1 book on Goodreads, and it is this Daisy book, and you seem to be going to a lot of places mentioning this one book. You also only have one friend (Paula) here on Goodreads, and she has read ZERO books, but has 1 "to read" book, which is Daisy. Paula is also a "friend" of the author.

Pea, this is also your only comment in this group. You have also only reviewed 1 book on Goodreads, and it is this Daisy book. And looking at your profile you are also mentioning this book all over Goodreads. You also have a "friend" named Steven who has only shelved 1 book on Goodreads, and again, it is the Daisy book.

The author was kind enough to give away some copies of this book on this group, and were planning on doing a buddy read and discussion of the book. But if we start getting spammed by faked accounts, spam accounts, or sock puppet accounts, we will not be reading and discussing the book at all. Nobody likes to be spammed, and it will not be tolerated in this group.

Carrie wrote: "ANY Elin Hilderbrand, but especially Blue Bistro. AMAZING"

I loved Blue Bistro too! I think it is still my favorite by this author!

I just finished Sea Change and think it would be a great beach read!

I recently finished The Bungalow and would highly recommend it as a light summer read. I read the novel in one day. It was captivating and whimsical with a touch of mystery. Now I am dying to go to Bora Bora....most expensive book I have ever purchased. ;)

Cindy wrote: "Carrie wrote: "ANY Elin Hilderbrand, but especially Blue Bistro. AMAZING"

I loved Blue Bistro too! I think it is still my favorite by this author!

I just finished Sea Change and think it woul..."

Sea Change sounds like a book I would like. I read a couple books by Karen White while at the beach, and they're perfect beach reads! Thanks Cindy!

I just finished The Prize Winner Of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids On 25 Words Or Less. It's a touching memoir set in the 1950/60s. As I was reading it, I thought that it made a good summer read. It's easy going, touching and interesting.

Thank you Cindy for the suggestion of Savannah Blues. My family will be traveling there this summer and I was looking for some fictional reading set in the area besides Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.