Author |
Message |
Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, October 23, 2006 - 8:32 am
I thought we might need a place to make requests or tell people what books we are reading and suggest them. I know there is a "what we are reading" and a "books we love" thread, but some things just don't fit there. So maybe someone can help me. I love to read. Love it. However, I have two kids and sometimes just can't go out and buy the books I want incase they end up a waste of money, then I am stuck with stupid books. I like western romance, but lately I have been wanting to read something that is a period novel. Doesn't have to be a historical document, something with a good story, romance, mystery, etc. I don't particularly care for these mass market paperbacks that have the same type of plot, different character names, etc. Gets old after the umpteenth book. I read the Fern Michaels series, Texas, Kentucky, and Vegas, and loved them, they flowed nicely. Something set pre-civil war, or even pre-revolutionary war. Any reccomendation is greatly appreciated. Do we do a book swap on TVCH?
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Monday, October 23, 2006 - 9:03 am
Have you tried any of John Jakes books? They are easy entertaining books with the western/historical/romance flavor. His North South series particularly stands out. I like the idea that each book is complete but he continues with next generations. Also there isn't a library worth its salt that doesn't have his books on their shelf.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, October 23, 2006 - 9:19 am
Really? Maybe I will run over to the library and check it out.
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Monday, October 23, 2006 - 9:43 am
lol! Supergranny. After reading Escapee's initial post, my first thought was I wonder if she had read any of the John Jakes books. So that's two recommendations for John Jakes. The North and South trilogy was really good. I also enjoyed the series the starting with The , The Rebel, etc. that covers American history from the time of the Revolutionary war to the early 1900's. There are also several stand alone books. "Charleston" comes to mind. And "California Gold". (I have it, but havent' read it yet.) Oh geez...I see that the title of the book is red dotted. Okay...how about this. The title character is a son to an unwed mother.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, October 23, 2006 - 1:34 pm
I am going to get these books. If you have more, keep em coming. (is this the same as the north and south movies that Patrick Swayze was in?) Tell me something else, though, is Great Expectations a good read? You know, there are all these greatly famous novels out there, this being one of them. I have read some in school, some on my own. Someone told me to read the Odyssey, that I'd love it. That it's a book everyone must read once in their life. Well I read it, and as for loving it, I didn't. Writing is like art, everyone has their own taste, so before I jump into reading another "famously great novel" could someone give me an over view of their own. Also, I have never read Wuthering Heights. Is it a good read? Is the language hard to follow in todays day?
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Monday, October 23, 2006 - 6:08 pm
Escapee, the Patrick Swayzee movies were based on the John Jakes novels, but they took a lot of liberties. So many that the second movie was totally different than the book. The books were much much better. I have a problem getting into classical literature. The language is so formal and somewhat stilted. If I have to stop and think too much about the meanings of words, it loses it's flow. For me, reading is pleasure not work. If it's too much work, I lose interest. Kind of like eating crabs....lots of work to get to the good stuff.
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Monday, October 23, 2006 - 7:26 pm
I agree with Marysafan. The classics are a lot of words dancing around the plot. I think you would enjoy really good writing like To Kill A Mockingbird or A Tree Grows In Brooklyn One of my favorite's is Cold Sassy Tree by Olivia Burns. Really makes you feel like you are in that Period. She only wrote that one book before she died and it is a jewel! Plus the fact that any good library will have these books or get them for you.
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Jeneane
Member
05-18-2005
| Monday, October 23, 2006 - 11:06 pm
I had to read Great Expectations in high school. Granted I was not in love with reading then as I am now but maybe because they made me read books like that. To me it was too full of meaningless details. It became tedious and hard to understand. You may also like reading Portraits in Sepia and Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. Years ago I read a book that has always stuck in my mind centered in California Gold Rush era called Calico Palace. Also liked The Immigrants very much which is an older book as well.
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 5:58 am
I remember reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I was young and loved it. Easy to read.
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Kattatude
Member
04-28-2005
| Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 7:23 am
John Jakes was the first author to pop into my head when Escapee posted this thread, too! LOL! It looks like he has some fans. Escapee, if you like western type books, you might want to read Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Although not a romance, it DOES have a bit of a love story woven throughout the book. It's a big book with very unique characters. You will find laughter, sadness, tenderness, brutality, friendship and yes, love on these pages. I cannot recommend it enough. I guarantee if you read this book, you will not soon forget the characters. It is in my top 3 favorite books of all time and it holds the number one spot, I guess...simply because I've read it 4 times. There was also a made for tv movie of the same name starring Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall. I have watched that countless times. In fact, my family wore out two videotapes of the movie and we now have it on dvd. lol. It was a mini-series, so it IS a long movie. Howard Fast is the author of the Immigrant Series, and as I recall I also loved those books. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a wonderful book. I just re-read it this past summer along with another book by the same author called Maggie Now. The author's name is Maggie Smith if you are interested in looking into either of those books, Escapee.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 8:09 am
I've read to kill a mockingbird and daughter of fortune. I ordered the John Jakes trilogy yesterday from amazon and only spent $16 total including shipping. Luckily I have never seen the North and South movies. I do reccomend the Fern Michaels series which includes the following books "Texas Rich", "Texas Heat", "Texas Fury", and "Texas Sunrise", which then goes into the series: "Vegas Rich", "Vegas Heat", "Vegas Sunrise", and the last set in the series is "Kentucky Rich", "Kentucky Heat", and "Kentucky Sunrise" It's ten books all together. It follows the same family through a period of years. Pretty good, easy to read. Reccomended. These are not seedy romance novels. They do show strong women in strong rolls, I enjoyed them.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 8:12 am
Oh, and I am going to pick up "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" because I have heard good things about it.
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Harsbars
Member
09-15-2005
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 5:43 am
I had to read Great Expectations as well in high school. Halfway through I gave up and read the rest through Coles notes or Cliff notes. LOL. Interestingly enough, my english teacher informed us that Charles Dickens was paid by the amount of words he wrote down. So to extend his pay, he would go on and on with descriptive paragraphs. Awful! 
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 2:04 pm
Escapee, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is wonderful! I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I read the book years ago, and its still in my bookcase, and that says alot. (I sell off books, to second hand bookstores, which don't resonate with me).
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Saggkl
Member
07-17-2002
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 2:45 pm
For anyone who might like fantasy. Have you read Eragon, and Eldest by Christopher Paolini? There is a movie coming out Dec 15th from his first book.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 3:02 pm
Just finished North and South by John Jakes, and now I am moving on to Love and War. So far I am really enjoying the history and family dynamic of these books. It really draws you in. Although, it tends to be lengthy in certain parts, it makes up for it. Thanks for the reccomendation. Tell me, was the movie as good as the book?
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Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 3:03 pm
We have both of those books, Saggkl. We're looking forward to the movie - the previews look good. Didn't I read where Paolini was still a teen when he wrote Eragon?
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Hermione69
Member
07-24-2002
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 3:05 pm
I read a lot of John Jakes' books a long time ago ,Escapee. The violence in parts unsettled me, but I think they were reminscient of the time period he was trying to capture and I always loved his characters. Aren't there good sex scenes, too? Or am I remembering someone else? 
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 3:16 pm
The sex scenes in the book are fairly descriptive, although nothing like a Nora Robert's book. Those will leave ya breathin' hard. The best book I have ever read, which is a true story, is Ride The Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson.....it's one of those stories that stays with you forever. My all time favorite book, for sure.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 3:17 pm
Okay, I just ordered Eragon and Eldest for one of my daycare boys. He loves reading and he's just about done with reading my Harry Potters.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 7:58 pm
My DS discovered Eragon when it first came out (he was 9 at the time and just devoured the book!). We're not only thrilled that the movie is coming out, I'm looking into getting both books on audio as well for DS's b-day. I'm tired of listening to Harry Potter CDs over and over in the car. 
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Friday, December 01, 2006 - 9:23 pm
Donovan is 11 so I am sure he will enjoy the books.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 7:12 pm
I bet he'll love 'em, Mamie! Let us know. 
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, December 04, 2006 - 8:35 am
I sure will. He saw the trailer for the movie and was saying how cool it looked and asked if we could go and see it so I'm thinking he'll enjoy the books.
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Saggkl
Member
07-17-2002
| Wednesday, December 06, 2006 - 2:11 pm
I hope they are together and I hope they are happy. A new relationship is a wonderful thing full of giddy happiness but also Yes he was. His family paid for the first publication. He went around to book stores and read from his book. Then apublisher bought the rights. That is one talented boy.}
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