Tuesday, June 5, 2012

book recommendations needed!

state of wonder

I finished State of Wonder over the weekend. I loved it so much.  It's hard to describe, but basically a doctor travels to the Amazonian jungle to investigate the death of her lab partner and in so doing encounters a former professor/fellow doctor who figured prominently into her past.

The thing is, Ann Patchett is such an amazing writer and storyteller, it doesn't matter what she is writing about, all her books are fantastic (and I have read them all). 

So now I am feeling super bereft without a good book to read.  Any Ann Patchett fans out there?  I'd love to hear what other writers you like.

16 comments:

Sarah said...

I am currently looking for a new good book, I am a bit of a over obsessive about books and just devour anything I can get my hands on I will have to check out this author's stories:).
I am a big fan of Wally Lamb's writing style, love classics, and am finding a new pleasure in anything autobiographical. Let me think about it and post a few book titles later :)

Sarah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Luisa said...

Ohhh great reads definitely. I can't remember the last thing I read by Ann Patchett but I have quite a few books.
Some good reads I could recommend
Anything by Adriana Trigiani she is my absolute favorite for something light fun and not cheesy romanance. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman or other book The Red Garden. Anything by Billie Letts. The Glass Castle by Jeannett Walls it's a memoir about her life very good. She has a second book and it's about her grandmother haven't read it yet. The last book I read was The Sisters by Nancy Jensen. I'm intrigued by this next book I want to read The Story of Beautiful Girl it's about 2 people who run away from a mental institution and have a baby. Ok I better stop I think I've shared enough and you get the point I love to read. Hope you find something you enjoy :)

Make!Do! said...

I kind of love using this tool - it's not always right on but it's fun to explore:
http://www.yournextread.com/us/
When I entered State of Wonder, it came up with jennifer Egan's Visit From the Goon Squad and Jonathan Franzen's Freedom (did love both) and I would add Alice Munro for the details and Carol Shields for the characters you want to know forever. They both remind me of Ann Patchett, or vice versa.

Anonymous said...

ooh. the girl who fell from the sky. i just finished it and l LOVED IT!

also, there is a really good reading list here:

http://theartofseeingthings.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/part-two-great-summerearly-fall-book-list/

BenBirdy1 said...

That was one of the best books I ever read. I hear you. Try In Zanesville next. JoAnn Beard. xo

andrea W said...

I too enjoyed that book. I listened to it on CD and Hope Davis was narrating it, which I loved. Other favorites I've recently read are "The Forgotten Garden", "Cutting for Stone", "The Dirty LIfe" (non-fiction), "The Thirteenth Tale".

Chelsey said...

Excited to hear other recommendations. I easily find non-fiction to read, but have such a hard time finding fiction.

Elodie said...

If you go on Mumsnet go to the Talk section and click on Bookclub there are lots of sub headings.Adult fiction has lots of recommendation threads.The Richard and Judy collections often have some gems in.I loved I Capture the Castle years ago,ditto Dusty Answer.Currently reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

M. Meyers said...

I love anything by Belva Plain. Start with the Wermer Family Saga (Evergreen is the first one). I laughed my way through The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. I'm in a book club. We read Dovekeepers last month and State of Wonder this month.

Mary Beth said...

Thank you so so much, everyone. I'm going to follow up on all of these. I'm going with In Zanesville first--downloaded it to my iPad. I'll let you know how I like it.

Tia said...

Oh my. I could go on and on about books.

Some of my favorites:

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldan. Huge series. Historical fiction about a woman how goes back in time. Love.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee.

Ghengis by Conn Iggulden. This is a series too, about Ghengis Khan. I was skeptical but so so good.

One Second After by William Forchem. About the somewhat end of the world. Will scare the pants off you.

Happy Reading!

PatsyAnne said...

I am in LOVE with the first book in a "series" - Merry Hall by Beverly Nichols. Non-Fiction but reads like a comfortable fiction. English gentleman seeks to move out of London after WWII and finds an old estate in terrible condition however he loves that - takes with him his "gentleman's gentleman" and his tow cats, "1" and "4". There they encounter an elderly gardner, sweet little old ladies and more garden drama than you can shake a stick at. The first book (Merry Hall) introduces you to all his neighbors, problems of living at the end of the war and his ideas for the old home and gardens. Such a peaceful story that you don't want it to end - but then remember, there are two more in this series.

alicia said...

I loved The Guersney Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a perfect mix of heavy and light with wonderful characters. Just started The Forgotten Garden and a friend recommended Moloka'i by Alan Brennert.

Dayna said...

Check out Let The Great World Spin...it also has that masterful writing style.

Rachel said...

Love Anne Patchett but haven't read this one yet...will do so soon hopefully! My recommendations include anything by Barbara Kingsolver. I recently read The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman and LOVED it. Happy summer reading! Are you on Goodreads? If so, I'm rachandlily