Huckleberries Online

Beth: What’s Good To Read?

Posted by DFO

March 30, 2009 1:45 p.m. • 25 comments

I went a long period of time a few years ago reading almost nothing in the form of a novel, as I didn’t want to impact my own writing style by picking up other authors’ styles inadvertently. I’m over that speed bump, and am back to reading good books. But a lot of the books I pick up now — granted, somewhat at random — seem to be missing something. Either I don’t particularly care about the hero, or I can sense that some editor came in and butchered a really, really good manuscript. … I don’t want to read only the classics, tried and true. And I don’t want to resort to reading only “bubblegum” books (fun books that I enjoy reading but that don’t have a lot of substance). I’m really interested in reading today’s good novelists. I don’t have a genre preference, though I’m not particularly impressed with the new trend of trying to attach readers to heroes with no moral compass/Beth Bollinger, Accidental Rabbit Trails.

Question: Any suggestions for “good read” books?

25 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

JeanieSpokane on March 30 at 1:53 p.m.
The Stephanie Plumb mystery books by Janet Evanovich. Be prepared to spew food as you laugh out loud. I have all fourteen of them, and enjoy re-reading them. Well, Stephanie may not have a very good moral compass - but her adventures are a lot of fun. Not heavy reading but enjoyable.
scootermom on March 30 at 1:56 p.m.
Try the “Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency” series by Andrew McCall Smith.

Very charming stories, with a real sense of place and a powerful cast of characters. Not a heavy read, but thoroughly enjoyable stories driven by characters with strong values.
JeanC on March 30 at 2:04 p.m.
Have to 2nd the Stephanie Plum books and the Ladies No.1 Detective Agency series. Both are great and I also suggest no food and drink while reading while reading about Stephanie’s adventures.

I recommend the Odelia Grey series by Sue Ann Jaffarian. Odelia is a paralegal who just seems to get involved in murders, much to the dismay of her friends.

For something completely different, I recommend the Ring of Fire series of books started by Eric Flint. First book is “1632” and tells what happens when the small West Virginia town of Grantville is scooped up from the year 2000 and dropped into Germany during the 30 years War.
Nick_Adams on March 30 at 2:34 p.m.
Christopher Moore’s books are a very good read. Well-written, snarky and hilarious.

Start with “Lamb” or “Bloodsucking Fiends”.
blushresponse on March 30 at 2:40 p.m.
Today’s good novelists? That I can not give you advice for but I’ll still suggest Carl Sagan’s Contact… It’s an annual read for me and it definitely shows in the binding.
BethB on March 30 at 5:05 p.m.
Oh my gosh, everybody. This is so cool! And much appreciated. I haven’t read any of these - I’m very interested in Carl Sagan (I knew about his TV series but I didn’t realize he had a book too). Keep ‘em coming! And thanks for some non-lawyer book suggestions too. I do read some law books/mysteries, but as a lawyer I tend to shy away from getting to engrossed in that world for diversion, since I already live in it.
JeanieSpokane on March 30 at 5:38 p.m.
Let me be the first to say, Stephanie Plumb is absolutely a diversion! Really!
sue on March 30 at 5:42 p.m.
Anything Jodi Picoult. I have enjoyed the Stephanie Meyers vampire series, definitely not heavy at all. I liked the Ladies No.1 Detective series, and Stephanie Plumb. Good choices.
florined on March 30 at 6:34 p.m.
Beth, I mentioned a few weeks ago, I think, that I was happily looking forward to the next John Dunning book. I read the 1st 4 and have been intrigued by the background he uses: that of the rare book business.

Meanwhile, I’m reading the Harlan Coben books. I had worked through the Bolitar series, but am finding that I like his “stand alone” offerings even more.
Stickman on March 30 at 8:29 p.m.
I have been reading the James Herriot books of late. Like ‘Vet in Harness’, And ‘All things Bright and Beautiful’. Though I am a vegetarinan, I like his style. They are definintely old school books, a good read for sure.
mia on March 30 at 9:11 p.m.
This along with many other reasons, is why I LOVE Huckleberries!
Awesome.
Escapee on March 30 at 9:16 p.m.
Try True Crime novels. It’s amazing what Actual People Really Do. I think Ann Rule is an especially good writer; she’s got a conversational writing style, and doesn’t over-explain legal proceedings when the Case goes to Trial. Also, Never Buy Paperbacks New. That way, if you happen to buy a book that’s not so hot, you won’t be disappointed, at least from a monetary standpoint.
Lynne on March 31 at 8:29 a.m.
Very few books I’ll read again and again, but one I read over and over and have bought lots of copies to pass along is “Illusions: Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah” by Richard Bach.
Another is a small set of books of poetry by Javan.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.