Support Groups - What are your favorite Authors & books?

I thought since we have some avid readers amongst us we could share some of our favs. I am always looking for a good book to read.

My favorite Authors are:

Mary Higgins Clark
John Saul
LaVryle Spencer
Fern Michaels
Sandra Brown
Karen Robards
Belva Plain
Dean Koontz
John Grisham

Favorite Books:

I can't list all the good books I have read but everything I have read by all of the above have been good, and there are too many to list, especially by LaVryle Spencer-I have read all of her books and can attest to them all being good reading, that is if you like a good love story. With the exception of Bleachers by John Grisham. Now if you like football then that is the book for you. But the best book I have ever read and I have read it three times is: Lost and Found by Marilyn Harris-the best! I also liked:

A Painted House, The Summons & Skipping Christmas all by John Grisham
The Midnight Hour by Karen Robards
A Winter Haunting by Dan Simmons
Yesterday, and Plain Jane by Fern Michaels
Buried Lives by Nancy Star
The Trap by Tabitha King
After The Fire by Belva Plain

Most recent reads: Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark (good one)
No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel, also good and The Right Hand of Evil and another that I can't remember the title, maybe it will come to me,both by John Saul.


Just to name a few. I also like to read a lot of self-help books, inspirational stuff , all the Chicken Soup books, etc. Look forward to seeing others favs.

Oh my goodness......I don't know if I could name all of my favorites..

But I have most of Stephen Kings books.

How about childhood books? :dizzy: I used to have all of the Laura Ingals Wilder books :lol: Dr. Seuss!! :lol:

But off hand I like,

Dean Kootnz
Sue Grafton
Lisa Jackson

The books they wrote that I can remember:

Odd Thomas
A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, C is for Corpse
C is for Cowboy

Just to name a few because I really can't seem to remember the names of the authors of the books I have read. I've read so many but that was back in the day when I spent all my waking hours reading! Now I read before bed. With those three books.....each one is different. One is horror type book, one is a mystery type and the last one is a romance!! :D

This is a good thread....you all will give me idea's for future purchases!! Must prepare for my bookshelf that I'll get someday. (maybe by christmas)

Anyone ever read anything from Woody Allen??? I read a story that was VERY good. I really liked it. It was a twigh light zone type of short story. I read it in my Literature Class I had back the first time I went to school. I'm into those kinds of stories too.

Can you say Variety?? :lol:

Marti~I too read Dr. Suess, and all the Laura Ingels Wilder books. LOL I loved the Little House on the Prairie books. Also, in school Dick and Jane! Don't know what it was about Dick and Jane. I recently found a lot of them at Wal-Mart and had to buy them. I told Vince they are a part of my past that I loved, and enjoyed and had to have them! Also, have some Dick and Jane paperdolls! :lol: Too funny! I've never read anything by Woody Allen, didn't even know he wrote! Anyway...I too am looking for ideas, and some good books to read.

Cristi--The story from Woody Allen was in one of my lit books.....it was about this man whose life was uneventful and he wanted some excitment in his life...
So he finds this place that has a booth, gauranteed to make your life exciting! All you have to do is find a book you would like to be a part in insert it in the booth, sit down and instantly you become a character from the book. The man continues to live his fantasies with all kinds of books, mainly the romance type.....but towards the end something horrible goes wrong while he's in the booth, it was unstable, and a huge explosion occurs and kills the inventor of the booth outside ...but leaves the man in the booth in limbo--stuck in the book that was inserted.......

During the explosion....a dicitonary fell in...and so the story ends with him walking through the words never knowing how to get out!!

I liked it. Sorry I just gave the whole story away...but it was just a short story. I would like to find more short stories from Woody Allen if they're all like that. Kind of like a Albert Hitchcock story or a Twigh light zone kind of thing!!

That sounds like it was good Marti. I like books like that-love a good mystery, or love story, or something freaky sometimes, freaky as in scary.

Great thread, Cristi,

My favorite book of all time is Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.

I also like:
Non Fiction -
The Four Agreements - Miguel Ruiz (helped me to stop binge eating)
Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Loss Guide
Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
Any Beatrix Potter stories for children

Fiction -
John Grisham - especially the lawyer ones; The Client was my fave
Robert B. Parker - "Spencer for Hire" mysteries
Ed McBain - cop mysteries
Sue Grafton - I'm waiting for "R is for ?"
Barbara Taylor Bradford - A Woman of Substance (and it's sequels)
Belva Plain - Evergreen and the same story told in the man's point of view which is The Golden Cup
Mauve Binchey - Light a Penny Candle
Sidney Shelton - Master of the Game
Catherine Cookson - lots of Irish stories
JD Salinger - The Catcher in the Rye only. His other work was stinky.

Danielle Steel's early stuff was so much better than the cookie-cutter slop she has turned out in the past 10 years. It's all "creamy skin, rivers of champaign, buckets of coffee, blah blah blah..." Plus, she starts way too many sentences with the word "And".

I have more, but that's enough for now, lol.

Good ones Jana! I simply forgot about the classics-Gone With The Wind was also a favorite. So much so that when I was pregnant with C the name we had picked out for a boy was Ashley. I also love East of Eden. When Oprah started her book club up again I went and bought it and read it again-so good.

oh my,,,,
I will start with my earlier favs,,,Judy Blume,,,I read all her young adult books. Are you there God its me Margret, Fudgy. (this was another reason I wanted a girl,,,to read the same books I read)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory..Jacob Two Two and the hooded Fang, James and the Giant Peach
These were all read to us by our grade 3-4 teacher Mrs. Jessiman, I loved her so much she was the best teacher anyone could ever have...she sewed these huge cushions,,,made a small corner of her room THE NEST. We would all pile in and she would read these books. I was one of a few lucky ones to have her for 2 years,,,one for grade 3 then 4, in grade 3 I couldn't read,,,my name and that was it. I was a sickly child and spent months in the hospital and never had the chance to read with the others...so I was just bumped up and she caught on that I couldn't read. She would take me aside and help me as much as she could in school, then I would go to her house and do more lessons there...it helped that she read all these wonderful books to us all the time and I so wanted to read. By the time grade 5 came along I was an honor student and stayed that way to graduation,,,you should of seen Mrs. jessiman's face when I went up for my award...She was crying. Ok Im all weepy now...lol

My favorites now are Kathleen E Woodiwiss- Ashes in the Wind
Sandra Brown
Linda Lael Miller
James Patterson
Lisa Jackson
Beatrice Small
Nora Roberts
and my all time fav is Janet Evanovich
my favorite for reading to the kids was Dr. Suess and Robert Munch (Ill love you always is a great book to read if you want a good cry...I still can't read the whole THIN book without bawling and yes its a childrens book)
Angie

Angie - I first saw the Robert Munsch book right after MIL Fern died, bawled my eyes out in the store, and I bought it. When Neal read it, he cried, too.
:( :( :( His mom was 4'11" and frail, just like the momma in the book. Also, I believe I read Ashes in the Wind a long, long time ago. It was good!

Judy Blume!! I forgot about those!! Loved ready her books. I've seen somewhere that she had some books out for the older crowd. Wish I can find them and see what they're about.

Now you and Jana have me wanting to read that book from Robert Munch.....I guess I'll have to make sure I have tissues when I read it....

Oh Marti, my throat tightens just thinking of Robert Munche's book....I bought it for Tanner for Christmas one year,,,
also Judy Blume wrote Wifey and another one called Summer Sisters or something like that.

Angie

Wifey...that's the one I was interested in...but for the life of me I can't remember what it's about...just the title. Did you read it? Was it good?

Gosh Angie, how could I forget about James Patterson and Nora Roberts???? Two more I enjoy reading. Janet Evanovich (sp?) and Judy Blume sound familiar.

I hate finishing Janet Evanovichs books,,,I feel so depressed once Im done cause Im now done. I now have to wait for her next bok which could be a year or more.

Marti, yes I remember reading Wifey,,someone in school stole it from her mom and we all took turns reading it,,,pretty racey for 13-14 yr olds...its about a woman who has an affair cause her husband is not as romantic with her I think...its been 20 yrs or more since I read it.

well off to watch tv
Angie

I often say I will read anything except sci-fi. That includes the side of the cereal box or the milk carton. I think I like most all of the authors you gals have listed. I even found a new one this week. Cecilia Ahern is the daughter of the Ireland prime minister and wrote a book called PS, I Love You It was good, sad and funny all at once.
I also read Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, Linda Lael Miller, LaVryl Spencer, Danielle Steel, John Grisham, James Patterson, VC Andrews, Mary H Clark, and her daughter, but I can't remember her name. Jennifer Cruisie is one who just kept me laughing on Bet Me and I got another of hers today.

Looks like a board full of bookworms.

suetalks...but she also reads...:)

my favorite author is Terry Brooks
I bought this book, a trilogy only because it had my name in the title. It was the Sword of Shannara, The Wishsong of shannara, and the Elfsong of Shannara all in one Huge book.
Imagine my surprise that I found it to be the best three books I have ever read. Which is saying a lot since being an only child and loving to read, I have read so many books, I can't even remember half of them. I was so touched by these three books and taken to a land of make believe that I could not even put it down, except to go to the bathroom and eat. I drove my boyfriend nuts and thank god I was unemployed at the time. I was so moved that i wrote to him and he personally hand wrote me back with an autographed book mark as well. I found out that there is 11 more books in the series ( I have only been able to afford one so far, which makes me sad) and that he writes another series called Landover that i have yet to read one of.
I love so many different kinds of books, I just love reading period. I am also a fast reader like my mom, which annoys my sweetie. I read all the harry potter books, except the last one in four days. That was with going to school and everything.
I also really like Ann Rice books and any thick romance that has to do with vampires, the supernatural or historical. I can't read those thin, one hour romance that is meet, fight, do it and live happily ever after. I hate those, i need a story, history, etc.
Anywho, Now that i have wrote a novel myself I recommend Terry brooks so highly that I am probably his biggest fan. So If you like mystical, life altering, transport you into another world while reading books, go for it.

Shanna - My DH is a die-hard Terry Brooks fan...buys all his books brand new in hardcover. This is really high praise because we are devoted to our library and rarely buy books.

Oh - Judy Blume! she brings backs memories! First of all there's Tale of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Superfudge - both of which DS likes. HOWEVER... I recall passing around "Forever" during junior high softball games, with all the "good parts" dog eared. lots of giggling going on.

Oh boy, if I get started on books, I may not stop!

Healthy Living
When you Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull up a Chair - Geneen Roth
How to Get Your Kids to Eat, But Not Too Much - Ellyn Satter
Ultimate Weight Loss Solution - Phil McGraw

Non fiction
Fast Food Nation - David Schlosser
Seabiscuit - Laura Hillebrand
Complete Tightwad Gazette - Amy Dacyzyn
Mrs. Greenthumbs - Cassandra Danz ( best garden book ever)

Fiction
Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Atonement - Ian McEwan
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
anything by Margaret Atwood
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith

Reading right now
Quentins - Maeve Binchy. So far I'm liking it, but I liked Tara Road better.


I am enjoying this thread. A good friend has recommended Janet Evanovich to me...and I see her name coming up here several times. Since I haven't read anything of hers, what book do I start with?

I'm meeting with my book group tomorrow night, so I'll have more titles to throw around after that, I'm sure.
RK

You ladies have given me A LOT of great reading! :thanks: Going to have to print these posts.

Also, want to add another by Billie Letts-Where The Heart Is I loved the book, it was so much better than the movie even though I like the movie to. Did anyone see the movie?

RosieKate..I loved Tara Road!


Sue

Rosiekate start at 1 (one) and keep going...
I finished 10 yesterday morning and brought it to work for a woman named Terry who loves the author,,,she finished it last night and started it again this morning,,,she is the one who gave me Fern Micheals series...which I am finding really enjoyable
BUT Janet has a way of making you laugh so hard you hurt...I checked out her wed site and her next one is coming out in Nov....

Shanna I read Ann Rice a couple years ago,,,didn't enjoy it,,,and then one of Brandon's friends gave me Sleeping Beauty the first of the series and OMG I felt like I was reading penthouse or something,,,really REALLY can't even say racey cause its beyond that...

Well gotta go finish my book
Angie

Oohh.....you sparked my curiousity with the Sleeping Beauty.....beyond racey??? I can't imagine that!! ok...yes I can. I've had books that way....one that was passed around at school and then later on my parents asked me where in the "bleep" did I get such a book....they bought it for me for Christmas one year!! :lol: (didn't even know it) I wish I knew the name of the book. It was a horror story, but it was intense. And for a kid...it was TRULY intense!!

ok...off I go to tend to some potatoes!!

Cristi - I have the book and saw the movie. I especially liked the character Stockard Channing played, lol. Also, had to laugh when the old guy wanted to keep the kitchen table, lol.

I liked Stockard Channing also Jana, and yes the old man wanting to keep the table was funny. :lol:

You ladies have peaked my interest with Janet Evanovich. I know I have read some of her stuff, but for the life of me can't remember what. Going to have to check out B & N and see her list of books.

I like Stockard Channing as an actress,,,what a name eh?

Me too me too, I love her, I so wanting to be like Rizzo, after watching Grease millions of years ago. She was so great and I love the movie Where the heart is, however is is has been on every night on the lifetime channel for about a year it seems, so it is starting to get old, although I love watching the end over and over again, I get teary eyed every time since I am such a baby. My boyfriend just laughs at me and every time we see Stocakrd channing he always makes fun of me about her being my hero or something because of grease. What a butt.

Pratical Magic with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock...is one of my favorite movies with her in it.

If you want a fantastic ending of a movie, how about An Officer and a Gentleman when Richard Gere (in his Navy dress whites) comes into the factory where Debra Winger is working, scoops her up and takes her out of there???? It is soooo romantic! And the music is cool, too..... I think it's Love Lift Us Up, or something like that... Anyway, it sure is romantic and I used to rewind it a couple of times, lol.

I am with you Jana, That is a great movie with a great mushy loving ending. Oh the joy of romantic movies!!!!!!

Running with Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone
Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald there are so many I can not ever remember all the titles!!!!...I do like Jennifer Cruise and Evanovich for the commute time!!!!

Angie, I love Practical Magic, even bought the soundtrack. Another good one ladies was Dirty Dancing-loved the end-"No one puts Baby in a corner" hehehe Also, have that sound track. :) And Jana, oh, that is a GREAT love story! I love a happy ending where the girl gets the guy or the guy gets the girl-which ever.

Anyhoo...just finished Black Lightning by John Saul and was a little disappointed, definitely not one of his better books. Started on Midnight Voices. Need to get it finished by Monday and get it to the library. Next on my list is Living Your Best Life by Laura Berman Fortang, anyone read that one?? Then Before I Say Good-Bye by Mary Higgins Clark and Blind Side by Catherine Coulter I have made it a goal to read at least one book a week. I so enjoy reading and need to get back into it. Gives me something to do and take me away.

Hey, did someone mention a book swap a while back? I know it has been a long time but I could have sworn someone did. Anyway...since some of us are avid readers I thought I would share some books. Not really do a swap, but if someone would like some of the books I have I would be more than happy to pass them on. If anyone is interested I will make a list of some I don't mind parting with and see if I have any takers. Hey, gotta make room for the new ones. There are some though that are very good that I will never give away because eventually I will read them again, and again.

Cristi--
I would LOVE to swap books....only problem is that I'm borrowing all the books I'm reading right now! I do have a few....lots of Stephen Kings books and a few romance novel junk....and that's it!!

I need to expand my library...then make a library in my home to put them all lin!! :lol:

Anyone interested in Stephen King let me know....

Marti

Oh Marti, I am talking about giving some books away and not swapping. I go through my books that I have read once in a while and get rid of a lot. I used to take them to a used bookstore and sell them, but now just give them to friends that want them, if not then I give them to the goodwill.

Well then girl....feel free to pawn them off to me....I will pay for shipping...just let me know if you do. (we can talk about it later) but I would love to expand my books........

So....uh...what do you got that you would want to part with??? :D

Really on a Fern Micheals kick,,,this series shes got going is awesome,,,

and I just finished her Late Bloomer ,,,which I liked also.

Angie

I find it amazing the giving away of books. UNless a book isn't really good, I can not give it away. I am a book horder, a lover of books and I can never part with one, especially if it is a classic or I just love it, and I love most of the books I read. I read them again and again, of course giving myself plently of time to forget some of the parts so I am at least surprised a little. I still have the first wimpy romance book that my mother got for me. I remember staying up until the wee hours of the morning finishing it and although i can not stand to read those thin little things now unless I am so bored I can't stand it, I keep it for sentimental reasons and because it was pretty good to a 14 year old. I am at the point that I am going to need to get more book shelfs. My dream would be to have a library, like the ones in the movies, where you have the rolling ladder and the whole room is filled with books and the ceiling is 20 feet tall with them. I think it would be so fun to try and fill all the spaces before you died. Right now I am so poor I can't afford any books, which is killing me since at night at work it would be nice to read something in the slow moments. It is so sad, I live for when my mom gives me her People magazines every couple of weeks, just so I can read something. I should stand on the corner with a sign, " Will work for books" or something like that. It is killing me. Anywho, I thought I would put my two cents worth in about the subject, since I have nothing to read and I am getting bored at work.hee hee

*bump*

Checked out One for the Money, by Janet Evanovich and tore through it in a day. Real entertaining. Right now I am reading Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland. About a mysterious Vermeer painting. Starts out with an owner whose father was a **** officer who stole it from a Jewish family he was relocating to an Amsterdam ghetto...so it appears to be about the history of ownership of this painting and the mystery of whether it is even a real Vermeer...or does it even matter. If you liked Girl With the Pearl Earring, you will most probably like this one, too.

Hey - I can pass on some titles. I just did a swap with my mommy book group, but have some titles left over. I don't have lot because I believe in using the library whenever possible, but somehow I can't resist buying on occasion.

My tastes are a little different from what I am seeing posted here, but here we go....(you can look them up on amazon.com to see what they are about and customer reviews)

Motherhood Made a Man Out of Me, by Karen Karbo
Quentins, Maeve Binchy
Wild Animus, Rich Shapero
When you Ride Alone, You Ride With bin Laden, Bill Maher ( Yes...it's very political!)
About a Boy, Nick Hornby

PM me an address if you're interested, and I'll ship them out!
RK

Shanna, get a library card! Thats what I do to get all my books,,I just can't spend the money for books that I devour in less then a day or worse I find I can't get into.
Angie

Anyone here ever read the :"Paul Harvey and the rest of the story" book?

There are two books (that I know of) that he had out and I had the first one which I lost. (or I just plain had left it at my ex inlaws when I left my ex) I have searched at books stores and have yet to find it!!

If any of you have one, where did you get it? I would be VERY interested in getting one again!

Thanks
Marti

RK I am more like Steffanie Plum,,,I struggle things happen but in the end I always get the bad guy...except my vehicle doesn't ever get blown up...and I don't carry a gun...

angie--hope you have some eyebrows! She gets so beat up...part of her charm. At least that's what I got out of the first one. I liked the chemistry between her and the bad boy......
Have to get #2 for our camping trip....

ETA - I also agree about using the library. I read that evanovich book in one day, and I routinely read 2-3 books/month. I could not afford to buy everything I want to read and our library is just sitting there being paid for with my tax dollars....well, you get the idea....off my soapbox , for now at any rate!
RK

Angie: yes a library card would be handy, but I love books and can't give them back if I love them. So if I buy a book that I don't care for at the end of it, I go to a book exchange and get credit to buy another used book. To me that is better because I save money buy getting credit for something I bought and don't like and save money getting another one. I love used book store exchanges for that reason, they are great. However first i have to get a book I don't like which is hard. But thanks for the advice, I just find it hard to find current books at the library and remember to take the time to take them back. Maybe if I had children it would be more helpful. Good advice though hon. !!!!

rk, my eyebrows are still with me,,,some of the cases I have done have made loosing eyes brows seem like child's play..
Shanna, I love my library card...I use it about once a week...
Angie

So I take it no one has heard of the book I'm asking about???? Well that doesn't help any! :lol: Time to get online and search!

Sorry Marti Ive not heard of it, will look it up at the library...
Last night I was posting with Skittles in my arms and couldn't type with both hands,,,

Shanna, like you when you get a favorite book its hard to return,,,the books I get at the library mostly are cheap entertainment,,,I will get recipe books,,,and copy what I want at home, painting and decorating books,,,cause I just need to do a refresher or look for new ideas. I do own alot of books,,,and give away alot. And the magazines I have is insane,,,I bring them to work and let the ladies take them.

RK like Ive said I have always been able to keep my eyebrows and other parts of my body, but the things that have happened,,,to name a few...I was dressed as a guy at a rodeo once,,,I was standing near the bull pen cause thats where I was able to keep a visual,,,there was this HUGE bull that just came in from the ring,,he was snorting and well frothing at the mouth,,,came close to me then sneezed! I had bull slobber/snot all over me,,it was dripping off my cowboy hat I almost threw up.
Then there was the time I crashed a wedding, and a party. I followed a guy to hooker row, no he wasn't buying his entertainment the woman he was having an affair with lived on that street. I had to stand there for over an hour,,,I had 2 hookers come up and talk to me about mooching on their territory...there was one hooker who must not of had a room, she used her car. in the hour and some Iwas there she used her car twice,,,not more then 10 feet away from me! Im standing there trying to me cool with the whole thing while this car is like literally bouncing all over the place...yes get a visual on that...I still laugh over that.
Theres more but Ill save those ones for another time..lol
Angie

Sorry Marti, didn't mean to ignore your question. I haven't heard of the book, but like Paul Harvey. Also, I am getting some books together to send you next week. Do what you want with them, pass them on to someone else, keep them...whatever. You may or may not like them but they are yours to do with what you want! :)

Shanna~I concur! Our library is so stinking small and the majority of the books are so old. When they do eventually get new books it is months for you can get your hands on it. But once in a while I do come across an old book I haven't read and will get it. We probably frequent the library once or twice a month. But I too just prefer buying books, because if they are really good I like to keep them.

Angie~all i have to say is "you so crazy!" but I bet you have a fun time being a P.I.

Angie - I hope you are writing some of these experiences down! You could have your very own PI book series....Right up there with Evanovich and Grafton!

Marti - Haven't heard about the Paul Harvey book.... but I do know who he is, Dh is a fan of .....the rest of the story. If you do read it, I would be interested in your thoughts on it...it may be a good prospect for a bday present for DH.

Have I mentioned yet how much I loved The Time Traveler's Wife? Very difficult to describe...but so so good. Look it up on amazon for reviews - author is Audrey Niffenegger
RK

OMG Marti yes Ive heard of the guy,,,I like listening to him on the radio. Such cool stories,,,didn't know he wrote a book,,,will have to get it for Monte,,,who is a total fan.
Angie