Summer Reading

I haven't read much in years and had really forgotten how enjoyable it could be. I recently needed a book to pass some time while recuperating from a minor surgery. I just went to the New York Times best seller list and chose The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo since i had no idea what to pick. I loved it. I finished it in a few days and my husband went out and bought the next two in the series for me. I finished The Girl Who Played With Fire in one day! I was totally engrossed in it all day on Sunday (and my hubby spoiled me and played with the kids all day!). I didn't think it could top the first one, but in my estimation : ) it has. Now I am about half way through the last one, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest and I am feeling pretty sad that after this, there is no more, lol. Makes me want to read slowly spread it out. But how can I? Once I pick it up, I can't stop! I can't wait to read the responses and see what i should get next.

I work at the library, and you would not believe the number of people on hold for "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo"--good thing you bought a copy or you wouldn't be reading it until 2011!

P.S. I am reading "The Book of Awesome," which just came out. If you haven't visited the Awesome Blog or read the book, you might want to consider it. Fun and definitely a spirit lifter!

So glad to know I am not the only one having a hard time getting into The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo! I actually picked up my copy at the Sydney airport before it came to the US. Just cannot get into it. With all the rave reviews from everyone, guess it is time to try again. Will see!

I love this post and all the replies as I will have a whole new list of books to get from the library for a long time to come. Thanks everyone!
Summertime is 'easy' reading for me so I've rereading the Janet Evanovich series about STephanie Plum. Very funny, no brainer stuff. Love them! Also have read James Patterson's 'You've Been Warned' and working on 'Swimsuit' right now. Both are scary.

I am reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and just bought Her Fearful Symmetry! :) I also have Let the Great World Spin...now I just need to find the time to read!!

I read Fearful Symmetry before reading Time Traveler's Wife. I really like Fearful Symmetry, though it seemed almost like the two were written by different people at times I thought. I like dark gothic type tales so Fearful was right up my alley. Time Travelers I was afraid would be too science fictiony (not a word really I know), but it wasn't. I enjoyed it. I liked the movie as much as the book. Read the book first. Always read the book first is my motto. Are you going to watch the Swedish subtitle movie Girl with the Dragon Tattoo they have out? There is one on Netflix.
This summer I have read "Percy Jackson the lightening Thief" trying to get my son to read it with me. No go, but a very good book. Now I have to see the movie. I've read The Boundless Deep by Kate Brailler, The Happiness Project (awesome), Time Travelers wife, Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, and now am reading Eat,Pray,Love by Elizabeth Gilbert getting ready for the movie!
After that will be the book, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.

I read that too this past month. I liked it pretty well. I like anything set in that time era. But I did have a feeling I knew the outcome before she gave it away. I started The House at Riverton but it got put on the back burner for The Girl Who Played with Fire.

I read the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the next two in a couple of weeks. They were great and hard to put down.
I'm currently reading Olive Kitteridge for book club.

I also read, actually listened to, all of The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo trilogy, great series. I love to get my books from Audible. I just don't have time to sit and read. Plus I love the extra depth a great reader adds to a story.
Grass For His Pillow and the rest of the series fantastic. They take place in Fuedal Japan and are blended with fantasy. The reader has the most amazing voice and each character really comes to life.
Loved Henrietta Lacks. My kids enjoyed it also and two wrote papers on the subject this year. If you like Henrietta try Last Train from Hiroshima. These people actually survived both bombings. Utterly fascinating!! And horriffying!! And so human. You will never think of atomic power the same.
The Help was wonderful and will definitely make you cry and laugh.
Three Cups Of Tea and Stones Into School are eye opening. Hotel On The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a beautiful story of love and the Chinese/American-Japanese/American struggle during WWII in Seattle. A bit of history that I knew nothing about.
Just finished The Passage. A vampire/doomsday book unlike anything you could imagine. It was 39 hours long and I didn't realise that it was the first installment of a trilogy. I was completely engrossed and then the thing just abruptly ended on the most suspenseful moment of the entire book. I was mad for several days. I don't think that I will listen to the other two until they are both released. I just can't handle that again.
Lastly, I just started the Shantaram. The story is so colorful and interesting taking you through an India we would never experience. The characters make me laugh constantly. The main character becomes best friends with an Indian guide who is absolutely hysterical!

Gina - I was thinking about if I ever wanted to see the movie and part of me doesn't want to because I don't want the characters I have imagined in my mind to become someone else! You know what I mean? I imagine Mikael Blomkvist to look like Michael Caine. I just can't let that image be damaged, lol!!

I am reading the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks as well! You must be an NPR listener as well. I heard the interview in past few weeks on Fresh Air with Terry Gross and said I had to read the book. I am almost finished.

i recently read carry me home which was lol funny :) just started the sweet by and by because my sister said that it reminded her of the help which is one of my favorites. i agree with many of the posters that you should read little bee. the history of love was also wonderful :) happy reading!

I just finished "Stones into Schools" by Greg Mortenson who also wrote "Three Cups of Tea" and has built over 130 schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. What an amazing story! I love the series by Laurie R. King about Sherlock Holmes and his young protege...starts with "The Beekeeper's Apprentice". They totally sucked me in.

I second that for Loving Frank. I read it two summers ago. A nice personal look at the love life of an architectural phenom. I've studied his work, been to his studio... the book was fantastic!

Ditto about Time Traveler's Wife (an all-time fave) and Her Fearful Symmetry (weird).
I am smack in the middle of The Broken Teaglass right now, and really enjoying it.
~Tami

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen was HILARIOUS and wise (my favorite combination), and Devotion by Dani Shapiro is my favorite book of the last 5+ years. I also adored Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison.
Trying to get into Little Bee, because everybody says it's so great!

a few that i have loved so far this summer on my list are:
Barefoot and A Summer Affair by Elin Hachette
Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch
Eat Pray Love
I can't wait to read the Time Traveler's Wife!

Every summer I reread a book by Anne Morrow Lindbergh called "Gift from the Sea". She talks about living a creative life as a mom...about appreciating the beauty of nature and about the joy of living in the moment. She also talks about time...that we need to find time to be "quiet", time to work without pressure, time to think, time to look at shells and time to see friends & laugh and talk.

I just read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. Grim but very interesting. It really shows me how much a father loves his son and would do anything for him. Also finished Cutting for Stone and thought that was interesting too. I loved the description of life in Ethiopia. It's clear home much the author loves the country.
I think I'll have to look at reading Little Bee and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo after hearing everyone's comments.

Wow, it's so funny how we are all reading most of the same books. On my nightstand right now is The Art of Racing in the Rain, Little Bee, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Eat, Pray, Love. I highly recommend The Help and The Book Thief if you have not read those. It is so exciting to find a book you love and can't put down!

I'm reading all things Jodi Picoult. It started with Handle with Care, which I consumed in 2 days. I've also read Change of Heart, My Sister's Keeper and Keeping Faith. Loved them all.

Right now I'm reading Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Series---lovin 'em
I did not like Time travler's Wife
Little Bee is on my 'to read list'

I am currently reading The Girl Who Played With Fire. It is a real page turner, even better than the first book. I love it and definitely recommend it if you enjoyed the first book.

Loved, loved, LOVED Pillars of the Earth ... I have World Without End on my list to buy from Amazon.