Question?

What were some of the books that sucked you in and you could not put down? I am not necessarily asking for the best written books ever just ones you get caught up in quickly?
Some of mine are: the Twilight series, Jane Eyre,
Memoirs of a Geisha, Harry Potter series, most Nicholas Sparks books, I am sure I have a lot more I just cant think of any right now.
I think I must be a shallow reader, but, I seem to have a hard time with some books. I may like them, but, I have a hard time if they don't grab me at the beginning!

Question?

So what was the last great series you read? These don't have to be the best books ever, but, something you enjoyed and were able to be caught up in, with the added bonus of more to come!
I for one have enjoyed Twilight, and Harry Potter. I also loved all of the Anne of Green Gables books and all other books by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The Inspector Lynley Mystery's by Elizabeth George are another I enjoyed.
What about you?

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

If you have never read Steinbeck I can only feel very sad for you.  If you have only read Steinbeck as a school assignment and not out of appreciation for the man's genius or out of sheer enjoyment I am afraid I can only pity you.  Steinbeck is one of my all time favorite authors.  That man is a word magician and the best story teller I've encountered.  I love all of his novels, and when I was first married I think I read almost every one of his novels.  I can't pick a favorite, but East of Eden was absolutely amazing.  It is the modern tale of Cain and Able.  Eden, as in all Steinbeck novels, is California.  It is an amazing story, wonderfully written, and completely absorbing.

Crossing To Safety and Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner

Again, I have read these books several times, but the last time was ages ago and so I don't remember all the details.  But I do remember Crossing To Safety being a very interesting and thought provoking story about the lifelong friendship between two couples.  Wallace Stegner is one of my favorite authors and is such an amazing author.  Another one of his that I love is The Angle of Repose, which I recommend just as highly.  The angle of repose is the angle at which rocks will no longer slide down but remain in place on a slope.  This is a book about a poorly suited couple who spend years finding the angle of repose in their marriage, and also one of their descendents finding the angle of repose in his life. These, in my opinion, are must read books.  They are incredibly well written, and provide some very interesting discussion material.  Be sure to pick them up.

Seraph On The Suwanee by Zora Neale Hurston

I have read this book a couple of times because I love how it is written, and I love the authors message.  It is the story (I hope I don't mess this up.  I haven't picked it up in a few years) of a "cracker" couple.  Cracker for those not from the Jim Crow South is a White Trash white couple.  The husband falls in love with his wife and works hard to provide her with the life he feels she deserves.  They end up living in a beautiful home, and have two beautiful children (that represent the husband) and one child that has mental and physical disabilities that the wife identifies herself with.  Anyway, after a life time of the husband trying to prove his love to his wife, she still can't shake her insecurity.  She simply can't believe that her husband could love her, until he finally forces her to understand.  It is a great story and the message is relevant and important.  I also read Hurston's famous Their Eyes Were Watching God, but Seraph really is my favorite.  Zora Neale Hurston has an interesting history as well.  If you read the book take the time to learn a little about her.

Bridget Jones Diary and Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding

Okay, first I need to say, do not judge these books based on the movies.  I absolutely loved these books ( The Edge of Reason was one of the worst movies of all time in my opinion, they absolutely slaughtered the book).  

Why do I love them so much?

First Bridget is a wonderful, quirky character.  I love her.  I love her friends.  I love how they are muddling through life as best they can.  I love her funny parents and their friends who are also just muddling through the best they can.  Just like we all are.  I love the style of writing.  I love the way she keeps track of her alcohol units, weight, calories, and cigarrettes.  I love it.  I love it. I love it.  I laughed so hard  as I read these books.

Also as a huge fan of Jane Austen, I loved these books. Helen Fielding is also an Austen fan.  Bridget Jones Diary is a modern take on Pride and Prejudice and Edge of Reason is a modern take on Persuasion.  

I have read and re-read these books.  Very entertaining and I love them.

Warning: they do contain language and some "adult themes".

The Book Thief

I borrowed this book from my Mom, a voracious reader/book collector, back in August.  She told me it was wonderful, but I was hesitant to read it because she told me it was the story of a girl in Nazi Germany.  I am always hesitant to read books about Nazi Germany because they are inevitably sad.  So I didn't open this book up and decided this last Sunday to return it to her unread.  As I handed the book back to my Mom, my sister-in-law made me take it back. "That book is amazing, and you can't not read it," she said.  So I grudgingly took it back home with me and read the first chapter on Sunday.  Oh my goodness, this book was AMAZING.  Any yes it was sad.  I cried really hard.  My eyes are still puffy.  What is it about?  Well I guess you could say it is about a girl in Nazi Germany and her little life in Himmel Street, on the outskirts of Munich.  The jacket of the book says, "It's just a small story really, about, among other things:  a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery..." It is a wonderful story about the power of words and books.  One final quote from the book; "How does it feel, anyway?" "How does what feel?" "When you take one of those books?'  At that moment, she chose to keep still.  If he wanted an answer, he'd have to come back, and he did.  "Well?" he asked, but again, it was the boy who replied, before Liesel  could even ope, her mouth.  "It feels good, doesn't it, to steal something back."

This is the story of a girl stealing some words back from Hitler.  It is a wonderful book.

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is Probably my Favorite. I love this story so much. I don't know why but I think I like it more the Pride and Prejudice.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

This book is almost more extraordinary for the way it was written than the actual writing. I consider it a physical feat much like reaching the summit of Everest. The author, paralyzed by a stroke and left with only the use of his brain and his left eye, "blinked" the alphabet to an assistant to create these short chapters. The amount of imagination and perspective evident in this book is what astounded me. A must-read for anyone in nursing, for anyone that feels frustrated by physical limitations, for anyone who needs to learn the lesson of how to live and love small moments. A warm, sad, extraordinary autobiography full of humor and humanity. At the very least, it'll make you think.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

The is one of my all time favorite books. Although I read it so long ago that I don't remember many details. I liked the setting, I liked the characters and the fact that the author follows the characters through a few decades of their lives. I would recommend this to anyone - although I think women especially enjoy it because it is about a family of girls.

Pride and Prejudice

Anyone that loves to read must have at least one novel they have read over and over and couldn't live without. So what is you all time favorite novel and why? I think mine must be Pride and Prejudice becuase I love the story, I love Jane Austen's wit, and of course I love Mr. Darcy. So what about all of you?