capncarp Posted September 14, 2008 #51 Share Posted September 14, 2008 STEPHEN AMBROSE.. Before you jump up and say "all he writes about is war things'... consider the following, (SNIP!) Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000. ... I gotta second this. It really brings up the unsavory maneuverings of the rail-finance barons of the Credit Mobilier, as well as the heroic and superhuman accomplishments of the men who actually laid the rails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UPCrawfish Posted September 16, 2008 #52 Share Posted September 16, 2008 capncarp, I have a bit of a vested interest in that book. I retired from the UP railroad last year and when Ambrose was coming out with his book, he chose the UP and Omaha NE to have the 'coming out party'. He and his family and 'others' were traveling on a special passenger train across the UP and stopped in to tour the dispaching center where I worked. I was selected to give one of his groups a tour and at the end of the tour, Ambrose had an autographed book for each of the guides that had assisted him and his family. Excellent read - knew all the places, events and people he wrote of in the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onceagain Posted September 17, 2008 #53 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I just heard about the book "Two Old Women" and it is suppose to be great, also a pretty quick read. Our book club at church is reading it and everyone seems to love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice Girl Posted September 17, 2008 #54 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Get this book..."The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory. I LOVED IT!! It is long (somewhere around 600 pages), but I found myself sad when it was over! I wanted more of it. It grabbed me on page one and I could not put it down. I have given it as a gift to several people. Everyone I have told to read it (and did) said they loved it also and have passed it on to others who have loved it. A historical novel at it's best, with romance, interigue, betrayal, the works. They made a movie and the movie was dreadful!! Get this book, you won't be sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaK Posted September 18, 2008 #55 Share Posted September 18, 2008 For a great "woman's fiction" book set on a cruise ship: A Necessary Woman by Helen Van Slyke, about a journalist at a cross-roads in her life, who wins an around the world cruise and reports back to her editor from each port. For "fluff": Harlequin Mediterranean Nights is a series of at least 12 romance novels set on cruise ships. (I just picked up the lot of them on ebay for $4.99, which I plan to read and leave in the ship's libary on future cruises!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookish Angel Posted September 18, 2008 #56 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Bob and his widowed 79 year-old dad double date. Very funny and touching non-fiction. I have found NPR a great resource for books of all genres and have read many of the books talked about on "All Things Considered" and "Weekend Edition." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dopeyngrumpy Posted September 19, 2008 #57 Share Posted September 19, 2008 If you fancy something completely different - I normally read chicklit but couldn't put down 'The Jigsaw Man' by Paul Britton It's a selection of true cases that the Criminal Psychologist and profiler Paul Britton worked on in the UK - very high profile cases - if you are into the programme Criminal Minds, you'll love this - all true stories So be warned, it is fascinating but it does tell you what really happened - may not be your cup of tea for holiday but I took it away on a fortnight trip and read it in 2 afternoons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry and Lucille Posted September 21, 2008 #58 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Sorry...... Don't understand cruising to read a book. Duhhh. Maybe Titanic?;) But that's just me. Grouchy old man needing to revive around active young people here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashefrog Posted September 21, 2008 #59 Share Posted September 21, 2008 If you like time travel, history, romance, mystery, and a story that pulls you in and won't let you go, I have to recommend the first in the series "Outlander". I would not recommend reading these out of order because they build on previous book. I also recommend the James Patterson series "Murder Club". But to me these are quick reads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsFixitCT Posted September 21, 2008 #60 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I find her books to be an easy read...especially for cruising or at the beach-I can put them down for a while, and come right back to where I left off, and not losing track of where I was...plus, the majority of them are set along the CT/RI/MASS coast, so I can just picture the locations..... I'm just finishing "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch (sp?)...what a great loss of a great imagination and mind that was... Also have Tim Russert's "wisdom of our fathers" which I'm looking forward to reading...another great voice/political presence quelled with his loss...I find my self wondering what his reaction would be to the way things are playing out for the upcoming elections.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashefrog Posted September 21, 2008 #61 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I agree MrsFixitCT, the world is less bright w/o Randy Pausch. It is a great loss of a great spirit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookish Angel Posted September 24, 2008 #62 Share Posted September 24, 2008 An erudite, witty novel that will have you laughing from page one. The narrator accidentally burnt down Emily Dickinson's house and from there it all went downhill. "A Confederacy of Dunces" for the literate, it mercifully avoids the implausibility, tedium and ridiculous dialogue of ACOD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
45014 Posted September 25, 2008 #63 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I, too, would recommend The Last Lecture. I was afraid it was going to be morbid and sad, but it was very inspiring. Right now I am reading American Wife and having a hard time putting it down to work or do ANYTHING. But then again it is what kind of books you like to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go&see Posted September 27, 2008 #64 Share Posted September 27, 2008 You cannot go wrong with anything by Alexander McCall Smith - & there's a lot to choose from with him, such as the Ladies' No. 1 Detective Agency series. Also, if you're interested in something travel-themed & entertaining it would be hard to beat Bill Bryson. All of his travel books are a joy to read but he also has a couple others - A Short History of Nearly Everything (the title doesn't lie on that one) or his memoir, The Life & Times of The Thunderbolt Kid. Be prepared for funny looks when you laugh out loud at his books. Hope this helps!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CM2J2R2S Posted September 28, 2008 #65 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich for lighter reading Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brill Posted September 28, 2008 #66 Share Posted September 28, 2008 The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - Oprah's 2008 pick Middlesex Memoirs of a Geisha Marley and Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelligirl Posted September 28, 2008 #67 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Jude Devereaux's "A Knight in Shining Armor". I know, a cheesy title but the read is great! I've passed this book on to many women who LOVED it! Kind of a time trave love story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvmygirlz Posted September 28, 2008 #68 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Not sure if this has been posted yet or not, but I vote for A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnAB Posted September 28, 2008 #69 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Jude Devereaux's "A Knight in Shining Armor". I know, a cheesy title but the read is great! I've passed this book on to many women who LOVED it!Kind of a time trave love story. I loved, loved, loved A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR. Thanks for mentioning that book! I guess it's time to dig it out and read that book again. Thanks for reminding me!!! Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntMoeMoe Posted September 29, 2008 #70 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I too am looking for a good/great book to read on the cruise I will be taking....I have read most of the chick lit books including A is for, B is for...Stepanie Plum novels, shopaholic books, light books etc. Although I must say, I have loved them all and will continue reading them at a future date....I read all the Grisham books too which I liked and read Davinci Code and the others too. I am looking for something that maybe is not such a quick read but will keep me interested without being bored. I like mystery, with a bit of romance, maybe historical or being placed in a "period" time. I don't mind if the book is long either... thanks sklja I absolutely love the series about King Henry VIII by Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl The Queen's Fool The Virgin's Lover The Constant Princess The Boleyn Inheritance They are really great reads!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capncarp Posted September 30, 2008 #71 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Not sure if this has been posted yet or not, but I vote for A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet!!!!!!!! I thought his "Where is Joe Merchant" had more "chew" to it. IMHO, SPOL had more of a fairy-tale feel with lighthouses, bonefish, and an interesting way of eating ice cream:o thrown in. And I'm NOT going to elaborate on THAT.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candlebizmom Posted October 7, 2008 #72 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I loved this book! The Travelers Gift and the title is appropriate. http://www.andyandrews.com/store/bestsellers/product/the-travelers-gift/ Tracy Russell http://www.candlebizmom.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passatlvr2002 Posted October 14, 2008 #73 Share Posted October 14, 2008 I picked up Marley and Me in an airport on a layover after finishing The Last Lecture in record time, a wonderful read. I still had many hours of travel left. If you have a dog or a family, you must read Marley and Me. It was an easy read and had many laugh out loud moments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookish Angel Posted October 14, 2008 #74 Share Posted October 14, 2008 A short, funny, inspiring book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofmeg Posted December 25, 2008 #75 Share Posted December 25, 2008 I absolutely love the series about King Henry VIII by Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl The Queen's Fool The Virgin's Lover The Constant Princess The Boleyn Inheritance They are really great reads!!!! I liked her stuff and I have read all of her Tudor novels-but Jean Plaidy's stuff on the Tudors and her Queen Victoria series was absolutely wonderful Now MS Plaidy has been dead for over 10 years and so her novles have been around for a LONGGGGGGGG time-but her stuff is still good. And if you want a histrionically accurate biography on the Tudors-you can't beat Alison Weir's stuff. She makes dry facts very interesting. another fictitious Tudor novel I enjoyed was Karen Harper's, "The Last Boleyn," this novel also was about Mary Boleyn, and I enjoyed it better than the "Other Boleyn Girl." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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