Comments on: Recommended books: Summer 2014

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 19:52:00 +0000

In reply to Diane Wild. Thanks for your great recommendations, Diane. I also enjoyed The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. Haven't read any of the others, though. At least not yet! :-)

By: Diane Wild

Diane Wild — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 19:02:00 +0000

Love your lists. The only one I’ve read is The Goldfinch, which I seem to have liked more than you did but less than its hardcore fans did (a friend with hyperbolic tendencies told me it would change my life).

Some of my recent faves are The Orenda by Joseph Boyden, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks, The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P by Adelle Waldman, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, Longbourn by Jo Baker and The Vacationers by Emma Straub.

I’m just about to start All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews because I love the title (and her previous books).

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 01:07:00 +0000

In reply to Diane. I'm a Gladwell fan, too. Haven't read David & Goliath yet but will soon!

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 16:09:00 +0000

Hi Daphne,
I am a big fan of Malcolm Gladwell – David and Goliath is the new one. In the title chapter, he reminds us that a well-slung rock is as powerful as a gun, and that huge and fearsome will usually limit options. All his books are about shaking up traditional thinking

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:46:00 +0000

In reply to Dr. Kenneth R. Cooper. Haven't heard of the Ellis book. Sounds interesting — will look for it. Thanks!

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:45:00 +0000

In reply to ASwirlGirl. I feel the same way about audio books. They helped us survive many driving holidays when our triplets were young!

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:45:00 +0000

In reply to Chris. Yes, the Ann Patchett book is really great!

By: Dr. Kenneth R. Cooper

Dr. Kenneth R. Cooper — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:43:00 +0000

Daphne,

I’m currently reading From Plot to Narrative by Elizabeth Ellis, an excellent small book laying out a plan for writing a story–short story or novel. Ellis recommends story-boarding, but creating each “frame: of the story board on a separate page so the writer can rearrange the scenes without starting all over again. Another good book on writing in general is the classic, On Writing Well, by William Zinzzer. Just for pleasure and insight, I am also reading Mary Higgins Clark, Moonlight Becomes You. (I am an avid mystery fan. I’m just getting started with my summer reading.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:25:00 +0000

I loved the Signature of All Things, but I’m a plant nerd, so that explains it. You might like one I just finished called The Word Exchange, by Alena Graedon, a cautionary tale about how our devices robbed our memories of words and their meanings. You read a lot of non-fiction; I just don’t get through them the way I gobble up fiction. I think I’ll try the Patchett. She is a favorite.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:20:00 +0000

In reply to Wendy Kalman. Good for you for writing a book! It's tough getting published these days. Remember the option of self-publishing!