There is little I love more than a good book. I've gone through several "must read" book lists (USA Today's, NPR, and the NYT Book Reveiw) trying to get togher a stash for all my traveling this summer. I know is isn't like I'm going to a country that doesn't speak english but books are something like a comfort blanket...I like to have a couple on the side. Sort of like hiding enough money in my car to fill the tank with gas or to buy lots of Dunkin Donuts Coffee....
So any suggestions? I love mysteries, good sci-fi, and even current events. I just finished The Bookseller of Kabal(really good), The First Man in Rome by Colleen mcCullough (this is a reread from several years ago and I still like it), Longitudes and Attitudes by Thomas Friedman (aferwards I reread the Harry Potter series...Friedman is intense and not optomistic...I needed some fantasy in my life after that book), and Dragon's Lair by Sharon Kay Penman (braincandy...a good beach read!)
About the only things I don't read are horror (alright an occasional Stephen King, but just becuase I like his writing style) and romance.
The quilt top in the photo was mixed in with my 1930's repros...go figure. I made it during our move to Georgia a few years ago. I had a lot of oriental fabrics left over from making jackets and had seen something like this done in Idigos. I like the simplicity of the circles. The fabric really takes on center stage in this quilt.
8 comments:
Lessee... Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game, have you read that one? It's science fiction.
For mysteries, have you read any Harlan Coben? He writes about a sports rep whose clients are always getting into fixes - and unlike most mysteries, on his, I can't usually guess the ending ahead of time!
Or if you want a woman detective, try Blaize Clement's books - I just finished Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter, and enjoyed it a lot.
Dan Brown, who wrote the DaVinci code has some other books too, try Angels and Demons.
I'll second that Angels and Demons is superb - far better than Da Vinci Code imho - he wrote two others as well that are also good but quite different. What about some of the old faves like Gone with the wind. Also to get you ready for over here (if you can get hold of them) there's a british writer of spy type thrillers called Colin Forbes - his main character is an MI5 guy (UK equivalent of CIA/FBI) called Tweed - they are all set in the UK and Europe (often Germany and Switzerland) so should help you to get acclimatised ready for your UK adventure. He writes a book a year and has about 25 under his belt - lots to go at there is you like his style. I'm also a great fan of Tom Clancy - Jack Ryan is such a dish (or Harrison Ford was in his role yum yum) :o) Nelson Demille is also a really good author
The japanese quilt is a stunner - the fabric is just so busy that you couldn't have done anything more complex with it - although getting all those circles perfect is no mean feat. I've looked at it a few times and each time spotted something else - love the way you've got the man's face on one circle
Yup, that oriental quilt is definately not 30's repros! But it is very cool and I"m not normally an oriental fabric fan - I don't dislike it - I just dont' buy it.
I would say to try the Diana Gabaldon series. It is a bit ... ummm, fantasy/sci-fi isn't really the right terms, but it has to do with time travel. Not a lot of romance, although the main characters do fall in love and the 6 book series is about their love. Each book is about 1000 pages so it would give you a ton to read. I got so caught up in them and their lives. There is a lot of history in them. Early book Scottish history and then early american.
I normally don't like fantasy/sci-fi/time-travel books but loved these. First book is called "Outlander".
First, love the quilt. Perfect in every way! Really. I love Asian fabric and the complexity of the prints are just great in the "simple" settings. ok, how did you get them to come out right? I always end up with just a scootch more fabric at the end of the seam than when I started. Even with pinning.
Diana Gibaldon... well, I can't agree with Dawn on that one. I figure if it takes that many words... is it really worth saying? ok, I read them, but sometimes there are things that you'd never wished had ever entered your head. So I guess she's a good writer in that she certainly drew a picture... I love reading the old stuff- Like Jane Eyre and anything Jane Austin- they make me laugh at how real people can be. But I don't think these would be good choices for traveling- harder to concentrate. I liked the Thomas Covenant series.
I really like anything by Anne Tyler and/or Jodi Picoult. They both have quite a few books out, and they are pretty marvelous reads! Another favorite of mine is Barbara Kingsolver. Those are my top three authors and I'm sticking to them!
Love the quilt!
Good luck finding reading material- I also burn through all of an authors' work if I like them, and then have to find a new one and start the process all over again. I've read a lot of Jodi Picoult lately- not my usual stuff but enjoyable. I've been on a non-fiction kick, and could recommend lots, but, not sure if that's what you are in the mood for?
That "found" top is lovely! the circles look amazing- and what a great use of oreintal fabric.
My current favorite author is Jennifer Weiner. I read 'In Her Shoes' and 'Little Earthquakes' and am starting on 'Goodnight Nobody'. I listen to books while I work, so I get through a lot. Some books are enjoyable or just OK, but Jennifer Weiner's are excellent. I'm also enjoying Carl Hiaasen and Suzanne Brockmann.
Cool quilt -- love the circles.
Debby
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon :) Lurking and cant help but plug my favorite series :) xoxo melzie
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