Used books.......

[Miss Mary]

We have a good used bookstore up the street. I have now accumulated $13.00 in credit. I can easily spend this amount on fictional authors I've enjoyed reading books from.

Or I could branch off into the larger paperbacks, formerly on the best sellers lists from 1, 2 and 3 years ago. Many were on Oprah's book lists too.

But I have no idea which ones were good! So if anyone has really good books they recommend (for light hearted reading, not disturbing topics) from books such as these (larger sized paperbacks, you know the ones, one was about bees for example....) I'd appreciate suggestions (not current books though).

My sisters-in-law are all into these books but a few they lent to me were VERY disturbing. They kept telling me to stick with the content, that near the end they got better or had a good message.

This is where I part ways with their "light reading" - LOL. I don't want to read 22 chapters of dark subjects to find a positive conclusion.

So that said, if you know of really good books like this that came out in the past few years, I know they are sitting on this used bookstore's shelves.

Thanks.

Mary

[SaskatchewanScreamer]

Mary if your local library has an information database called NoveList I would suggest you take a look at it:

NoveList is a fiction database that provides subject heading access, reviews, annotations, and much more for over 135,000 fiction titles. It also includes other content of interest to fiction readers, such as Author Read-alikes, What We're Reading, Book Discussion Guides, BookTalks, and Annotated Book Lists.

It would help you narrow down your purchasing selections.....just make sure that a librarian takes you through it the first time.

Another research option is a book called Genreflecting: A Guide to Popular Reading Interests Sixth Edition, Most librarians depend on this title to cover such popular genres as crime, adventure, romance, science fiction, fantasy, and horror, defining each along with its many subgenres and listing good books in each category.

Much material remains unchanged from the third edition (1991), but new features include the subgenre "Legal Thriller" ; the division of "Thriller" into "Crime" and "Adventure" ; and more diversity in detectives of various cultures and persuasions, reflecting this situation in the novels themselves. Another new feature is "D's Picks," in which the author, a life-long reader of genre fiction, shares her favorite titles in each genre. A sampling of the chapter on Westerns revealed 33 authors or titles dropped in this edition (older titles not likely to be available in libraries) and 13 added. New sections are "Precontact Indians" and "Inspirational Westerns," while "Cowboy Songs" and "Horse Operas" (books about cowboy films) were dropped.

Although Genreflecting was originally designed for library school students familiarizing themselves with genre fiction, the work is perfect for librarians and patrons searching for "good reads." Besides information on authors and titles, there is background material on each genre (anthologies, bibliographies and encyclopedias, history and criticism, organizations, publishers, etc.).

Highly recommended where information on genre fiction is sought.http://www.amazon.com/Genreflect ... 1591582865

[SaskatchewanScreamer]

Mary not all of the below may fall into your definition of light reading but here are a few suggestions (be sure to check the reviews at Amazon or NoveList).......some I can't remember the name of the author so that should also be checked at Amazon.
'Drowning Ruth'
Secret Life of Bees.
Life of Pi
Year of Wonders
Jodi Picoult's "Second Glance" (any books by her)
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Nobody's fool, also by Russo
Stones in the River by Ursula Hegi
The Red Tent" by Anita Diamont
"The Virgin Blue" by Tracy Chevalier
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
A Place to Land" by Martha Manning
Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
"Prodigal Summer" by Barbara Kingsolver
"Persian Pickle Club" by Sandra Dallas are great for summer reading. They are light but always have a twist.
"Enslaved By Ducks", by Bob Tarte - a wonderful book best described by this review snippet: "A laugh-out-loud chronicle of what it means to bring animals - a blind turkey, an irascible rabbit, a lovesick dove - into your heart and home and make them part of the fabric of your life."
Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich- a humorous mystery writer.
Memoirs of a Geisha
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Gail Tsukiyama is a good author her books are easy reading, and they do stay with you
Her latest Dreaming Water, wasn’t one of her best, but still worth reading.
"A Confederacy of Dunces"
"In Her Shoes" by Jennifer Weiner
"Ice Hunt" by James Rollins
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons
'She's Come Undone' by Wally Lamb
Black Swan Green
Tuesday's With Morrie by Mitch Albom
The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

[coriolis]

I'm not a fiction kind of person. Get your hands on any of the work by Seneca, an ancient Roman Writer on philosophy and life. His writing is accessible and is more meaningful than any of the modern authors. Compared to most Philosophical works, I'd call it light reading.

[Miss Mary]

Hey thanks everyone for the excellent suggestions. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as I posted this topic, I got very busy and didn't even much time for the computer, let alone a book!

But I do appreciate the suggestions. Thanks!