Book Pile

A few friends have asked for book recommendations after reading Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus (if you haven't read it yet, drop everything and go read it. It's that good. Plan your weekend around it.)

The following books are currently in my reading/read pile:

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (I picked this up years ago when I was working at a bookstore. I couldn't get in to it then, but I'm going to try again!)

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman (the book that inspired Erin to write "The Night Circus". Read it. Loved it. Might not be for everyone.)

The Book of Qualities by J. Ruth Gendler (I am saving this one for last. It's full of short chapters and line drawings. If I love it, I will seek it out in hardcover.)

Little Kingdoms by Steven Millhauser (this just sounds fabulous. Can't wait to read it.)

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino (I just started reading this one. My husband includes it in his list of favorite books.)

What are you reading?

Comments

terri k said…
Sophie's World is one of my favorite books. I read it such a long time ago, maybe I need to reread it again. I don't have a lot of time for reading at this time of the year. I do have a stack of magazines to get through (new Esopus, Juxtapose, Art Quilting). I am slowly reading one book called "Blowing Smoke". It's a political book that someone recommended to me about all the conspiracies and theories that the right is talking about. The author has a very sarcastic humorous tone and it's a fun and interesting read.
teamaldrich said…
I looooooooooved "Einstein's Dreams." Read it a million years ago, remember almost nothing about it, but smile every time I see it on my shelf.
Raine said…
I loved "Eistein's Dreams" too! I'll have to pick it up again.
I've been reading mostly urban fantasy...witches, vampires, shifters, etc. Finished a 6-book series starting with "Succubus Dreams." Chale and I both enjoyed it.
Cat said…
George R R Martin "Game of Thrones"
"The Night Circus"
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
Anything by J D Robb
Anything by Iris Johansen
Anything by Kathy Reichs
etc
Barbara Hagerty said…
I've read Sophie's World and Einstein's Dreams, but not the others. Please let us know what you thought of these books when you've read them all. I'm currently reading The Goldbug Variations, by Richard Powers.

Kelly, I would highly recommend the late Dr. Leonard Shlain's Art and Physics. Shlain answers the popular notion that art captures the zeitgeist of the times, and goes on to illustrate, point by point, and artwork by artwork throughout history, how major works of art have actually preceded and prefigured the near, historic future. Really interesting perspective, and well thought out and documented. I think you'd love it.
Melissa said…
ah I love sophie's world! I found it difficult to get into at first because it sure does read like a textbook, doesn't it?

After the first chapter or so it moves from basic ideas into actual interesting stuff, and suddenly it's a real page-turner!

Not much re-readability though, heh.
Hagit said…
I've just finished "Beloved" by Toni Morrison and it's amazing. Some of my favorite books: The History of Love (Nicole Smith), Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Franzen), The Book Thief (Markus Zusak), The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy), On Beauty (Zadie Smith).
Kelly Kilmer said…
Thanks, Hagit! 3 of those are among my favorites, too: History of Love, God of Small Things and Extremely Loud...
ReneHales said…
If you loved Einstein's Dreams, try Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by Eagleman, David (Apr 24, 2009)

Some or funny, all are thought provoking. Makes you want to write your own version of an afterlife.

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