Hi Everyone.

I've decided that I need something for 'Me' Something I can relax with and it can be all nice and quiet.
So I'm looking into buying some books.

Problem is. I've NEVER read a Novel

I've skimmed through the first few pages before, but I always get bored and never finish it.
My dad thinks I just need to find a Subject that I like and that will be it, I'll become addicted.

So anyone know of anything good to read?
I do prefer Real Life/ Biography tye things.


TIA.

*off to hide in embarassment*

Hmmm hard one!! Do you want something that will make you laugh or cry or have a bit of romance???

Hmmm hard one!! Do you want something that will make you laugh or cry or have a bit of romance???

Laughing and Crying is good.

I don't think I'd get into Romance that much though.

"Don Quixote"
Just kidding. If you like biographies, you really need to choose a person you are interested in and go from there.
A lot of people find Jodi Picoult an accessible author, but her books tend to be quite long. Are you wanting to start with something shorter?

I love a good book but don't get to read now as much as i woukd like.

I have just finished reading 'The Memory Keepers Daughter' by Kim Edwards. It is not real life, but is a great read - i couldn't put it down and finished it in a couple of days

So do you want a novel based on real life, or a biography?

Biographies are pretty easy - just find someone who's life you are interested in and read. I read one of Michael J Fox's books last year, which was really interesting - but only if you are interested in the whole parkinsons disease/stem cell research stuff. There were a few things I didn't understand (references to American life) but overall, quite interesting. I've started reading Lance Amstrong's book, but struggling with getting into that one!

As for novels: hmmm.... are you after some Chick Lit? Maybe 'The Red Tent' (based loosely on Jacob's sisters life (from the bible, but not a religious book). 'The Ship of Brides' (about girls travelling across the world after the war to live with their soldier husbands) and 'Gods Callgirl' (is about a woman who was a nun and became a prostitute - or was it the other way around??)

ETA: is a good one!

My Little Pony, you got it right, nun first, prostitute second. Very long though.

I really enjoyed the Time Traveller's wife. It's very easy to read whyile still having that historical biographical feel

Autobiography / biography - good ones are the Lance Armstrong ones - It's not about the bike and Every second counts. I don't ride or even have an interest in riding but my husband read these and I picked them up in one of those "I have absolutely nothing to read" moments and loved them. It is about his riding but also about him growing up, getting cancer and fighting his cancer. Very good reads.

I would second Jodie Picoult as an easy fiction author to get into but her books can be long and involved...very good though. Start with My Sister's Keeper as it is extremely emotional and will suck you in from the start!

Cheers

Jen

What about "Rome" by Sophia McDougall? It's an alternative history novel that is set in a Europe in which the Roman empire never fell. So it's the year 2000 and the Roman Empire still rules most of the world, criminals are still crucified and people still live in slavery,

One that spring's to mind is Bryce Courtenay's 'April Fool's Day' about his son Damon. Was easy to get into and interesting as well - laugh and cry material!

Albert Facey's 'A Fortunate Life'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Fortunate_Life

Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher books. These are delicious.
http://www.phrynefisher.com/books.html

I'd definitely go with Jodi Picoult, fantastic author writing on interesting life issues...and very easy to read.

I will return the favour Jen1974 and second the Lance Armstrong story, it was fantastic. His mother was/is an amazing woman.

Bryce Courtney's (?sp) "Jessica"

set in Australia, historical, bit of romance

Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of a City' series...set in San Francisco in the 1970's, very funny, dramatic, gossip-filled and delicious!

http://www.armisteadmaupin.com/BooksTOTC.html

My Parents are seperated, For Christmas many Years ago Mum bought it for dad, Dad bought it for mum as my Name is Jessica. I attempted to read it but as usual lost interest
I've got the DVD though LOVE that

'How to Kill Your Husband - and other handy household hints' By Kathy Lette. It is hilarious! Some great one liners!

'Tully' by Paulina Simons

'The Charming Man' by Marian Keyes

If you haven't really read any before, why not start with light, enjoyable stuff eg. Marian Keyes, Maggie Alderson, or as PP mentioned Armistead Maupin's series.

If you like John Grisham movies (The Firm, Pelican Brief, Runaway Jury etc) you could read one of his many books.

Otherwise you could join your local library and ask the librarians to recommend something?

How about "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"?

Google it. It's easy to read despite the subject matter and relatively good reviews.

Hmmmm...

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is one I recently finished, and enjoyed. It's not very long either, so it should hopefully manage to maintain your interest long enough. She's a feminist author too, though her characters are not raging feminazis or anything. It's set in the future... in a time where fertility is waning, and those who CAN reproduce are posted to live with certain rich families - to be impregnated (via sex, not insemination) by the man. So the message is a kind of feminist one I suppose.

How about "Eleven Hours" by Paullina Simons ? Not too long, set over eleven hours, about a 9 month pregnant women who gets kidnapped. You'll read it in one sitting!

Kate

Dawn French's autobiography - dear fatty. if you want a laugh and like her comedy? It's pretty easy reading.

I would recommend 'Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination' by Helen Fielding (who wrote Bridget Jones). It's one the the best books I've ever read - easy to read and very very funny.


I agree with this - something that is easy to read and doesn't take too long.
Try the Stephanie Plum books. There's a whole series but you don't need to start with the first one.

yes it was.

I really like Jodi Picoult, I think her books are fantastic

[quote name='MotherJedi' date='13/07/2010, 10:15 PM' post='11715054']

Albert Facey's 'A Fortunate Life'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Fortunate_Life

Anything by Marian Keyes or Jane Green for a fun light read.

You know, as you're not a big time reader yet, I'd suggest going for young adult fiction.

Victor Kelleher, Monica Hughes or really just anythign that takes your fancy. Go to the teen section in the library and look around. There's heaps of well written brilliant stories in this group of fiction.

I read constantly and I'm definitely well past my teens but I still read plenty of young adult fiction. They are usually quick easy reads and a great introduction to some longer aimed at adults only texts.

I want to recommend Tracey Chevalier, the author of Girl With a Pearl Earring. Beautifully written and lovely stories. I particularly like the Lady and the Unicorn.

I would suggest something easy to read like Nicholas Sparks' A Walk to Remember.

Me too.

Here are some suggestions (some biographies, some not):

Letters to a Young Gymnast - Nadia Comaneci Biography
My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Picoult
Letters to Sophie - the Sophie Delezio story as told by her parents from their diaries
The Kite Runner (didnt think I would enjoy this but I really did)
The Book Theif
Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown

I ended up ordering some books that arrived the other day.

DP opened the package, and of course it was the book 'How to Kill your husband' the look on his face
I also get Princess, which I'd skimmed through before and it interested me.

Sadly, DP has finished reading both and I've only gotten 1 chapter into Princess Ive been too tired lately and fall asleep straight away but today I'm feeling good so will hopfeully read more of it.

Keep the recommendations coming, Im creating a list and will slowly work my way through it

For fun, easy to read, lightheartedness try Janet Evanovich. The Stephanie Plum series. The first one is called "One for the Money" and they go on from there.

Another Armistead Maupin fan here too.

As PP's have suggested get autobiographies of people you are interested in. I have just finished Slash's from Guns n Roses and Scar Tissue by Anthony Keidis from Red Hot Chili Peppers. Both of these were a bit heavy going with all the drug use and descriptions.