How about a good book to run away into--nothing too heavy

CypressCynthia
CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I just finished reading "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" by Tom Franklin. It was a real page turner about a simple but good guy who was suspected of killing a girl many years ago and the impact the community's suspicions have on his life. Fast forward to the present and there is a new murder and a new investigation. Can't say more as I don't want to spoil it. Beautifully written--he has a great ear for dialect.

I am now reading "The Way the Crow Flies" and enjoying it--although it is taking me a bit longer to really grab me. But my little sister says stick with it, so I am going to finish it. I am only about 1/5 into it.

I would love other suggestions for some fine escapist literature! Some days we just need to curl up with a fun book--today is one of them for many of us, I suspect?

Her are some others that I liked:
The Hangman's Daughter by Potzsch
The Swan Thieves by Kostova
The Last Child by Hart
Kings of the Earth by Clinch
My Name is Mary Sutter by Oliveira
Girl in Translation by Kwok
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Comments

  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
    #2
    Unbroken
    It's not a light hearted story but it's an amazing story of personal courage and strenght and it's true. Unbroken by Linda Hildabrand. Unbelievable book.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #3
    mom62 said:

    Unbroken
    It's not a light hearted story but it's an amazing story of personal courage and strenght and it's true. Unbroken by Linda Hildabrand. Unbelievable book.

    I loved your suggestion Room
    I loved your suggestion Room CC . Just bought the above book Unbroken. I bought Cutting for Stone also. havent read them so cant comment yet. I was interested in one about a pond Ayse recommened but couldnt find the post.
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #4
    Thank you! Thank you! Our
    Thank you! Thank you! Our book group, which meets on Friday will be making up our new reading list...and I think Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter sounds just up our alley! We only read mysteries...this book intrigues me!
    Thanks!
    Chen
  • lizzie17
    lizzie17 Member Posts: 548
    #5
    concentrating
    I was an avid reader, but now I can't seem to concentrate and have resorted to buying books on tape. It started after about a year on the arimidex, but I am not sure if it is connected.
    BUT, maybe I just need a really good book and I love mysteries. Crooked Letter---I will check it out!
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #6
    lizzie17 said:

    concentrating
    I was an avid reader, but now I can't seem to concentrate and have resorted to buying books on tape. It started after about a year on the arimidex, but I am not sure if it is connected.
    BUT, maybe I just need a really good book and I love mysteries. Crooked Letter---I will check it out!

    Thanks Cynthia for all of
    Thanks Cynthia for all of your book suggestions!


    Hugs, Jan
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #7
    mom62 said:

    Unbroken
    It's not a light hearted story but it's an amazing story of personal courage and strenght and it's true. Unbroken by Linda Hildabrand. Unbelievable book.

    I have been hearing the buzz
    I have been hearing the buzz about Unbroken. I belive she wrote Seabiscuit? I didn't read that, but I think I will try Unbroken because I have heard such great things about it. Thanks!
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #8
    mom62 said:

    Unbroken
    It's not a light hearted story but it's an amazing story of personal courage and strenght and it's true. Unbroken by Linda Hildabrand. Unbelievable book.

    Thanks Cynthia and thank you
    Thanks Cynthia and thank you Mom62 too. I need to look for these books. I haven't heard of Unbroken, but, will look for it.

    Hugs, Kylez
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #9
    lizzie17 said:

    concentrating
    I was an avid reader, but now I can't seem to concentrate and have resorted to buying books on tape. It started after about a year on the arimidex, but I am not sure if it is connected.
    BUT, maybe I just need a really good book and I love mysteries. Crooked Letter---I will check it out!

    Me too
    I have the same problem lizzie I love to read but can't concentrate enough to do much right now. I blamed it on chemo brain, 6 months out of chemo been on Tamoxifen about 5 months. Wonder what it is? God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #10
    Boppy_of_6 said:

    Me too
    I have the same problem lizzie I love to read but can't concentrate enough to do much right now. I blamed it on chemo brain, 6 months out of chemo been on Tamoxifen about 5 months. Wonder what it is? God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice

    Fantasy
    When I'm stressed, it helps me to read fantasy or light science fiction -- to just escape into another world for a little while.

    I know I'm way behind, but I'm just getting around to reading Wicked (by Gregory Maguire), and it's been perfect to read these past few days, to run away to Oz for awhile. The same author also has re-imagined takes on Cinderella (Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister) and Snow White (Mirror, Mirror), which I may read once I've finished Wicked.

    Traci
  • bluwillo
    bluwillo Member Posts: 113
    #11
    Stephanie Plum!
    Anything by Janet Evanovitch is a great read. The books are so funny, and with such hot men, I can never wait for the new one to come out in paperback, I always have to buy the newest hardcover. Thankfully, I now have a Kindle, so it saves a little $. For good escapism, Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter who keeps her gun in her cookie jar, whose assistant is a former lady of the night who dresses in neon colored clothes 6 sizes too small, and whose granny keeps a loaded Glock in her purse cannot be beat!
  • Jennifer1961
    Jennifer1961 Member Posts: 137
    #12
    Boppy_of_6 said:

    Me too
    I have the same problem lizzie I love to read but can't concentrate enough to do much right now. I blamed it on chemo brain, 6 months out of chemo been on Tamoxifen about 5 months. Wonder what it is? God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice

    I couldn't concentrate while
    I couldn't concentrate while on chemo either so I read the Shopaholic books and some others by that same author. They were fun.
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #13
    I love
    Jan Karon's books,the Mitford series books,and now she is coming out with a new series-the Father Tim series-I love her writing!Also Fannie Flagg-Fried Green Tomatoes,and others..
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #14
    TraciInLA said:

    Fantasy
    When I'm stressed, it helps me to read fantasy or light science fiction -- to just escape into another world for a little while.

    I know I'm way behind, but I'm just getting around to reading Wicked (by Gregory Maguire), and it's been perfect to read these past few days, to run away to Oz for awhile. The same author also has re-imagined takes on Cinderella (Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister) and Snow White (Mirror, Mirror), which I may read once I've finished Wicked.

    Traci

    I just read Wicked a few
    I just read Wicked a few months ago and Confessions before that. I really liked them both. I haven't read Mirror, Mirror but I think I will get it. I also am going to get Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. Traci, have you read Mists of Avalon? It is a good book also. My mom and I read it years ago but I like to re-read it. I am currently reading The Lost Symbol and am enjoying it.
    Thanks to everyone who listed their favorite books. I like hearing the reviews and who is reading what.
    Stef
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #15
    outdoorgirl said:

    I love
    Jan Karon's books,the Mitford series books,and now she is coming out with a new series-the Father Tim series-I love her writing!Also Fannie Flagg-Fried Green Tomatoes,and others..

    Thanks for all of the titles
    Thanks for all of the titles to these books. I used to read a lot, but, haven't for awhile. This might inspire me to now.


    Thanks,

    Leeza
  • Wolfi
    Wolfi Member Posts: 425
    #16
    Don't read much
    Cynthia,

    Like some others who have posted I read a lot before but ever since my dx can't seem to concentrate too long (but mostly fall asleep) when reading books.

    I work in an office on a computer all day and the last things I want to do when I get home are file, work on my home computer, or read. Mostly I just watch movies to "escape" but I know I should read more books instead. If we have less than 1,000 books in our house I would be surprised. There are books everywhere - shelves of them in the living room, dining room, hallways and bedrooms. The only place we don't have any is in the bathroom. :-)

    My local BC survivor group meets once a month. In our November meeting they suggested that we all read Time Is a River by Mary Alice Monroe and talk about it at our February meeting. It is a story about a BC survivor and the people who have already read it say it is a great book. I haven't started it yet but will need to read it before next month.

    Thanks for the good suggestions.

    Wolfi
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #17
    carkris said:

    I loved your suggestion Room
    I loved your suggestion Room CC . Just bought the above book Unbroken. I bought Cutting for Stone also. havent read them so cant comment yet. I was interested in one about a pond Ayse recommened but couldnt find the post.

    carkris
    The book is called crow lake, I absolutely loved it and I think you will too =)

    Here's the link to the NY times book review.

    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E4D91039F937A15750C0A9649C8B63

    Hugs,
    Ayse
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #18
    Wolfi said:

    Don't read much
    Cynthia,

    Like some others who have posted I read a lot before but ever since my dx can't seem to concentrate too long (but mostly fall asleep) when reading books.

    I work in an office on a computer all day and the last things I want to do when I get home are file, work on my home computer, or read. Mostly I just watch movies to "escape" but I know I should read more books instead. If we have less than 1,000 books in our house I would be surprised. There are books everywhere - shelves of them in the living room, dining room, hallways and bedrooms. The only place we don't have any is in the bathroom. :-)

    My local BC survivor group meets once a month. In our November meeting they suggested that we all read Time Is a River by Mary Alice Monroe and talk about it at our February meeting. It is a story about a BC survivor and the people who have already read it say it is a great book. I haven't started it yet but will need to read it before next month.

    Thanks for the good suggestions.

    Wolfi

    Thanking you for these
    Thanking you for these suggestions also. Like Wolfi, I don't read much anymore either. I will write the name of these books down though, and, hopefully read one or more.


    Thanks again,


    Debby
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #19
    Books, books, wonderful books
    I can recommend The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie ("An enthralling mystery, a piercing depiction of class and society, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is a masterfully told tale of deceptions—and a rich literary delight.") Also, the Housekeeper and the Professor by Ono. "This is a delicate, unhurried story about the friendship that develops between a brain-injured mathematician and a woman who comes every day to prepare his meals. None of the characters is ever named. Nothing romantic or even dramatic ever happens. And there is a lot of conversation about math. Can you hear the marketing team in New York starting to cry ? And yet The Housekeeper and the Professor is strangely charming, flecked with enough wit and mystery to keep us engaged throughout." - Ron Charles, The Washington Post. Finally I also enjoyed The Elegance of the Hedgehog; engaging, but imperfect, and you have to be in the mood for some philosophy.
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #20
    Boppy_of_6 said:

    Me too
    I have the same problem lizzie I love to read but can't concentrate enough to do much right now. I blamed it on chemo brain, 6 months out of chemo been on Tamoxifen about 5 months. Wonder what it is? God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice

    Me too!
    I absolutely LOVED reading before BC. Once diagnosed though, my concentration was totally shot. I switched from long novels, especially fantasy and sci fi, to short paragraphs on cancer research. That was my major interest and about as long as I could concentrate for months and months. I can't blame the chemo as I didn't have any. It started after diagnosis and that was before tamoxifen, so I can't blame that. From what I read (past and present tense), the doctors seem to think that getting diagnosed with cancer is rather stressful (Like how long did it take them to register that!!!!). They have even done studies to prove that testing someone for cancer is more stressful that telling someone they have a really bad heart condition. Just hearing the word cancer in a medical context stops the brain from working quite right and ruins most folks' concentration. The good news is that the farther from diagnosis I got, the better my concentration became. This year I went back to reading fiction and seem to be doing better. Mind you, I was first diagnosed in 2002 and then came lung cancer...another story. There are also medicines that can help if the problem with focussing interferes with daily living. The ADD meds like Ritalin help some folks--hey, I paid attention to all those little paragraphs even if that was all I read or could read! Depression meds are also helpful for many. I was about to ask for the Ritalin when I discovered a great cup or two (alright, maybe three!!) did it for me. Tea doesn't hold a candle to Trader Joe's Bolivian coffee! Now if they would just get a Trader Joe's store near my community.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #21
    lynn1950 said:

    Books, books, wonderful books
    I can recommend The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie ("An enthralling mystery, a piercing depiction of class and society, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is a masterfully told tale of deceptions—and a rich literary delight.") Also, the Housekeeper and the Professor by Ono. "This is a delicate, unhurried story about the friendship that develops between a brain-injured mathematician and a woman who comes every day to prepare his meals. None of the characters is ever named. Nothing romantic or even dramatic ever happens. And there is a lot of conversation about math. Can you hear the marketing team in New York starting to cry ? And yet The Housekeeper and the Professor is strangely charming, flecked with enough wit and mystery to keep us engaged throughout." - Ron Charles, The Washington Post. Finally I also enjoyed The Elegance of the Hedgehog; engaging, but imperfect, and you have to be in the mood for some philosophy.

    just .. getting past the 'Go Dog Go' series .. chemo brain
    and all... LOL .. I have purchased several books, now I am going to attempt to start reading, again.


    LOL


    Vicki Sam

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