Thursday, January 28, 2010

Contest!! In Need of Book Recommendations

Ok, people...I know my readers are (generally speaking) a bunch of non-posters. And I can live with that (more or less) BUT right now I am in need of some literature recommendations. I have a few books in mind, but they are all business-related and I want recommendations for some good "can't-put-it-down-even-though-it's-2 a.m." books.

Remember that I now allow anonymous posting. So no one HAS to know who you are when you give me book recommendations. Heck, I guess I won't even know who you are if you are mysterious enough - and that's fine with me - as long as your advice rocks!

I suppose I should be all go-get-'em about my blog and offer a prize for the best suggestion, shouldn't I? Alrighty, then...I'm feeling wild and crazy so here goes. Please read the rules carefully. Remember, I'm a contracts attorney so I am compelled to be PAINFULLY clear on all issues.

[*clears throat dramatically*]

1. IF I receive at least 5 posted (not emailed) book suggestions
and
2. IF at least 3 individuals participate in this corny contest
and
3. IF the winner feels like telling me who they are (if I don't already know)
then
The person who submits the suggestion I choose to read first will get a prize. (Probably a Border's gift card so it will be easy to mail. But the specific details of the prize are subject to change, depending upon my general mood. And maybe also depending upon how fabulous the suggestion is.)

Easy enough, right? For bonus points, tell me why you think I'd like the book, using either references from the list of books I've read OR using embarrassing references to my personal life. (Again, for those of you who don't know me personally, you've been given plenty of material in this blog.)

7 comments:

JRH said...

Has no one commented yet? FOR SHAME.

Did you read/finish Owen Meaney?

Suggestions:

1. The Stand by Stephen King. What would *you* do in a post-disease-apocalypse battle between good and evil. Plus, you love my son, and I originally got the name "Stuart" from the main hero, Stuart Redman.

2. Heartburn by Nora Ephron, esp. if you haven't seen the movie. Great female POV--very pained yet ascerbic. Bloglike! Only better b/c it's based on real life and real people (Ephron writes about the breakup of her marriage to reporter Carl Bernstein, IIRC). She tosses in recipes throughout--which is highly amusing.

3. Cold Sassy Tree. You probably read this already. I honestly don't remember it, but it was of that good era of Southern-centered folksy recollections, good humor, dramatic storytelling--gossip! I read it for a HS class, believe it or not, and I know folks who read it since who really liked it all over again.

Renee said...

"The Invitation" Oriah Mountain Dreamer.

It changed my life.

Anonymous said...

1. The House of the Scorpion (young adult book) and your daughter will like it too.

2. Walking in Circles Before Lying Down (about the world's most vulgar talking dog)

3. Same Kind of Different as Me

Megan Willome said...

"Dune"- the sci-fi masterpiece. It's got it all, including awesome witches attempting to control the universe.

JennInAustin said...

Wow!! So far I am SO impressed! And in case anyone's wondering, I haven't read any of those yet, although I've definitely been told to read some. Well - I MIGHT have read Cold Sassy Tree now that I think about it but I'm not entirely sure....

Mica said...

I am reading Atlas Shrugged right now. Can't put it down. Even thinking about naming my next child Dagny! You could reread Catcher in the Rye since Salinger just died. Or what about The Omnivore's Dilemma?

Mica said...

I just actually read the rules. Why you should read Atlas Shrugged: because you are a Democrat and it would be good for you and your kind to remember why socialism is a bad idea. =) Catcher in the Rye will make you feel better about your angst. No one is angstier (I just totally made that word up) than Holden C. Omnivore's Dilemma is for your post-vegetarian world. And so you can eat other things besides air!