[Kaitlyn]

Okay I confess - I just don't read! I never really got into books and yet almost all of my friends seem to blow through book after book.

I wanna try picking it up because I could use some calm downtime! Can anyone recommend some shorter good reads? I'll be honest - I'm not exactly sure what genre would appeal to me most so I'm pretty open on that!

Looking forward to your suggestions!

[browneyed]

Originally Posted by Kaitlyn

Okay I confess - I just don't read! I never really got into books and yet almost all of my friends seem to blow through book after book.

I wanna try picking it up because I could use some calm downtime! Can anyone recommend some shorter good reads? I'll be honest - I'm not exactly sure what genre would appeal to me most so I'm pretty open on that!

Looking forward to your suggestions!

I guess first we would need to define short Here are some of my fav reads..although I don't know if I would consider them short Once you get into a book, you wouldn't even realize how long it really is.

In her shoes by Jennifer Weiner
She's come undone by Wally Lamb
My sisters keeper by Jodi Picoult
Kite Runner/A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

For romantic comedy you can't go wrong with Jill Mansell's books
For authors Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Weiner, Meg Cabot, Susan Elizabeth Phillips etc...

I have a ton of recommendations..but don't want to overwhelm you!
Happy reading

[scarletdiva]

anything by joyce carol oates!

[islena]

The Harry Potter books? Well the first 3 books are relatively short. (At least they seemed short to me!) Latter books in the series get lengthier though. But maybe you'll really be into reading by that point.

[girlstar]

I enjoyed the Shopaholic books. They're light and fun.

Currently reading: Something Borrowed

[babieblue]

i recommend the shopaholic series, harry potter, the time travelers wife and something borrowed

[vickyvictoria]

charlaine harris - True Blood series

[teflongirl]

I am more of a suspense reader and enjoy these authors: Mark Billingham (Tom Thorne mysteries), Tess Gerritsen, Robin Cook (a classic medical thriller but still a goodie), Patricia Cornwell (her later books), and Paul Doherty (all his medieval mysteries are very education and shockingly hilarious!).

Mind you, if you read any of thee authors, I doubt you'd sleep well at night. I have had nightmares but then at the same time I can't seem to put down the books when I start reading them.

If you want something relaxing, I suggest Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. It's a nice read.

I would also suggest Stephen King's, "The Last Mile," which they made a movie of. I watched the movie years ago and picked up the book last week to compare what I remember with the movie. Most of the plot in the book compares with the movie except for a few minor details. After reading the book, I had to see the movie again and I found the movie on You Tube and cried over and over again when John Coffey was executed.

For nonfiction I could suggest the Tipping Point, Freakonomics, or The Amber Room.

I hope you find something you enjoy reading. You could always go waaaaay back and read some Shakespeare--Hamlet, MacBeth, Coriolanus, Romeo & Juliet, etc.

[caliente]

I personally like the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Compilation of short stories, so not time-consuming......and they are great stories too.

A Scandal in Bohemia features Irene Adler, aka "The Woman" to Sherlock Holmes. I believe this character is played by Rachel McAdams in the upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law as Sherlock and Watson, respectively.

I'm excited about the movie, but hope they don't focus too much on, or embellish, the relationship between Sherlock and Watson (not that there is anything wrong with that specifically, just not how I ever read it and I hate it when movies based on books turn out really differently from what I was imagining in my own head).

[Kaitlyn]

Thanks everyone! I got some good authors and book titles that I'll have to take a look at next time I go to Chapters.

Thanks again!