Bossy's Excellent Reader Submitted Summer Beach Reads {+ Giveaway}

Friday, June 19, 2009

*Giveaway is closed* Affiliate links used

I've probably mentioned a few times that I love to read. My pile of 'to be read' books is getting so big I'm afraid it's going to topple over. But, if I find a book on the clearance rack or in my library book store, I have no problem adding it on.

When I went into my Google Reader this past Tuesday night and saw that Bossy's theme for Ten Word Tuesday was summer reading I think I drooled a little.

Several of the comments mentioned wanting to see all the suggestions compiled into a list. I, being a total book whore, offered to put it together. I apologize if I messed up or forgot to link anyone's blog. I haven't read many of these titles. I'm excited to add some to my list.

Win It!
Have you read anything on this list? Did you love it? Hate it? Have any really good suggestions to add? Leave a
relevant comment and win a $10 Amazon gift card! (rules at the bottom of the post)



Suggested summer reading submitted by fans of I Am Bossy 
to Ten Word Tuesday

Have the T-shirt said: The Spellman Files (and the two follow up books) by Lisa Lutz
Michele P said: The Given Day by Dennis Lehane
dgm said: Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Marjorie of Connecticut said :Still Life by Louise Penny (1st in a series of 5 thus far)
Chookooloonks said: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
SueBoo said: Hold Tight by Hal Coben
leslie said: The Pact by Jodi Picoult
Marjorie of Connecticut said: Folly by Laurie R. King
Leslie said: The Pleasure of My Company Steve Martin
Meg at the Members Lounge said: The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
KM said: Katherine by Anya Seton or The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Amy and Ellie said: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewskij
Lora said: She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb
Jamie said:
-The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz
-Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard
Jenny said: When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris or On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwen
Amber Star said: The Berrybender Narratives series by Larry McMurty
hollygee said: Welcome to Temptation, Jennifer Crusie
Jamie said: Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon (this was suggested many times and I agree, it's one of my favorites, I've read it at least 6 times)
confused said: Middlesexby Jeffrey Eugenides
Owengirl79 said:The Noticer by Andy Andrews
heather said: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Jamie said: The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts, by Tom Farley Jr and Tanner Colby
vuboq said: Deep Economy by Bill McKibben
Meredith said: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (this was also suggested many times and I agree, it's excellent)
Rae said: Freddy and Fredericka, by Mark Helprin
Elizabeth said: Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson (very, very good; she's becoming one of my favorite authors)
Heide said: Michael Chabon, The Yiddish Policemen's Union
Lauren said: The Road, Cormac McCarthy
Stephanie said: When the Wind Blows and The Lake House by James Patterson
Leslie B said: The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer
Michelle and Skeller said: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The Domestic Goddess said: [anything by]
-Jane Austin
-The Bronte Sisters
-Thomas Hardy
-Edith Wharton
Leslie B said: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Maryjo said: Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife(suggested multiple times, a must read!!!)
Debbie said: An American Childhoodby Annie Dillard
Marnie said: Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa, by Mark Seal
Kate said: American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld
Lance said: Infidel - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Renee in Seattle and Dr. Liz said: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
David said: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish - Dr. Seuss
Jean said: Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (True Blood fans, this is part of the Sookie Stackhouse series)
Caro said: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (movie coming out soon)
POD said: The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life by Ben Sherwood
Fiona Picklebottom said: Beach Music by Pat Conroy (loved it!)
Tammy said: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Dharmamama said: Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculée Ilibagiza
Dharmamama said: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
kd said: The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, Michael Lewis
Methodpam said: Foolby Christopher Moore
Amanda said: Rhett Butler's Peopleby: Donald McCaig
Eileen said: Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
Elle said: Conversations with God, Neale Donald Walsch
Jenna said: A Complicated Kindness, Miriam Toews
Jacquie said: The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
Donna said: Cane River by Latita Tademy
rockle said: Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
The Great Getzby said:
-Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov
-July's People by Nadine Gordimer
-The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
-Libra, Don DeLillo
-Catch-22, by Joseph Heller
-Archie Comics Double Digest
-South of the Border, West of the Sun, by Haruki Murakami
-To The Lighthouse, Viginia Woolf
-The Dead, by James Joyce, from “The Dubliners”
Amelia said: Pretty in Plaid - Jennifer Lancaster (reading now, love it!)
sara said: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
KimA said: The Bookseller of Kabulby Asne Seierstad
Dee said: Any of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evonovich - One for the Money up through Finger Lickin’ Fifteen
Liz in Virginia said: The Solace of Leaving Early, by Haven Kimmel
bechtoldlifework said: The Wife, by Meg Wolitzer
deedle said: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Franca Bollo said: Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks
Surcie said: I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti(Non-fiction) Giulia Melucci
BirdBrain said: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Sara said: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving Debbie said: The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Deborah said: The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig, anything by James Lee Burke
Suburban Turmoil said: War and Peace
Sugarpie said: With Bold Knife and Fork; M. F. K. Fisher
Bossy's Mom said: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
JC said: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Laurellee said: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Cupcake Murphy said: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami
Lianne said: The Memory of Running, by Ron McLarty or The The Sound of Butterflies, by Rachel King
Elizabeth said: James Patterson’s Women's Murder club series or Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Series
Catherine McP said: [Any of the] 4 cookbooks by Kit Wohl
Abbey said: The Correctionsby Jonathan Franzen. Also, Jonathan Safran Foer: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Sugarpie said: Speak, Memory, To The Lighthouse, and Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
Kait said: Jenna Blum’s Those Who Save Us
Suburban Kamikaze said: Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife
Marinka said: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Amanda said: The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
Maria said: Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade, a 1955 novel by Patrick Dennis
Carrie said: My Life in France by Julia Child
Lissa Lou said: My Life in France by Louise Erdrich
Jen said: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (The Almost Moon was really good too)

Ren said: Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Beth said: Lolita, and [anything by] Edith Wharton and Jane Smiley, (House of Mirth, A Thousand Acres) and Housekeeping by Marilynn Robinson
ErinH said: The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews and A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Cinthia said: Any of the “No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency ” books by Alexander McCall Smith and Patty Boyd’s Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me
martha said: Glamour and Sparkles, both by Louise Bagshawe
Sven said: Anna Karenina, Tolstoy
deborah said: Any mystery by Ian Rankin (especially Resurrection Men)
judy said: Naked by David Sedaris

Guess what? You can print the entire list here.

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
To enter:
1. Leave a relevant comment on this post answering any of the questions above - (enter me! and I want to win! aren't gonna cut it) required.

2. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

3. Comments will close on Friday, June 26th at 11:59pm CA time.

4. I will use random.org to draw the winners and post the results/notify winners via email and in a "Winners" post.

5. The prize is in the form of an emailed gift card. International entry OK as long as Amazon is allowed where you live.

6. For two extra entries:
(not required) Tweet, and/or blog about this contest and leave each of your links in a separate comment (three contest entry opportunities total). You will need a free
Twitter account.

7. You
do not have to follow or subscribe to this blog as a method of entry (but you're more than welcome to!). Tweet as often as you like, but only one Tweet will count as an extra entry. Leave one comment for each entry. Here is the URL to this post: http://tinyurl.com/n3wj7m

42 comments:

  1. I have read The Red Tent. It is a very interesting look at what life may have been like in biblical times from a womanly point of view. I highly suggest it for a first person look at the cultural lives of women during that time.

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  2. Ok, totally feeling like a loser here...I don't think I've read any of those books. But I just finished Shelter Me by Juliette Fay last night and I'm in withdrawls over not being a part of those characters lives anymore.

    scblog at hotmail dot com

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  3. Dr. Seuss is always entertaining! I just read a good book, nonfiction, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out fo the Boat" by John Ortberg. It's easy to read, but very thought provoking and relevant to daily living.

    My email - Katylee[at]gmail[dot]com

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  4. I have read James Patterson's women's detective series, and I highly recommend it. #8 just came out, and I'm about to start. I've also read all the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plus books, and those are a hoot! Plus they keep you guessing. Water for Elephants is on my to-be-read list. Thanks!

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  5. I just finished My Sister's Keeper on audiobook. I've read 2-3 other books by Jodi Picoult, but this is the first one that I've actually liked.

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  6. I haven't read ANY of those books! I pretty much quit reading when my first kid was born but I'm ready to start up again. Some good looking suggestions there!
    katiekarr at gmail dot com

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  7. I'm gonna try to check out some on this list! I have several review books I need to finish first though! GREAT list and great giveaway, too!

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  8. To Kill A Mockingbird is a great book!
    Love love it...

    I feel sad that I haven't read many others.

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  9. Ha. I have a stack like that in my room right now. I just keep on adding knowing that I don't yet have the time to get them read. Oh, but my day will come, I know its gonna come, lol.

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  10. I follow on twitter and tweeted http://twitter.com/sleatham1/status/2278585926

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  11. I've read the following:
    -The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - pretty good
    -Loving Frank by Nancy Horan - learned a lot
    -James Patterson’s Women's Murder club series - I love this series (liked the TV show, too)
    -No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency(first in series) by Alexander McCall Smith - GREAT book

    You've got a great list, I'm looking forward to reading many on your list!

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  12. I would add JUST BREATHE by Susan Wiggs. It is a witty and moving story, and the heroine is a woman that many of us could relate to.

    BTW, I have several towering TBR stacks!

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  13. I loved Water For Elephants and The Lovely Bones. Of course, I'm a huge fan of anything Stephenie Meyers has written too. Thanks for compiling this awesome list!!

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  14. I loved Beach Music.
    I guess I'm weird, I didn't like Water for the Elephants.

    mj.coward[at]gmail.com

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  15. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was one of the most moving stories I've read in a long time.
    IMHO Everyone should read some of the No1 Ladies Detective Agency stories - they're a hoot (and they're on tv now too).
    The Red Tent is an engrossing read.
    Water for Elephants, Middlesex and The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society are all books which will make you sit back and think!
    Thanks for the long list here - there's lots I've already read but even more which I haven't. I'll be checking out some of these books now.
    Michelle (mduffy2006 at gmail dot com)

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  16. From that list I've read:

    The Pact
    She's Come Undone
    The Lovely Bones

    I loved them all! They're all three really good reads.

    Great list--I think I may need to add to my to be read list now :)

    leoandchelle(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  17. I just finished The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and liked it very much! My favorite book ever is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. If you haven't read it yet, please do!
    doot65[at]comcast{dot}net

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  18. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb is an incredible journey. I read it twice creid and laughed each time. It was an intimate and touching story of dysfunction, fear, growth and finally being ok despite what everybody else thinks. Hallejuah. Amen.

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  19. The Historian is in my ever-growing "to-be-read" pile. I would add The Virgin Blue by Tracey Chevalier (or any of her works, she's one of my favorite authors). Thanks!

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  20. I've read several of these books, but I just finished My sister's keeper and the Historian.
    Also, The time traveler's wife was good and the movie is coming out soon!

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  21. 'The Time Traveler's Wife' was great! I'm looking forward to the movie.

    I have 'Three Cups of Tea' on the "stack" next to my bed.

    I am currently reading 'Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul' by Erwin McManus. It's very thought provoking.

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  22. I also blogged about this here: http://butterfly80.blogspot.com/2009/06/as-if-you-needed-more-books-to-add-to.html

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  23. I love so very many of these books but if books had Thunderdome-type cage matches Bel Canto and Time Traveler's Wife would surely be headlining on the evening set aside to determine the all time champion best book ever. And I really, really don't know who would finally win.

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  24. I'm lame because I have not read any of these:( lol

    But, I plan to! Thanks for compiling the list!

    your "kiss ass book whore" comment cracked me up!!:)

    Thanks for the chance to win! I love Amazon! I love your cute blog header also!

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  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  26. The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my favorite books ever. My advice on 10 word Tuesday was to ignore the advice to read Edgar Sawtelle--450 good pages followed by 100 not-good pages.

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  27. My favorite book from the list is My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I cannot wait to see the movie. The book totally kept me on the edge of me seat. The ending made me cry my eyes out. I think the movie will be amazing!!!!


    Nancye Davis
    nancyecdvis @bellsouth . net
    (remove the spaces)

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  28. This is a great idea! I'm in a book club and am glad to have lots of new suggested reading to share with my group.
    I would add Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup to the list. The movie deviated from the book a lot, and I like the original story.

    chughes(at)litzkypr(dot)com

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  29. Tweeted about this post too: http://twitter.com/cdhughes/statuses/2326855427

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  30. love The Time Traveler's Wife. a book that wasn't on the list is a new series by Deva Gantt (so far there is A Silent Ocean Away, and Decision and Destiny) really great books. a little slow at first but you get caught up in the fabulous saga and history of it all!

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  31. I have read "To Kill a Mockingbird" many years ago and again just recently with my son. I great classic and worth reading again!
    jedoggett@embarqmail.com

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  32. Skip Wharton's works, esp. Ethan Frome, but read Age of Innocence or House of Mirth (my favorite)

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  33. i have read a few of the books on the list well more than a few but not enough, I wish I had the time to read all of them and the money. The most recent I read on the list was The Pillars of the Earth and it was well worth the read thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

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  34. I just finished reading the first 2 "Twilight" books...and can't wait to read the 3rd.

    I also recently read "How to Be Like Walt" (a biography of Walt Disney's life) and it was excellent!

    I'm currently reading "Parenting With Love & Logic" and it's fantastic so far.

    What books have you been reading lately? :)

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  35. I've read The Time Traveler's Wife and The Lovely Bones. Both were great! :)
    bunnybx at gmail . com

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  36. Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/bunnyb/status/2342131231

    bunnybx at gmail . com

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  37. I have read Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. It is a WONDERFUL book. Eye opening and heart-wrenching. It is honest. It is a tiny bit awkward to read sometimes because of the very slight language barrier however it is very well written otherwise. amy@drewchaplinphoto.com

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  38. I have read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and it's a good book. I'll admit that I read it in High School as part of our required reading, though. :) For suggestions, I can recommend just about anything by Terry Pratchett (start with "Moving Pictures" or "Soul Music") and I'd probably also throw in Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" just because of the times we're in.

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  39. Wow! so many good choices..To Kill A Mocking Bird..a classic. Read it in high school, again in college and again last year when we visited the home town of the Author, Harper Lee. Its a book that chronicles the South. Ficton, rooted in truth somewhat. Monroeville was not only home to Harper Lee, but to Truman Capote and visiting there last year was quite the treat.

    Another great Alabamian, Andy Andrews, a friend of mine, wrote the noticer. Another fictonal tale rooted in truth. Allegory at its finest! I hope if you haven't gotten your mitts on these two books, you will soon!

    debbie (at) lagniappe marketing (dot) net

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  40. I just finished reading My Sister's Keeper, and I highly recommend it.

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  41. My husband highly recommends The Time Traveler's Wife. I hope to get started on it as soon as I finish the other 3 books I have going right now. My best friend loved My Sister's Keeper.

    Currently digging into Liberal Fascism, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, and Ben-Hur (read before, but everything worth reading is worth reading several times.)

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  42. I've just read a couple of fab reads on my Kindle.

    If you love romances Donna Fasano's books are always entertaining, her latest Reclaim My Heart was a five star read for me.

    Also thoroughly enjoyed Linda Prather's Bet You Can't...Find Me, actually just re-read this one as book two is due out soon according to the author's facebook page.

    I'll definitely be going through the list above.

    Love, love, love my Kindle. :-)

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