Have you ever heard of Jean Auel? She wrote the "Earth Children's" series. "Clan of the Cave Bear", and please don't base reading this book on that awful movie with Darrahl Hannah.
This book takes place in prehistoric times, but it is a wonderful story of courage, survival, along with love and acceptance. When I picked up the book one day because I was bored I never expected to be so taken by a book. I read it more that 15 years ago, and have re-read it many times. Okay, that's my suggestion.
Just finished PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (the daughter of Ireland's prime minister). Sweet, sad, funny - a nice little read.
Have you read any Margaret Atwood? I can't remember if you've ever mentioned it. I think you'd dig her.
I know it's not in the category of "literature," but I really liked Da Vinci Code and tore through in a couple of days 
You can borrow my copy if you can wait til my mom brings it back!
Also Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris -- great funny book!
Thanks for the suggestions, all. Susanna, I've read everything by David Sedaris, and yes, he just about kills me. Haven't yet read the DaVinci Code, and probably should, though I don't know if I want to actually own it.
Paula, I haven't read any Atwood since I was, well, let's just say a lot younger. I think I read A Handmaid's Tale and Cat's Eye, and that was it. I"ll have to check out her more recent offerings. Any in particular?
Carrie, thanks. That sounds like a good one for me.
And Suego, what a great idea. I haven't actually read any Auel, though I've had many people recommend that series. That might be a perfect way to spend at least one of my GCs.
Great ideas. Keep 'em comin', folks!
Recent loves of mine: Three Junes (by Julia Glass), An Invisible Sign of My Own (by Aimee Bender), The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (by Michael Chabon). All very different. All really really good.
I also liked Motherless Brooklyn (by Jonathan Lethem)(a detective novel of sorts wherein the narrator has Tourette's) and The Good People of New York (by Thisbe Nissen), though less than the others.
I can lend you most of them, if you want to save those gift certificates for other books.
Also, have you read Armistad Maupin's Tales of the City series? They're fantastic light, fun, frivolous reads when you want to check your brain at the door but don't want to be too irritated at the prose, either. (I have most, if not all of these too.)
Basically, you're welcome to come over and riffle through our bookshelves!
I read the whole "Clan of the Cave Bear" series last year. I really enjoyed them. I wouldn't recomend reading them all at once as the later books spend too much time reviewing the earlier books if you just read them... 
I'm a big Margaret Atwood fan, as well. I loved Oryx and Crake and The Blind Assassin, which both have a little of a sci-fi bent. Not in the traditional sense of the genre, though. Edible Woman is amazing.
White Oleander by Janet Fitch is one of my favorite books of all time. If you've seen the really bad movie, don't fret. The book is so much better. Lolita is also a big fave of mine, if you've ever read it. Hmm, young girls in precarious situations. Wonder why that could be?
I love Jeffery Eugenides, of both Middlesex (wordy and weird) and The Virgin Suicides (just weird).
Either Steve Martin novella -- Shopgirl or The Pleasure of My Company -- is quite fun. As is Nothing is Terrible by Matthew Sharpe.
J.D. Robb, Laurell K. Hamilton and Jennifer Crusie offer great trash (detective, fantasy and romance). Christopher Buckley is a step up, usually with silly politics. So Many Books, So Little Time and Eats, Shoots and Leaves are great nonfiction about reading and grammar.
Carter Beats the Devil is about a magician in the 1920s. The Rise of David Levinsky is about a Jewish immigrant at the turn of the century. A Fine Balance is an incredible Indian saga, spanning centuries.
If you've never read A Secret History or Life of Pi, now's the time.
Sorry you asked?
Not at all, Lori! My reading has really fallen off in recent years, and while I've heard of about half the books you mentioned, the other half are entirely new to me. I'm psyched to start shopping.
In fact, the only book in your lists that I *have* read is Shopgirl, which was extremely good, I thought. And I'm pretty sure I only read it after you mentioned it in your blog...
TC
I love ALice Hoffman. Her best two are Practical Magic and The Probable Future. I also love the pretty sophomirc but funny FLuke by Christopher Moore. My favorite books lately though are: Population 485 (a memoir of a poet that moves back to his hometown and works as an EMT); and Homestead by Rosina Lippi (a series of interelated short stories that span 70 years told from the shifting points of view of various female characters; it all takes place in small town on the border of Austria and the voices and stories stay with you).
I know you and I normally reside on different planets book-wise, but if you've ever had the urge to read high fantasy, my favorite is Robin Hobb.
Regarding Auel- I have an ancient copy of Valley of the Horses on my shelf if you ever get that far and want to borrow it.
Anyway, I think the only book you and I ever agreed on was Lovely Bones. I know we have vastly differing opinions on Kingsolver. So, my advice might not be helpful
I never read Lovely Bones, so I doubt we even agreed on that one! It's part of why I love you, I guess.
I was just going to suggest Lovely Bones, as I just started reading it! I'm not sure if any of these are your style, but I'll toss out a few I've just read in the last few months and loved:
House of Sand and Fog
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant(?)
Good in Bed and In Her Shoes both
by Jennifer Weimer (who is a new mom and has her own blog--these are good, quick reads)
Olivia and The Missing Toy (just kidding! Actually, Noah read that one to me--it's good)
Ooooh, Diane, I loved The Red Tent. Then read another of her books--can't even remember the name--and was totally disappointed.
And we love all things Olivia here, too, though Maisy really rules our roost. Just don't try to tell N that Maisy is a girl. "Eveybody BOY!" he yells.
Lori, I have The Lovely Bones if you want it. I am guessing I was thinking of The Red Tent as the book we agreed on
Have you ever read Amy Tan? I love her books.
A few more for your reading pleasure:
"The House of the Spirits" by Isabelle Allende (has all the magic of South American story telling)
"Waiting" (a most amazing book) by Ha Jin, and also "Crazed" (really good)
"Man and Boy" by Tony Parsons (a great story about a man as single parent)
anything by Alice Monroe, a magnificent short story writer, try "The Love of a Good Woman"
"Sea Glass" by Anita Shreve, and also "The Pilot's Wife"
"Mary and O'Neil" by Justin Cronin
and also the Rabbit series by John Updike, especially "Rabbit Run" and "Rabbit at Rest"
I guess I'll stop here. You can come look over my shelves and borrow anything anytime. (But you probably wouldn't want to come here now. It is still snowing! The weather has forgotten that Spring is supposed to be here!)
Well, I always thought Maisy was incredibly butch. And since Talula is so fem, okay, I won't go there ...
I was going to suggest Amy Tan too. I also adore anything by Toni Morrison.
My main suggestion today is If You Lived Here by Sandra Tsing Loh. I know you love her and though this novel isn't nearly as good as her essays or A Year in Van Nuys, it's still very worthwhile. (Did you hear her series on KCRW a few months back about going to Disneyland? It was hilarious!)
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