NY Times Best Sellers

I started to read a book called The Traveler a few days ago and abandoned it after just two chapters.   I could tell right away that it just didn't seem to be within any genre that I usually read....it started like an action movie.  Harlequins fighting the something or others.  I don't mind watching these kind of stories as movies, but I just couldn't read it.  I thought it would be more DaVinci Code-like.  So now I am looking for some good books to read.  I just looked up the New York Times Bestsellers List and saw these:

PAPERBACK FICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. NORTHERN LIGHTS, by Nora Roberts
2. LONDON BRIDGES, by James Patterson
3. ECHOES, by Danielle Steel
4. HOUR GAME, by David Baldacci
5. TWISTED, by Jonathan Kellerman

6. THE KITE RUNNER, by Khaled Hosseini.

7. GHOST WALK, by Heather Graham

8. WICKED, by Gregory Maguire.

9. NIGHT TALES: NIGHT SHIELD, NIGHT MOVES, by Nora Roberts.

10. LIGHT ON SNOW, by Anita Shreve

11. METRO GIRL, by Janet Evanovich.

12. IT HAPPENED ONE AUTUMN, by Lisa Kleypas.

13. IN HER SHOES, by Jennifer Weiner.

14. HARD TRUTH, by Mariah Stewart.

15. ANGELS & DEMONS, by Dan Brown.

Has anyone read any of them? I have read the ones in red.  Loved Angels & Demons... Dan Brown is really good;  I also have read all of Jennifer Weiner.  I can't wait to see In Her Shoes now that it is out!  On this list I know I have got to pick up Metro Girl...I love Janet Evanovich and the Stephanie Plum series.  I have always loved Nora Roberts too, but I haven't read any of her books in a few years now.  I kind of gave up romance novels when I discovered chic-lit.  I haven't read a Danielle Steel novel in eons either.....every book of hers seems too much the same:  Gorgeous woman who overcomes some hardship and is rescued by some gorgeous hunk who is magnificent in the sack.  Am I wrong?  Are her newer novels any different? Should I give Danielle another chance?

Any awesome mysteries or other novels anyone cares to recommend? I need something, quick!!  I don't think I have ever gone more than 2-3 days without a book.  Remember me, 76% "pure nerd"!?

By the way....I was wrong when I said Memoirs of a Geisha was a true story.  It isn't.  But it sure seems realistic! The author did his research of that time period extremely well :)

Just for the heck of it.....

PAPERBACK ADVICE
Top 5 at a Glance
1. WHY DO MEN HAVE NIPPLES? by Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg
2. THE SOUTH BEACH DIET, by Arthur Agatston
3. BAD DOG, by R. D. Rosen, Harry Prichett and Rob Battles
4. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway
5. RICH DAD, POOR DAD, by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter

Even though these books aren't my cup of tea, after I read the title of book #1, I thought, "That is a great question!"  Why the hell do men have nipples???

Comments

[Alexandra Wieckowski]

Thanks for posting this Kristi, I am always on the lookout for new authors. Apparently the James Patterson books are supposed to be good, I have one in my room that I haven't read yet, so I can't say for sure.

[Maria]

Great list! I will be reading Memoirs of a Geisha soon. Have you read anything by Barbara Kingsolver? My favorite books of hers have been Animal Dreams, Prodigal Summer, the Bean Trees and of course the Poisonwood Bible. I also recommend, although you might already have read them, Chocolat (one of my all time favorites) and Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris.

[Julie]

Thanks for the list Kristi. You gave me some good ideas. :) I find a good author and because I ALWAYS have my nose stuck in a book, I end up reading all of that authors books so fast, I am back to square one of needing a new author.

You have to read Metro Girl!! It was a pretty decent book and really fast paced, I had that book read in a matter of 2 evenings after work. It's a really fast, good read.

Have you read any of John Sanford's "Prey" series books? I have read them all, (I sure wish he would write another one dammit), and they rock!!! Really good series of books. They are a series so you will want to start with the first one and move up the line. The books are about Lucas Davenport, who is a detective in Minnesota which makes reading them a bit more interesting because you actually know about the areas the book is describing. The books have everything you would want... murder, mystery, a little romance, sex, adventure. I loved this series. The "In Death" Series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) is another excellent series that I would recommend.

Are you into Magic and Fantasy? The Harry Potter books were great! I fully enjoyed reading these books.

I can't think of any others off the top of my head, except for the ones I know you have read.

Julie

[Kelli]

KITE RUNNER...KITE RUNNER...KITE RUNNER. Reads like a memoir and it rocks. I loved it, I think the character is completely believable and the story is really moving. GREAT BOOK.

[Jen]

Wicked is my all time favorite book EVER. Some other good reads are Fierce Invalids From Hot Climates, by Tom Robbins, or anything by him for that matter. And I just finished The Witch of Cologne, this book was fantastic, highly recommend it.

[Jennifer]

Kristi, I just finished The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It's over 600 pages but is worth it, although I wouldn't call it a favorite. It covers 3 stories at one time -- all 3 are of people tracking down a legend of Dracula. It moves back and forth between the sotries, which take place at different times-- the present, the 1960s, and the 1930s. They are all connected and interwoven. A lot of history and heavy at times, but a good read overall.