Fave book from Oprah's book club?

[atpeace]

What's your favourite book from Oprah's book club list? I've read a few of them and have not been disappointed yet, and am going to the library tomorrow to pick up a few...what do you recommend? And why?

[mamatoablessing]

I just pulled up her list here and these are my favs:

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

[atpeace]

Thanks, I also have saved her list and have it on my computer to refer to...: pretty nerdy eh?

I've read a few of the ones you mentioned and have loved them, so I think I'll find one of the others you mentioned that I haven't read...Thanks!

[A&A]

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

[Leilamus]

Originally Posted by A&A

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

: A very hard book to read in that it has some extreme images - I wouldn't read it if you're pregnant or PP. But it's a book that continues to stick with me.

The other two I loved and had to own after reading were Poisonwood Bible and Midwives. Everything by Bohjalian is great IMO!

[Viola]

From her list, these were the ones I've read:

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck - I read this about 20 years ago when I was in China for the summer, and I enjoyed it.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - A Fine Balance inspired me to read this, and I liked it, although I really *could* have skipped some of the Vronsky going on about land ownership chapters
East of Eden by John Steinbeck - I loved it.
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry - Ick! I read it very quickly, in a day, basically. It was hard to put down, but really bothered me, I had to skip the really violent sections and I hated it when I was done, so I gave it away.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen - pretty good, but a little trite considering his criticism.
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III - I enjoyed it well enough, but not sure I'd recommend it.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - I did not expect to like it, but I ended up loving it.
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende - I love this author, but was disappointed in this one.
A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton - I have only vague memories, but I liked it well enough.
The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve - what the heck, trite and pointless.
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink - I liked this.
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts - trite, but heartwarming
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian - meh, nothing earthshattering either.
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines - I really liked it.
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb - another compelling one I didn't put down until I was done, but the main character was distasteful to me, which wrecked my enjoyment.
The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard - It was fine, not great.

[Susana]

I love The Poisonwood Bible

how about White Oleander.

also enjoyed the House of Sand and Fog

[atpeace]

Thanks everyone, I loved your comments and insights! I've based my decision based on your input. Thanks again!

[StarJune]

You must read Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald.

[starry_mama]

Originally Posted by StarJune

You must read Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald.

i totally agree. i love that book so much. i have read it a dozen times.

[mom2snugbugs]

Both the Wally Lamb books. I BAWLED after I know this much is true. Can't wait for his new one.

[SAHDS]

The Road was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too "Old Man and the Sea-esque" for me. I loved the writing style and the (what I thought was) build-up but it totally left me cold and unfulfilled. At the end, I felt cheated and incredibly bored. I was terribly disappointed with that one.

DH kept asking "how is it?" and I kept on responding "I dunno, I'm waiting for something to happen."

[katmann]

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides was excellent (as was the Virgin Suicides, though not on her list). I also enjoyed The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers and The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison was excellent until then end, which I didn't feel fit with the rest of the book somehow. But she writes so beautifully it's worth reading anyway.

[atpeace]

Oh yes, Fall on Your Knees is one of my absolute faves of all time. As are both Wally Lamb books. And I also liked White Oleander, and Drowning Ruth.

I also liked but didn't love Cane River, Icy Sparks, Mother of Pearl, and Where the Heart Is.

Any other faves?

And my husband has read Night, and the Road, both of which are too depressing for me...no thanks.

[JenLove]

My all-time favorite Oprah book was ~ A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

[Penuche]

Midwives and The Pillars of the Earth were my favorites.

[StarJune]

Pillars of the Earth is another favourite!

[neveryoumindthere]

shes come undone by wally lamb