Wednesday, April 09, 2008

I need a book to read

I've been on a military-wife book kick. I read one about PTSD, one about dealing with deployment, one about life after deployment, and one about women soldiers. I tried to read this book but it made me cry.

Here's my book list with links.

Down Range: To Iraq and Back

Separated by duty, united in love : a guide to long-distance relationships for military couples

Life after deployment : military families share reunion stories and advice

Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq




I'm ready for something new. Tomorrow is library day and I need some suggestions. I'll probably pick up another war related read, though I'd like to focus more on Iraq history. I also need something lighter. Happier. Not scary.

Any ideas?

Have you read anything good lately?

13 comments:

Mary said...

That is a pretty serious list of books, but I can see why you would read all of those.

I am in need of a new book too - I started re-reading Harry Potter 7 this week and am totally engrossed, but still!

Some nice books:

-The Persian Pickle Club
-I Capture the Castle
-Charms for the Easy Life

And that's all I can come up with today! Good luck finding something to read! Love ya sista

The Mrs. said...

As far as the military kick have you read Sarah Smiley's book Going Overboard Misadventures of a Military Wife. Its hilarious! Her husband is a flier so you might relate even though its navy and really, most of the military wife stuff is beyond just one branch.

orchard_girl said...

Wendy, haven't read too many military wives books. Can't remember the title of the one I did read-it wasn't that great.

I've been reading the Charlie Bone series, similar to Harry Potter. They are fun quick reads.

I've also been reading a couple different series by Jane Kirkpatrick. Right now I'm reading A Sweetness to the Soul. I enjoyed her Kinship and Courage series and one about an Indian Lady, I keep trying to find book #2.

Also read:
Withering Heights
Witch Child
Inkheart-looking for the sequal
Searching for ? can't remember the artist's name-fun book
The Girl in Lavender (?)Blue
several Nancy Drew books
The Silver Crown
1905
Daughter of the Wedding Planner
A couple Harlquin Romance books and Nora Roberts-needed something to read and that's all I could find around here.
many were from the juvenal section of the library. Some were good, some others I've forgotten. I've read a whole lot lately and should have kept a list.
Heather

Tori :) said...

I haven't read anything since the Twilight series, so I'm no help. :(

tootie said...

I really liked "Funny in Farsi." It's a comical book about a girl from Iran growing up in the US with her quirky family.

Also, I'm a sucker for Nicholas Sparks books. (Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, etc) They read like a great chick-flick movie. (Which isn't surprising, since most of them were turned into movies.)

Happy reading! :)

.... said...

You need to find a book that will make you laugh and get you off this Iraq kick...I know way more then I ever want to know by reading everyone of the books you read and more....it did not help me understand it or help me understand my feelings, it just kind of left me questioning things. I have met some of the authors of these books and they are wonderful, but in my opinion, you need to find something light and heartfelt to read.

I just finished Nicolas Sparks last book The Choice, it was a wonderful book, I loved Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral, The Penny was great, The Secret Life of Bees, The Mermaid Chair and then the Memory Keepers Daughter (Lifetime movie in just a couple days)

I can only tell you that after three deployments in theater and losing friends I don't know what to say about them, you get burned out easy and can often be drug into this war in a way that you never intended early on and it's not fun....you and I are different people, but I for one would recommend taking a break, but that is only my opinion.....good luck finding some reading.

Butterfly Wife said...

As far as Iraq history, here is Jack Bauer's recommendation (he is a super avid reader, especially history):
"The Republic of Fear. Breaks down how the Baathists came to power and what it was like living in the Iraq under Hussein. Not really a straight history, but gives enough to set the context of modern day Iraq."

Otherwise, I would go for the light-hearted stuff too. Always nice to go back to the basics that we supposedly read in high school. Catcher in the Rye, A Separate Peace, Old Man and the Sea, Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby. Short books. The Odyssey, I couldn't put that down when I read it 20 years ago. I need to find time to read again. Still haven't gotten past page 35 in the last Harry Potter book.

Lee Anne said...

Margaret Atwood. Great writing, characters, and storytelling. She really takes you out of your world.

Unknown said...

I just read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer last weekend. I am ADDICTED!!!!! It is a fun, breezy read.

Amanda said...

I don't have any military recommendations, but I did just finish a really good book the other day. It was the Secret Life of Bees. I really liked it. For book club we are reading The Hiding Place by Harriet ten Boom. I haven't read that for awhile.

Tori :) said...

Oooh- The Hiding Place was a great book!

Sarah said...

I have a recommendation. It's not Iraq, it's Afghanistan, but it's totally worth it: The Places In Between by Rory Stewart. In Jan '02, this Scot walked across Afghanistan. He recounts stories from all the little villages along the way, stories that really highlight rural Arab life and the gulf of technology and information that separates us from them. It was an awesome book, and it would add to your understanding of the Middle East

Anonymous said...

Have you read Sarah Smiley's new book "I'm Just Saying" a collection of essays. It's getting great reviews with military spouses.