Must Reads From Claire & Beth:
Reading wasn't something Claire got seriously into until she graduated from college. Here and there, she read a bit growing up. She has vivid memories of reading Junie B. Jones or the American Girl Books, but her love didn't grow until later.
The first book series Claire finished as an adult was Harry Potter. At first, she couldn't put down Prisoner of Azkaban. But, after several more read-throughs, she discovered that Chamber of Secrets was her favorite of the series. Now every year, around fall/winter, she re-reads the series.
Though she started out publishing romance, she considers her favorite genre to be literary fiction. It is definitely reflected by some of her favorite books.
Taylor Jenkins Reid easily combines literary with romance and sometimes even mystery. She definitely takes her place in Claire's top five favorite authors with her favorite TJR book being a toss up between Daisy Jones & the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Another favorite authors of Claire's is Fredrik Backman. While she didn't particularly appreciate the Bear Town series, his stand-a-lone novels deeply capture the style of writing she loves.
Some of her other favorite authors include Riley Sager, Ella Berman, Jennette McCurdy, Jeneva Rose, S.A. Cosby, Adam Silvera and Jason Rekulak.
A few of her favorite classic novels include: Great Expectations, To Kill A Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye and Matilda.
At the time of writing this blog, Claire has just finished Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman and is currently reading The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston, as well as making her way through her next Stephen King Novel, Pet Sematary.
On the other hand, Beth primarily enjoys classic literature, listing Jane Austen as an absoute favorite. She keeps up with current literary fiction, also giving high marks to Taylor Jenkins Reid, Chuck Palahniuk, Gary Shteyngart, Lorrie Moore, Steve Martin, and Christopher Moore.
All-time favorite book: The Stand by Stephen King. "I read the abridged version in high school or college and then read the unabridged in graduate school, and this book is an epic journey--a classic fight between good and evil."
Other books not to be missed:
Rant by Chuck Palahniuk
Anagrams by Lorrie Moore
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Northanger Abbey is also great fun!)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (a worthwhile guilty pleasure)
Absurdistan and Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (A word of caution: after reading one of his books, you will want to read everything he's ever written.)
Comments