Books I've read in the last year or so for my book that I enjoyed:

Water for Elephants
Still Alice
One Day
This is Where I Leave You
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I'm going to suggest one that at first consideration may seem heavy, but it's a wonderful, at time laugh out loud, fun read. It's a fascinating tribute to a wonderful mother and a inspiring story of human potential. A few years back, a German movie was based on the book but I don't think it has been translated into English yet.

Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany by Hans Massaquoi

If you enjoyed Peter Mayle, perhaps you'd enjoy "Under The Tuscan Sun" and the follow-up book "Bella Tuscany", by Frances Mayes. The book is almost nothing like the movie by the same name; the book is one hundred times better IMO. They were fascinating, fun and upbeat books; very easy, enjoyable reads that were hard to put down. With both books, I truly wanted them never to end. I've reread many times since they first came out and still love them.
Lynn

Based on your list-- try Connie Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog. Or her Doomsday Book. I would say that that To Say Nothing of the Dog is a more cheerful read, while Doomsday Book is more dramatic and weightier. Both are good-- it just depends which style you want.

You might also like Lois McMaster Bujold's Curse of Chalion and the sequel Paladin of Souls. Those two are remarkably good. (I would skip some of her more recently-published work, though. Her last few books have been pretty forgettable for me.)

Janet Evanovich: One for the Money is the first in the series. Not great literature but very funny, quick read.

Tony Hillerman: The Blessing Way and Dance Hall of the Dead are the first and second in the series. Among the few mysteries that I can re-read. I never wanted his books to end.

Graham Greene: Travel's with My Aunt

J.R.R. Tolkien The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings

I love rereading the Narnia books. I think it might be time again.

Bridges of Madison County

the Witching hour, Lasher and Taltos (Anne Rice) not sure that I would read them again, but I did wish the series didn't end.

Terriks, I have read Water for Elephants but none of the others. I have heard about Snow Flower but will look for that and the others. I should be able to get those at the library too!

Abundant blessings, Actually the book you recommend really interests me. One of my favorite categories of books is WW2
and Albert Speer's "Spandua, The Secret Diaries" should have been on my list above. We watch nearly every ww2 and ww1 movie btw.

Lynn, I'm glad you pointed out the differences between the book and movie as I did not like the movie. But I don't like the movie versions of most books so I need to give
Under The Tuscan Sun a chance. Thanks!

Sovra,
I've read Connie Willis books but not Bujolds. I will look for those. Thank you!

Yogacat, The books you list are the kinds I usually listen to on audio, because I don't do well with mysteries...I read the last few pages first!
But I will get Travels with my Aunt!
I'm at a satiation point of LOTR right now as I recently rewatched all the videos a thousand times( while I'm on the treadmill)

Boop, I can't read Bridges, the whole adultery message and
it's extreme casualness annoys me.
I have not read Anne rice but perhaps I should. Thank You!

I just thought of one series I have not read but should, Colleen McCullough's Master of Rome series.

I know I'm a tough nut to recommend books to but I do appreciate each one of you and your help!

I'm not familiar with most of the books you listed, so you may not like my suggestions, but I love anything by Elizabeth Berg or Jodi Picoult. And Anita Shreve. And Wally Lamb.

Have you read... The Help? Moloka'i? Midwives? House of Sand and Fog?

Oh, and The Way The Crow Flies and Fall On Your Knees, both by Ann Marie MacDonald. These are two of my all time favorites.

Someone here recommended Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt. I enjoyed it.

Have you tried this website... it's free, and for people who love to read, provides a continuous stream of great book choices!

Here is a link that might be useful: Goodreads

bumblebeez, then I highly recommend Destined to Witness as the author writes exceedingly well, shares an unusual perspective that causes a paradigm shift, and covers the gamut of emotions -- much at times riotously funny. It is, as I indicated, a true testimony to human resilience. The wife of some friends of mine had bought it specifically to read while on vacation. She called me from some exotic paradise island to tell me we were causing their divorce. Why?!! Her husband stole her book and couldn't put it down. The problem was neither could she. It is a great read!

Another book which provided insight into a much different culture is Mistry's A fine Balance. That one I can't recommend as highly because at times it is too brutal to be a feel good book. However, I thought it a fascinating peak into Indira Ghandi's era. It held my interest while I was out of the country on vacation. (I enjoy good foreign writers a lot. Unfortunately, all my books are still in boxes so I can't immediately recall more to suggest.)

Sueb, it may be that the reason you are not familiar with my list is because most are the polar opposite of your list!
Anita Shreve exemplifies the tortured dysfunctional family genre of books that I hate!

But I SOOOO appreciate this discussion and your post.

I have read The Help and House of Sand and Fog- just not my kind of entertainment, although I did enjoy (if that's the right word- the movie My Sister's Keeper.

I had a friend who begged me to read House of Sand and so I did, but it was so sad!

The sappy side of me comes out when I recommend Josephine Lawrence's Stories for Girls. My mom's friend gave me her copy when I was a young girl. It's one of the few books I have read more than once. I reach for it when I yearn for simpler times.
Anything by Adriana Trigiani and Patricia Cornwell.
I am taking notes for my next trip to the library!

abundant, that you for bringing up A Fine Balance. That is one of my all time favorites. That book just got to me. Earlier today I just couldn't remember the name.

I really enjoyed "The Art of Racing in the Rain". When it was recommended to me, I rolled my eyes a bit but ended up loving it.

While it tends to be over-recommended, I also enjoyed the "Outlander" series, which I believe has a new book in the series coming out soon. The "Earth Children" series (Clan of the Cave Bear, etc) was also good, with the thrid one "The Mammoth Hunters" my favourite by far.

I am sorry that you didn't love "The Help" - I devoured it in just a few days and loved the characters!

Carrie

I haven't read the replies yet, but if someone asked me what my all time favorite book was, I'd say:

Kane and Able. Or maybe it's Abel. lol

This book was given to my dh to read 29 years ago. I got up during the night to nurse my son and picked up the book. I was hooked on the first sentence which read something like, "His first breath was her last." Wow.

They made a lousy TV movie of it, but that was THE best book ever. A long read, but I'd read it anyway.

I've mentioned these on other book threads but I'll do it again because they are great books:
To Kill a Mockingbird
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

I was lucky enough to hear Lisa Genova, the author of Still Alice, speak at a local conference. Great book but sad so maybe it wouldn't be your cup of tea (based on HoS&F comment).

I haven't read all of these yet but my book club just picked our Jan-Feb-March selections. The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow (non-fiction), A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell(a book about WW2 set in Italy, which I read and really enjoyed), and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Vergehese.

I love these threads because I add some titles to my library list every time.

oakley I LOVE Jeffrey Archer's books! Great literature - no - but stories that grab me every time.

Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig (It took 50 pages to get into it, but then I was hooked.)
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason

If you're interested in WWII, you might like this novel about how people in France responded to the 1940 German occupation.

Irene Nemirovsky: Suite-Française Published posthumously. The author died in Auschwitz.

Abundant blessings, thank you for the other recommendations. I will definitely read Destined to Witness.

Deedee- I crave simple, feel good stories so thanks!

Carriem, Will look for art of racing, I have read the Outlander and Clan books....but I think I'm too old for bodice rippers (or is it pelts?) anymore. I've become a cynical, jaded romantic.
I really liked Major Pettigrew's Last Stand- that's my kind of romance these days.

Oakly, I like Jeffery Archer too but haven't read any in a long time. I did listen to some of his recent works last year though and liked the one about the newspaper publishers.

Hhireno, It has only been a few years since I read for the first time(listened actually) To a Tree Grows In Brooklyn. It was good but also sad though I'm finally glad I know it now as it's classic.
I don't do sad books often..it's just too hard.
Will put your others on my list.

Iread, I have heard about the Piano Tuner, thanks for the reminder. I have read Shadow of the Wind but am the only person on the planet who didn't like it.
Will look for the others! Thanks!

Yogacat, I have read Suite-Française when it was hot a year or so ago. It was interesting and of course, sad.

Dumas, The Women's War. A little slow to get going but very compelling.

I had just read the Outlander books this year and the later books get away from the bodice ripper and explore more themes (books 4 and 5 I could take or leave but books 6 and 7 I found intriguing, I love all the research put into them).

"The Agony and the Ecstasy" by Irving Stone is an awesome biographical book about Michelangelo. It's a wonderful look into the Italian Renaissance. The book opens when Michelangelo is 13 years old and follows all his struggles with various artistic endeavors and how he ends up being supported by the Medici family in Florence. I was amazed at the influence this one family had on works of art at the time simply through their support of various artists. Leonardo DaVinci has appearances in this book too and it's very interesting to read and think about the various rivalries taking place then and how the dynamics of the situations necessarily influenced the gorgeous works of art we are left with. This is one of my favorite books!