Ask the Readers: What Was the Last Book You Read?
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Elena, Amanda, and Kelly for winning this week's contest!
Reading is a great way to learn new things, activate the imagination, and relax after a long day. And with the popularity of ebooks, it's easier than ever to read wherever you are. However, a recent survey by Pew Research on reading habits in the U.S. found that 27% of adults did not read a single book in the past year.
What was the last book you read? What genres or topics do you enjoy the most? What is your favorite book, and why?
Tell us about the last book you read and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
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The last book I read was "What to Expect When You're Expecting".
The last book I read is called Crime Story. It discusses how the CSI team solves crimes. It is assassinating.
I am just finishing up Daydreams of Angels by Heather O'Neill. It is a really amazing collection of short stories, highly recommend.
The last book I read was Paper Towns
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, it was very good!
Orange is the new black
The Martian by Andy Weir. Such a great read, even for those not science fiction or science-in-general types. Great humor.
The last book I read was Contagious. I prefer history and nonfiction books. My favorite book is Frankenstein because it's a great story.
I read a book about the history of basketball.
Smart Women Finish Rich. It had some of the best goal-setting advice I've ever read.
My last book that I finished was The Brain That Heals Itself by Norman Doidge. I am currently reading his second book, The Brain's Way of Healing. But I am constantly using books for research.
I read a lot of books and am currently reading Golden Lion by Wilbur Smith.
The last book I read was the girl with the dragon tattoo
I just finished Cujo and got to watch the movie this past weekend, both for the first time!
I'm (re)reading the Harry Potter series. No shame. I love these books.
I love all things non-fiction, from decorating to cooking to business. The last book I read was Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. She is amazing!
The last book I read was Gone Girl.
"Closer to the Heart" by Mercedes Lackey. It's a fantasy book.
I recently read Farm City by Novella Carpenter. I prefer reading non-fiction books about real people and real events. I like a good murder mystery too especially if it's a true crime story. I haven't found my most favorite book yet; that's why I keep reading!
I listen to audiobooks in my car and finish them far more quickly than the books that sit gathering dust on my bedside table. I check them out from the library using the Overdrive app. I just finished Under The Skin by Michel Faber, which I loved.
the last book I read was called Everything I never Told you by Celeste Ng
I read Biscuit takes a walk with my son.
H is for Hawk. I didn't like it as much as I think I was supposed to.
Reading "A Field Guide to Demons" by Carol K. Mack and Dinah Mack, which sounds scary unless you know that it's research for my fiction writing. The woman who rang up my purchase looked like she wanted to cross herself.
Anna Karenina. I like classic novels in general, but this one is a good reminder of how money doesn't buy happiness.
The last book I read was On Hurricane Island by Ellen Meeropol. This was for the fiction book club that I attend and have been a part of for over 10 years. The author joined us for our discussion!
The last book I read was "52 Small Changes: One year to a happier healthier you" by Brett Blumenthal. I am interested in self help books or books I can learn from. This one I bought and re-read every year to keep me on track for my goals.
The Martian.
The MArtian.
the last book i read was 'the ocean at the end of the lane' by neil gaiman
The last book I read was The Hunger Games. My favorite book is probably Tuck Everlasting.
The last book I read (#286 for the year) was Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6529700-elizabeth
"Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner" by Judy Melinek. I listen to this podcast called Sword and Scale, about true crime, and she was interviewed about her experiences. This was a fascinating book, not as nightmare-inducing as one would expect, given the title. Spoiler alert: Melinek was part of the 9/11 WTC squad who worked through identifying the victims from the attacks, but she doesn't discuss this until the last third of the book. I'd definitely recommend this book, so long as you don't have a terribly sensitive stomach.
I last read A Study in Scarlet, the first Sherlock Holmes story. I usually read a lot, but haven't been able to recently as I'm preparing for my qualifying exam.
Since this was a multiple-question post, and I have the attention span of a fruit fly or something...
I don't really espouse a genre, there are too many fascinating topics out there! I really love reading about mental illness, especially as fiction, so Wally Lamb has two fascinating books that I've basically read to tatters: "I Know This Much Is True" is the tale of identical twins, one losing his way into the dark tunnel of schizophrenia as he moves into young adulthood, and the "normal" twin dealing with all the baggage that that entails; "She's Come Undone" is about a girl who is raped at a young age, who then self-medicates (and self-destructs) with food. Both cover long spans of the lives of the protagonists, and end in satisfying ways.
I also love the bulk of what Jennifer Weiner puts out. She has a way of captivating the reader in sometimes very surprising ways. "Good in Bed" was one of the handful of books that made me gasp aloud. The paperback cover is kind of risque, so it's definitely an e-reader kind of book.
I find it incredibly sad that such a low percentage of adults have read in the last year. Reading is such a huge part of my life. But I understand, maybe it's the "book" part of the poll results. My ds12 has "attention issues" and struggles with the challenge of 100+ pages, but eats up Reader's Digests like they were chicken nuggets. Our society has gotten used to the instant gratification that short stories (and ahem, blog posts) provide, so I wonder how this cultural shift factors into the results.
Natchez Burning by Greg Iles, the first of the trilogy. It was GREAT! But, then again, all of Greg's books are!
The last book I read was Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
I just finished Mindy Kaling's Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me? It was really entertaining and funny and a unique exploration of her time in Hollywood. I love reading biographies and histories. I also love classics and all sorts of modern novels. My favorite book currently is the Poisonwood Bible. The story offers a cutting look into the effects of colonialism in Africa, which I knew too little about. It's really sad, but also somehow beautiful.
uprooted by naomi novik
I read Vox...
The last book I read was House Rules by Jodi Picoult. Its a tense drama about a single mother dealing with two teenagers, one with severe Asberger's Syndrome who is arrested for the murder of his counselor.
The Liar by Nora Roberts.
I read David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell.
One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Finished it 1/2 an hour ago.
I'm presently reading Warrior in Bronze, which I downloaded to my Kindle recently.
"Living with a Wild God" by Barbara Ehrenreich. Very interesting
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke and it was AMAZING!
i just finished Welcome to Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine.
It was Hunger Games, I like to read fiction and history books.
i read Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, i really enjoyed it- part story, part educational
I read Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson.
The last book I read was Gray Mountain by John Grisham.
The last book I read was Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything." All of Bryson's books are superb, but this one was highly educational as well. He's an excellent writer and injects a lot of humor into every book he writes. His biography of William Shakespeare was really good, as was "A Walk in the Woods."
The last book I read was a Danielle Steel book
The last book I read was Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly. You do not even need to be Catholic to read it. It is a book about becoming the best version of yourself. It is so good!
I just read Gone Girl. Getting ready to watch the movie.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The last book I read was "My Fight Your Fight" - Ronda Rousey's autobiography.
The last book I read was Crystal Paine's Money Making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More and Make a Difference, as part of the launch team. SO GOOD! I highly recommend this book. It has applicable lessons for every woman, even if she's currently not in a season of her life where she can pursue a business idea, etc. I'm currently reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama's Vision for Our World by Daniel Goleman.
Neil Gaiman's Make Good Art!
I read every day, across many genres and often several books at a time depending on my mood. Yesterday I read a romantic, holiday short story by Layla Payne called "Mistletoe and Mr. Right" as well as part of a non fiction book called "The Art of Mingling". I am also reading "Pretty Girls", a crime thriller by Karin Slaughter. I took a break from that one because, although very good, it's also very intense and I needed a break!
I just reread Doris Grumbach's memoir Extra Innings.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho -You're looking for something. Start with this book.
It was a murdery mystery that I read on my Kindle on a long flight a couple months ago. I don't even remember what it was called. I definitely don't read books very often.
Othello, by William Shakespeare.
The Body Book by Cameron Diaz
The last book I read was "The Alchemist". Loved it!
"Falling Upward" Richard Rohr
The latest book that I read was "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson. I read it in about 2 days. Very interesting book about a serial killer and architecture.
Elements of Legal Research. I'm in my first semester of law school... :/ Maybe something fun over winter break?
twenty eight and a half wishes
Reader and Raelynx by Sharon Shinn!
I just finished reading Luckiest Girl Alive.
Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen - fantastic book, I highly recommend it
I read All the Light We Cannot see and loved it!
I'm a huge reader. I get all my books at the library. I like fiction to take me away! Just finished Be Careful What You Pray For, and didn't like it. I'm always trying to find new authors. Kristin Hannah is quickly becoming my favorite.
I just finished reading Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist and a Fern Michaels book just before that. Last night I started to read How to Cook Without a Book by Pam Anderson. Also, going to start my annual Christmas book reading mini-marathon. I like to read a few Christmas books every year....usually just "fluffy" fun books by Debbie Macomber, Fern Michaels, Sherryl Woods, etc. Just love reading.
"Why Not Me?" by Mindy Kaling - so funny!
"Jailbait Zombie" by Mario Acevedo - found this paperback at Dollar General and it's better than it sounds.
I listened to the audiobook of Living Well, Spending Less!
I love reading Romance books and mysteries! The last book I read was Paper Towns! It was so good! I saw the movie first, then started to read the book. I love seeing how they are different! GREAT Book!
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter!
The last book I read was my Bible. Before that it was to Kill a Mockingbird a few years ago. Still on of my favorites!
The Last Book I read was Full of Grace.
The last fiction book I read was Mind Magic by Eileen Wilks.
The current non-fiction book is The Digital Renaissance of Work.
Snow flower and the secret fan
The snowman by Jo Nesbo
I cant remember it's been years. Now I just read the newspaper I haven't read a book in forever.
The last book I read was the longest ride
I read the first book in the Divergent series.
The life changing magic of tidying up
I just finished Goldy's Kitchen cookbook by Diane Mott Davidson. The recipes appeared in the mystery novels that she wrote.
The last book I read was Gone Girl
The last book I read was game of thrones