Candle Beam Book Blog: My Favorite Reads Giveaway Hop Is Underway!

Some Of My Favorites

The Snow Child

by Eowyn Ivey

Absolutely lovely! Read my full review at www.candlebeambooks.com

tagged: fiction and favorites

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky

by Heidi W. Durrow

Wow...Another talented writer! Lucky us!!

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

tagged: favorites and young-adult

Complete Stories and Poems

by Edgar Allan Poe

tagged: poetry and favorites

Ella Minnow Pea

by Mark Dunn

What a clever story! I am very impressed with authors who can write unique story lines. As more alphabet letters fall from the statue, watch what happens to the datelines on the correspondence letters, especially in the last quarter of th...

tagged: favorites and fiction

Peace Like a River

by Leif Enger

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Remains of the Day

by Kazuo Ishiguro

This book was written in a very formal and proper fashion as to underscore the extremely dignified manner and approach of Mr. Stevens, a true English butler. I loved the part when, among other epiphanies as years have gone by, he discovers...

tagged: favorites and fiction

Unaccustomed Earth

by Jhumpa Lahiri

I was caught between 4 and 5 stars on this one...went with five because of the author's ability to use words (granted, well-chosen ones) to absolutely nail modern human emotions. I now want to read more of her writing!

tagged: favorites, short-stories, and fiction

Burning Bright: Stories

by Ron Rash

This author can write...I didn't want the book to end!

tagged: favorites, short-stories, and fiction

The Gargoyle

by Andrew Davidson

WOW...what a story!

tagged: favorites and fiction

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Uncommon Reader: A Novella

by Alan Bennett

Absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!!!

tagged: favorites, books-about-books, and fiction

The Thirteenth Tale

by Diane Setterfield

Love this author's word choices and character perspectives.

tagged: books-about-books, fiction, and favorites

One Good Dog

by Susan Wilson

So engaging and well-written, not sappy. I'm now fighting the urge to go adopt a dog from the animal rescue shelter.

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

by Stieg Larsson

WOW! Hold on to your hat!! This book incorporates intrigue, suspense, ethics, and a broad range of human emotion.

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

by Barbara Robinson

tagged: favorites and children-chapter-book

The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged

by Robert Frost

tagged: poetry and favorites

It's a Book

by Lane Smith

Priceless!

tagged: favorites, children-picture-book, and books-about-books

Still Alice

by Lisa Genova

tagged: favorites and fiction

Three Bags Full

by Leonie Swann

I give this author great credit for being creative and original...have not read a book like this one before. Who knew sheeps' thoughts and personalities could be so clever, humorous, and endearing! BAAAAAA-RAVO!

tagged: favorites and fiction

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

tagged: poetry, favorites, and children-picture-book

Wuthering Heights

by Emily Brontë

tagged: fiction and favorites

The Shipping News

by Annie Proulx

tagged: fiction and favorites

The Honk and Holler Opening Soon

by Billie Letts

I really, really, really enjoyed this book! One character in particular was endearing and humorous without trying, actually making me laugh out loud as I imagined the scenarios. I actually think the story would make a good movie.

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Ha-Ha

by Dave King

The main character was so easy to connect with and enjoy, even through (or should I say "especially because of")his many challenges.

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Day the Falls Stood Still

by Cathy Marie Buchanan

I found Niagara Falls to be a wonderfully interesting setting for this story and its characters. Of course, having never been there, I want to go to both the Canadian and American sides of the river and falls, and check out the spots menti...

tagged: favorites and fiction

Olive Kitteridge

by Elizabeth Strout

I did not care for Olive Kitteredge's character initially, but her evolution throughout the book was intriguing and I also found the characters' emotional composites interesting.

tagged: short-stories, fiction, and favorites

The Thief Lord

by Cornelia Funke

Loved the setting, various character personalities, and original plot!

tagged: young-adult, favorites, and children-chapter-book

Here If You Need Me: A True Story

by Kate Braestrup

tagged: memoir-biography and favorites

Jarrettsville

by Cornelia Nixon

Have not read many (if any) Civil War Era stories and I ended up really enjoying this one!

tagged: fiction and favorites

Homer & Langley

by E.L. Doctorow

This book was such a pleasant surprise! I absolutely love the two main characters - two QUIRKY brothers. Great mix of humor and emotion and life events.

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Scarlet Letter

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

tagged: young-adult, favorites, and fiction

The Revenge Of The Radioactive Lady

by Elizabeth Stuckey-French

Great convoluted story, darkly humorous and ironic...I was pleasantly surprised. Senior citizen hell bent on revenge (justifiably so), sets out to destroy a doctor and his family with surprises throughout.

tagged: favorites and fiction

Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen

Could not put this book down and absolutely LOVED the ending!

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Shadow of the Wind

by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

If I could give this book six stars...I would do so without hesitation! What an amazing novel...contains grabbing elements such as mystery, danger, seduction, murder, lost love, courage...not to mention the "Cemetery of Forgotten Book...

tagged: favorites and fiction

Borges and the Eternal Orangutans

by Luis Fernando Verissimo

This is now one of my favorites. Verissimo does such an amazing job with his characters' traits, I had a clear picture in my imagination of their temperament and body language tendencies to the extent that I felt like I knew Vogelstei...

tagged: fiction and favorites

Chains

by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is not only a wonderful piece of well-researched historical fiction, it is very well-written! I quickly connected with the heroine and could not put the story down until it ended. Greatly looking forward to the sequel!

tagged: favorites, young-adult, and children-chapter-book

Hannah's Dream

by Diane Hammond

This is now one of my favorites! What a beautifully touching story! Highly recommend!!!

tagged: favorites and fiction

The Memory Palace

by Mira Bartok

tagged: favorites and memoir-biography

The Snapper

by Roddy Doyle

I'm still laughing! To really appreciate the characters (if your Irish brogue is rusty), before reading it, try to watch an Irish film such as "Waking Ned Divine" or "The Secret of Roan Inish." This book made me laugh ...

tagged: favorites and fiction

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

by Jonathan Safran Foer

Loved it! Definitely recommend it! Poignant, endearing, humorous,and revealing journey of quirky and bright nine year old Oskar Schell as he searches the five boroughs of New York to find the lock that fits a key belonging to his father, ...

tagged: favorites and fiction

Shades of Grey

by Jasper Fforde

Amazingly original and creative! Loved it, loved it, loved it!!!

tagged: favorites and fiction

Serena

by Ron Rash

I don't think, until now, I've come across such a cold-hearted, calculating, self-centered, controlling female character. Holy smoke...she needs some therapy!

tagged: fiction and favorites

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

by Betty Smith

This was a wonderful classic that I somehow had missed reading prior. I absolutely loved it!

tagged: favorites and fiction

Thistle and Twigg

by Mary Saums

This is a wonderful little mystery with two opposite yet endearing friends.

tagged: fiction and favorites

The Good Earth

by Pearl S. Buck

tagged: fiction and favorites

The Best Short Stories of O. Henry

by O. Henry

tagged: favorites, short-stories, and fiction

The Help

by Kathryn Stockett

I LOVED THIS BOOK! The characters were amazing to follow...I feel like I went through their experiences with them and just did not want the story to end. I also recommend reading the author's thoughts at the very end...so interesting to h...

tagged: favorites and fiction