augusten burroughs
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harry potter
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summer reading list
Not-so-fiction book Suggestions
By j00nior
@j00nior (182)
Canada
May 6, 2009 1:10pm CST
Hey guys, I'm done school and have started work but I am in need of a good book. Kind of sick of reading textbooks all year. To start of my summer reading I'm looking for a really good memoir or story that is based in fact. I always find things more interesting when I know that they actually or may have happened in real life. So Harry Potter is out of the question; I really tried to read the series but I got stuck on the third book and I just can't seem to pick it up again and keep on going. I think also because the series became very mainstream I just lost interest. Last summer I read some great memoirs by Augusten Burroughs so if you are looking for something similar to what I am, check his book 'Running With Scissors' out. It is also a motion picture, but it doesn't do the book justice. I was actually laughing out loud in my room while I read it. So if you know of any good books for me, that you think could possibly live up to or surpass my Augusten Burrough favourites, let me know!
6 responses
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
7 May 09
The Tudors is pretty good. I saw the first season. When I was in school our biology class took a trip to the local movie theater to see Outbreak which was about the Ebola virus. It was very cool to take a field trip like that. The Elizabeth movies were good too, I saw both of them. I haven't gotten around to reading about her yet, but I am sure I will get there eventually.
@CharlieLucky (35)
• United States
7 May 09
I read the Story of Henry the VIII and it was amazing. Its by the same author that wrote Mary Queen of Scots, which is also an amazing book. She also wrote, Cleopatra a memoir which is another great great read! Enjoy!
@j00nior (182)
• Canada
7 May 09
Thats pretty interesting, I always wanted to watch that show called the Tudors but never got around to it. It's free on demand on CBC in Canada, maybe I'll do that if I don't get around to reading those books. The English monarchy has always intrigued me a bit. I organised a field trip in High School to the movie theatre I worked at to go see the film "Elizabeth: The Golden Age".
1 person likes this
@derlilaStern (1756)
• United States
6 May 09
Im not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for or not, but I have read several good historical fictions.
Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson. The book follows a girl named Hattie out to Montana where she tries to accomplish all of the requirements set forth by the government to claim a piece of land as her own. It takes place about the time of WWI.
Wickett's Remedy, by Myla Goldberg. This book follows a girl in Boston during the flu pandemic following WWI. Really great story and revealed a lot of things I didnt know. (I read this long before there was mention of swine flu! But it seems appropriate now)
If you are looking for a cheap book, I often see historical fiction on the bargain table at Barnes and Noble. Good luck finding something you enjoy!
1 person likes this
@Savvynlady (3684)
• United States
7 May 09
Hattie Big Sky sounds good and I'm going to try and find it at the library or at one of the online swaps. though you didn't suggest it to me, it sounds interesting.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
6 May 09
Hello, j00nior. Welcome to myLot.
I too am an Augusten Burrough fan. Laughed right out loud reading 'Running With Scissors'. I also did not enjoy the movie. If you haven't read 'Dry' yet, you should..... very good. It is quite different from RWS but still his excellent writing style.
1 person likes this
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
7 May 09
I would suggest Magical Thinking, it is a very good book based on real life stories. it is not that hard to read book. it talks about every day experiences in life. that are quite interesting. i just happened to see it on sale . cause there are many books on sale here the last time i went to the bookstore. and i just bought it for $1 US. and i was happy to find out that it was really such a very good read. i forgot the author though. i would it add up next time when i get to hold or see later the book.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
6 May 09
I agree with you, I think Harry Potter was blown WAY out of proportion and got WAY too ridiculously mainstream. I'm really a fan of addiction memoirs - so that's probably why
Here are some random memoirs that I loved:
Normal Girl - Molly Jong-Fast
Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia & Bulimia - Marya Hornbaucher
Girlbomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir - Janice Erlbaum
Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood - Koren Zalickas
Are you There Vodka? It's me, Chelsea - Chelsea Handler
A Million Little Pieces - James Frey
More, Now, Again: A Memoir of Addiction - Elizabeth Wurtzel
If none of these work for you - or you don't share my obsession with reading about addictions/recovery/depression and what not, you could read some of Augusten Burrough's other books - I know he has quite a few out there, although I can't give you any reviews considering I've never read any of his books.. But if you should also consider reading (fictional) authors like Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Kerouac, David Sedaris, Khaled Hosseini, and some others that I can't think of off the top of my head.
Have fun reading! 
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
7 May 09
Based on your list of memoirs that you loved, I highly recommend you read Augusten Burrough's 'Dry'. I think you will like it. He's an excellent writer.
1 person likes this
@orang13 (723)
• Philippines
7 May 09
Well, if you are into a non-fiction book at all, I think you should meet the two author that have captured my heart and mind too much. They really good and the plot of their stories are pretty cool and awesome.
Why don't you try, James Patterson and Sidney Sheldon books. They are portraying some of the best plot ever. I recommend there, The jester and the If Tomorrow Comes.
Their books are both, traggic love story but pretty brutal at all!
