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| Fox |
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 Posted: Wed, Nov 04 2009, 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| louche wrote: | The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall. Charming, very mild suspense with a lovable "traditionally-built" heroine. The books are so well-written that when I read them I hear in my head the characters speaking with a melodic British/African lilt that it pleases me to imagine is a Botswanan accent. The central character is so engaging that I actually bought some African "bush tea," (rooibos tea), which she drinks all the time.
The books are a delight. (The tea...not so much. Alas.) |
I'm stalking you today, louche! I also highly recommend this series.
Though, alas, I never received a 97 percent, I think these books are so valuable on so many levels. First, they are very entertaining; second, they introduce some very important values that we often lose sight of in the Western world. I never fail to be humbled by the observations of various characters on the true nature of happiness; sometimes related to the predictable elements of family and friends, but also sometimes related to new shoes.
I think they also promote a concept that many of us need help implementing: we can love things and people that are imperfect. Can anyone fail to be moved by the saga of one of the protagonist's great loves -- her little white van?
Truly, I can re-read these books and feel the tension washing right out of me. As louche said, the language and cadence take you away to a calmer, better place. Not a perfect place -- these books are about middle-class Africans who must also cope with the difficulties faced by their region -- but a place where unhurried conversation over a cup of bush tea -- or even regular tea, if someone stupidly used the other teapot to hold motor oil -- is still valued.
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| ozfest |
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| Posted: Wed, Nov 04 2009, 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Love John Mortimer's Rumpole series. I read them way back in high school but I'm pretty sure they were clean...definitely not sad...very funny.
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| Fox |
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| Posted: Wed, Nov 04 2009, 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| louche wrote: | | I do not recommend either Kellerman, Faye or Jonathan, when someone is specifying clean and not sad. They're both very gritty, with language we could all do without, and graphic scenarios we could ditto. They're not "sad" in the sense of being tearjerkers, but they are quite violent, which is worse than sad. |
Okay, I give up. I have nothing original to say. Louche has said it all.
I find the Kellerman books to be really awful. I mean, truthfully, I think a loving s-x scene is far less damaging to my neshama than the some of the violent, degrading images in their books.
| louche wrote: | | Noht a-tawhl. I'm as American as Levi's Jeans and I've read every book Herriot ever wrote. (Mind you, I don't even like animals, but his books aren't really about the animals so much as about their people.) Was devastated when he died, which meant there would be no more of his books. |
Same here! These were my absolute favorite books as a teenager. In fact, I remember racking up a number of points in some kind of high school knowledge bowl contest because I was able to answer so many questions about livestock. Who else in our tweedy little college town knew the meaning of the verb, "to farrow"? And, of course, who could forget the flatulent boxer? In fact, I once heard an anecdote about a member of the royal family referring to the unfortunate canine when Mr. Herriot was presented.
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| Fox |
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| Posted: Wed, Nov 04 2009, 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| imasinger wrote: | | For humor, Erma Bombeck and the ilk. |
It's always bothered me that Erma Bombeck is accorded so little respect. Her stuff was honest in the extreme, and there were moments of real poignancy as well.
My family still jokes about her description of her son, whose first words were, she claimed, "My mom can drive." According to Erma, he later added, "Anytime," "Anywhere," and "Distance is no object." Sounds like my life, all right!
And her essay to her children about how, "You Were Always My Favorite," makes me cry -- I've never read another author so perfectly capture the fact that, no matter how many children you have, each one is your favorite.
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| louche |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 1:15 am Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| I adore Bombeck. She and Dave Barry are two writers I KNOW not to read while eating or drinking, and also not in public. there are permanent grooves in my bottom lip from where it's been bitten in frantic, but doomed, efforts to control my spasming diaphragm and/or keep my coffee from doing a Mount St. Helens out my nose.
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| estibesty |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 1:22 am Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| MARY HIGGINS CLARK great great mystery writer totally clean too.
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| sarahd |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 8:29 am Post subject: Re: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| Raisin wrote: | | louche wrote: | | Raisin wrote: |
I love james herriot too, but maybe you have to be english to appreciate it.
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Noht a-tawhl. I'm as American as Levi's Jeans and I've read every book Herriot ever wrote. (Mind you, I don't even like animals, but his books aren't really about the animals so much as about their people.) Was devastated when he died, which meant there would be no more of his books. |
care for some sausages and mash?
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Bangers and mash, isn't it? And put me down as another American who read all of Herriot's books.
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| sarahd |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 8:30 am Post subject: Re: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| Fox wrote: | | imasinger wrote: | | For humor, Erma Bombeck and the ilk. |
It's always bothered me that Erma Bombeck is accorded so little respect. Her stuff was honest in the extreme, and there were moments of real poignancy as well.
My family still jokes about her description of her son, whose first words were, she claimed, "My mom can drive." According to Erma, he later added, "Anytime," "Anywhere," and "Distance is no object." Sounds like my life, all right!
And her essay to her children about how, "You Were Always My Favorite," makes me cry -- I've never read another author so perfectly capture the fact that, no matter how many children you have, each one is your favorite. |
Yes. My favorite Bombeck quote: "Cleaning the house while the kids are young is like shoveling the driveway while it's still snowing." I use it a lot. 
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| chanchy123 |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 8:40 am Post subject: |
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| DefyGravity wrote: | I completely agree! Maeve Binchey is such a wonderful author. I've read all her books - many of them multiple times. I think I've read Circle of Friends over a dozen times. Her characters are so well-developed, you really feel like you get to know them.
The Secret Life of Bees was also clean and an EXCELLENT read.
Agreed - Barbara Kingsolver is also fantastic, read The Poisonwood Bible. I have her newest book on hold at the library and can't wait to start it! |
I also love Maeve Binchy, but some of her books are better than others (some of her later ones are just repeats).
I thougt A Circle of Friends was pretty sad. But I would definilty recommend her.
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| newToNeighborhood |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 10:29 am Post subject: |
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If you like mysteries, my friend LOVES Janet Ivanovitch. I never got into her series though...
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| daisy |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 10:39 am Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| I like Debbie Macomber's Blossom Street series.
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| sugaray |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 11:36 am Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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Henry Denker
he has some amazing books and they are all different from each other. novels that are clean and really good. (the only minor exception would be The Retreat bec it has some s3xual abuse). some of his books are sad but not all. in particular, I would recommend "To Marcy with Love".
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| cookiemilk |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 12:26 pm Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| Jaquelin Mitchard, and Garrison Keillor great stuff
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| cm |
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| Posted: Thu, Nov 05 2009, 12:38 pm Post subject: Re: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| cookiemilk wrote: | | Jaquelin Mitchard, and Garrison Keillor great stuff |
Yes, another vote for Garrison Keillor! It's not necessary of course, but I think it helps if you have heard his radio show (A Prairie Home Companion) - hearing his voice and comic timing in my head while reading his books really adds to the enjoyment.
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| bigSmile |
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| Posted: Fri, Nov 06 2009, 1:18 am Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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Thank you so much everyone who replied! I REALLY appreciate it! You're all the bestest! 
So some clarifications on what I mean by clean:
No scenes I wouldn't want my daughter reading at about 15 years old.
Please keep the replies coming..I'm a very fast reader and a bookworm and I constantly need to find more books...I appreciate every suggestion!
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| cm |
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| Posted: Fri, Nov 06 2009, 8:11 am Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| Barbara Pym
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| Seraph |
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| Posted: Fri, Nov 06 2009, 8:23 am Post subject: Re: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| Fox wrote: | | louche wrote: | | I do not recommend either Kellerman, Faye or Jonathan, when someone is specifying clean and not sad. They're both very gritty, with language we could all do without, and graphic scenarios we could ditto. They're not "sad" in the sense of being tearjerkers, but they are quite violent, which is worse than sad. |
Okay, I give up. I have nothing original to say. Louche has said it all.
I find the Kellerman books to be really awful. I mean, truthfully, I think a loving s-x scene is far less damaging to my neshama than the some of the violent, degrading images in their books. | A loving s-x scene is made all the worse by the characters being jewish and "frum", as it is in faye kellerman's novels.
I try not to read stuff with intimate scenes, but intimate scenes by "frum people" whether they're unmarried like they are in some novels, or married as they are in other novels... it just bothers me a lot, worse than regular intimate scenes. Triply inappropriate.
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| Seraph |
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| Posted: Fri, Nov 06 2009, 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| newToNeighborhood wrote: | | If you like mysteries, my friend LOVES Janet Ivanovitch. I never got into her series though... | Funny, but not so clean. S-x scenes that end just as they're about to be intimate. Meaning- all the prelude if not the act itself. So that is "not kosher" in my book, but others may differ in opinion.
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| SavtaHelen |
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| Posted: Fri, Nov 06 2009, 9:11 am Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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Two excellent, nonfiction books that I read were
Mao's Last Dancer-a fascinating story of life in Communist China
and
Stolen Lives about a family living under the Morrocean government. Both clean, little sad but uplifting, inspiring and fascinating
Confessions of a Shopocholic-light fluff that I enjoyed
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| chayamiriam |
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| Posted: Fri, Nov 06 2009, 2:01 pm Post subject: re: Looking for: good, clean, not sad, non-Jewish novels |
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| any recommendations for sad novels I read Jody P. loved ninteen min. I don't care if their clean or dirty just intresting.
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