Pick me a book to read...please.

I have this very irritating problem. I love to read (obviously), but I have the most horrible time picking out a book to read. I think it may be because I have so many books that are unread and I get overwhelmed. I don't know, that's just a theory. I can spends DAYS trying to decide what to read next. Sometimes a week or two. It is so frustrating.
So....I thought it would be fun if somebody on LT could go through my library and pick something out for me. I know that is probably a little silly, but it sounded fun to let a stranger decide for me.
The only problem is, I do not have 'TBR' tags on my unread books. It is simply 'fiction', or 'nonfiction', and so on. Since I own everything in my catalog, it didn't make sense to tag everything that way. I can just look at my shelf and see what I have read or not.
So, dig around for me, if you will, and I will tell you if I have read it or not. Also, I prefer fiction.
A couple of things I was considering is the House of night series by PC Cast and If I am missing or Dead, but there are so many to choose from. Help me.

I looked at the books LibraryThing thinks we have in common and at your first two hundred books sorted by author. I recommend from first to third choice:

War and Peace. It is the most serious book of the lot and will teach you more than practically any other single book in the list. Also I think you look like one of the characters who shows up at the party early in the book.

Pilgrim's Progress. This is fairly easy to read. It also has references that you see in literate society all of the time, for example, the Slough of Despond. It gives you a look inside Puritanical thinking and, in two parts, shows how that thinking can develop.

Little Women. Every American woman has read this and wept over it. I read it because the other half of the population had all read it, because I had seen one of the movies, and because I am interested in the folks around the growth of Transcendentalism particularly in Concord.

Have fun,

Robert

Very interesting library!

One of my all-time favorites is Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West (man, the touchstones don't pop up as soon as the used too!)

If you're in the mood for a classic, I really enjoyed Gulliver's Travels far more than I expected I would.

For a mystery Echo Park is pretty good for a quick "brain candy" read.

And for non-fiction, both Know-It-All and Gutenberg have been on my wish list for a while, although I, of course, haven't read them (which is why the "wish list")

Probably no help at all, but, there you go.

#2 "Little Women. Every American woman has read this..."

No she hasn't...

Since, on your Profile Page, you profess to be such an avid reader, why don't you read a book that talks about books (and reading, and collecting, etc...)?

I am guilty of trying to promote my favorite gene - Books about Books, but I've also just looked through your catalog. Unfortunately, I can't tell what you have or have not already read. MrsHouseLibrary would try to steer you to anything written by Kim Harrison, or Stephenie Myers, and she just finished (and enjoyed) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

I noticed that you have 3 excellent books written by Nicholas A. Basbanes -- Among the Gently Mad, A Gentle Madness, and A Splendor of Letters -- ~all~ excellent choices.

I also saw Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, which I read recently and wrote a non-spoiler type of review.

And, I'd like to state for the record that NONE of my reviews will EVER contain spoilers. Having said that, I confess to warning readers about one book in particular, and divulged the author's (nut-job, really) "proof" for what he was claiming. If I saved even one person the ire of spending money for that particular title, it will have been worth it.

Let us know what you decide to read.

Only 1 author touchstone seems to be loading tonight...

Wow. Excellent suggestions everyone. The only book that has been suggested that I have read is The Hunger Games (great book).

All the others is books that I have carefully selected and have been wanting to read.

#2
The only book I feel sluggish to read is War and Peace. I will eventually do it, but I have heard a lot of horror stories of the dangerous state of boredom it induces. :-) However, you really aroused my curiousity about the similarity in appearance between me and a character. I hope she is a nice person. :-)

#5
I hope I didn't offend you with my little rant on my profile page. :-) It can be incredibly frustrating. I'm sure you understand.

#3
I think I have a very interesting library too. Thank you!!

Well, I will make my decision either tonight or tomorrow. I am tempted to read everything that has been suggested on this list to keep me from having to choose for a while. I will let everyone know what I will start with.
Thank you for being so helpful!!

I just checked the 28 books you and I have in common. When the impulse to read nonfiction strikes, I heartily recommend Mythology by Edith Hamilton. One of my favorites. Really readable and fascinating.

Thank you MerryMary!

Here is what I have done. I think this is going to be very fun. I put all the suggestions from messages 2-6 into a cup (sorry #7, I did it before your post) and had my husband draw one. The winner is.......On Writing by Stephen King.
The fun part: I am keeping the cup with all the suggestions. Everytime another poster adds a book to read, I will add it to the cup. As soon as I finish one, I will draw another.
Thanks again everyone!!

I won! I won! Yippee!

*clears throat authoritatively*

Ahem, *polite cough*, I'd just like to thank all the other contestants... the little people... you know who you are...

You like him. You really like him!

>1 BlondeBibliophile: Penny, you might like the group Book Nudgers for just such a purpose!

WholeHouse,
I found your post so funny that I had to call my husband in to read it. :-) lol

reconditereader,
Thanks for the suggestion. I looked that group up and it looks great.

I sure hope your husband has a good sense of humor! It was going on 2 am (our time zone).
If MrsHouseLibrary were to call me at 2 am, I'd: 1) be somewhat alarmed that she was calling rather than just reach over and shake me awake; and 2) be even more alarmed because I would have no earthly idea who actually ~was~ in the bed next to me -- definitely not a pet!

lol
He has a good sense of humor and enjoyed reading through this discussion very much.
Also, we are both extreme night owls. However, I take the cake in that department.

I have already started On Writing. It is certainly agreeing with my book palate.

Wow, there are good suggestions here. These will really "stretch your comfort zone", ie, they are different than what is currently in your library, based on a brief peek.

I too, love anything by Basbanes.

I loved War and Peace and because I don't give a damn about spoilers I really immersed myself in it. It was a multi-media attack: a couple movies, an abridged audio, etc. I completed it in its unabridged form by listening to sections of unabridged audio and actually reading the book.

I'd also suggest the weird and entertaining such as Master and Margarita and A Confederacy of Dunces.

Enjoy!

Sandydog1,
Thanks for your interest!!

Actually, I own all of the books that were suggested. I asked everyone to dig around in my library. I started On Writing by Stephen King and am loving it.

I'll look into your suggestions. Thanks!

#2, I agree with #4. Also, they most definitely haven't all wept over it. i didn't. but w/e