Do you have book recommendations for women?
Elizabeth Gilbert’s mega-bestseller, Eat Pray Love, had very little book review coverage at first and she gave virtually no interviews. Sales for the book started off very, very slowly. But readers loved it, and told each other. And most of those readers were women.
The rest, as they say, is history. A lots of things change in the world, but personal recommendation will last forever. Most of us can trust our friends more than we can trust a reviewer or a publicity campaign.
I recently finished Run by Ann Patchett. I thought it was very well written (Ann Patchett is at the top of her game) and a compelling story that takes place over 24 hours. I think it is ultimately about what makes up a family. 
When women get behind a book it goes global. Women readers rock!
What book have you read lately that would fall into the category of book recommendations for women? As always, I’d love to hear from you.
P.S. I am an ex-shrink who writes novels about strong women. Check out my books here.
I don’t think I’ve read a novel that BLEW. ME. AWAY. in long time. At the moment, I am writing a novel, and I don’t read novels while I’m writing one of my own. Short stories are okay, though, and I recently read a Natalee Caple short story called “The Traveler Is Lost” which was very good (you can read it here: https://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/2011/05/16/the-traveler-is-lost/ ). What I am enjoying at the moment is a magazine called Small Craft Advisor. If I were talking to someone interested in sailing small boats and/or sailing as cheaply as possible, I would recommend that to them whole-heartedly. As for novels, one of my all time favorites is “The 13 and 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear” by Walter Moers. And, of course, “Like,” by Ali Smith, which did, indeed, BLOW. ME. AWAY. even if that was quite some time ago. 🙂
Hi Scout. Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful (and witty) comments. I love the whole BLEW. ME. AWAY. category. I finally read James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces the other day and it came close. Maybe someday I will write something that will: Blow. People. Away. I wish the same for you!
From my lovely email subscribers:
“Two recently read books I reccommend: The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger and Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. Both books center on real-life characters from a century or so ago. Both authors take the bits and pieces available to them through research and expand into a fully imagined story that transports the reader to another time and place, both are embedded in the art and culture of another era and yet are as contemporary as your latest favorite film in their exploration of complex relationships and the place and plight of an intelligent and creative woman in an unsympathetis culture.” J. R.
and this:
“Hi Susan, I would like to recommend “Freedom” by Johnathon Franzen. This novel left me wanting more, even though it is a long read. A provocative story of a dysfunctional family (aren’t we all in this category?) living life and enduring the many struggles that come with that journey. An absorbing book that is hard to put down. Enjoy” – Mary
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. Far better than the movie even though the movie followed the book very closely. Just goes to show what works in print doesn’t always work on the screen.
I read Revolutionary Road, John. I agree about the movie not being as good as the book. Thanks for your suggestion.