Sherry, that is so personal it's like asking ''What should I wear?'' without knowing someone's size or shape, or the event one is going to.

I got a Kindle for Christmas this year, and started loading free books that had good reviews. I even loaded some free classics like The Time Machine by H.G.Wells, books by Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, and even some classic fairy tales. Anyway, I've read about three free (contemporary) books now, and enjoyed them even though I didn't know anything about them at the time, except for the reviews. If you don't have one, my LightWedge helps me read the Kindle at night.

I spent some time on my local library website yesterday, searching for books I might be interested in. I searched women, cooks, mysteries and got a bunch of hits on mysteries about women chefs/cooks. I make a reading list for the future of anything I might find. Right now, I'm reading ''Loving Frank'', a novel by Nancy Horan which is about the mistress Frank Lloyd Wright left his wife for. One book I have on hold at the library is called ''Snowball, The History of Warren Buffet (and the Business of Life).

Please let us know what you decide to read...I can always use some ideas myself!

Oh, you will like "Loving Frank." I have read that. It is very good.
I realize that reading can be personal, but I have such a wide range of interests that I like to hear what everybody else is reading so I know where to start. If you could put 10 books on your Kindle today, what would they be?

Have you read The Heretic's Daughter? I don't read a lot of fiction, but I enjoyed that one. It's about the events leading up to the Salem Witch Trials.

I wish there was a way to "test drive" a Kindle. (I don't know how Amazon would do that, but I can wish.) There are some types of screens I do Ok with, and other kinds I can't see at all. I love the idea of being able to adjust the font size, though.

beanthere, I have not read "The Heretic's Daughter," but it is now on my Kindle list. It sounds like something i would love.
I have read a ot of critiques on the Kindle, and many say that the screen is great, and that it is not like looking at a computer screen because of the makeup. So, I am excited to try it. I will let you know after it arrives(hopefully) tonight.
Sherry

The Heretic's Daughter sounds like something I would like to read too, so Thanks BTDT! Sherry, if you think that sounds interesting, I recently read ''The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane'', which I loved. Someone here (I forgot who it was) said they were reading it, so I flagged it for my list. I loved every minute of that book. I also read ''The Night Journal'' by Elisabeth Crook, which was very interesting to me as it was another historical novel about three generations of women. I loved ''Garden Spells'' by Sarah Addison Allen, in addition to the other books she's written, and have her next one pre-ordered. I ordered (from the library) ''Five Quarters of the Orange'' by Joanne Harris, who wrote Chocolat. We listened to Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy on one of our road trips, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The woman reading had a perfect Irish brogue which added a lot to the story.

Thanks for telling me about Loving Frank. I've only just started it, but am looking forward to it. I may just get the audio version instead and listen to it while we're on the road. There are many miles to cover!

Claire,
I actually listened to "Loving Frank". I have a 45 minute commute to and from work, so I listed to lots of books. I am reading "Garden Spells" right now. My sister gave it to me. I like it. It reminds me a lot of Alice Hoffman books,which I really emjoy.
I also read "Scarlet Feather". I like Maeve Binchy books also. I think I may have read all of them, but probably liked Circle of Friends the best.
Another book that I liked very much is "Broken for You" by Stephanie Kallos.

The Girl Who Played with Fire [Kindle Edition]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [Kindle Edition]

Both by Steig Larsson

Recommended by my son - absorbing read. The third book in the trilogy is not yet available in the states.

I am mildly desperate to read it!

Adele

Sherry,
One of the best Kindle features for me, is the ability to sample a chapter first.
I second The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and liked the sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire, even more.
Pride and Prejudice was a free download and very good.
A couple of others to checkout would be:
Olive Kitteridge
Shadow of the Wind
The Help
Cutting for Stone
The Thirteen Tale
Enjoy your Kindle!

My friend was recommending "The Help" to us tonight at dinner.

For fun, light reading, The Hot Flash Club books by Nancy Thayer are well....fun and light.

Anything by Anita Shreve. I just read "A Change in Altitude" on My Kindle.

I love my kindle. . . Adele

I debated on buying the Kindle until I finally got to test one (I saw someone in Barnes & Noble "shopping" with one and asked him to show it to me). I like the screen, but we still prefer real books. The thing we really like about the Kindle is taking it traveling. My kids used to take 5 or 6 books on the plane in carry-ons and that gets heavy. Now, we just take the Kindle. It's also great because you never run out of things to read. I never hear "Can you take me to get some new books?" I don't like the fact that the pages aren't numbered the same as in a hard-copy of the book. This makes it difficult to use in bookclubs. Overall, we are very pleased with it, though.

Kindle would be awesome for students if they could figure out a way to make a tablet out of it for them to easily write notes in the margins, and if the pages were numbered. Not having to lug around all of those textbooks would be awesome!

dlyn - there are a couple of universities testing just such a program.

I love the feel of a "real" book, but I definitely don't like juggling a reader (magnifyer), which weighs about two or three pounds, AND a book, especially when my reader's battery dies after only an hour or so. I keep hoping I'll see someone with a Kindle (or a Sony) who'll let me look at it. (Or maybe I can just wait for an iPad and to hit the lotto! LOL!)

This previous thread in the decorating conversations talks about The Help and also many other book recommendations .

Here is a link that might be useful: book recs

dlynn, on the newest Kindle you are supposed to be able to write in the margins. I have not received it yet, so I can't check it out.
Thank you for the suggestion catlover. That sounds like a good one.
Teresa, I will try the Hot Flash Club books, that sounds like me.
mmh1, good list. I will check out the synopses today on amazon.
I will also look at the free classics, but as a literature major in college, I have ready many of them already, and own quite a few. I think I want less heavy reading now. I do love books with some depth, but I also love light easy reads.
beenthere_done that, do you have vision issues also?
Sherry

Sherry, you can write in the margin, sort of. You have to do it by using a very small QWERTY keyboard, and you can highlight things kind of like on your computer. It would be great if they could make a kindle that would work with some sort of "magic Pencil" so that students could quickly and easily handwrite in the notes and just underline to make it highlight. I'm sure they will have it soon.

I'm not sure I would like the iPad as much as the Kindle. The Kindle is very easy on the eyes -- not sure the ipad will be that way.

When I was debating over whether to buy the Kindle, I began to add up how much we were spending on books, and how much I could have saved buying them on Kindle since they are cheaper than the hard copy. In just a few week we could have saved enough on the Kindle books to have payed for the Kindle. That's when I decided to quit putting it off. I figured every time I bought a hard copy, I was just wasting money that could be used towards the purchase of the Kindle.

I got it! I am so excited! I downloaded lots of stuff last night, and then this morning downloaded lots of free books.
I ordered a bunch of books that you guys recommended. I am so excited. I started reading "The Help" last night.
I often take 4-5 books on vacations with me. Now I can take all my books with me!
Sherry

How about Joy of Cooking?

Already? Good for you, you hit the ground running! I bought an iPod for audio books and a month later it's still in the box.

Yay! (You will love it.) Not to mention the clutter-control is beyond great! ;) You know, I always take a lot of books too, and even had one to take with me this time while we're on the road. I decided to read it while I was still at home, and only take my Kindle. (I need those audio books however!) It's hard to downsize sometimes, but I'm down to a briefcase size rollerbag and a tote bag for three weeks. (I keep trying to pare things down, but you need a certain amount.) The Kindle should help things immensely! After you get some reading in, let us know how you like the page, visually. Initially, I wasn't sure I'd really like it myself, but find it's fine. I thought having the page backlit might help, but not having that as a feature really saves on the battery.

Remember to turn your Wireless OFF when you're not using it. It saves tremendously on the battery and you'll be able to read for a very long time!

Sarah's Key
Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
If you like CIA type books, anything by Vince Flynn Starting with Term Limits
The early books by Nelson DeMille, particularly The Gold Coast, The Charm School and The Lion's Game (oldies but goodies if you haven't read them)
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
The Distant Land of My Father
Loving Frank
The Help

It took about a half an hour to get used to reading from a screen instead of a book, but it is fabulous. I have the font second from the largest and it is perfect. After reading the Help over the weekend (wonderful book, I loved it) I tried to read a paper book...OMG it was much easier to read the kindle. The background color is easy on the eyes and it is not at all like looking at a computer screen. I love it.
I downlaoed quite a bit over the weekend, and even got about 10 free books from Amazon also.
I am loving this!
Thanks for all the suggestions. I have quite a few of them waiting to be read.
Sherry

New non-fiction: The Last Train from Hiroshima by C. Pellegrino. All over the book clubs right now, and James Cameron has optioned it for a movie. Interviews with survivors about the two days following the bombings. Amazon link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon- Last Train From Hiroshima

Sherry I downloaded the free kindle on my iPhone and I'm having a blast reading books on it. I've only ordered the free books, just to see how it works with my phone and it's wonderful, nothing disappears, its easy to see.

So now I'm not afraid to spend money on books. I think it's a wonderful invention! And with my iPhone, I can read at night and I don't need a light on.

Congrats on your new toy!

Sherry

check out this site: http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=cfha6blm9ivca1j595nie9d166&board=42.0

Lots of free book and bargain books

Thank you Ilana. Awesome site.

Sherry I have a feeling you might like John Collier, a short story writer from O'Henry's era. He is similar to O'Henry....but with a dose of elegant British horror....he wrote the famous short story 'Evening Primrose'. I checked out an old copy of 'Fancies and Goodnights' from my library and am relishing every story.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Chaser, by J. Collier

Thanks Jessy. Cool.
I downloaded another 24 free books for my Kindle last night from the list that Ilana linked me to.
Lots of old classics that I have not read yet.
I LOVE my Kindle!