Dear Page Turner:

I am not quite at my one month anniversary for my blog. Already, the pressure is on. People asking me questions. People making requests for blogs. Who knew blogging could become stressful. First, I am going to send a question out to you. One of my biggest fans, (also my daughter), wants to read some fiction set in New Orleans. Any suggestions?
Even before the blog I was asked for suggestions on what to read. I am going to give a few reading suggestions based on moods. If you are going through a self exploration, I have a couple of suggestions. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a wonderful book about a woman's journey through life. This author uses beautiful words. I had several "aha" moments. Obviously, most of us do not have the opportunity or money to explore ourselves while we live in Italy, but there still are things to be learned. After reading this book, my daughter was motivated to get a group of us to walk about 10 miles, in July heat, through the country, to the next town, just to say we did it. At the end of the walk we all felt like we had accomplished something big. Read this book and start buying it as a gift. I have bought a few copies and given them away.
My next suggestion could get be labeled "lame." I am still going to suggest it. When you are feeling down and need something uplifting, Chicken Soup For The Soul will do the trick. There is a Chicken Soup for about any period of your life. Chicken Soup For The Soul: Think Positive, Chicken Soup for The Soul: Family Matters, Chicken Soup For The Soul: Inspirational Stories....they go on and on. I like the Chicken Soup books because it is so easy to get lost in the stories. I use books to escape. The Chicken Soups are short stories, they are easy to to follow. You can read for 15 minutes and put them back down. If you feel distracted, they do not require deep concentration. Most importantly, they are inspirational. They remind me to count my blessings, even when I have to search hard for my blessings.
For humor, I have already written about Janet Evanovich. She makes me laugh. There is another author that is not as funny as Janet but still enjoyable. Carolyn Haines writes a series called The Bones. The first book is, Them Bones. There are quite a few more in the series. If you are looking for something to make you laugh, try this series.
Several of my favorite books are about friendships. Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg is a friendship story. I have read a few of Elizabeth Berg's books. I enjoy all of them. Talk Before Sleep I have probably read 4-5 times. It is a nice story about women that meet and their friendship evolves into a support system most of us would love to find. They support each other through the many phases of life. This book can make you laugh, it will also make you cry.
One more friendship book. It is about four women and a twenty year story of their friendship. The Saving Graces, by Patricia Gaffney. If I read Talk Before Sleep 5 times, I have read The Saving Graces 10 times. I know many people that read do not reread books. There are probably 5-10 books that are my feel good books, my go-to books. If I need to lose myself, just get lost in a feel good book, I go to one of those "sure to make me feel good" books. The Saving Graces is a close group of women that help each other through the struggles in life and death. This is the only book I have read by Patricia Gaffney. I am not sure why I have not looked for other books she has written. I enjoy the flow of the story.
Those are a few to get you started. I hope to hear some feedback if you took my suggestion on any of the books. Do not be afraid to hurt my feelings. The thing about books is they are personal to each of us and our moods when we read them. I have read more than a few books I did not enjoy. Never stops me from picking up the next book.