Adult

The book is just a tad shorter than the title. I figure that after reading Ethan Frome you may want to ask yourself how to make a relationship or dream work.

Ford lays out a pretty easy-to-understand roadmap to success for all areas of life. I love self-help books like this.

From the creators of Molvania, this latest fake travel guide made me laugh and yearn to get back on the road of leisure travel. There is nothing better than encountering foreign cultures and griping about the things we fail to appreciate about our homeland every day.

This book could just as easily make a Young Adult reading list, as I have recommended it to plenty of high schools and heard raves (especially from girls).

I have to confess that I love Mary Higgins Clark, as her books always entertain and force you to read them straight through to the end. The teachers at the first elementary school I worked at used to swap her books like trading cards. I read her books out of sure pleasure.

This book proved to me that just because a book is short does not mean it is a quick or easy read. It took me awhile to get through, but Housekeeping rewarded me with a mini-course in how to write the English language. I do not know what I think about this book yet, which usually means it is a really good book.

This is Clarke’s follow-up to her wonderful debut, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. That book is over 1000 pages long and has no place on this list. To whet your appetite, though, this latest book (which is actually a compilation of several of Clarke’s previously published short stories) highlights why Clarke is an author to be reckoned with, as she takes us into the fantastical world of magic and fairies set in 19th century England. A wonderfully witty writer who crafts extremely gratifying tales.

All parents need to read this book. Ever have a doctor tell you something, and your gut instinct told you that was not the right thing for your child? This book will illuminate all sorts of questions parents should ask their medical providers – as parents need to remember that they know more about their children than just about anyone else. It is also so easy to read that it will not intimidate anyone.

I’m a sucker for Thomas Pynchon. While most of his books are much longer than this one, you will find yourself hooked by Pynchon’s brilliant satire. Afterward, you probably won’t even mind tackling his 750+ page Gravity’s Rainbow.

A children’s book author and illustrator best known for his tear-jerker I’ll Always Love You, Wilhelm offers bits of wisdom meant to inspire people of all ages. I think this is the perfect gift for all occasions, including graduations and bar mitzvahs. An excellent book to read to start off the new year right.

Now that summer has arrived, treat yourself to plenty of light reading. This wonderful collection of short stories detailing the trials of black girls in the South is something that you will enjoy and may even want to share with your teenagers.

Heartbreaking and hilarious in equal doses, this journal told by “the wife” reveals a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Completely held my attention as I flew threw the pages.

I was in Tibet in the summer of 2001 when I discovered that the entire royal family of Nepal had been assassinated by the Crown Prince Dipendra. This collection of short stories by Nepali writer Upadhyah takes place in Kathmandu during this tumultuous time, and its depictions are both stirring and shocking.

John Christensen also co-authored this bestseller, which I include here because I have been consulting with plenty of schools and businesses that could use a “shot in the arm.” This simple parable can be read by everyone in your organization in less than two hours, and its lessons – while simple – are worth replicating.

For the ultimate lazy reader, here’s a 2-for-1 bonus, as Japanese master auteur Haruki Murakami shares two shorter coming of age stories that launched his career in the late 1970s.

I have an unwritten rule that I do not usually promote Oprah’s Book Club books, as these books need no help from me (if Oprah ever wants to talk about my books on her show, though, I’d gladly make an appearance). I do feel it is important from time to time to get people reading important authors. Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize winner, and this book affords lazy readers a glimpse at her genius in a lot fewer pages.