Clean Reads discussion

First let me say I am so grateful for this group and fellow readers who want to read clean reads!

I wanted to get a discussion going on “Clean Reads” that are not romance, not Christian fiction, classics or YA. Basically best sellers or “mainstream” books. I do enjoy YA but have been stuck in the genre for a while. I also enjoy classics and some Christian fiction but those are usually easy to find “clean reads”. What I have a difficult time finding is a great book that is not one of those categories so I thought maybe others have that problem as well. For me some violence is okay but I prefer no language or graphic sex scenes.

I will start the discussion off with a few books that I have read. Unbroken, The Help, Night Circus ( I think there is 1 F bomb), Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, A Town Like Alice, My Cousin Rachel, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Caleb's Crossing, and The Housekeeper and the Professor

Thank you in advance for your input!

I have read six of the books you have listed. It seems we have similar taste. If you would go to my Author page on Amazon. Go to authorcentral.amazon.com/maryschoenecker you will see my books. Hopefully you will find some to fit the category of "mainstream". If you would like I will gift you your choice to see if you would enjoy my genres. Send me a request to schoeneckers@earthlink.net.

I've been struggling for years to find books like you described. I don't have a lot to add, but here's what I've got.

Ellis Peters - not sure if she counts as classic, writes medieval mystery

James Herriot - writes books about his time as a vet

Connie Willis - writes a number of books involving time travel

If you're interested in fantasy, Naomi Novik wrote a series that blends fantasy dragons with historical fiction His Majesty's Dragon - I don't remember any sex scenes but they are promiscuous.

Other books, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

ok I think thats all I have.

Jackie, I'm sorry the address for my author page was incorrect. Here is the correct link: amazon.com/author/maryschoenecker. Hope to hear from you.
Mary, author of The Maine Shore Chronicles and others.

If you're looking for bargains, write "clean" science/fantasy and mystery novels. All six of my books will be on sale for one week at 99 cents each. Visit my author's page https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... to see the whole list. I appreciate your support for clean reads and would love to hear back from you if you read any of them. :) Diane Rapp

Hi Jackie - I love this thread! I agree - it is hard to find clean, mainstream, adult books. Here are a few we've read for bookclub over the years. Hopefully, there are a few you haven't read and still might enjoy:

Drowning Ruth - Dark but not too much so, gothic, so good.
These Is My Words - One of my most favorites. Story of a woman in the 1800's who keeps a diary. Tough to put down.
The Hiding Place - Phenomenal story of a woman and her sister in a Nazi Prison Camp and how they saw the good, helped others, and forgave.
Peace Like a River - Too complex to describe. Excellent.
Wish You Well - Mystery with a bit of mysticism thrown in for good measure.
Plain and Simple: A Journey to the Amish- Loved these observations and the story of this woman who went to live w/ the Amish.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Many books in this very clean series about a lady detective in Botswana, Africa.
Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter - Page turner, clean memoir, about a Chinese girl who is unloved as she grows up.
Life of Pi - Fabulous story of a boy in India and how he survives a journey in a small boat with a tiger.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie is always clean, and this is her best.
Mrs. Mike - Adventure story of a woman in Alaska. So good!

Okay, that's enough for now. Hopefully there is something here to get you started that you haven't read before.

I am so glad to hear that others have this same issue! Hopefully if we all give suggestions everyone can find new books to read which would be wonderful!

benebean: The The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was already on my to read list and I did read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society but none of the others you mentioned so I will look into those!

Terri - These is My Words was on my to read list as well. The Hiding Place I have read and loved, also few others on your list I read but some I have been thinking of re-reading like Peace Like a River since it has been so long. By the way, did you ever see the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series they did? It is pretty good and clean in case you want to watch it. A little slow but overall I enjoyed it. If you have any other book suggestions please let me know!

Thank you all for the suggestions, Please keep them coming!!!

Bab: a Sub-Deb 346 pgs[humor/fiction] by Mary Roberts Rinehart

282 pgs How Not To Live Abroad by Shaun Briley
Enlightening and Hilarious Misconceptions/Misadventures of a couple who moved from UK to Spain!


242 pgs[The Cat Who Came in from the Cold totally endearing/charming story for animal/cat lovers] by Deric Longden


289 pgs[Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World (Dewey Readmore) another for animal/cat lovers that will melt your heart] by Vicki Myron


210 pgs[Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America humorus memoir/so funny and heartwarming]by
Firoozeh Dumas

336 pgs[Falling to Pieces: A Quilt Shop Murder (Shipshewana Amish Mystery #1) an Amish mystery] by Vannetta Chapman,have this on reserve at my library,so haven't read it yet.As with Christian fiction authors,there are authors of Amish fiction who are more 'preachy' than others just have to try them to see which ones you like.


376 pgs[Nearly Departed in Deadwood (Deadwood Humorous Mystery Series #1) by Ann Charles

[bookcover:The Time Traveler's Apprentice|10575140]
291 pgs[sci-fi/fantasy/history] by Kelly Grant

I am also always on the lookout for these types of books,[clean- without being Christian and/or full of all the religious proselytizing] especially more 'lighthearted' titles.It is really a downer how many books are such icky depressing stories

Christine - These books look so fun and uplifting! Thanks!

And, I thought of a few more:
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Coming of age story of a boy and girl from different cultures. Set in Seattle around WW2 and taking us through the Japanese Internment. Very well written.
The Magic of Ordinary Days - Also about the Japanese Internment Camps, but set in Colorado. Beautifully written. (I do recall one slightly racy scene, but it's pretty short and not too graphic).
Nobody Dont Love Nobody - Fantastic memoir of a young school teacher who runs the elementary school classes an inner-city homeless shelter.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions! These are all good!

Terri-yvw. I have Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet on my TBR list and The Magic of Ordinary Days is one of my very favorite romance movies!

Oh another one I loved... probably especially because my career Air Force dad was stationed in England when I was a kid and I married a GI~ 414 pgs It was August 1943 - and the inhabitants of King's Thorpe had lived with the idea of invasion for some time - but by the Germans, not the Americans.Fascinating historical Info About American Soldiers In England During WW II.This is an historical fiction,but it is not a romance at all,as there is almost no character development,yet it is a fascinating look at the two very different cultures brought together during the war.

Re:Jackie-"I wanted to get a discussion going on “Clean Reads” that are not romance, not Christian fiction, classics or YA. Basically best sellers or “mainstream” books. I do enjoy YA but have been stuck in the genre for a while. I also enjoy classics and some Christian fiction but those are usually easy to find “clean reads”. What I have a difficult time finding is a great book that is not one of those categories so I thought maybe others have that problem as well. For me some violence is okay but I prefer no language or graphic sex scenes".


Sounds like you have a perfect idea for your own discussion group,lol!I agree totally that Amazon and everywhere needs to offer "clean SECULAR book lists" in all genres, for all those of us adult readers who want clean books to read,without all the 'god-talk',and without having to read YA. :]

I am so excited by everyone's posts and suggestions. I now have some new books to add to my "to read" list. I hope everyone will continue to post as they come across new books and as they read some that have been suggested. I for one always need good books to read and ones in this category seem hard to come by!
Jacalyn

A few non-fiction reads I found compelling:

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kakwamba

The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan

and, have you read any fiction by Chaim Potok? I recommend The Chosen

Jackie wrote: "I am so glad to hear that others have this same issue! Hopefully if we all give suggestions everyone can find new books to read which would be wonderful!

benebean: The The Immortal Life of Henriet..."

Just a warning about "These is My Words". It has a couple of graphic rape scenes which are disturbing enough that I could not finish the book. I still feel a little scarred by them. I'm pretty sensitive about my "clean reads" and don't appreciate language, sex or graphic violence. You are welcome to browse my "read" list. I admittedly do not read very much adult mainstream, except for NF, and do read a lot of JV/YA fiction but you might be lucky enough to find a treasure hidden there. =) Good luck.

Rachel-great idea about the warning for'These Is My Words". I had forgotten that I had read about the graphic rape scenes in some reviews of that book,and there is no way that I want to read scenes like that either!
I don't mind JV/YA fiction myself,as long as it is clean. Nowdays more and more authors are putting offensive elements in those books,as well,so have to be very alert and be sure to read the 1-2 book reviews at Amazon.
I will be checking your read list. Thanks again. :)

Here's one I have added to my TBR list..

On August 14, 1945, Alfred Eisenstaedt took a picture of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square, minutes after they heard of Japan's surrender to the United States. Two weeks later LIFE magazine published that image. It became one of the most famous WWII photographs in history (and the most celebrated photograph ever published in the world's dominant photo-journal), a cherished reminder of what it felt like for the war to finally be over.The Kissing Sailor.

Hey everyone since there is an obvious interest and need for a source for finding these clean but secular books ,I just changed my discussion group from 'clean non religious romance' to "Clean,Secular/Non Religious,Reads",to cover all genres.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

I hope everyone will join in becoming members and placing such book titles on our bookshelves so others may find such books.Come check our bookshelves and join and help us grow into a useful source.

Happy Reading All!

Rachel wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I am so glad to hear that others have this same issue! Hopefully if we all give suggestions everyone can find new books to read which would be wonderful!

benebean: The The Immortal ..."

Thank you Rachel I will take a look at your read list!

MaryBliss wrote: "A few non-fiction reads I found compelling:

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William K..."

The Boy Who Harnessed the WInd has been on my TBR list for a long time but I never picked it up. Perhaps it is time I did so! I read The Chosen many many years ago but perhaps another one to read again.

Thank you for the suggestions!

I wanted to let everyone know that I read "These is my words" and really enjoyed it. It had been on my TBR list for a long time but after all the suggestions here I finally read it and I am glad that I did!

Anyone have any new suggestions?

Jackie, I'm an Indie author who writes Mystery novels and Science/Fantasy. My works are definitely "clean" reads since I don't do cursing, violence, or gratuitous sex scenes. I believe my novels are more about people than a specific genre. Check them out at my website www.quicksilvernovels.com and I hope you give them a try.

Some clean reads I've loved:

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson (romance)

The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness: A True Story by Joel Ben Izzy

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Jamaica inn by daphne dumaurier

Heather wrote: "Some clean reads I've loved:

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson (romance)

The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness: A True Story by Joel Ben Izzy

I Capture ..."

Heather,

Thank you so much for the suggestions! I placed a hold at the library for three on your list! My TBR list is running low so if anyone else has any suggestions please let me know! I hope others are benefitting from this post as much as me!

Conditions are Favorable by Tara Staley, historical fiction with a very interesting twist on the story of the Wright Brothers. It may have had some mild cursing in it (some of the characters are sea fisherman), but certainly no F bombs.

I just read The Rent Collector and My Name is Mary Sutter - thanks for the suggestions Heather. I enjoyed them both! I am waiting on The Beekeepers Apprentice to come into the library to read as well.

I also read one of the Connie Willis books that was suggested and many others that have been suggested here. Thank you all for the suggestions it has been keeping me in books to read! I hope others have been able to find books to read as well.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

I just finished The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwarz. It was clean and interesting, but not really what I consider a life-changing book. I liked it overall, it just won't stick with me for a long time. There are some very mild hints about marital intimacy between the main character and her husband, but nothing offensive. I like historical fiction a lot, and learning about what it was like to live another person's life in a different place and time. This book is good for that.

Glad you liked them Jackie.

I am reading Funny in Farsi by Firoozah Dumas and it's so hilarious! It is constantly making me lol. Thank you to Christine for recommending it. Can you guys name any other authours that wrote books about their immigrant experiences or about travelling to different places around the world? I have seen some books by bill Bryson, has anyone ever read anything by him and can you tell me what you thought.

I read Funny in Farsi by Firoozah Dumas too and enjoyed it. I have read Bill Bryson " A Walk in the Woods" but it was a really long time ago and sadly I cannot remember if it was a clean read. Sorry I cannot be of more help

I read one of BB's almost 20 years ago and while there may have been some language (but no F bombs) I recall it being clean and inoffensive. I'm American married to a Brit and at the time we were living in London. The book I read was about an American in Britain and I could relate to it and found it hilarious. Wish I could remember the title...

I believe it was "notes from a small island ".

Hello! :) I recently joined this group. I don't mind regular books but it's nice to read something that has a good story to it that isn't buried underneath a bunch of sex scenes so I thought I'd check out what you are all reading for some ideas.

If you're looking for something fantasy or sci-fi, I recommend Anne McCaffrey. Her books are pretty squeaky clean and definitely fantastic. Tamora Pierce. Mercedes Lackey has a few naughty scenes that I've come across but not more than a handful. They were mostly confined to her Mages Winds set. I don't remember any in her other books but I haven't read too many. Elizabeth Hayden. Elizabeth Moon and Thomas DePrima are clean sci-fi authors.

^^All authors who know that sex and gore aren't required to make great books.

Have you read The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova? It is excellent - one of my favorites.

Christopher Morley's Parnassus on Wheels, Very fun and sweet, light read.
History books: Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel. Eden's Outcasts, the story of Louisa May Alcott and her father, by John Matteson.
Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine.
I second Agatha Christie and Ellis Peters for mysteries.

For those of you interested in the fantasy genre, I just finished The Crown Conspiracy. The two main characters are thieves and they do meet up in a brothel, though I don't actually remember any lewd descriptions since they aren't there as clients or employers. Further, the book actually doesn't glorify thieving. I think this book is available for free as a podiobook (podcast form audiobook) on podiobooks.com.

Clean action/thriller: The Bricklayer and also Agent X by Noah Boyd
Small town life: Home to Harmony (series) by Philip Gulley
Amateur detective: Murder on a Bad Hair Day (series) by Anne George

All of these are clean and very well done. I highly recommend them :)

Thank you for the suggestions! I will add a few to my list. Anyone else with any addtions for the list?

I have found Brandon Sanderson's books to be pretty darn clean - he writes fantasy and is an excellent author. I just read Steelheart and really enjoyed it. His books are often very complex and long, and have many characters, but Steelheart was slightly less complicated because it is young adult fiction.

Terri,

Thanks so much! I was just searching for new books to add to my list and Steelheart looks interesting! I will be checking it out for sure. Thanks again

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn.

Great ideas here! In the adventure/thriller category -- a favorite of mine -- you generally have to go back to the 1960s or so to get clean reads. A few authors are reliable throughout their careers: most notable, Dick Francis, steeply chase jockey and writer. Francis had this gift for making his heroes human, setting them in a realistic world and then spinning them off into a wild adventure. Little or no sex, violence sometimes tough but never out of proportion or gratuitous.

Jackie wrote: "Terri,

Thanks so much! I was just searching for new books to add to my list and Steelheart looks interesting! I will be checking it out for sure. Thanks again"
I second Sanderson. I just finished his Mistborn series, absolutely fantastic! I loved Steelheart too and the Rithmatist was fun too. Elantris was great. Yep.

May I suggest With Love, The Argentina Family: Memories of Tango and Kugel; Mate with Knishes

A coming of age story; a memoir about my experiences growing up with "one foot in America and the other in Argentina."

I just read Cape Fear by John D MacDonald. Yes, the one that was made into a super scary movie. **However** the actual book is very clean and very suspenseful. Really hard to put down, quick read. Didn't get anything done for a couple of days :)

Terri wrote: "I have found Brandon Sanderson's books to be pretty darn clean - he writes fantasy and is an excellent author. I just read Steelheart and really enjoyed it. His books are often very..."

Terri - just read Steelheart, thank you for the suggestion. Kepp them coming!

Carolyn wrote: "Clean action/thriller: The Bricklayer and also Agent X by Noah Boyd
Small town life: Home to Harmony (series) by Philip Gulley
Amateur detective: Murder on a Bad Hair Day (series) by Anne George

A..."

Carolyn- I just placed the The Bricklayer on hold with the library. Thanks fo the suggestions!

Heather wrote: "I just finished The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwarz. It was clean and interesting, but not really what I consider a life-changing book. I liked it overall, it just won't stick with me for a ..."

Heather- I read The Edge of the Earth and would agree with what you wrote about it. Not life changing but I liked it overall. Thank you for the suggestion - please keep them coming!

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. You are keeping my TBR list with options. Please keep the suggestions coming for everyone to enjoy!

So many wonderful options! I'd also add the Amelia Peabody series (mysteries set in Victorian Egypt), the Mary Russell Series (a continuation of Sherlock Holmes, and phenomenally done!!), the Maisie Dobbs series (post-WWI England), The Monuments Men (AMAZING!!), and I'm sure they're more, but I can't think right now!

I recently finished the autobiography of Li Cunxin, Mao's Last Dancer. It was a compelling read. I'd recommend it too.