Friday, August 8, 2008
The Need to Read
I need some good book recommendations, so if you would be so kind, please enlighten me! I went to the library last night and didn't know where to begin looking for great literature. After extensive research (thumbing through a magazine about the latest and greatest summer reads) I came up with two possibilities, but both were checked out. Then it occurred to me that several of you are avid readers, and the perfect resource for my problem! I absolutely hate wasting my time starting a book that ends up being stupid, or trashy, or whatever else I label it and then toss it to the curb. I want some REAL books. Anyone out there? And please, rest assured that, unless it is one of the "classics" that we all read in high school, I haven't read it, so give me the whole list! I just devoured my first attempt at reintroducing reading into my life (it was good, and I found it recommended by a friend of a friend - I'm a blog snoop) in less than 24 hours, and I need to feed the fire. I'll be waiting...
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9 comments:
Um, read Twilight already! Then we can be friends again.
Well, I'm not a huge reader, but I have gotten into it lately. I'm with your friend Amber- join the club and read Twilight! There are lots of other good ones, though. Read anything by Shannon Hale! I LOVE her books (I like her writing style better than Stephanie Meyer). Most of hers are young adult fantasy, but she has one adult novel called Austenland and it's hilarious. I've also heard that "These Is My Words" is good by Nancy Turner. In fact, I think it's on your mom's reading list for her ward. Have you ever read "Ella Enchanted"? If you saw the movie, the book is ten million times better. It's the story of Cinderella, and it's absolutely delightful! I also enjoyed "The Princess and the Hound" by Mette Ivie Harrison. The beginning's a bit slow, but I enjoyed the book. Here's one I haven't read yet but came highly recommended- "The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy." Another one I liked is "Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf: A year told through stuff" by Jennifer Holm. It is a very interesting idea for a book, and you can read it in one sitting. If you haven't noticed, most of my favorites are young adult fiction/fantasy. They're so fun and magical, and you don't have to worry about yucky stuff- they're perfectly clean.
One way that I've discovered new books to read is by joining Goodreads.com. It's an online book club, but you don't read a book every month. You basically just share books with your friends that you like and that you want to read. Another way I've found books is from reading lists by authors that I like, like Shannon Hale. I just go to their websites, and they usually have a list of books they enjoy. I figure if I like the way they write, I'll like what they like to read. Anyway, I hope this is helpful, and if you decided to read any of my suggestions, I hope you like them.
the Twilight series is great! Read all four of them and have started them over again, I am half way done with the second book. Also the Host was pretty interesting- a good read. There are five books by Chris Stewart that I heard were good, I have the first book but haven't started it yet...soon, I just heard they were good...um let's see...I like Nicholas Sparks books too. anyway that's a few I have read this summer...
I posted a book review blog recently. You can get some ideas from there, and the website that I used to find these books.
I also recommend the Fablehaven books(there are 3) by Brandon Mull. I also loved the "Shadow Children" series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The first one is called "Among the Hidden". These are quick reads, but I found them hard to put down for the excitement and suspense, and thought provoking as well.
My favorite book since teenage-hood is "Island of the Blue dolphins". Close 2nd is "Julie of the Wolves". Both are classic survival stories of young girls.
I found that I hadn't read much other than nonfiction since Jr. High. As the RS counselor over literacy, I started a book club in our ward. There were some avid, experienced readers in our group that suggested books I had never heard of. I had to read them because I was part of the club and was pleasantly suprised that I loved reading(even fiction)! So, I've read quite a bit in the last 3 years. Shan'l has given me a lot of good recommendations, too.
A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini - Excellent, loved it, beautifully written, very heavy subject matter - women in Afghanistan under the Taliban, not a fun place to be, but redeeming & hopeful, liked it much better than The Kite Runner, (his first novel)
A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck, & the sequel, A Year Down Yonder, I really like this author & these are two of my favorite books ever - hilarious, touching, just so so good.
The River Between Us, Richard Peck, historical fiction, takes place during the Civil War
I need to read Ella Enchanted, it's been recommended to me a lot, as well as Twilight.
Non-fiction:
Girl Wars is a really good book about raising & teaching & influencing our daughters, & friends of our daughters, & all girls to be kind to each other & not be catty, backstabbing little gossipers. I'm not into self-help or parenting books usually, but I liked this one - made sense to me.
& what book did you read that was so good???
If you are wanting to read the Twilight series, I have all of the books, so you can borrow them if you would like, that way you don't have to buy them. You remember where I live right? So come by anytime and get them!
Okay so I realize we are shoving Twilight down your throat and that a 4 book series is a HUGE commitment. So maybe try The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. I love it, as does my entire book club.
Okay so yep, it is JD's wife. And she is an amazing photographer. But she is just starting out so she took our pics for free! We just have to blow up whatever we want. Sooo, maybe you should bring the whole fam on down to Boise for some free pictures (she said she is always looking for guinea pigs!). Just a thought!
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