Thank you for helping me reach 100 followers!
New Follower Jenny Jackson asked what being a follower means, as in, what does she get out of it? Well, let me tell you: Not a darn thing.
I guess you get the ease of knowing when I have a new post up, but since I post pretty regularly on the same three days, I don't know how much good that is. I don't really have any newsletters. You don't get your picture in the local paper. And there is no fruit-of-the-month delivery.
But what you do get is a case of the warm fuzzies. (Cases of warm fuzzies were on sale at Wal-Mart, so I've got a bunch left over).
Let's Start the Annual Book Gift List
I went to Author Palooza at a local B&N last night, and it got me thinking about book recommendations for Christmas Gifts.
So today I'm going to start a list of my favorites and I want everyone to contribute. I know I've talked about these books before, but we're gonna compile them all in one place so people all over the world can come to one post... this post... for their Christmas needs.
I'll start with the obvious:
Hunger Games and the sequel Catching Fire. (Dark Dystopian)
If I Stay. (Realistic, Literary)
The Dark Divine. (Take on the Prodigal Son with a Paranormal Twist)
(Available Dec. 22nd)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. (View Discretion Advised. Written by one of my favorite people of all time, Sherman Alexie)
Shiver. (Werewolves)
Beautiful Creatures. (Don't know yet, haven't finished reading. But enjoying it so far.)
Keturah and Lord Death (Fantasy. Your old "Girl Meets Boy. Boy is Death. Girl tries to Fall in Love with Someone Else...)
So, what's on your list? What are your faves? What are you planning on reading?
I love Archangel by Sharon Shinn. Some of the other books in the series are pretty good, some not so much, but Archangel can stand alone.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a big fan of Laini Taylor's Fairies of Dreamdark books (it did take me a while to get into the first one, though).
Megan Whalen Turner's Attolia series is amazing. (Book 4 comes out next spring!!)
I also love Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha and Omega series (they're companion series). Fun urban fantasy with fabulous world building (and sexy werewolves).
For slightly younger readers, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede, and Edgar Eager's books are some of my very favorites.
After your raving of the Hunger Games (along with hundreds of other people), I decided to finally read it and I am really enjoying it. Dark, depressing and thoroughly enjoyable. Good times.
ReplyDeleteIf you know of any good young female girl who is an assassin book, let me know.
FWIW, I did get my picture in the local newspaper when I chose to follow you on your blog.
May I assume this is for YA literature? I will go based on that assumption.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites so far that I read this year:
The Hunger Games and the sequel Catching Fire
Shiver
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Immortal: Love Stories with Bite edited by P.C. Cast
Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Wake and second book in the trilogy Fade by Lisa McMann
The Mortal Instruments trilogy
I have more that I haven't read yet, but they are on the stack!
Jenilyn- Good suggestions. I can't wait to check those out myself!
ReplyDeleteSam- There are about a million books about teenage girl assassins. In fact, that genre is almost on its way out.
Oh, wait. I meant to say, there are NO books about teenage girl assassins because NO ONE wants to read those books.
Una- I really need to read more of Maggie Stiefvater's stuff. I think I'll try Lament next. Thanks for the contributions!
ReplyDeleteBrodi and Sam--There is a pretty fun series about a girl training to be a spy and can kill a man in 7 different ways (or something like that). It's called I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter. It's cute and lighthearted, but it's the closest I can think of to a girl assassin book.
ReplyDeleteUmmm, I don't think I've received my warm fuzzies yet. I guess they got lost in the mail. Haha, just kidding, I get oodles of warm fuzzies every time I read your blog!
ReplyDeleteA book I'm reading right now is "Invasive Procedures" by Orson Scott Card. It's about people called Healers who have created a way to heal people with genetic disorders, by splicing genes into them using a custom made virus, which will brutally kill anyone else who gets near it. It's really good, I love a good sci-fi.
Jenilyn- Oh yeah! I've read the first book in that series. Why didn't I think of that? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLulabell- Oooooh, that sounds really good too. A deadly virus that holds the cure? What could possibly go wrong? I, also, love a good sci-fi.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, starting with The Lightning Thief.
ReplyDeleteFiregirl by Tony Abbott(I thought it was going to be a fantasy, but it's realistic fiction, and it's a really well -written, very touching novel.)
Savvy by Ingrid Law
Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan
Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians series by Brandon Sanderson. (His other books are good, too)
I have to second your devotion to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Shiver. They're awesome!
ReplyDeleteI also have to second Una's recommendation of The Mortal Instruments trilogy. So good! And, a fourth book is going to be added in 2011. Woo hoo!
My recommendations (other than the Twilight Saga and Harry Potter series) are thus:
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore
Kim and Jenni- Excellent additions. Thanks for contributing!
ReplyDeletegosh....how do i make a list?
ReplyDeleteeverything you've let me borrow?!
there are a few on your blog you have not lent to me yet! (hint hint)
also grace and i still REALLY love that one book...
...something about a girl who throws a mean whisk....
xo
Yay! I've read five out of the ones you recommended. Tell me what I've won. (A warm fuzzie?) I just finished The Dark Divine last night. What's that? It's not out yet? Ha! I won it, signed copy and all.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read your latest and greatest. It's only a matter of time, I can feel it!
Have you read Graceling? It's good. Not as good as The Hunger Games, but it's along those lines. I think of it as a literary Lara Croft. Kind of...well, not really...maybe a little.
Dorien- Tell me which books on my blog you want to borrow, and they're yours! And I love that one book with the girl with the whisk too.
ReplyDeleteNicole- What did you think of The Dark Divine? It's pretty great isn't it? And yes, I've read Graceling. i thought it was a very fun read. Except for the middle trudging part.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. Love that book!
ReplyDeleteJill- I've heard such good things about that book. It's definitely on my to- buy list.
ReplyDeleteI have to echo the Attolia series because those books can't get enough echoes. Same with the Dreamdark series.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Laini Taylor's Lips Touch. It was an NBA finalist, and it is gorgeous.
This year I also discovered Nancy Werlin and loved both Impossible and Rules of Survival.
Nikki- I hear nothin' but good about Lips Touch. That is another one on my to-read list.
ReplyDeleteThanks for contributing!
Ooooh Jenilyn, I don't know you but any fan of Archangel AND Brodi is a friend of mine. Archangel is one of my all time faves along with The Great Divorce.
ReplyDeleteOoh. Thank you for the reccomends. I need lots of those!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to admit that I don't buy many books lately and no one in my family -except my sister has the same reading tastes as me. I bought my mom and sisters The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
ReplyDeleteI plan on reading - Leviathan, Lips Touch, The Dark Divine, A Great and Terrible Beauty and Dragon Slippers.
Kristin- I will definitely have to check out Archangel then too!
ReplyDeleteL.T.- I love lists. That's how I get any good recommendations.
Mary- I went to dinner tonight with two girls who aren't big fans of the Y.A. genre, and I got them Sara Zarr's Story of a Girl specifically because I knew they'd be reading out of their comfort zone. That's the fun thing about books too!
The Guernsey book is always a safe bet with family. Good choice.
Leviathan and Lips Touch- again I have got to read these.
A LOT of good ones have already been mentioned! I second Patricia Wrede and Dianna Wynne Jones!
ReplyDeleteI always love Lisa Shearin, Tasha Alexander and Deanna Raybourn. (Urban fantasy, historical and historical respectively.) Also Susan Wittig Albert-- including her mysteries written as Robin Paige.
Britt- Thanks for adding to the list! We have such a good group of books and authors going.
ReplyDeleteOh I wish wish wish I had more to add this year. Next year though, I'm going to be on fire with reading.
ReplyDeleteI'd second the ones you've mentioned (that I've read) Shiver, The Dark Divine, Catching Fire. Fabulous books!
I'd also add in an old one The Princess Bride. Oh and Sydney Salters Big Nose book was really fun! And Shannon Hales Austenland and Heidi Ashworths Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind. Great reads!
Debbie- too bad you couldn't think of any to add. ha ha. I loved your Dark Divine trailer, by the way!
ReplyDelete