Book Lovers

[forget]

So I've been reading a lot lately because I've been picking up some good books. After reading all of these great books I'v been trying to decide what my favorites are and I can't choose. I also wanted to get some ideas from you all about what books you like so that maybe we can all get some book ideas. 🙂

So what are your favorite (if not favorites, then really good ones) books? And maybe give a sentence summary?

I don't have a top ONE but here are a few that I've read recently/in the past and have really liked:

Private Series By Kate Brian The new girl at a high end boarding school gets involved in some heavy stuff, like the disappearance and murder of her boyfriend.

Before I Fall By Lauren Oliver The typical popular girl with the perfect life has an accident, but unlike a normal death, she relives the day seven times to discover the mystery of her death and make her realize what she's really losing.

Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen Does this really need to be explained?

Night By Elie Weisel A boy's life during the Holocaust.

Holes By Louis Sachar A young boy is wrongfully sent to a detention camp, but uncovers and confirms old family secrets and legends.

The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton The story of a group of young "greasers" facing the world on their own.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox By Mary E. Pearson A young girl is told she's been in a coma for a year, or so she's been told. But for some reason she feels like the memories that she is shown, and being triggered, are not hers. No one will talk about her accident and she become curious. What happend to Jenna, and who is she, really?

 

[wickedtiger86]

Ohh!

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
It's set during the holocaust and narrated by Death. It follows the story of a young German girl, who steals books. Seriously love this book.

The Rose and the Beast - Francesca Lia Block
Fairy tales retold. I love the way this woman writes. It's a fairly short read, but I though it was rather beautiful.

The Black Jewels Trilogy - Anne Bishop
Yeah, totally strange series, but it has a strong female character, and one of the hottest fictional characters I've read, Daemon Sadi.

Sevenwaters Series - Juliet Marillier
Set in ancient to medieval Ireland.The first book is about the fairy tale where the princes are turned to swans, and it's up to their sister to save them. The second book is my favorite, it's about that girl's daughter.

😀

 

[zobothehobo]

It's Kind of a Funny Story - Ned Vizzini
follows a suicidal teenage boy in New York through his treatment of depression in the mental ward of the local hospital.

 

[WileyDairyGnome]

Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
I could go on and on why I love it.

Marley & Me, The Longest Trip Home - John Grogan
These are memoirs of John's, and I love his writing. He has a great sense of humor.

The Shining, Misery - Stephen King
I never knew books could frighten me.

 

[NothingButSong]

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar tells the story of a gifted young woman's mental breakdown beginning during a summer internship as a junior editor at a magazine in New York City in the early 1950s.

Veronika Decides to Die - Paulo Coelho
After a failed suicide attempt, Veronika wakes up in a mental asylum only to be told that, having damaged her heart irreparably, she has just a few days to live.

The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides
The story, told from a group of boys living in the neighbourhood, of the Lisbon girls. The girls' suicides fascinate their community as their neighbors struggle to find an explanation for the acts.

 

[MeatAbstract]

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
About a dystopian society in which a man, Winston Smith, rebels against Big Brother.

American Psycho - Brett Easton Ellis
Patrick Bateman is young, rich and successful who works on wall street in the 80's and also viciously butchers people to fulfill his sick fantasies.

The Room - Hubert Selby Jr
A small criminal lives inside his head when he spends 23 hours a day locked inside a cell.

Hangover Square - Patrick Hamilton
George Harvey Bone is inlove with an incredibly cold and callous woman that only uses him for his money and yet he does anything to gain her attention. He also suffers from 'dead moods' in which he becomes convinced he has to kill her, only when he snaps out of these moods, he has no idea what he's been thinking or doing (split personality disorder basically). Set in 1939 in all the seedy pubs of London.

 

[AlyInWonderland]

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
-Oh how to describe this? The ramblings of a rebellious Holden Caulfield.

A Brave New World by Alduous Huxley
- It's a futuristic novel, and explores the ramifications of the rules of this society.

Watership Down by Richard Adams
-A tale of rabbits (yes, rabbits, but they are awesome and not silly) who are trying to find a new home. Definitely got that epic journey vibe to it. It is an adventure story.

Some a little less classic-y
The Stephanie Plum Series (one for the money, two for the dough, and so on 17 is the most recent I believe) by Janet Evanovich
- A series that follows Stephanie Plum who, out of desperation, becomes a bounty hunter. She is not the best, so she has some help: a exhooker sidekick, a cop who she kinda slept with as a teen, and a bounty hunter who doesn't completely work on the legal side.

Virals by Kathy Reichs
- Kathy is most known for her books that inspired Bones. This is her first in an assumed series that follows a group of kids that find themselves going through some transformations.

 

[LoveLoveLovix]

Gone series by Michael Grant
A society of children must survive on their own, with only each other and develouping superpowers to rely on.

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle
After moving to a vast estate, two young heiresses find themselves targeted by goblins, who wish to capture them for brides (This is the first in my favorite trilogy EVER).

Close Kin by Clare B. Dunkle
After an epic misunderstanding, two soulmates- one human, one elf- go on a quest to discover their true natures and find each other all over again (and this would be the second).

In The Coils Of The Snake by Clare B. Dunkle
When the goblin she was promised to abandons her, a young woman is taken under the wing of a high ranking elf lord... while the goblin takes the woman who loved the elf (yes, this would be the third, and my favorite. It's a REALLY GOOD TRILOGY. READ IT).

Empress of the World by Sara Ryan
At a camp for gifted teens, a girl named Nic must come to terms with her... um... bisexualocity? and love for new friend Battle.

The Midnighters trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
A group of high school outcasts, each of which possesses mysterious powers, are shocked to find out that the popular new girl is one of them.

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
Small Clary Fray meets a group of demon hunters at a club one night, and is drawn further into their world than she can imagine. This series is incredibly like Buffy and amazingly good.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

Pride and Prejudice - well, I can see it's also in your favorites.

Emma by Jane Austen - about a girl who's life calling is to match lovers, but never wants to admit she wants that kind of love for herself.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - story told by a girl who died, and who's trying to deal with the fact that she's dead and that he family has to move on, but at the same time she regrets all the things she has missed and things she'll no longer be able to do.

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling - well, I'm sure you heard about that one, so no need for summary 🙂

Where Rainbow Ends by Cecilia Ahern - story about soulmates who spent a lifetime realizing they're right for each other.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - story about a girl who spends 20 years waiting for the man she loves, and what happens after that.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult - story about a girl who was born to help her dying sister is now suing her parents.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint - Exupery - story for every person who still understand what means to be a child.

The Shack by William Young - A father who is trying to deal with his daughter gone missing.

Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho - story about a young woman who starts living from the moment when she finds out she's going to die.

Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar - not the best books written, but they're fun. I'm sure you know about them, but it's the series of books about rich young people who's lives are being closely watched by Gossip Girl.

Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard - the series is still not done, but it revolves around 4 girls who keep getting creepy text messages about all of their secrets which only their friend Ali would now, and she's dead. Also, not the best books written, but a lot of fun.

Series of book about shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - series of books about a young woman who just can't stop shopping.

 

[white avenger]

I have so many "favorite" books that they would fill a good sized home library. A few are:

Basically anything written by:

Edgar Rice Burroughs
Robert Heinlein
Jerry Ahern
Paul E Wellman

Individual books:

"Three Hearts And Three Lions" by Poul Anderson
(World War 2 Danish resistance fighter finds himself magically transported into a mysterious, magical world populated by witches, knights, fairies, trolls and giants. Why? Read the book and find out.)

"The High Crusade" also by Poul Anderson
(Alien space craft lands in England at the time of the Second Crusade. That alone should be enough to capture anyone's attention.)

"Werewolvess" (that's not a misspelling) by Jerry Ahern
(A special Nazi SS unit from World War 2 has been in hiding for all these years. Now, they're ready to establish the Fourth Reich. What makes the story unique is that the SS men are werewolves)

"Out Of The Ashes" by William Johnstone
(The world plunged into social, political, economic chaos with one man, writer and former mercenary Ben Raines, the only hope to reestablish civilization. But this time, he's gonna do it right [Think Rush Limbaugh with a Thompson submachine gun] despite all the liberals and commies determined to stop him)

"The Iron Mistress" by Paul Wellman
(The story of Jim Bowie, his life, his loves, his heroic death at the Alamo, and the one single object that would make his name immortal: the Bowie knife, his salvation, his curse, and his Iron Mistress)

"The Earth Giant" by Edison Marshall
(The story of Greek hero, Heracles. The story of the actual man whose life and "labors" would be the basis for the greatest single hero the world will ever know.)

"To Your Scattered Bodies Go" by Philip Jose Farmer
(Every man and woman who has ever lived is somehow resurrected on the Riverworld)

There are others, dozens, if not hundreds, of books that have been, are, and always will be, my special favorites. There are, indeed, more. Many, many more...

 

[kittenpoker]

I love books!

Favorite authors (for novels) are Tom Robbins, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., and Isaac Asimov.

I also like to read a lot of historical fiction.

and "spiritual" books. they feed my soul. 🙂

 

[Taake]

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - brilliant story about a vain young boy and corruption

The divine comedy - Dante - a trip through purgatory, hell and paradise. Unforgettable!

Dracula - Bram Stoker - classic for a reason 🙂 Also great as an audio book, very moody.

Jude the Obscure- Thomas Hardy - about poor Jude struggling to learn, struggling to get his life where he wants it and struggling to livie the way he pleases though the people around him does not approve.
There aren't words for how much I love this book.

The Secret History - Donna Tartt - a great novel about a horrible deed between friends

I've got lots more but I'm gonna leave off with something lighter that I re-read whenever I'm sick or just need a smile on my faces "The Watermelon" by Marian Keyes. Funny stuff that!

 

[kittenpoker]

Oh, right now I'm reading "the girl with the dragon tattoo" the main character reminds me of me...well, physically at least, she's much much cooler than me. 🙂

 

[Flannen]

I'm going to be moderate and try and keep to a few suggestions....

The Picture of Dorian Gray - already suggested by Taake, I know but it really is an amazing novel.

Harry Potter - if you haven't read these yet, you are denying yourself a whole new world!

His Dark Materials - a trilogy by Philip Pulman about a young girl who seeks to find the answers to some big questions about her world.

Atonement - I would recommend any novel by Ian McEwan but I love this book. Its about regret, words and truth; the importance of using them well and the path of destruction they can leave.

The Girl / Millennium Trilogy - Stieg Larsson's trilogy. A seriously fantastic and well-written series of detective like novels. I was left with a big hole when I finished them.

1984 - Just read it. 😀

And I'll stop because I could just go on and on...

 

[kittenpoker]

The Girl / Millennium Trilogy - Stieg Larsson's trilogy. A seriously fantastic and well-written series of detective like novels. I was left with a big hole when I finished them.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a part of this, right?

 

[Flannen]

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a part of this, right?

It is indeed. It's the first in the trilogy. The others are The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I was so impressed with them. I read the last one within a day; I literally didn't put it down!

 

[Achromatic Hue]

You can't go wrong with the classics. c:

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck - Steinbeck is such a good writer. I could list a bunch of his books, but I won't. Of Mice and Men is a story about the travelings of two men, George and Lennie, trying to achieve their dream of living off the "fatta the lan' "

Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes is an amazing deducer, and it's fascinating to see how he works. The stories and books are told from the view of Watson, a doctor who worked in the army and Sherlock's only friend. Sherlock also uses a large assortment of drugs over the course of the series.

Brave New World - A. Huxley - Huxley's prediction for the future. It's not actually too far fetched.

I could go on and on forever, so I'll only mention one more, a more contemporary book that I'm reading right now, and that I'd totally recommend.

The Things They Carried - Tim O'brien - It's a comp of essays he wrote about his experiences in the Vietnam war.

It's super good. You should get it.

 

[Flannen]

^Eeep, can't believe I forgot Of Mice and Men! I'd also recommend Grapes of Wrath too.

And Brave New World 😀 even more ahead of its time than 1984. Good calls, [MENTION]Achromatic Hue[/MENTION.

 

[AlyInWonderland]

^Eeep, can't believe I forgot Of Mice and Men! I'd also recommend Grapes of Wrath too.

And Brave New World 😀 even more ahead of its time than 1984. Good calls, [MENTION]Achromatic Hue[/MENTION.

I loved East of Eden by Steinbeck better than Grapes of Wrath. I couldn't stand it! If you haven't read East of Eden you should! It's long, but the longness has a point and is completely worth it. It deals with the concept of original sin and inheriting the sins of our fathers.

 

[Kanazaka]

Here's a few:

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson: The story of hacker Hiro Protagonist, who investigates the shady dealings of L. Bob Rife and his attempts to control humanity through use of the Sumerian language. It sounds strange, but the book is full of cool action sequences, great characters and captivating imagery.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa: High school student Kyon discovers that his strange classmate Haruhi Suzumiya might have mysterious abilities.

Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami: A story about a Japanese man who investigates the phenomenon of sound reduction in one world and reads dreams in another.