Hey all, it's my turn to give away one of my favorite books and as you'll see there's pretty much no rhyme or reason for the selections I'll be offering up. As always, the same "rules" apply. Simply comment on this post (or any of the other posts this week), and you'll be entered into the drawing. The deadline to enter is THIS Friday, October 30th at 12 noon EST. And please, spread the word on your own blogs, etc. If I get a lot of entries, I may get all kinds o'crazy and start giving away even more books. You never know with me.
So…what am I offering up? Well, I'm going to be listing six of my favorite books—3 Young Adult, 3 Adult (Hey, I write both – there was no feasible way I could choose between them). BUT…if you follow my blog (http://jenniferhendren.blogspot.com) and took a fancy to any of the books I've reviewed/read/mentioned in passing, let me know. I'm more than willing to send one of those selections instead. Though THESE books are REALLY good. Okay…
Young Adult Selections
THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak – Narrated by death, it tells the story of a young girl in Germany during World War II. It's a-mazing. I can't say enough good things about it. THIS should likely be your selection. I'm just sayin'.
UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld – I've often said I want to BE Scott Westerfeld, simply to have written the Uglies Trilogy. It's fantastic. It's set in the future, when society has some new rules. Namely, they believe that individual beauty or otherwise is at the root of society's problems. Therefore, when you turn 16, you become "pretty." It follows the story of Tally Youngblood, a young "Ugly" on the verge of becoming "Pretty."
LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green – John Green is simply one of the best YA authors out there today. IMHO. This book tells the story of Miles "Pudge" Halter as he heads off to boarding school and falls for the clever and very self-destructive Alaska Young. I can't say much about this book without giving a lot away. But it's sooooo good. I read it in one sitting, when I had only meant to read a chapter or two. (It's a Printz winner! As is THE BOOK THIEF, btw. Yes, I'm still saying you should choose THE BOOK THIEF.)
Adult Selections
PRIDE & PREJUDICE by Jane Austen – I know what you're thinking. BUT Jen! I read that in high school and it was sooooo boring. Well, too bad. I love it! And might I add, didn't have a true appreciation for it until I was in my adult years. So give it another shot, k?
IT by Stephen King – One of the first big books I ever loved. I love the world building King achieves. I felt like I was one of the Magnificent Seven, and IT scared the BEJESUS out of me. Pennywise…yikes. As if I wasn't afraid of clowns before this book. I absolutely love the way he flashes back and forth between the present and past. And like I said…SCARY.
ONE FOR THE MONEY by Janet Evanovich – Nothing tops an afternoon spent giggling at Stephanie Plum and her crazy antics. It made me want to write comedy, and started the eternal question…Morelli or Ranger?? (Ack. I still can't decide!)
Okay, so there they are. As you can see, there aren't any clear patterns in my selections. They're simply stories I love—stories I can't get out of my head.
So…anyone have a decisive POV on the Morelli/Ranger thing? (g) And what stories have stayed with you over the years?
Morelli, dude. Just Morelli. Tasty Pastry, Aunt Rose's house, Bobdog.
ReplyDeleteConcise enough?
Excellent book options.
ReplyDeleteWoo Jen! This week it's a lot easier to choose, since I've read all of them except for LOOKING FOR ALASKA and PRIDE & PREJUDICE, and I already own the Austen one. Yay! Plus, I've heard you rave about John Green before, and I think that books is on some of my wishlists :-) Those who haven't read them yet should definitely pick IT or THE BOOK THIEF, unless they've had a difficult week and want some fun; in that case ONE FOR THE MONEY is definitely the way to go.
ReplyDeleteMorellie definitely. And yes, Bob and the house are definitely two huge points in his favour. Not to mention the, um, gorilla antics...
Hmm, stories that have stayed with me... Besides The Lord of the Rings? :-) Well, sticking with King, THE STAND was one of those books I read in just a few days because I couldn't stop, and have reread a few times since (though I still haven't read the extended version). Then there's 1984; there's a reason some of these books are on school reading lists, I say, they're just darn good! GONE WITH THE WIND, A WIND IN THE DOOR, the ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series. And so on...
Ack! I added an e to Morelli!
ReplyDeleteDeniz,
ReplyDeleteOh yes...THE STAND. I very nearly chose that one to put on the list, but decided on IT instead. GREAT book. And I LOVED GWTW, which surprised me considering I'd watched the movie a bazillion times before reading it. (g)
Yes, Morelli is definitely tasty...tho Ranger has his good points too. The man of mystery thing is pretty hot. (g)
Jen
Claire,
ReplyDeleteMore than enough. ;)
Sara -- Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteOhhhh...some tasty books! I think I'd probably go with the John Green book. I've heard such great things about it, but haven't had a chance to give it a read.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! Interesting book choice, but let me know, is The Book Thief very depressing? Esme
ReplyDeleteEsme,
ReplyDeleteFirst, thanks! We're having a blast putting it together each week. :)
Secondly -- well, TBT ain't all sunshine and rainbows. (g) It's about WWII and is narrated by death. But please don't let that put you off. It's a beautiful book. Probably THE best book I've read in the past couple of years.
Esme,
ReplyDeleteWanted to add that death (death the narrator) is actually quite amusing in TBT. Very sharp wit that makes you laugh throughout -- or cry. :)
I _loved_ the Uglies trilogy!! Scott Westerfeld is on my auto-buy list.
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard to pick just one or two books that have really stayed with me, because there are so many I have really loved. Enid Blyton is one of my earliest Book Loves. In later years...Tamora Pierce, Raymond E Feist, Isobelle Carmody, Nora Roberts, Scott Westerfeld, John Marsden, Diana Wynne Jones...just to name a couple *g*
Morelli v Ranger? Don't care. (Concise enough? *g*) I read One for the Money once. Stephanie left me cold, and neither of the guys grabbed my attention either. I know I'm about the only person on the planet who feels that way...
Helen,
ReplyDeleteBwahaha. I think I meant to put "decisive" rather than "consise." But that will definitely do. :) In all fairness, I have to say that neither man put his best foot forward in book 1. I never would've even considered Ranger a possible love interest at that point. Boy, when he turns it on though...he Turns It On. Can't remember in which book that happens, tho...probably really starts to come into play in 4, maybe? Anyone remember? At any rate, he was not the Ranger we all love in book 1. :)
Uglies trilogy..yes, awesome. Have you read book 4? I put it off for a long time, annoyed by the character switches, but found it actually provided a bit of closure for the original trilogy.
Never read any of those authors other than Westerfeld and Pierce. But oh wait, I did read _one_ Nora Roberts. LOL. It was a while ago. I keep meaning to try one of the J.D. Robb books but have no idea where to begin. (g) Any recs?
Jen
Hi Jen,
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know that I wasn't really interested in either of them because they weren't at their peak in book 1 *g*
I did read Extras. It was interesting to see what he did with the society after the changes, but it didn't grab me the way the original trilogy did. I don't remember being annoyed at the character switches, but it's awhile since I read it *s* It's not a bad addition to the Uglies world, but I don't think it was really essential.
The JD Robb books are one long series, so I would recommend starting at the start (as the King of Hearts would say *g*). Book 1 is Naked in Death. Full chronological list at: http://www.jdrobb.com/jdbooks.htm