I read this quote a couple weeks ago and I'm in love with it. Language skills, honing your imagination, critical thinking, knowledge and many other things all come from reading. The odd thing is, no one reads anymore! This generation has a wealth of information but no real knowledge. They get their information from the World Wide Web and TV but they get no real substance or knowledge because they don't read!!! I will never forget at my college graduation listening to the speaker RANT, and I do mean RANT, about how no one reads anymore. It honestly makes me sad.
On average I read about 2 to 3 books a week. On a good week, meaning a 3 day weekend or vacation, I can read about 5-6 books. To me this doesn't seem like a lot of books (my roomie reads about 8-10 a week) but I suppose when compared to the average person it is. Anyway I've been asked by a couple of friends lately to recommend some books and I've noticed a couple of Facebook posts asking people for recommendations so I thought I would share some of my all-time favorite authors and books. This list includes some old favorites as well as some new books I've read and LOVED.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver- One of the best books I've read in a long time. The basic plot is a high school girl gets into a car crash and she relives that particular day over and over again for a week. That is about as much as I can give away without spoiling anything but it was so refreshing to read. I'm a fan of all genres of literature and a lot of the young adult literature over the past couple of years has been amazing. The book was so well written and really makes you think about your life.
He's Just Not That Into You Greg Berehndt and Liz Tuccillo- While not a work of fiction I think every woman should read this book. I read a lot of relationship books, don't judge me, and this is the most honest one I have ever read. I mean there are just some fundamental principles to take away from this book in any relationship you have. It's a great book.
Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married by Marian Keyes- Hilarious! It centers around a European woman who is desperate to find love and get married. I stumbled upon this book at Half Price Books one day a couple of years ago then quickly read it and recommended it to everyone I know. It's just one of those books that is laugh out loud funny. Marian Keyes also writes a bunch of different other books and they're all very good. I would suggest any number of her books but this one is my favorite. While I think anyone can appreciate this book single gals of a certain age will definitely enjoy it. I wish they would make it into a movie.
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld- A very interesting story about a presidential first lady and her life. The book is based off of Laura Bush's memoir and you can definitely see the similarities between her life and the fictional first lady. Sittenfeld's book is fiction but based in some facts but she never says who it is about. You can get the gist of it though if you know anything about past presidents. Sittenfeld is one of the most refreshing authors I've read in a while. She has a couple of other books but her young adult book Prep is also another great book. I recommend that one as well.
Make Him Look Good Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez-This book tells the story of a Latin pop star and the women in his life. It's a very interesting book and at times quite funny. She has a couple of other books and all of them are good but this one was my favorite.
I Am Number Four Pittacus Lore-I am a huge fan of reading the book before seeing the movie and that's how I found this book. I had never heard of it but I saw a commercial for the movie and noticed Quinn from Glee was in it and thought what the hell. I am so glad I read this book. The premise is that there was an alien planet that was taken over and a group of children from that planet are sent to earth to live and grow until it's time to get back to that planet. They have a charm on their lives against their enemies and can only be killed in number order and the book opens with the death of 3 and the story is about #4. It's such an interesting story and I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out and also for the movie!
The Uglies Series Scott Westerfield- This takes place in the future in a world where everyone is considered "ugly" until their 16th birthday (possibly 15th I've forgotten that detail). Once you reach that age you get all this plastic surgery and become a "pretty". The series follows the story of one girl as she goes through that transformation then finds out everything is not what it seems. Uglies, Pretties, and Specials are the first 3 books in the series and follow the main character throughout different transformations. Extras features the girl but tells a bit of a different story but they all sort of go together. If ever there was a book series I wish they would make into a movie it would be this one.
Trading Up Candace Bushnell- If you think you don't know who Candace Bushnell is you are wrong. She wrote the novel Sex and the City. That's right, what the show is based on. She also has number of other books including Lipstick Jungle which had a short life on NBC a few years back. Anyway this is a novel about one of the characters she introduces in another novel Four Blondes. It's basically short stories on 4 different women and then she expands on one of the characters, an actress, in this book. You don't have to read the first one to read this but I would recommend reading all of her books because they're all great stories! This follows an aging actress through her ups and downs of her career and dating. It's definitely a good read.
The Dallas Woman's Guide to Gold-Digging With Pride J.C. Conklin-OK, one day as I was browsing in Half Price Books I found this book. It's got a lovely hot pink cover and it stuck out on the shelves and then I saw the title. It is based off a true story of a journalist from NY who is sent down to Dallas, TX to work. She is taken under the wing of a Dallas high society woman who teaches her the fine art of "husband hunting" in Dallas. It's such a sweet, cute, story and I really enjoyed it. I've read it about 3 times and now I think I may read it again.
American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis-Tied with The Giver as my all time favorite book. It is my favorite Bret Easton Ellis book and it's simply a work of art in my opinion. Sure the context is graphic, I mean he's a serial killer, but if you can't get past that and appreciate how well written and amazing this book is then you probably don't deserve to be reading it. The reader feels such a connection to Patrick Batemen that in the end you almost find yourself understand him. It's a strange thing that happens. Anytime someone asks me about a book they should read this is one of the first ones I tell them.
The Maze Runner James Dashner- This is another book series that's being turned into a movie. I don't think production has started yet but I know the rights have been bought so it's definitely happening. You follow the story of a boy who is dropped into what appears to be a maze with 20 other boys. Throughout the story you learn bits and pieces of other information and you realize that not everything is what it seems in this maze. The book ends with you resolving one issue only to find out there are many more that you still don't understand! The next novel in the series is The Scorch Trials and that one is already out so go ahead and get both! The third isn't released yet.
The Hunger Games Trilogy Suzanne Collins- A post apocalyptic world where 2 children from each district, a boy and a girl, are placed in a fight to the death called The Hunger Games. You follow Katniss a girl that is sent on her journey through the games and all the things that happen after. There are 3 books and all 3 are out and the movie is being cast as I type this. I AM SO EXCITED!!!
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff Christopher Moore- This is a HILARIOUS story about Christ's best friend. It's basically what it was like to grow up with Jesus as your best friend. I mean take it for what it's worth. If you're overly religious you may not like this type of thing but I didn't find it to be offensive at all. It was so funny.
Crank, Glass, Identical Ellen Hopkins- Crank and Glass are based on the life of her daughter who was addicted to meth. It's a riveting story about drug abuse and what that really does to the addict and also to the family. Identical is the story about two twin girls and their struggle with abuse. All of her stories are about child abuse and drug abuse. I love her books so much and have read them all but those 3 are my favorite.
Youth In Revolt and Revolting Youth C.D. Payne- You follow the story of Nick Twisp and his adventures. It's hilarious! If you've seen the movie the movie doesn't even do it justice. There are currently 3 books in the series and the second one is my favorite.
So there you have it. Some of my all time favorite books and I hope you will take advantage and read some of them! I'm currently reading a bunch of other books so I will probably need to do a part two to this post at some point.
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