10-day YOU challenge: day 4
Four Books
1: the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
This series has NOT let go of me for the past month. I started it right after school got done, because I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down once I started, and I was right. I first discovered this author through her Highlander paranormal romance novels (which are LOVE) and I was hooked on this series from the second chapter (it took a bit of getting into...) I'm currently obsessed with it. OH. MY. BOB.
This series is a delicious dark fantasy about MacKayla Lane, who goes to Dublin to hunt her sister's murderer and finds a LOT more than she was expecting, including the mysterious bookstore owner, Jericho Barrons...
Watch my LJ and/or DeviantArt for fanart of this series. I have a picture drawn and I'm planning to scan it today/soon.
2. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
This is one of the best pieces of "hard" science fiction ever written. People are always gushing about Ray Bradbury, but I really prefer Clarke. I love his writing style, and his ideas take a hold of me and don't let go. This book really did change my life. If you haven't read it, go get it from the library.
3. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
This is sort of a dark, adult Harry Potter, about a wizarding college and a magical parallel world. And when I say dark, I mean it. This is about as dark as the Fever series. There is swearing and sex, so not for the kids! A great read for mature teens and adults, though.
4. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
I consider myself a Tolkien fan, but I have really had a hard time with his books. I tried to read LotR, and made it halfway through Two Towers before I got bored and gave up. I tried to read The Silmarillion, but made it about 60% before I got really bored and gave up. They were good, and I love the stories, but I could NOT handle his writing style.
So, I was wary of The Hobbit, beloved by so many, fearing I would find it brain-meltingly dull. How glad was I that I was wrong! I ate it up. I love Tolkien, and Bilbo's tale is the only book of his that I've ever finished. Turns out lengthy war allegories and new English myths are too much for me, but a halfling on an adventure with dwarves was just right.
Bonus! nonfiction book: The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis, et al.
I highly recommend this to anyone who is having trouble dealing with stress. I had it in my grubby hands for a whole 10 minutes before I started feeling better! It's a big book, but start at the beginning, and follow its suggestions for what to try. My stress level has dropped immensely in recent months, thanks in part to this book.