Book Meme!
Okay, so I proposed this to kyo_waru and didn't give her much choice in the matter, but I thought it might be worth throwing out there to any other bibliophiles who want to play. I know lyzzle pimped something similar a while back and I never got around to participating, though I wanted too.
Essentially I said to Alisa, "Hey, we should each make each other a rec list of books to read," and I said aim for ten, but that's probably a bit much, so I'll be kind and say five.
Recommend five books for me to read. It does not matter what genre or reading level; I could honestly stand to broaden my horizons. I will make an honest and reasonable effort to read everything on your list, unless I have already read it. I hope you would do the same for my list, but there won't be a test, so I can't make you. XD Try not to fall into the habit of reccing those books EVERYONE reads (Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, etc.)
This probably means you will have to make a trip to the library. If your library does not have a book, you may have to actually speak to a librarian. You will be surprised at what these people will do for you. They may direct you to another library in your area, or have the book shipped in from another library in the sate, or they may actually purchase the book for their collection. I know, it's crazy! This may be a good time to get a library card, if you do not already have one. Books! FOR FREE. I don't know how else to convince you!
MY RECS:
1. The Lives of Christopher Chant, Diana Wynne Jones
If you know me at all, you know that a) I am not religious, and b) if I were religious, I would worship Diana Wynne Jones. Lives, while not the first written in the Chrestomanci series, is the first chronologically (and, imo, best) of the bunch. If you like this book, I also recommend Conrad's Fate and Charmed Life. (In that order.) YA/JFIC fantasy.
2. Dogsbody, Diana Wynne Jones
When it comes to "one shots", I think Dogsbody is one of her more memorable and interesting books. Good if you like those kind of books that are built on fairy tales or mythology. YA/JFIC fantasy.
3. Otherland, Tad Williams
This is actually a fucking massive doorstop book divided into four. Not light reading. I've read it a few times and while I seem to have outgrown the writing style, I've always adored the characters and story. Internet/VR sci-fi set in the middle of the 21st century. Start with City of Golden Shadow and if you like it, keep going. ADULT/SCI-FI
4. Totally Joe, James Howe
Look, it's light, it's cute, it's gay. Bonus points for reading The Misfits first, but I don't think it's completely necessary. Joe is a-fucking-dorable; this is the kind of quick, silly book that cleanses the palate after something horrifically depressing like, say, The Time Traveler's Wife (which I rec'd to Alisa already, but will not add here beause that would just be mean of me.) YA/JFIC "slice-of-life".
5. Because I have a total girl hard-on for books based on making myths/fairy tales real (see: #2) I want this next one to be by Donna Jo Napoli, but I can't quite decide which. So this one's a freebie: Beast (Beauty and the Beast), Zel (Rapunzel), Breathe (The Pied Piper), or Bound (Cinderella (Set in China!)) All of which are YA/JFIC fantasy.
CHOP CHOP. I WANT TO READ SOME BOOKS.
Essentially I said to Alisa, "Hey, we should each make each other a rec list of books to read," and I said aim for ten, but that's probably a bit much, so I'll be kind and say five.
Recommend five books for me to read. It does not matter what genre or reading level; I could honestly stand to broaden my horizons. I will make an honest and reasonable effort to read everything on your list, unless I have already read it. I hope you would do the same for my list, but there won't be a test, so I can't make you. XD Try not to fall into the habit of reccing those books EVERYONE reads (Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, etc.)
This probably means you will have to make a trip to the library. If your library does not have a book, you may have to actually speak to a librarian. You will be surprised at what these people will do for you. They may direct you to another library in your area, or have the book shipped in from another library in the sate, or they may actually purchase the book for their collection. I know, it's crazy! This may be a good time to get a library card, if you do not already have one. Books! FOR FREE. I don't know how else to convince you!
MY RECS:
1. The Lives of Christopher Chant, Diana Wynne Jones
If you know me at all, you know that a) I am not religious, and b) if I were religious, I would worship Diana Wynne Jones. Lives, while not the first written in the Chrestomanci series, is the first chronologically (and, imo, best) of the bunch. If you like this book, I also recommend Conrad's Fate and Charmed Life. (In that order.) YA/JFIC fantasy.
2. Dogsbody, Diana Wynne Jones
When it comes to "one shots", I think Dogsbody is one of her more memorable and interesting books. Good if you like those kind of books that are built on fairy tales or mythology. YA/JFIC fantasy.
3. Otherland, Tad Williams
This is actually a fucking massive doorstop book divided into four. Not light reading. I've read it a few times and while I seem to have outgrown the writing style, I've always adored the characters and story. Internet/VR sci-fi set in the middle of the 21st century. Start with City of Golden Shadow and if you like it, keep going. ADULT/SCI-FI
4. Totally Joe, James Howe
Look, it's light, it's cute, it's gay. Bonus points for reading The Misfits first, but I don't think it's completely necessary. Joe is a-fucking-dorable; this is the kind of quick, silly book that cleanses the palate after something horrifically depressing like, say, The Time Traveler's Wife (which I rec'd to Alisa already, but will not add here beause that would just be mean of me.) YA/JFIC "slice-of-life".
5. Because I have a total girl hard-on for books based on making myths/fairy tales real (see: #2) I want this next one to be by Donna Jo Napoli, but I can't quite decide which. So this one's a freebie: Beast (Beauty and the Beast), Zel (Rapunzel), Breathe (The Pied Piper), or Bound (Cinderella (Set in China!)) All of which are YA/JFIC fantasy.
CHOP CHOP. I WANT TO READ SOME BOOKS.