What are some really good books to read?

Horserider92 · Feb 6, 2010

I am running out of books to read. Also, what are they about?

Anyways:

My all time favorites are:
The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot
The Immortals Series by Alyson Noel
Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel
Wake and Fade by Lisa Mcmann
Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith
Night World by LJ Smith

I have read:
Secret Circle by LJ Smith
Dark Visions by LJ Smith
Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
Twilight Saga
The Host
Harry Potter

I have skimmed through and didn't love all that much:
The Lovely Bones
The Hunger Games
The Mortal Instruments
Wicked Lovely
Vampire Academy
Vampire Kisses
Interview with the Vampire
True Blood book series
Everlost
Evernight
Witches and Wizards
Daniel X
Coraline

scarletpeaches · Feb 6, 2010

I've just read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (it is Asher, isn't it?); also Before I Die by Jenny Downham was absolutely incredible.

Yeah, I like depressing YA books. But those two were amazing.

alleycat · Feb 6, 2010

My first thought is to maybe to read outside your "comfort zone" a bit. There's nothing wrong with what you've read and liked, but it can be a little limiting if that's all you read. Maybe pick out a couple of "modern classics" and read them.

PoppysInARow · Feb 6, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
I've just read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Goddamn it! You beat me to it.

Yeah, Thirteen Reasons Why was a great book.

I'd suggest Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. I fell in love with that book.

EDIT: Whoops, forgot to mention what they`re about. Thirteen Reasons Why is about a guy named Clay who recieves a box of casettes dictating the thirteen reasons why his first love Hannah committed suicide a few days earlier.

And this link will sum up all you need to know about Leviathan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYiw5vkQFPw

Sandy Shin · Feb 6, 2010

I'd suggest Megan Whalen Turner's series, which is comprised of The Thief, Queen of Attolia and King of Attolia. The series is listed as MG, but is much more suitable for YA. Most adults I know who have read them liked them. :>

suki · Feb 6, 2010

Check out the BBYA (Best Books for Young Adults) lists at ALA's website. They will include short annotations about each book.

If you are looking for realistic fiction, I'd suggest Sara Zarr and Markus Zusak.

From the last few years, I loved:

Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta
Liar, by Justine Larbalestier
Marcello in the Real World, by Fransisco X. Stork
Ash, by Melinda Lo

Good luck.

~suki

pixydust · Feb 6, 2010

I second Alleycat. Maybe instead of skimming, power through them, like eating your veggies. It may taste funny at first, but in the end they're so much more satisfying and build up your writing muscle.

THE HUNGER GAMES - I would try this again. It may surprise you. I would say it's one of the best YA books of the last decade.
THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO - this IS the best YA book of the last decade.
A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY - A beautifully written book about a teen girl in victorian times discovering a secret about her family line.
anything by JULIET MARILLER
A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT - written from the POV of a ghost
TITHE - A girl discovers she's a faerie (very funny)
THE GIVER - a boy coming of age in a perfect world (or is it a perfect world?)
THE LIGHTENING THIEF - A boy discovers he's the son of a greek god.
THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE - a girls coming of age story set in the victorian era. Wonderful.
BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE - a teen werewolf girl falls in love with a human
RUNNING OUT OF TIME

This is kind of a mis-mosh of modern classics that might interest you. Happy eating!

eyeblink · Feb 6, 2010

pixydust said:
KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO[/URL] - this IS the best YA book of the last decade.

You'll have to read it before you can read THE ASK AND THE ANSWER which is even better than KNIFE IMO.

Ditto BEFORE I DIE - felt very emotionally fragile for several days after reading that (a good thing). I haven't read THIRTEEN REASONS WHY yet - a certain regular poster here is due to lend me her copy, and I'm looking forward to it. Tragedy done properly isn't depressing but cathartic.

One of the best YAs I've read in the last couple of years was TAMAR by Mal Peet.

~*Kate*~ · Feb 6, 2010

Come find some of us on Goodreads. I've added tons of books to my "to read" list thanks to recs from folks at AW.

Ugawa · Feb 7, 2010

You didn't like The Hunger Games or Interview With a Vampire? Man, I loved those books. But I guess each to their own. I couldn't stand Thirteen Reasons why since I found (was it Hannah?) annoying, whinny and seeking attention since she killed herself for such minor reasons. (It could be because I'd just finished learning about suicide at college and was evaluating and calculating everything, though. lol)

Anyway.

I'd recommend:

My side of the Story -- It might not be your cup of tea since it's gay fiction, but the MC's voice had me laughing so many times. I've read it twice now, and I still laugh.

The Darren Shan Saga -- if you've seen the film, then you probably won't think the books will be any good. But I found the whole saga an amazing read. They're nothing like the movie. As I said to my friend who has also read the books -- Whoever came up with the idea for that film completely a** r***** (add whatever words you find less offensive) those books.

Crying Silent Tears -- It's a memoir, and I haven't read the second part yet, but it's a story which had me wanting to cry all the way through.

Perhaps you would enjoy Noughts and Crosses. I didn't myself, but I know others who did.

I thought I'd give a variety of genres.

Amynta · Feb 7, 2010

A few other suggestions:

The Forbidden Game - LJ Smith
Eyes Like Stars - Lisa Mantchev
Alanna: The First Adventure (and the rest of the quartet) - Tamora Pierce
The Demon's Lexicon - Sarah Rees Brennan
Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side - Beth Fantaskey
The Changeover & The Tricksters by Margaret Mahy

Ugawa · Feb 7, 2010

Also, just thought I'd add -- Shiver might be a good one. It sounds pretty cool, and I've just ordered it off Amazon earlier myself.

x

PoppysInARow · Feb 7, 2010

Ugawa said:
I couldn't stand Thirteen Reasons why since I found (was it Hannah?) annoying, whinny and seeking attention since she killed herself for such minor reasons. (It could be because I'd just finished learning about suicide at college and was evaluating and calculating everything, though. lol)

I liked the way Asher did it, actually. Yeah, Hannah was whiny, but every depressd kid is whiny. And besides, she mentions a few times that there are other factors resulting in her decision, not just what happened with the other kids.

He didn't go into it too much, which was nice. It wasn't too dark.

Ugawa · Feb 7, 2010

PoppysInARow said:
I liked the way Asher did it, actually. Yeah, Hannah was whiny, but every depressd kid is whiny. And besides, she mentions a few times that there are other factors resulting in her decision, not just what happened with the other kids.

He didn't go into it too much, which was nice. It wasn't too dark.

Yeah, I remember it being mentioned once or twice. I like the idea, and the writing style. I just didn't like Hannah, which is the person you're supposed to be most sympathetic towards. I'd probably read his next novel (if he writes one), though.

x

oblivo · Feb 7, 2010

For something different, I think Phillip Reeve is underrated. His Hungry Cities Chronicles series was really well done, with unique characters and really strong world-building. Garth Nix's fantasy stuff is quality, too.

I agree with the above about re-reading The Hunger Games, as it's just such a good premise. As mentioned, John Green's books and Scott Westerfeld's - all great.

lvae · Feb 7, 2010

Seconding 'The Forbidden Game', but I'm a little surprised how you haven't read it before, since you've read other books by LJ Smith! (It is the best of her series, IMO)

Also seconding the recommendation of Juliet Marillier. Particularly 'Daughter of the Forest', which is based on the Irish Six (I always thought it was seven) Swans myth. Her site describes it better...

Sharon Shinn's books are gorgeous. I particularly loved 'Summers at Castle Auburn', which is a fantastical coming-of-age story involving fairies and slavery.

And whenever I think of 'Summers at Castle Auburn', I also think of 'I Capture the Castle', by Dodie Smith, which is another coming of age story, a love story, set in 1930s England.

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood isn't YA, but it is a wonderful book to read. Its a literary novel, with a love story, and it also explores the relationship between two sisters.

I also like the Morganville Vampire series (YA) by Rachel Caine. It is about a young girl and her college struggles. Oh, and her town is ruled by vampires.

Hope that helps!

What are some really good books to read?

Horserider92

scarletpeaches

alleycat

Still around

PoppysInARow

Sandy Shin

procrastinating, clearly

suki

Opinionated

pixydust

Mother Flippin' Rhymnosorous

eyeblink

Barbara says hi

~Kate~

brings the random.

Ugawa

It's a catastrophic success!

Amynta

Ugawa

It's a catastrophic success!

PoppysInARow

Ugawa

It's a catastrophic success!

oblivo

lvae

oh so shiny