It's book review time. I LOVE BOOKS!! So here are some of my all-time favorites:
1) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
At over 700 pages, this novel is a huge undertaking. And yet, it's so good it's well worth the hours spent devouring the intricate and unique story of Kvothe. Plus, again - anything having to do with magic always gets my vote.
People like Patrick Rothfuss make me wonder what they dream about. Or maybe it's their dreams that they put to paper to create these fantastical journeys. I don't know, but whatever it is, it works.
(I already pre-ordered the second novel in the trilogy that doesn't come out until April 2009. I swear publishers are a deliberately sadist bunch.)
2) The Kite Runner by by Khaled Hosseini
Damn. If I knew this book was going to be this good, I would be on my second or third read by now. I also saw the movie and let me just say - the two boys who play the lead actors are amazing, and the movie is also great. But as usual, the book captures more emotion and details the story a bit more than the movie.
Themes of friendship and love always capture my attention, but what to me was best about this book is its theme of redemption. Because if you want it badly enough, there is always a way to make things right. It's never too late.
Love, LOVE this book.
3) Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book had me laughing, crying, and HIGHLIGHTING (I know - I hate marking books, but there were so many good points and humorous moments that I had to do something!)
I am a sucker for a story of overcoming adversity, and people who can look back on their struggles and instead of blaming others for what it was, embrace their decisions for helping to shape their lives into what it's become.
I can't wait for the movie. Go, Liz!!
4) The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Still one of my all-time favorites, it will NEVER leave my list of must own books. I'm not sure I can even describe this book. Lyrical fiction written from the viewpoint of a "prophet"...it sort of mirrors the path Christ walked in terms of preaching to and sharing his knowledge with humanity in their quest for goodness and understanding. A deep, moving, but still somehow simple revelation of the truths of human emotion.
Two words: MUST. READ.
5) Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Like "The Prophet", this will always be a favorite of mine. I have to admit that Jackie Carey's debut novel is what lured me into (and has me firmly planted in) high fantasy novels. The historic fictional geography...the immense, fantastical, but utterly believable cast...the dialogue, heart stopping on the edge of your seat story telling...the incredible friendships, undying love, and last but not least - Joscelin, Joscelin, Joscelin. *sigh* (come on, you know I couldn't leave him out) Her writing skill is second only to her incredible imagination.
Seriously - once you read anything by Ms. Carey, it will be the measuring stick by which you compare everything else.
6) Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey
Wow. I was not expecting it to be this good. With "Mercy", Jacqueline Carey wrapped up this series perfectly and I have to say that in the end, I became a bigger fan of Imriel, even though he is no Joscelin. Although he does come pretty damn close, which is probably the biggest compliment I could ever hope to give Imriel...or this series.
I'd kill to have even one tenth the imagination of this woman.
7) Where Are the Children, Loves Music Loves to Dance, and A Cry In The Night by Mary Higgins Clark
Because I didn't want to write separately about these books and because all three are total page tuners. However, if you get freaked out easily about what could happen to kids when you turn your back for 5 seconds (I know - it IS freaky, but you can't help but read because you have to know if everything is okay in the end!), how dangerous looking for a date in the classifieds can get, and wondering whether or not you will ever truly know your husband or partner for life, don't read these books.
On the other hand, if any of the above caught your attention, they're worth the read - slow to start, but each book builds to a unbelievable climax to the point where you will literally NOT be able to put the book down until it's finished.
Mary Higgins Clark. The "queen of suspense". Yes. Yes, she is
8) The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind (high fantasy genre)
How you can write 11 books spanning more than a decade about the same story line and main characters and still keep the story interesting and worthwhile?
Your name has to be Terry Goodkind, that's how.
Impressive. Seriously.
Terry Goodkind is the kind of guy I'd like to hang out with. Maybe some of his talent would rub off on me...
(I wrote a previous blog about this titled, "the end of a saga" if you're interested. Anything else about this series would make this entry way too long. And it's so unlike me to ramble. *ahem*)
9) Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
Like "A Walk to Remember" and "The Notebook", this book made me cry. Hard. So incredibly tragic (like ALL his books) and yet, so very touching. I swear Nicholas Sparks must have been a woman in another life because he writes with all the sensitivity and heart of one.
After this book, I had to force myself to not buy or read anything else by him for a while...it was taking me too damn long to come back around.
10) anything by Jen Lancaster or Meg Cabot
Because holy crap they're hilarious! Actually, the entire genre of chick literature is pretty much addictive, but these two are the QUEENS. Anything they write is worth taking time out to read more than once, although my favorites have to be Boy Meets Girl and Bright Lights Big Ass. So so funny!
11) the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer
I am not going to recap this series because it's way too much. Besides, I'm sure everybody and their mother has either read or knows about this "cult phenomenon".
I tore thorough these books - all 4 (roughly 2,500 pages) in 8 days, which is a record for me.
Suffice it to say that Bella I could do without - she's kind of annoying. And so is Jacob from the last half of "New Moon" through pretty much the end of the series when he redeems himself by finally becoming the friend he should have been the whole damn time, geez! But Edward - ahhh, love him. Sensitive, protective (NOT controlling, there is a difference), thoughtful, intense, loyal..like the rest of the Cullen family.
I sort of want to be one of them. They're kind of awesome.
Besides, I wouldn't mind somebody sneaking into my room at night to watch me sleep. In a protective, loving, non-stalker way, of course! Romantic, yes? yeeeaa.
(man, this blog is going downhill...)
12) anything by Sherrilyn Kenyon
I love Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Dark Hunter series of paranormal romance novels. *sigh*
I now understand why women get so addicted to this genre (it's too hard to explain these novels, you will just have to read one for yourself. I recommend "Night Play" to start.)
Okay I give in - basically it's about the constant battle between the immortals (good and bad) over the protection of human race, as well as their own pantheons. Only the humans don't know any of the immortals are real. Take some gods/goddesses from Roman/Greek/Sumerian mythology for entertainment value, sprinkle in some humor and sarcasm, combine with alternating bouts of action and love scenes, and voila! DARK-HUNTERS!
I love these books.
** Dear Ms. Kenyon: you have forever changed the way I view the world at night. Thank you sincerely for your imaginative and highly descriptive writing.
Also? I want my own Vane. I'm serious. Can I mail order him? I'm sure there must be a form I can fill out that will get me one tall, dark, sensitive, handsome immortal, no? I would be willing to pay the extra charge for FedEx.
Please advise. Thanks.
