So I've been doing a bit of reading since Spring term ended. Okay, I've been doing a TON of reading since then. Anyways... I chose all of these books because they were highly recommended by people I know, and I'd love to recommend them all to others in return. I figured that this summer my reading list would consist entirely of recommendations, mainly because I figured they'd be exciting, fun and fast reads... which I don't have time to get engulfed in once grad school starts back up in the Fall. I'll leave the more "intellectual" books that require thinking and analyzing for those times when I'm actually IN school and can't devote hours a day to them. Ahh... I love myself a good book.
Fablehaven - by Brandon Mull
Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star - by Brandon Mull
Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague - by Brandon Mull
Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary - by Brandon Mull
Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison - by Brandon Mull
These books were ALL awesome - don't get them on CD... we listened to the last one on CD and the reader's voice was TORTUROUS. I absolutely devoured the first four and only gobbled the fifth one, mainly because the reader was so obnoxious. I'm positive I would have devoured that one if I had just read the book...
The Hourglass Door - by Lisa Mangum - another Mormon author recommended to me by a girl in my Graduate program. It was good--really cheesy at points, but cute. I was excited to get through it and it only took 2 days. It's a trilogy and the second in the series was just released a few months ago. I'm not a Twilight fan, but Twilight fans would probably love this stuff.
Digital Fortress - by Dan Brown - typical Dan Brown. Lots of adventure, tons of cliffhangers, a few bad words and good plot twists. Not my favorite Dan Brown book, but still really good. Maybe because my dad's a crytologist for the NSA like the main character. Hmm....
Sense and Sensibility - by Jane Austen - I'm a woman. Of COURSE I love this stuff.
The Lion's Game - by Nelson DeMille - be forewarned... the action is CRAZY but the dude has a vicious potty-mouth. More than his last book that I read... I chose this one because it was written ten years ago and just a few months ago the sequel was released (called "The Lion"). Both books were instant national bestsellers.
Dear John - by Nicholas Sparks - I hated the Notebook and was told that I needed to give Sparks another chance before throwing him out the window completely. This one was better, but still VERY sappy.
What I'm reading right now:
The Historian - by Elizabeth Kostova - recommended by JaiCi Razak
The Innovator's Prescription - by Clayton M. Christenson - recommended by Kelly Rees
Shattered Silence - by Melissa Moore - recommended by Grandma Spencer
Yes... I do read multiple books at the same time. I'm weird like that. I usually keep one upstairs, one downstairs, and one at school. I read the one that's closest :) Multitasking has reached new heights!
These are books that I have on hold at the library:
The Golden Spiral - by Lisa Mangum - sequel to The Hourglass Door. I'm pretty excited to read it.
The Hunger Games - by Suzanne Collins - this is probably the one I'm single-handedly most excited to read. I've heard nothing but good stuff about this book and practically everyone I know has read it.
The Lion - by Nelson DeMille - the sequel to The Lion's Game. Nelson DeMille's writing style is utterly captivating (and he's hilarious) but I still haven't decided if it's worth it to put up with all the bad words to get to the good stuff. I'm sensitive, okay?!
And since the library (my office and second home) only allows me to have three books on hold at one time, I have a VERY longs list of books that I'm waiting to put on hold so I can enjoy them as well. I have a feeling it's going to be tough getting through all these before school starts back up...
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and the Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest - all by Stieg Larsson
Catching Fire - by Suzanne Collins (and Mockingjay, which I hear is coming out within the next month)
The Lost Symbol - by Dan Brown - which will mean that I've read ALL of his books. :)
The Help - by Kathryn Stockett - I think that every book club I've ever heard of is reading this book right now.
Three Cups of Tea - by Greg Mortenson
The Last Lecture - by Randy Pausch
Atonement - by Ian McEwan
AND IT GOES ON... I can't even tell you how long my wish list is. I've always been a list person..... I feed off of recommendations, so PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY FOR ME!
Oh, by the way... Spencer read the Fablehaven series as well and loved it. Right now he's reading the Eragon series and tells me that it's awesome and keeps getting better. FYI.
Happy reading :)
We have some of the Dan Brown books, you are welcome to them :)
ReplyDeletethey're old news, but have you ever read the kite runner or a thousand splendid suns? both worth reading.
ReplyDeleteThe Last Lecture is life-changing and one of Dad's & my favorite books! Can't believe you haven't read Lost Symbol yet. Really? I mean what have you been doing this last year?? I'm glad to have your list. It takes me FOREVER to get through a book when the Mad-eye only gives me a page a night...but I needed some good suggestions. Thanks Darlin'
ReplyDeleteif you like the last lecture, read tuesdays with morrie too. it's similar.
ReplyDeleteif you haven't read them already--
funny: "cheaper by the dozen" (nothing like the movie. only similarity is the title.) and "squashed" (joan bauer)
sweet, thoughtful, and slightly sad: "stargirl" and "enchantress from the stars"
for something like hunger games but more meaningfully written, there's "the alliance" by gerald lund, and "the giver".
all available in the hbll for your convenience.
Nice book list. Maybe I could start reading again. Actually, maybe I need to get an iPad so that I could enlarge the letters. Yeah, I bet John would totally go for me getting an iPad. Sure he would...Wait, it's electronic, what am I saying? Of course he really would let me/him get an iPad.
ReplyDeletehave you ever read "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Wells? It's a true story and is based on her life. Very quick read. I heard that she has out a new book, too.
these are my favorite posts...
ReplyDeleteyou are my favorite person...
suplise.
girl, you read a lot of books! here are the books i have recently read/am currently reading and maybe/maybe not you would like them.
ReplyDeletethe guernsey literary and potato peel society--takes place in England after WWII. I LOVED it.
flipped--a young adult novel that was made into a movie this year. i haven't seen the movie yet, but the book was adorable.
extremely loud and incredibly close--i just started but this book is so clever and genius and fascinating. about a highly intelligent kid whose dad died in 9/11. i'd love to know what you think.
so glad to have found your blog!