I just finished reading the atrocious Twilight series. I do not recommend them. At the risk of offending my blog followers, I will explain my reason for not liking the books. The first one started out decently (but nowhere near the literary genius of a series in a similar genre: Harry Potter), then got progressively worse with each subsequent novel.
Sorry, Ginger.
Each time author Stephanie Meyer built up excitement toward a potentially important and/or dangerous event, she never came through with an equally-as-exciting conclusion. Quite a few times, the reader anticipated something major happening, and it didn't. It just didn't happen.
PLUS, some parts of the series got just plain creepy. You know what I'm talking about. Men falling in love with (excuse me, "imprinting upon") toddlers. ????? Can't handle it.
So, I am taking suggestions for what to read next. Please help me recover from Twilight's drain on my brain cells and free time. It's time for some quality literature!
a reading list:
ReplyDelete1. angela's ashes by frank mccourt
2. franny & zooey by j.d. salinger
3. a confederacy of dunces (forgot author, won a pulitzer)
4. jonathan strange and mr. norrell
5. a wrinkle in time by madeline l'engle
6. animal vegetable miracle by barbara kingsolver
7. to kill a mockingbird by harper lee
8. wicked
9. the kite runner (sad)
10. faye by larry brown
11. joe by larry brown
12. christy by catherine marshall
13. julie by catherine marshall
2 votes for To Kill A Mockingbird...
ReplyDeleteThe God of Small Things
ReplyDeleteThe Alchemist
The Mayor of Casterbridge
i'm about to start reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. supposed to be really good....about the origin of food, etc. have you heard of or seen Food, Inc.? he's one of the interviewees in that film. it's good.
ReplyDeleteno suggestions at the moment, but just wanted to say that I didnt' get past the first book in the series. Glad to know I am not missing anything by not finishing it.
ReplyDeleteIt just struck me that you haven't read the Lord of the Rings series. At least that's what you told me the last time we had a serious discussion about books. If you are wary of plunging into the trilogy right away, I'd recommend that you start with 'The Hobbit' - a quick and a wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteThe Book Thief...you won't regret it!
ReplyDeleteThe Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah
ReplyDeleteI've been on a C.S. Lewis kick lately. AND I just finished Ivanhoe (Walter Scott). It's quite an undertaking, and I found the beginning to be a bit slow. But I ended up really liking it.
ReplyDeleteYou are dead to me twilight hater.
ReplyDeleteA Sever Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken
ReplyDeleteThe Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
these are my 2 favorite books, and you know i am not a reader...don't tell Mrs. Rice. i couldn't put either of them down!
If you're still in the mood for fantasy, Lord of the Rings and Narnia are definitely great recs.
ReplyDeleteOutside that realm, my favorite novel of the last 20 years or so is Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.
Michael Pollan is a great non-fiction rec, and I've also loved everything I've read from Malcolm Gladwell and Michael Lewis.
What are your favorite books you've read in the last few years?
Martha, have you read the 'Stardust' by Neil Gaiman? It was a quick and a nice fantasy read. If you haven't watched the movie, I'd recommend it too.
ReplyDeleteI also admit to being sucked in by Twilight and needing to finish them, but generally regarding them as RUBBISH! They are so poorly written, and let's face it - what a sad silly view of "love." If you liked the vampire elements, the Sookie Stackhouse novels are fun, more adult, and more humorous, but still easy to plow through. And nobody declares their undying love for a toddler.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm late to this party, but here's the link to my goodreads shelf. 5 stars means awesome read, 1 or 0 stars means it made my eyes bleed.
ReplyDelete