Give me your book recs!

[threemeninaboat]

Last night I started a book that was listed on the "Best Young Adult Fiction" list. I lasted 3 pages (The Poison something or another). "I can't believe how much this sucks."

I try to read fiction so I don't totally turn into my father. But I mostly dislike fiction.
I also try to read books that are popular with my patients (no, not twilight) or ones that I think they might like so I can recommend them.

Maybe I'll just go back to reading the banned book list, but they are such a bummer. Slaughterhouse Five and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Cripes.

Suggestions?

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Murakami. Because sleeping sucks.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

rachel_swirsky started this:

http://rachel-swirsky.livejournal.com/233940.html

She has reviewed YA at other times, or collected lists...

[cai.livejournal.com]

Shadows of the Wind. This is Carlos Ruis Zafon's adult novel, but it's abs-freaking-lutely amazing. And if you like it, he has a bunch of YA books they are slowly releasing in English.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Requested from the library!

[okterok.livejournal.com]

I've been on a Henry Miller kick lately, you might like him too.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I read most of his books when I was 17-19.
I liked them :)

[okterok.livejournal.com]

Yea, I too read them a long time ago (me in high school) but they are even better now that I'm a grown up. :)

[vagabondesque.livejournal.com]

Recently finished Lauren Oliver's Delirium. It was pretty decent. Reading The Night Circus now... Ashfall was interesting in concept. I end up reading a lot of teen fic for some reason that escapes me.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I disliked Delirium. Blatant rip off of The Giver.

Let me know how The Night Circus goes.

[vagabondesque.livejournal.com]

Delirium reminded me of Ayn Rand's Anthem. I haven't read The Giver, but my daughter loved it when they read it in school. It's a popular story-line, that whole post-apocalyptic love story wherein pioneering resistors fight and sacrifice for a brave new world based on the old one society lost.

Night Circus, so far, isn't bad, but isn't amazing either.

[vagabondesque.livejournal.com]

What is your father like, that you're trying to avoid? Do you like historical fiction? Tatiana deRosnay for example?

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Well... let's just break it down to, "how is your father like, in relation to this topic, that you are trying to avoid."

Dad hates fiction. Won't read it.

I want to like fiction, I do like a bit. I wish I liked more but I have a hard time with imaginary and unrealistic concepts.

I have to mull this over more. I am hungry and not sure what I mean.

[vagabondesque.livejournal.com]

I merely meant, is your dad a history or true-crime buff that ends up seeming unimaginative and not very creative, and maybe that's why you're trying to avoid turning out like him? ;0)

I love history, for example, but sometimes I find that I love historical fiction better, because it feeds the reader information in easy-to-swallow and attractive bits and requires me to fact-check on my own, which leads to better lines of inquiry and research. Straight non-fiction history can be dry and boring and often presents too much information without imaginative framing.

[tinymammoth.livejournal.com]

I liked the YA Tomorrow When the War Began series quite a lot. Lots of actions scenes but also wonderful characterization. Cynthia Voigt is also classic.

I just joined Goodreads (tinymammoth) and their recommendations are OK, and you can get them broken down by genre.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I'm manintheboat on goodreads!
if you follow me prepare for a flood of non-fiction :)

[korvac.livejournal.com]

Catherynne Valente's The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. I am reading it now, and it does not suck. And, the title.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Is Fairyland a gay bar?

[apotropaic.livejournal.com]

I doubt it's that kind of book, but apparently there ARE herds of wild bicycles.

[gows.livejournal.com]

Doubt that she would like it. I know Valente, and I know her style, and it does not seem manintheboat-friendly.

[lacrimation.livejournal.com]

Poison Study?
lol. I liked that book. Have you tried Percy Jackson?

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Yeah Poison Study.

Yeah, I read them all. The only good part about Percy Jackson was the Party Ponies and Dionysus.

[lacrimation.livejournal.com]

You're so picky.
I hear that Divergent or whatevs is good & it's YA.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I am picky! I can be picky! There are millions of books to read and my life will be so short in relation! I can't waste my time reading crap!

I'm on the wait list for Divergent at the library.

[lacrimation.livejournal.com]

omg. You give like all books 2 stars EXCEPT cook books! Who gives a cook book 4 stars??? Whatsmatterwithyou!?
<3

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

No way!

A Prayer for Owen Meany is a 4 star fiction book!
So is A House of Leaves
AAND The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.

PEOPLE WHO COOK!
The last cookbook I read got no stars because it sucked.

Do not even get me started on what you read.

Fight Club 4 EVR.
Luff.

[cai.livejournal.com]

Knowing you loved these books, Mark and I can probably come up with a short list for you. So can Bill, probably. Give us a bit. :)

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Most excellent. Thank you!

[lacrimation.livejournal.com]

That's 4 books outta like 2k!! See... picky!
<3 <3

[lacrimation.livejournal.com]

Oh & I *know* I read crap. Books for me are a nice band-aid on reality. If it gets me the fuck outta real life for a bit, it gets at least 3 stars. :P

[reveritas.livejournal.com]

Anything by Richard Adams!

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Dude. My bunny died this week. You think I want to read Watership Down again?!

[reveritas.livejournal.com]

*facedesk* Right ...

Anything ELSE by Richard Adams. Traveller, Shardik ...

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Are they really sad too?

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

It's okay, really. I'm not actually that sensitive.

[feylike.livejournal.com]

i liked the Hunger Games trilogy, even though i don't read much YA fiction.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I read them and liked them.
Did you read Incarceron?

[gows.livejournal.com]

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-lists/books-hunger-games

Looking forward to seeing you soooooon! :)