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Ahhhh, books! What is more wonderful than a good book, I ask you? Not much! Except maybe TWO good books! I must explain something about myself first off....I am addicted to books. They are my drugs. They are how I escape this boring life. So yes, you could say that I am an escapist. But if you lived in this town, you would be too! And it's better than wrecking my brain cells with drugs or alcohol or something. Anyway, enough of my preaching, here are a few of my favorite books and book series, which everyone must read!! Yes Micah, even you! Or else! Hmmmm, where to begin....I'll try to keep this short, but no promises.... Be sure to check back for updates, as I am constantly reading and finding new good books and series. The Redwall series by Brian Jacques: For those of you who are not familiar with these, they are an anthropomorphic fantasy series, taking place in the medieval world of Mossflower Wood and beyond. What this basically means is, it's talking animals with swords. But they're COOL talking animals with swords. Don't rule them out just because of that, they're really good, though they can get a bit predictable after awhile. But all in all, if you're a fan of medieval things and you want some excellent good guy-kicking-bad guy-butt action, check em out! Continuing the anthropomorphic theme, Watership Down by Richard Adams and Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies are two good ones. Watership Down, of course, is a classic, and should be read by everyone at least once. A group of rabbits flee their old home, doomed to be turned into a housing development, facing danger on all sides, and to try and scrape out a new home for themselves somewhere else. But danger surrounds them at all times, humans, predators, and even other rabbits. Will they be able to make their endeavor a success? I'M not going to tell you, silly! Fire Bringer, is pretty much similar to Watership Down, only it deals with deer. But it has its merits and it's worth a read. If you're still craving medieval action, there's always the little-known but thoroughly excellent The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It contains all the major elements needed for a good story: a mysterious visored outlaw, a spectacular plot for revenge, romance, chivalry, and of course, lots of swordfighting!!! It is awesome! Also, there's Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi, about a simple village boy who gets caught up in things way over his head, including his own mysterious past. If you like romance, the Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux is good for that! The play and the various movies, including the more recent one, have developed a vast following, yet surprisingly few have read the book it's based on. It's the somewhat dark tale of the young soprano, Christine Daae, who is torn between two lovers. There is her childhood sweetheart, the dashing and noble viscount, Raoul de Chagney, and the deformed and tormented Erik, a musical genius, who lives hidden away in the catacombs beneath the opera house, under various disguises, including "Opera Ghost" and "Angel of Music". This is a really, really good story, in any form. If that STILL wasn't enough romance for you, try Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Yes, it's almost seven hundred pages long, but don't let that stop you! If you do, you are missing out on a great story! Unlike most older "classics", I found this one was quite easy to read, and though it was long, it didn't seem tedious. Don't listen to anyone who says this is boring! They're either insane, or they have no appreciation for true romance (most likely the latter). For some comic relief, try a book by Eva Ibbotson. My personal favorites are The Island of the Aunts, The Secret of Platform 13, and Journey to the River Sea, though she's written many more. Journey to the River Sea is a tad more serious than the rest, and doesn't involve fantastical creatures or happenings, as do the other two. Also, pretty much any book by Roald Dahl, though I like Matilda best. The movie just didn't do it justice, as is so often the case. A very good author is Lloyd Alexander. Some of my favorite books written by him are: The Arkadians, The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen, and Time Cat, though there's also the Vesper Holly series, The Pyrdain Chronicles, and the Westmark trilogy, though I haven't read all of these. Two good short stories by Alice Hoffman are Aquamarine and Indigo. Both deal with mermaids, and are really more about atmosphere than an intricate plotline. They are short but sweet, and you'll most likely finish them both in one afternoon. For more ocean-themed fun, you may want to check out the following: Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes. A girl tries to make sense of things after the sudden death of a classmate no one really ever knew, while spending the summer at Cape Cod with her grandmother. Again, this is more about atmosphere, though the plot is engaging enough. The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. You may have seen the movie, but it's still worth reading the book anyway, as they're pretty different. Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson. Has six short stories, each somehow relating to water. Some are better than others, and my personal favorite was "The Sea-King's Son". But I'm just a hopeless romantic, don't mind me. Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli is basically a re-telling of the Greek myth of the Sirens, half-human half-fish monsters who lured sailors to their deaths with their songs. But did they really mean for the sailors to die? Did they have a choice? And what about the one who went her own way, vowing to never use her voice to get a man to fall in love with her? Yes, this is another love story, and you may cry. For sci-fi, try Gary Paulson's The Transall Saga, about a boy, hiking in the desert, who is mysterious transported to an alien world, filled with mysterious primitive tribes, and strange beasts, like nothing anyone has ever seen before. The ending may be a shocker. Then there's always the old standby Michael Crichton. The Jurassic Park books are pretty good, but my favorites by him are The Andromeda Strain and, of course, Timeline (because you just gotta love that medieval action!). A pretty entertaining book, Dr. Franklin's Island, by Ann Halem, deals with a mad scientist and his attempts at creating transgenic human beings, at the expense of a couple of plane-wrecked teenagers who happen to be unlucky enough to wash up on his island. Another sci-fi book that deserves a paragraph all its own is Eva by Peter Dickinson. More of a query into the definitions of humanity than just a sci-fi book, this one will get you thinking. How do you define "human"? Is it something in the mind? Is it something in the body? Also a sobering look at how things might be if we don't start respecting the environment and preserving our ties to the natural world. Everyone needs to read this at least once. Now that you've got your brain warmed up, let's try a few mysteries, shall we? The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin will definatly make your mind do flip-flops, trying to figure out the puzzle, and it will keep you guessing, even after you think you've got it all figured out! The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King, is also good. What would happen if Sherlock Holmes, a dignified, austere, traditional Victorian gentleman would meet up with a strong-willed young feminist? What would happen if he were to take her in as his apprentice? It is only the beginning of a great series. The Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters is also the start of another good series, this one Egypt-themed. The herione is basically a female version of Indiana Jones, who doesn't take nonsense from undead mummies or irascible archeologists. This is laugh-out loud funny in some parts. For some subterranean fun, Downsiders by Neal Shusterman is the interesting tale of a not-so-ancient-as-they-would-have-you-believe hidden society living beneath the streets of New York City, and what happens when the two worlds meet, when a boy from the Downside meets a girl from the Topside....you know where this is going, so I won't aggravate my carpal tunnel more by explaining it. I just know that now I have to look down storm drains when I pass by them on the street. Continuing the theme, we have The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, and once you get started you better hope you don't have anything else to do, because you have to finish it in one sitting! Also, it has a sequel The People of Sparks, although it isn't quite as suspenseful. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende is a fantasy of epic proportions, a story of every bibliophile's dream come true. The movie hardly did it justice, what with its postively HORRIBLE special effects, and it omitted practically an entire half of the book! If you were looking for a moral, I guess you could say it contains a valuable lesson about the harmful effects of too much power. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely", and all that. But who wants a moral, anyway? Find out what happens AFTER the "happily ever after" in Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I never liked that Charming kid anyway. For more girl power, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle doesn't disappoint, especially with the wannabe seafarers among us. Points to Charlotte for taking on the wicked captain! You go girl! The Wanderer and Chasing Redbird, both by Sharon Creech, are also mainly about girls who learn to deal with big issues in their lives, but both books manage avoid being preachy and trite, which we can be thankful for. If you liked The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and are hankering after some more swashbuckling action, check out Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. First of all, it's about Peter Pan, and Captain Hook, and how all of that got started, but it also involves secret organiztions! Second of all, it's co-authored by Dave Barry, so you know it's going to be funny! Captain Hook is still an awesome villain! If you still want more pirates, try the very aptly titled Pirates! by Celia Rees. It's about two young women, both escaping horrible fates to have adventures on the high seas! It's like the book version of chocolate fudge...pure indulgance! For a celebration of nonconformity, you must read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Everyone, positively everyone, will identify somehow with this book, whether it's with Stargirl or Leo or someone else. And maybe, just maybe, it'll change the way you look at life, just a little bit. Since we have to get serious eventually, you may want to read You Don't Know Me by David Klass. Now, this normally isn't my type of book, but a friend recommended it, so I tried it out. This one definatly deals with some weighty issues, and it gets pretty intense, so I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. But if you can handle it, it will make you think. You just never know what someone may be going through privately, because they're too proud or scared to ask for help. I was really sobbing at the end of this, and it takes a lot to get me to cry because of a book. Back on the lighter side, we have Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements, a rather far-fetched story about a boy, who always felt invisble around his family and schoolmates. Then, one morning, he wakes up to find it's literally come true! How did this happen? Can he turn himself back somehow? Very entertaining. One of the best, if not THE best, comedy series of all time, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, defies all attempt at description. There are just no words to decribe it's awesomeness! You must experience it to understand...and even then you may not understand, but you'll laugh until you wet your pants! Easily the best trilogy of all time! (Incidentally, it has five books....). Okay, I'm sick of typing now, and that list should keep you busy for quite awhile. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. When you're done, let me know, and I've got about fifty more books waiting in the wings for recommendation! What is that you say? You don't like reading? Well, maybe you just haven't found the right book yet! Keep searching, and don't give up hope! Reading is a wonderful way to broaden your horizens, and really get a perspective on life. But now I'm sounding like a preachy librarian, so I'll shut up. But only if you promise to go pick up a book and start reading. Come on, you don't need to watch anymore TV anyway! Go on, shoo! |
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