Thursday, January 1, 2009

What Shall I Read?

PJ Hoover, lovely person that she is, is doing a Read 50 Books Challenge. (I gave it capital letters. It shall probably now take on a life of its own and start trampling small cities. Methinks I should stop reading the Japanese monster book again.) Anyway, the idea is to read at least 50 books over the next year, and I've vowed not to cheat and reread stuff I've already read, because that is a biscuit thing to do. And really, I have too much free time.

I can't write that sentence without snorting. Which is really attractive, let me tell you.

But seriously. Me loves the books, and me needs some good recommendations to add to the list. So, I ask you, gentle (there's that snort again) readers: What should I read?

Obviously, I like anything snarfworthy. Anything that involves kewl monsters, superpowers, or Tom Cruise giving in to his zombieness and attacking people on the highway. (Someone really needs to write that book. Wait a tic. I'm someone.) I'm a genre chick: me especially likey the sci-fi and fantasy. And of course, there's YA. I wouldn't write it if I didn't love it. Because at my core, I haven't matured much since high school except that now I wouldn't date a guy who got a cue ball stuck in his mouth. Or the one who thought he was a vampire. Or the one who drove repeatedly past my house at night playing "Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins. (What WAS he thinking?) Or the mobster.

Now I'm a ninjas only kinda girl. Because black is where it's at, bay-bee.

So gimme some suggestions (for books, not for ninjas). Pretty please with a cue ball on top?

29 comments:

C.R. Evers said...

Happy New Year!

How about The Hunger Games, Skin Hunger, The Secret of Platform 13, The Ghosts of Clawstone Castle, and The Seer of Shadows. I have a bookshelf on the sidebar of my blog. It lists all kinds of MG and YA books that I've read recently.

Happy reading! You go girl! Way to take that challenge.

Jamie Eyberg said...

I don't have any current suggestions but 'Diary Of a Wimpy Kid' was pretty fun.

PJ Hoover said...

Hey! I started my book list in the sidebar of my blog. Not 50 yet listed because I need to leave room for spontaneous reads and new releases!

K.C. Shaw said...

Ooh, I like the 50 book challenge! I may have to try it.

You should pick up The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines, which is his new one. I think you'd like it. It technically comes out on Tuesday, but I found a copy early at B&N and grabbed it. Also you might like the Lisa Shearin books I've been recommending to everyone. And--you have read Lizard Music by Daniel Pinkwater, haven't you? It's like a classic, so you probably have, but if you haven't, you really ought to. Really.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

50 books? Pish. That's not a challenge, it's a weekend.

Okay, so maybe not, but it felt all blustery and hard-core to write it. And now I'm going to go kick some ass. By reading. Ya know, books.

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Carrie, I think you might enjoy "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fford.

It takes place in alternative 1985, where literary detective Thursday Next pursues a master criminal through the world of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.

Um, it's very funny and clever. No ninjas, though, I don't think...

That's all I've got. My brain is fried from last night. Good luck choosing!!!

Elana Johnson said...

Ooh, I want to play with this. I'm going to recommend "Tantalize" by Cynthia Leitchman Smith. Vampires and food, how can you go wrong?

Bryan B. said...

Or the one who drove repeatedly past my house at night playing "Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins.

Um...can I steal this? ;)


Hmm...books.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman Alexie

The Book Thief - Markus Zusack

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers

Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris

Bryan B. said...

Ooh...The Eyre Affair is one I want to read...


Add that to my list.


Along with:

Flight by Sherman Alexie

Dark Tower Series - Stephen King

Indian in the Cupboard - (because I just saw it in the library and checked it out for nostalgia...)

The Black Tattoo - Sam Enthoven



Anything I've written, because anybody who's had the experience of some dude driving past her house listening to Phil Collins is the EXACT person I need critiquing my stuff.

Sadly, you know it to be true.

Mariah Irvin said...

I think you'd like the Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld. They're YA books, but instead of zombies, most characters are brainwashed by the government. Oh, the third book, Specials, has a lot of ninja-ish moments.

Rena Jones said...

I would SO read your book about Tom Cruise attacking people on the highway. Afterall, he is the ONLY person who knows what to do. ;)

I wish I could read more, but most of my reading involves books with pictures. My 17-year-old is reading "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn", whereas the last book I read had scratch-n-sniff stickers. So, I guess I'm probably not the best person to ask for recommendations.

Happy New Year, Carrie!

Stephanie Perkins said...

Forgive me. I'm a librarian, and there are few things I love more than recommending books. This is kinda my crack.

Pretty Monsters -- Kelly Link
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl -- Barry Lyga
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War -- Max Brooks
Watchmen -- Alan Moore
The Walking Dead comics -- Robert Kirkman
Little Brother -- Cory Doctorow
Assassination Vacation -- Sarah Vowell
Tender Morsels -- Margo Lanagan
The Adoration of Jenna Fox -- Mary E. Pearson
The Name of the Wind -- Patrick Rothfuss
The Shadow of the Wind -- Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Anything by Neil Gaiman -- The Graveyard Book, American Gods, Fragile Things, etc.

And OHMYSTARS this book is perfect for you: The Littlest Hitler by Ryan Boudinot. Very dark and very snarfy and there are zombies who work in frozen pea factories.

And another vote for ANYTHING David Sedaris and Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series.

Happy New Year!!

Angela said...

The Adoration of Jena Fox sounds like your kind of read. Of course Scott Westerfeld if you haven't read his already.

Just critiqued a full mss that you would LOVE..but it isn't published yet...so you'll have to wait.

I'm with Paul...50 is not a challenge...

but I'll be checking your blog for everyone's suggestions

Happy New Year

Adrienne said...

Happy New Year!

My son just finished PJ's book and he loved it, so that's one of the first on my list.

Kelly Polark said...

Happy New Year, Carrie~
I like that challenge, but most of my 50 will be picture books :0) I'm still getting through the Harry Potter series!

K. M. Walton said...

This book reminds me SO MUCH of your hilarious writing voice. I laughed nearly the entire book and laughed hard, kinda like whenever I visit this here blog.

My Life on a Plate by: India Knight

& for some more funny: Bird by Bird by: Anne Lamott

Michele Thornton said...

I'll have to second anything Neil Gaiman, and especially Coraline (the freakin' scariest book I've read in a LONG time) and Ananzi Boys.

I'd add Heart Shaped Box by Hill for a great scary read.

Gods Behaving Badly, Marie Philips for a snarftastic look at greek gods in modern London.

Anything MT Anderson, especially Feed and Octavian Nothing.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

I'd like to make a request: More posts containing references to Phil Collins songs.

Ray Veen said...

I third Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. Freaking outstanding YA sci-fi.

I think I remembered you saying you've read the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix, but in case I'm wrong, I'm still gonna go ahead and reccommend it. It's VERY original YA fantasy with lots of dead creatures.

I also think you'd like the Pendragon Chronicles by DJ MacHale. It's YA urban fantasy with a snappy teen voice like yours. But honestyl, not as funny. Another advantage is that there are nine books, so eighteen percent of your list is done.

Lina said...

The Redemption of Althalus is a brilliant fantasy book by David and Leigh Eddings. Also I just finished reading the graveyard book by Neil Gaiman. I think I might have been a bit to old for it but it was still a good book to read that you don't want to put down and quite a quick read too which is probebly good if you want to read loads :-)

Lina said...

Oh and I really liked the first couple of Anita Blake books. Made me laugh like mad but then sadly the whole series derailes completely. But you could read like the first 2 or 3 since each book finishes it's story. I so wish the author would have kept it on track because she was funny ans sassy. Completely Ninja worthy!

Carrie Harris said...

It's like y'all know me or something. I've read (and loved) Tantalize, the Uglies series, The Redemption of Althalus, World War Z, Fanboy and Gothgirl, the Abhorsen series (gave Scillius a copy of Sabriel, actually), and Feed. Just wanted to let you know so you're not wondering why your fab suggestion didn't make the list.

Keri Mikulski said...

Happy New Year!

I just read and loved E. Lockhart's THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU BANKS.

Have fun reading. :)

Suzanne Casamento said...

I am very impressed that you're taking on this challenge. 50 books? I don't know how you'd find the time. I think I probably read 20 (at the maximum) last year. In fact, I'm still reading yours! (And snarfing the whole way!)

Mary said...

I recommend The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos.

And to second some of the amazing suggestions already made: Definitely read Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is moving and beautifully written. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde is ridiculous (in a good way) and funny.

I'm currently reading The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, and so far so brilliant... :)

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Have you read Graceling? I love that book! I'm reading Hunger games now. Awesome. And next on my list is Neil Gaiman's Graveyard book. I loved Coraline.

Susan Sandmore said...

Groovy Kind of Love?? That was . . . our . . . song too!!! *sob*

Read Zombie Chicks Don't Shoot No Smack which is much, much better than Zombie Chicks Don't Talk No Trash. Oh, wait--did you want books that actually exist?

Elizabeth said...

Towelhead by Alicia Erian.

Dark Lover by JR Ward (I DARE you!)

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue

need more? I have tons to suggest, just let me know

lin said...
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