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paperbackgirl.: YA Book Survey Results

paperbackgirl:

A few weeks ago I put up a post crowdsourcing people’s favorite YA books. I got so many great, thoughtful responses that I thought I’d share the compilation of what people recommended in case you’re looking for something new to read:

  • King Dork by Frank Portman
  • I am the Messenger by Markus…
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paperbackgirl: I picked up Code Name Verity after hearing some buzz about it on Twitter. Written by Elizabeth Wein, it’s a historical fiction young adult book set in the UK during WWII. The narration alternates between two best friends, Maddie and Julie, young women involved in the war effort. The first half of the book is told through the eyes of Julie, a spy who is being held captive by Nazis in France and forced to write an account of how she came to be in France and give up classified information on their operations. Julie catches the reader up to present events, telling how she and Maddie, a pilot, forged their friendship along with details of the torture and treatment she receives while imprisoned. The section told by Julie is completely riveting. If I were going to teach a course in young adult narrative voice, I would hold up this book as Exhibit A. I was very impressed with the writing, attention to detail, and utter liveliness of the voices and story. I’m a huge historical fiction junkie, so I loved hearing about WWII from the angle of girls coming of age and supporting their country. 

paperbackgirl:

I picked up Code Name Verity after hearing some buzz about it on Twitter. Written by Elizabeth Wein, it’s a historical fiction young adult book set in the UK during WWII. The narration alternates between two best friends, Maddie and Julie, young women involved in the war effort. The first half of the book is told through the eyes of Julie, a spy who is being held captive by Nazis in France and forced to write an account of how she came to be in France and give up classified information on their operations. Julie catches the reader up to present events, telling how she and Maddie, a pilot, forged their friendship along with details of the torture and treatment she receives while imprisoned.

The section told by Julie is completely riveting. If I were going to teach a course in young adult narrative voice, I would hold up this book as Exhibit A. I was very impressed with the writing, attention to detail, and utter liveliness of the voices and story. I’m a huge historical fiction junkie, so I loved hearing about WWII from the angle of girls coming of age and supporting their country. 

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jaclynday: Looking for a new book to add to read this year?  I sometimes get in a reading rut where I read the same types of books over and over and have to make a conscious effort to switch it up. (It helps that I try to alternate fiction and nonfiction.) I created the 2013 Reading Challenge as an easy and fun way for me (and you) to fit more varied books in this year. A lot of people create goals of reading a certain number of books in a year, but I think that can be stressful or worse—you may end up racing through shorter, mediocre books in order to reach your quota for a given month. I used to try and race through books in order to tick them off a numbered list, but I’ve found that it’s more challenging and enjoyable to try and read books that are outside my comfort zone, or in a genre I’m not familiar with or that I haven’t read in years.  I created the below lists as a way to get started, but the books I’ve listed for each section are just my personal recommendations. The important thing is not to read any of them just because I’ve listed them here—you should only read them if they jump out at you as being interesting or worth your time.  Above all, reading should be fun. I used to feel like I had to finish every book I started no matter how much I hated it or how bored I got. I don’t do that anymore. If I’m not enjoying myself, I don’t finish the book. You know yourself better than anyone! Only choose what you know what will bring you genuine pleasure and enjoyment. (And won’t be a waste of your time!)  Have fun and let me know what books you pick in each category! I’ll keep you updated by posting reviews here when I’m finished. Read a childhood favorite you haven’t picked up in years. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise McGraw From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg Read a nonfiction book about religion or religious culture (or the lack thereof). Rapture Ready! by Daniel Radosh The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose The Prophet’s Prey by Sam Brower A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian D. McLaren The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins Who Speaks for Islam? by John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed Read a classic you haven’t touched since high school English. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Read a popular historical fiction novel. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel Nefertiti by Michelle Moran The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George Read a nonfiction book or memoir about an illness or disease. Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi The Journal of Best Practices by David Finch Ninety Days: A Memoir of Recovery by Bill Clegg The Mercy Papers by Robin Romm An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety by Daniel Smith Read an entire popular YA book series. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling Divergent series by Veronica Roth The Ender Saga by Orson Scott Card Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman The Time Quintet by Madeleine L’Engle Redwall by Brian Jacques Read a book that was made into a movie or television show released within the past year.  A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones) The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (The Woman in Black) Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter)  Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Life of Pi) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (Les Miserables) John Carter on Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (John Carter) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Anna Karenina) Read one of the books on New York Times reviewer Michiko Katutani’s Meanest Reviews list and decide for yourself whether the meanness was warranted. “The Original of Laura” by Vladimir Nabokov “Chronic City” by Jonathan Lethem “The Discomfort Zone” by Jonathan Franzen “A Long Way Down” by Nick Hornby “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer “Until I Find You” by John Irving “The Dying Animal” by Philip Roth “Point Omega” by Don DeLillo “Nocturnes ” by Kazuo Ishiguro “The Witches of Eastwick” by John Updike “NW” by Zadie Smith Read one of Amazon’s Editors’ Picks for January 2013. Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes Ship It Holla Ballas! by Jonathan Grotenstein, Storms Reback Hikikomori and the Rental Sister by Jeff Backhaus Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders Rage Is Back: A Novel by Adam Mansbach Little Wolves by Thomas James Maltman Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus Jujitsu Rabbi and the Godless Blonde by Rebecca Dana My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer Read a nonfiction true crime book. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote My Life among the Serial Killers: Inside the Minds of the World’s Most Notorious Murderers by Helen Morrison and Harold Goldberg The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer Devil in the White City by Jonathan Larson Manhunt by James L. Swanson Columbine by Dave Cullen Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston Mind Hunter by John Douglas Read a book about a sport that usually doesn’t interest you in the slightest. Moneyball by Michael Lewis Secretariat by William Nack The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn The Game They Played by Stanley Cohen Paper Lion by George Plimpton Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox Read a collection of short stories. Blasphemy by Sherman Alexie Dear Life by Alice Munro Night Shift by Stephen King The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway by Ernest Hemingway Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger Naked by David Sedaris Eleven Kinds of Loneliness by Richard Yates The Best American Short Stories 2012 by Tom Perrotta and Heidi Pitlor Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls by Alissa Nutting I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you have any books to add to these lists? What will you read in one of the categories?

jaclynday:

Looking for a new book to add to read this year? 

I sometimes get in a reading rut where I read the same types of books over and over and have to make a conscious effort to switch it up. (It helps that I try to alternate fiction and nonfiction.)

I created the 2013 Reading Challenge as an easy and fun way for me (and you) to fit more varied books in this year. A lot of people create goals of reading a certain number of books in a year, but I think that can be stressful or worse—you may end up racing through shorter, mediocre books in order to reach your quota for a given month. I used to try and race through books in order to tick them off a numbered list, but I’ve found that it’s more challenging and enjoyable to try and read books that are outside my comfort zone, or in a genre I’m not familiar with or that I haven’t read in years. 

I created the below lists as a way to get started, but the books I’ve listed for each section are just my personal recommendations. The important thing is not to read any of them just because I’ve listed them here—you should only read them if they jump out at you as being interesting or worth your time. 

Above all, reading should be fun. I used to feel like I had to finish every book I started no matter how much I hated it or how bored I got. I don’t do that anymore. If I’m not enjoying myself, I don’t finish the book. You know yourself better than anyone! Only choose what you know what will bring you genuine pleasure and enjoyment. (And won’t be a waste of your time!) 

Have fun and let me know what books you pick in each category! I’ll keep you updated by posting reviews here when I’m finished.

Read a childhood favorite you haven’t picked up in years.

Read a nonfiction book about religion or religious culture (or the lack thereof).

Read a classic you haven’t touched since high school English.

Read a popular historical fiction novel.

Read a nonfiction book or memoir about an illness or disease.

Read an entire popular YA book series.

Read a book that was made into a movie or television show released within the past year. 

Read one of the books on New York Times reviewer Michiko Katutani’s Meanest Reviews list and decide for yourself whether the meanness was warranted.

Read one of Amazon’s Editors’ Picks for January 2013.

Read a nonfiction true crime book.

Read a book about a sport that usually doesn’t interest you in the slightest.

Read a collection of short stories.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you have any books to add to these lists? What will you read in one of the categories?

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coverspy: colleenaf: I read on the subway every day and keep track of the books…including which ones were able to make me cry in public like a big o’ baby. Here are the 48 that made strangers stare at me weird from 2008-2012. THE 48 THAT MADE STRANGERS STARE AT HER WEIRD.

coverspy:

colleenaf:

I read on the subway every day and keep track of the books…including which ones were able to make me cry in public like a big o’ baby. Here are the 48 that made strangers stare at me weird from 2008-2012.

THE 48 THAT MADE STRANGERS STARE AT HER WEIRD.

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paperbackgirl.: A Bay Area State of Mind.

paperbackgirl:

In 2012 I read very few books written by men. This was unintentional, for some reason my to-read list just happened to be dominated by writers of the fairer sex. This month I’ve read two books in a row by men, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan and A Working Theory of Love by…
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My Life: A Book (almost) A Week: A Wrinkle In Time

hawaiigurlinct:

Last week was the third time I read A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle. The first time I was in elementary school and I struggled with reading. I read below my grade level and hated it. And then one day while out with my 4th grade bestie we wandered into a bookstore and she asked her mom…
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whiteelephantintheroom: It’s national heart shape day and for the first time, my hands are holding a hard copy of my memoir. These advance copies for press and reviewers were scheduled to ship to me tomorrow. From the West Coast. The books arrived today. In life, Alberto scoffed at Valentine’s Day, but this well-timed delivery has me thinking his disdain didn’t quite translate in death.

whiteelephantintheroom:

It’s national heart shape day and for the first time, my hands are holding a hard copy of my memoir.

These advance copies for press and reviewers were scheduled to ship to me tomorrow.

From the West Coast.

The books arrived today.

In life, Alberto scoffed at Valentine’s Day, but this well-timed delivery has me thinking his disdain didn’t quite translate in death.

Aug
5th
Sun
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lemon.: Sometimes I read.

lizlemon:

Here are the books I’ve read recently in order of preference (most were tumblr recommended, so thanks y’all!), as well as one-sentence reviews of them. You’re SO welcome!

LOVED

Columbine - Gripping, emotional, page-turner.

The End of Normal - Madoff scandal from the inside, which I read in two days because I couldn’t put it down.

Four Kitchens: My Life Behind the Burner in New York, Hanoi, Tel Aviv, and Paris - A fascinating food tale, complete with recipes and stories of inner-kitchen workings.

Liked a whole lot

The Obamas - Being elected president must be the biggest mind-fuck ever.

Bond Girl - Cute, fun, well-written.

Game Change - MUCH more detailed than the movie… which is probably why I didn’t love it, actually.

Couplehood - Quick and cute.

The Fault in Our Stars - The Amsterdam subplot bothered me, but I enjoyed the rest a lot.

Eh

Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One - Don’t get the hype… and really didn’t get the affected, British-sounding diction.

Baby Proof - Relatable concept (for me at least), boring, played-out book.

An Object of Beauty - REALLY don’t get the hype.

Obviously, I enjoy non-fiction. What should I read next?
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coverspy: Born to Run, Christopher McDougall (M, 30s, Fuschia knit scarf, orange umbrella, standing in door of, F train) http://bit.ly/w32qvw

coverspy:

Born to Run, Christopher McDougall (M, 30s, Fuschia knit scarf, orange umbrella, standing in door of, F train) http://bit.ly/w32qvw

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52books:

March 2012

12. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I told a couple of friends that I wouldn’t read this book because I couldn’t handle what I knew would eventually happen. Turns out I read it anyway and of course found it to be actually cathartic. The writing is so superb that I’ve become a John Green fan along with the rest of you. Way to go internet for finally making me read this!

13. I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive by Steve Earle - Yes, that Steve Earle. I didn’t even realize he wrote novels until I was browsing the library. The book was written as if one of his songs were stretched over a few miles of paper which is to say that I felt more like a listener than a reader.

14. Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James - A murder mystery set around Pride and Prejudice? P.D. James is now hero status. Soooooo good…. if you’re into that sort of thing.

15. Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi - I took this recommendation from my friend Ryan and I’m glad I did because it was one of the most original books I’ve read in awhile. The only thing I wish I had done was read the inside cover first because I was a little confused about 80 pages in. But no fretting here! Turns out that I have a new writer to learn about an look forward to.

16. Smut by Alan Bennett - A couple of short stories about the other side of people. There is so much in this small book that it felt almost like it had to be hidden. But no! It’s fun to read on the subway.

17. Columbine by Dave Cullen - I was a freshmen in high school when it happened and even then I don’t think I grasped everything I should have regarding Columbine. This book puts every detail into perspective and attempts to answer why this even happened in the first place. It’s truly some of the finest writing I’ve encountered that doesn’t play to sympathy, but instead gives the reader what they need by simply telling the truth. I found this book via The Hairpin.