New Years Goal: 50 Books In One Year

So, I saw that a bunch of people had a goal last year to read 50 books and I thought that was a marvelous idea. I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Paul Harding speak about a year ago, and he said that you can't write any better than the best thing you've read, so I figure if that's not motivation to go and read more than what is?

Anyway, that being said, I'm going to keep track of my books here, and I would also love recommendations. Or just to talk about books in general. Here goes!

1. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
2. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
3. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
4. Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride
5. Firegirl by Tony Abbott
6. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
7. Paper Towns by John Greene
8. The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain
9. The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
10. Hold Me Closer, Neromancer by Lish McBride
11. The Counterfeit Revival by Hank Hanegraaff (currently reading)
12. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
13. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, idea by Siobhan Dowd (currently reading)

Total count: 12/50




One fifth of the way there party!

Is this your own tracker, or can I join?

I was going to use it as mine, but you know what, I've changed my mind. Absolutely do join! I'd love to see what everyone else is reading. Best way to find good books, right?

I think that's a really wonderful quote you've cited - in fact, it's sort of inspired me too!

What is it about Patrick Ness that you like? I might pick up one of his books myself.

Thank you! I always try to remind myself of it whenever I'm feeling frustrated with my writing or apathetic about reading-- I find it's really good encouragement.

Haha, I could probably come up with so many lists of things I like about him, but I'll try to keep it brief.

1. I read a lot of young adult literature, because outside of roleplaying writing that's what I like to write, and he's one of the better writers in the genre I've seen in awhile.
2. His grasp on first person character voice is mind blowing, and the way he uses words to his advantage to characterize makes me really, really jealous. I love interesting voices, and all of his characters (even ones that didn't get the first person treatment) had them.
3. The plot lines are wonderfully mature. He deals with topics of warfare and hope and coping with failure in ways that aren't ever really 'inappropriate' for his intended audience, but still manages not to talk down to the reader.
4. He writes redeemable villains and flawed characters and meshes in between the two so well that he blurs the line between having the obvious protagonist and antagonist, and I'm a huge sucker for that.
5. His sci-fi world and the scenarios that take place in it are incredibly well worked out and clear without being over-detailed.
6. Throughout three books (I haven't read his other yet-- I'm hoping to get it soon) he doesn't ever lose steam. Things come together, minor characters and "throw away" events have purpose, and it just felt like his work was very complete, which I think is a huge accomplishment in a series.

There's a ton more, really, especially in regards to the books and the characters and the plots specifically, but as far as young adult fiction goes I really, really admire his work.

Finally remembered to update!

Out of the slew of books I just posted, I would really recommend Paper Towns by John Greene, though I wasn't really a huge fan of the ending (it got a little too heavy handed in the metaphors for me by the time the novel was wrapping up, and that was kind of irritating when the story between the characters up until then had been really wonderfully subtle) and The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain, because his writing is amazing and his talks about his travels are really interesting and sometimes insightful/sometimes hysterical.

The Chosen One, too, was really good, though it is a speed read. I finished it in two days, I think? Very short, very quick-paced, could have done with a little more development but it covers a really interesting subject. Or I think so, anyway, because I find cult things interesting.

I'm also only a few chapters into Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, but I think it's hysterical so far.

I have some book suggestions :3
I'm going to try and suggest some not-so-mainstream books (hunger games, twilight, city of bones, etc...)

TITLE-AUTHOR

Nightshade-andrea cremer (very nice werewolf story, it's kinda predictable, but I enjoyed it)
Midnight Mass-f. paul wilson (hands down best vampire book I've ever read)
White Fang-jack london
Cirque du Freak-Darren Shawn(easy read, 12 book series, very nice vampire series :3)
Daniel X-James Patterson (easy read sci fi book that has alien references)

Ohhhh, those all sounds so good. And I really don't mind predictable, so long as it's well written, because now that I have (some) time to read for fun I don't feel the need to focus on reading overly intricate... anything anymore, haha.

I've always wanted to read White Fang, too. I tried back in high school, but it never happened.

Thanks for the recommendations! I'm going to try hunting these down at the library after I finish my current batch...

Still working on hunting those other books down, though I think it'll happen next trip to the library.

As for the book I finished and the one I'm reading...

Water for Elephants was actually really good. I went into it pretty skeptical (I'd only picked it up because I had a character reference reading it in the post beause it's the kind of book she was like and the quotes I googled were kind of interesting) but actually found myself speeding through it. The historical knowledge she has of the circus lifestyle in that decade is incredible, and while some of the charcters are a little predictable and portions of the plot just jump around, I actually thought it was a great deal better than a lot of the top seller books I've sort of attempted to read.

As for A Monster Calls, I'm a little over half way through so I'll talk more about it later but (unsurprisingly, given the author) I REALLY enjoy it. Also, it has illustrations, and they're both terrifying and kind of amazing.

Suggestions: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Patchett, always a good book I will always recommend this. :D!