(A Few Of) My Favorite Books
Asking me to pick my favorite book is like asking me to pick my favorite movie—as a film major, it is nearly impossible for me to narrow it down to just ONE movie out of all the movies ever made. I have about a gazillion favorite movies (a post for another day!) and I have about a gazillion favorite books. But when Alisha asked me last week if I had ever posted what my favorites were, I knew I had to narrow some down for you guys. So, without further ado, here’s a few of my very favorites—the ones I turn to again and again when I need a little comfort or love from within the pages of a novel.
All photos are sourced from Amazon.
Post Mortem by Patricia Cornwell
This is the first novel in Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta series, and I have a deep love affair with the character. Kay Scarpetta is the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I have grown to love her so much through the series. Cornwell is one of my all-time favorite authors.
The English Assassin, The Confessor, and A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva
I previously wrote about Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series here. Much like Kay Scarpetta, I am really invested in the character & love all of the books he is in. I have a special place in my heart for Holocaust fiction, so I find myself continually reaching for these three books when I want to meld my love for spy thrillers with my interest in the Holocaust.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
LOVE. And honestly, the movie was excellent too. The Lovely Bones is the story of Susie Salmon, who is brutally raped and murdered on her way home from school one afternoon. What makes this novel exceptional is that the dead Susie narrates the story, keeping watch simultaneously over her family and friends, as well as her murderer and the detective on her case. This is one of those books I could read over and over and over again. It’s absolutely spellbinding.
The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve
When I’m feeling low, this is the book I pick up. It’s about a woman whose husband is an airline pilot. When his plane crashes and he is killed, his wife discovers her husband may not have been who he seemed. The story is beautifully written and you can feel the grief coming through the pages. It’s the perfect novel to curl up with on a dark and stormy night.
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling
I love the Harry Potter series. It’s a wonderful story, fabulously written (unlike those cheese-ass Twilight novels. Sorry, but Stephanie Meyer is a terrible writer and the only reason those were published is because the plot is good. The writing? Sucks. Yes, I read them all, and yes, they are a great guilty pleasure, but seriously THE WRITING SUCKS. HP is so much better!), and the books always lift my spirits. Of all of the HP novels though, I love the first one the best. It’s the one that made me fall in love with Harry and his friends, and it’s always the one I am re-reading the most.
And seriously? If you haven’t read these yet? QUIT STALLING. Get over it and read them already. They are PHENOMENAL. Yes, yes, the movies are great…but the books are amazing. (I’m talking to YOU, Kayla & Mindy!)
The entire Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Speaking of “getting over it,” I had to do that when it came to The Hunger Games trilogy. So many people recommended them to me and I resisted reading them for a long time, thinking I wouldn’t be interested. Dumb. Dumb, dumb, dumb—because these books are FABULOUS. I think I read all three of them in about three days—you will get so sucked in you will want to do NOTHING else except read these books. The characters are so great and I literally CRIED when the last book was finished.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson
This is the first book in the Millennium trilogy. I actually love all three books in this series—The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, & The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, but I think this one is my favorite. They’re violent, no doubt, but the characters are interesting and the story will hook you. They’re definitely not for everyone, but I loved them.
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
This is a really beautifully written book and the story will suck you right in. See what it says on the cover up there? It really is a breathtakingly beautiful piece of fiction. I LOVED this book.
So there you have it, a few of my favorites! Don’t forget, you can always click on my “Quest To 100” page up at the top and see all the books I’ve read so far this year—those that I’ve reviewed will have links. What are some of your favorite books or authors? Share in the comments!
I LOVE HP and the Hunger Games! Good books/series ALWAYS make me cry or laugh out loud, that’s how I know they are good! I love the 3rd HP book, but the 1st will always be one of my favorites too. The first movie is also the closet to the book, and so, in my opinion, it’s the best. I agree about Twilight…I never claim to think the writing is good, but I like the plot.
I’m currently reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I LOVE it. If you like Greek/Roman mythology, Rick Riordan does a great job creating a new world where the top of the Empire State building is Mt. Olympus and L.A. is Hades. I also think he’s really creative in the way the gods and other mythical creatures play into the story. Usually when I start one, I can’t put it down until I’m done. Luckily, they are short and an easy read (they are meant for 5th graders and up). The movie SUCKED in comparison to the books. I was really disappointed. They completely changed the plot line and a lot of the monsters so they could add more special effects.
My next series will be Suzanne Collins’ Underland Series. I’ve heard it’s great.
Thanks for the recommendation! I am adding Percy Jackson to my list for book ideas, for sure.
And yes–that is exactly how I feel about Twilight. They are perfect for reading on the beach because the plot is awesome, but man, she is a terrible writer!
Yes! I loved The Lovely Bones, as someone who doesn’t read often I devoured that book in a day. Sadly, the last book I read was The Wedding Day by Catherine Alliott. It was a good book, but again with the engagement and cheating, etc.
hey, have you seen booksneeze.com? Right up your alley, friend!
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