What should I read next?
I fell off the reading wagon this week. I usually burn through 1 or 2 books a week, BUT the work schedule and I have not been on friendly enough terms for that lately…
Yet I keep buying more books, and my TBR stack just keeps on growing. Worse, I’m in a genre-funk–I have NO clue what I feel like reading. YA? Adult? MG? Fantasy? Contemporary?
BLERGH.
I thought I’d ask YOU ALL to recommend what I read next. These are the titles at the top of my pile:
Eon by Alison Goodman
(YA fantasy)
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
(middle grade fantasy)
Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts
(YA post-apocalyptic)
Past Perfect by Leila Sales
(YA contemporary)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
(adult fantasy)
Have you read any of these? What did you think?
OR, do you have any other books to recommend? (I’m always willing to buy more. ;))
♥
November 6, 2011 @ 12:03 pm
I love, love, LOVED EON. The characters are well-drawn, the worldbuilding is amazing and it’s just an allround wonderful story 🙂
Heard many good things about THE NIGHT CIRCUS too, so I definitely plan to read that soon 🙂
November 6, 2011 @ 12:42 pm
ACK! So good to hear you loved ECON! I’ve got it on my shelf, and it has been at me with it’s lovely, fiery colors for months. Yet, I’ve not actually been *told* by anyone that it’s great, you know? I will totally bump it to slot #1!
(Plus, epic fantasy is perfect November reading, don’t you think?)
November 6, 2011 @ 8:20 pm
Definitely do! It’s just one of those stories that completely draws you in <3 And epic fantasy *is* perfect November reading. Perfect winter reading all around, for that matter 😉
November 6, 2011 @ 11:40 pm
For real, though. I always seem to crave epic fantasy in the winter… And a delicious paranormal in the fall. I’m not sure what my spring reading tastes are. Summer is definitely time for contemporary… 🙂
November 6, 2011 @ 1:22 pm
EON! Seriously, it’s so amazing!
November 6, 2011 @ 4:26 pm
SWEET. Two recs makes EON the official Next Book Sooz Reads. THANKS, Elizabeth! <3
November 6, 2011 @ 2:01 pm
Just had a look at THE UNWANTEDS and I’ve gotta say, any book whose cover claims to be “The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter” is just asking for negative reviews! I understand the comparison thing as a marketing tool to publishers to pique their interest, but if you tell a reader that anything is “like” something else, they’re very likely to assume it will never live up the comparison, and that thought will be in their head throughout. It kind of bugs me that every YA fantasy that comes out has to be compared to HP (and now the Hunger Games it seems). These are amazing books, but shouldn’t we want to find something amazing in it’s own *unique* way? Rip-offs just have zero positive connotations.
(Rant over 😉
That said, it sounds interesting, but I vote for Eon! Sounds like something that might go on my TBR pile as well 🙂
November 6, 2011 @ 4:28 pm
Wow! I had no idea it was compared to that… Honestly, it’s a MG book, so THE HUNGER GAMES doesn’t even make sense to me. However, to the average reader just browsing the store/library for a read, that kind of framing is probably a pretty good tool. I think we (as writers) tend to put WAY more pressure on books to “live up” to their comp titles. You’re right that we should highlight how it’s unique, but I honestly think the average reader goes into get a new book thinking about what they’re read and enjoyed before. Does that make sense?
November 6, 2011 @ 3:13 pm
I actually read a book called Anna dressed in blood. It was awesome:O Although the fights scenes are kind of badly written:S Oh but if your looking for a cool fantasy i’d read The furies of Calderon, by Jim Butcher. It does have a few flaws, but there’s an awesome(badass) traitor character:P Seriously, the traitor is my favourite character in fantasy. Although there are a lot of traitors in this book. If you read it you’ll probably know who I mean
November 6, 2011 @ 4:29 pm
ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD–I’ve heard great things about that. I’m honestly just scared to pick it up because isn’t it pretty terrifying? It sounds like a title I’ll have to steel myself for, you know? (Yes, I’m a wuss.)
As for THE FURIES OF CALDERON, I’ll look into it! I’ve heard great things about Jim Butcher, but I’ve yet to pick up any of his books. It’s good to have a starting point!
November 6, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
I hadn’t heard of EON before this, but it seems like everyone else thinks it’s amazing, so I’ll definitely check it out.
Yes, that was the sound of me swooping in and using your request for books recs for my own purposes. 😛
November 6, 2011 @ 4:30 pm
You may swoop in as much as you like, ma dear!! 😀
November 6, 2011 @ 5:18 pm
I totally recommend Eon, but a word of warning: you’re totally going to need the second book, Eona, next to you because OH MAN! The ending! Unfortunately, I had to wait over a year to read the sequel, which just about did my head in.
November 6, 2011 @ 7:31 pm
Ha! Great advice. Seeing as I’m incredibly impatient with regards to sequels (erm, DEMONGLASS, ASHES, UNEARTHLY, I’m looking at you), then I’m kinda *glad* I don’ t have to wait for EONA… Though is there a 3rd?
November 7, 2011 @ 4:02 pm
Just jumping in here — Eon and Eona are only a duology, so you won’t have to be subjected to a cliffhanger. 😛
OH! And another ahhhhMAZING Asian fantasy duo — Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon. <333333ed them!
November 8, 2011 @ 12:23 am
Ohhh, good to know! 2 books = AWESOME. 😀 And thanks for the other rec–I’ve heard great things about that series too!
November 6, 2011 @ 6:28 pm
I loved Eon, yes, but I ADORED Past Perfect. I was laughing out loud and swooning and doing all those things only Stephanie Perkins has done to me in the past. Those are the two I’ve read. But Past Perfect reads quickly, so I’d recommend that first and then diving into Eon 🙂
November 6, 2011 @ 7:32 pm
Ooooh, I’m *definitely* in the mood for a quick contemporary…maybe I shall dive into that first before tackling EON… Good suggestion, Taryn!
November 6, 2011 @ 6:50 pm
Dark Inside! That book is scary good. I loved it so much.
November 6, 2011 @ 7:33 pm
Man, that’s why I picked up DARK INSIDE. It just sounded SO intense… I’ll put that as my post-EON read then. So, latest TBR order is:
PAST PERFECT
EON
DARK INSIDE
Thanks, Ashelynn!!
November 6, 2011 @ 7:45 pm
I haven’t read any of these, and I just picked up PENDERWICKS, so I’m no help. 🙂 But when I get in a funk I go intentionally seek out a book I’ve never heard of by an author I don’t recognize. It’s kind of a game. lol And usually I find some gems.
November 6, 2011 @ 11:38 pm
Eee! Let me know what you think of PENDERWICKS!!
And that’s an awesome suggestion for future reading–trying out new authors=very smart writerly/readerly advice. 😀
November 6, 2011 @ 7:52 pm
I’ve heard great things about The Night Circus, but also that it is FILLED with description, which is a turn off for some people.
You’ve inspired me to head to the library and check some of these books out! (After, of course, I meet my daily writing quota.) Thanks! <3
November 6, 2011 @ 11:39 pm
I’ve heard the same thing, Kat. Maybe that’s why I haven’t been super gung-ho to pick it up…
And good luck with your writing quota! Let me know what books you wind up reading (and if you love them or not!!). 😀
November 7, 2011 @ 4:59 am
Eon is amazing, but most of the action really goes on in the sequel, Eona 😀
November 7, 2011 @ 11:11 am
Good to know, good to know. I will be sure to have book 2 on hand for the instant I finish book 1, then!
November 7, 2011 @ 8:11 am
The Girl of Fire and Thorns.. high quality high fantasy.
November 7, 2011 @ 11:11 am
Awesome, awesome. I think of EON and GIRL OF FIRE & THORNS in the same vein, so if my epic fantasy needs aren’t met, then GOF&T will be next (it’s in my TBR pile already anyway!).
November 7, 2011 @ 9:53 am
Everyone has already said it, but Eon/Eona FOR SURE, although The Night Circus is definitely meant for November nights. Yes, it’s full of description, but I didn’t think it was heavy-handed or unnecessary. Most of the time it seems like she’s just created this beautiful world, so why would you not want to talk a leisurely stroll through it? It’s a cookies and coffee and snuggly blanket book.
I also recently read Starcrossed and its sequel, Liar’s Moon, by Elizabeth C Bunce (who wrote A Curse as Dark as Gold) and it was great for when you want real high-fantasy, full of entirely new religions and intrigue and all of the yummy stuff I really enjoy about the genre.
November 7, 2011 @ 11:13 am
I’ve heard that about THE NIGHT CIRCUS, and it sounds like one of those perfect Christmas Day kind of reads. I think if I know going into it that it’s now wham-bam-action, I’ll find myself more easily slipping into it. 🙂
And STARCROSSED–I’ve definitely had my eye on that. I loved A CURSE DARK AS GOLD, so I’ll be sure to bump STARCROSSED up on my TBR pile.
Thanks, Adeeti!! 😀
November 7, 2011 @ 4:01 pm
The Unwanteds has gorgeously imaginative worldbuilding, so what it lacks in plot hardly signifies — you have flying statues and killer paperclips, what more do you need? 😛
I also have another recommendation: Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John. It’s a YA contemporary with pink hair, a deaf protag and rock n roll. I LOVED it. <3 <3 <3
November 8, 2011 @ 12:24 am
Oooh, more recs! YAAAY! Thanks, Yahong!! And I love the idea of killer paperclips–can’t lie!!!
November 7, 2011 @ 7:22 pm
Sooz, you need to read THE NIGHT CIRCUS first, because I’ve been meaning to pick up a copy, so I need someone to tell me it’s worth it!
November 8, 2011 @ 12:24 am
Hahaha, I am NOT your b*tch, Sammy. I know you think that, but seriously. I’m puttin’ my foot down this time.