[Wrote this as a list for a friend needing recommendations for reading. She told me to "overload" her, so I did. Feel free to use any of read any of these yourselves. I could have included pictures, of the book, but I'm not gonna. Better to click on the links of the ISBN numbers.]
Setting up a
recommendation list requires a bit of organization. Because I’m not sure what you’ll like, or
what you’ve read in the past, (and because, I’ve read books in other Genres
that I don’t usually read and have thoroughly enjoyed them, so sometimes it’s
good to read outside the box), I’ll split it up into 5 areas. Christian, Fiction, Kid’s, Sci-Fi/Fantasy,
and Other. Of course, the Kids books are
ones that they might be able to read, but that you’ll enjoy, too. I’m gonna put ISBN links into this
document that will take you to the book
on Amazon. If you have an e-book reader,
that might be the way to go, or getting them used would also the economical.
Christian Genre. Unfortunately, I’m not very good at
recommending Non-fiction books of Christian type. I know what we sell at Lifeway, and what’s
popular, but that’s about it. The only
Christian author I’ve read that wasn’t fiction is C.S. Lewis, whose book The
Four Loves (9780156329309)was really good.
As far as
Christian Fiction, you can’t go wrong with C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series, although
I would read them in the order the movies have come (or would have come) out
(2,4,5,6,1,3,7). I also highly recommend
George MacDonald’s At the Back of the North Wind (9781604594522).
I once was sick, and had a rather high fever, and I picked up this book and
read it all in one day. George MacDonald’s books are really good, if you can
find the other ones edited by Michael Philips (North Wind is good in any
form). Also, I would read the classic Pilgrim’s
Progress by John Bunyan, at least the first half. The classic tale of Christian’s journey from
home to the gates of Heaven is one that
is centuries ahead of its time, an outstanding read. And one you can get for
free as an e-book through Amazon or Gutenberg project. (9781456569334).
Fiction
The Song
of Daniel by Philip Lee Williams. (0345364694)
Williams is a retired professor of Creative Writing at UGA, and lives in Oconee
County. I so loved this book, but it is quite out of print now, but easy to
get. It takes place in Athens, and deals with a young man who takes care of the
cemetery and a College Professor.
Shadow of
the Wind by Carlos
Ruis Zafon (9780143034902)
A mysterious bookstore in Barcelona, Spain, holds all of the worlds forgotten
books. The main character finds a copy
of “Shadow of the Wind” in the stacks and, enthralled with the book, searches
to find other books, or the author himself.
He finds a stranger who is destroying all the copies of the book, who
then threatens Daniel’s life. A gothic
book set in 1900’s Spain. Continued in
two other books.
Dandelion
Wine by Ray Bradbury
(9780553277531)
my favorite book!! Lyrical, nostalgic, amazing!!!
I’m sure
there are other regular Fiction titles I have stuck in my head someplace, but
they aren’t coming out, so I’ll leave this for now.
Science Fiction – Fantasy
Orson Scott
Card – Most anything, really. Every time (well most, Pathfinder was a
dud) I read his books, I read for hours, then I go to get something to eat, and I go back to my room wondering what
really amazing TV show I had just been watching, and I realize it was in my own
head, through the words on the page. His
lesser known works are really good. Try Homecoming:
Harmony (which starts with The Memory of Earth)( 9781568650890)and Songmaster (9780812524864)
Anne McCaffrey – The Dragonriders of Pern (9780345340245) (or Dragonsong, 9780689860089) Dragons, music, and a great storyline through many, many
books. What’s not to love!
Arthur C. Clarke – Songs of A Distant Earth (9780345322401)
was a great sci-fi book, and I love Clarke as an author. His Islands in the Sky (9780140305357),
written in the 50’s, predicted everything that man has done in space since, and
probably will do in the future. And with Stephen Baxter, he wrote The Light
of Other Days, (9780812576405)
which, while the plot is weak and the ending akin to Spielberg’s A.I. ,unneeded,
brings about hypothetics that fundamentally changes the way we think about
everything.
Other books that, looking at my bookshelf in my room (which
is where I keep the books I really like), I would recommend: Steven Warnock’s The Magog Gambit (9781466435438),
Vanishing Point (0312852134)
by Michaela Roessner. (I love apocalyptic novels, such as this. I loved Dean
Koontz’ The Taking (9780553593501)
and Pat Frank’s classic Alas,Babylon (9780060741877)).
Also check out The Legacy of Heorot by the Sci-fi team Niven, Pournelle,
and Barnes (9780722164075).
As far as Fantasy, I don’t usually read fantasy for fantasy
sake, but there is some good stuff out there, now out of print. Dragonworld (9781596872332)was
made back in the late 80’s, and the sequel was made as a video game. Riddle
of Stars, by Patricia McKillip, was good too (B00005XT24).
One last one, if you’re up for it. Take Plato and put him in a science-fiction
setting, and you get Neal Stephenson’s Anathem. The book is best when the plot is non-existent.
In fact, it’s one of the few books (Clarke & Baxter being another) where
the plot gets in the way, but it’s fantastic to sit, read, and contemplate. (978-0061474095)
Don’t get the Mass Market though, the print is tiny! Get the hardcover, looks
great on your bookshelf.
Kid’s
Books (for Adults too!!)
Get these for your kids, and read them yourself! They’re
amazing!! Better than most books above!!
Christopher by Richard M. Koff. Only book he ever wrote, and I absolutely
loved it as a child. Now long out of print, but every kid should read it! (0553153633)
Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe (9781421527734)
Take any RPG, and put it in book form, and start it in real world Japan. A
fabulous book, one I know you’ll
love. (He wrote a book novelizing Ico, from the PS2. I have to have it!!!!)
Under Plum Lake by Lionel Davidson (0394512529)
A boy is led underwater to a strata of worlds underneath ours. In a short 100
page book with imagery not unlike a supposed LSD trip, I literally could not
put this one down. The only book he ever wrote like this.
The Transall Saga by Gary
Paulsen. Most known for writing The Hatchet, this one is survival with a
hefty dose of Science-Fiction thrown in. Very good for those who don’t like to
read. (0375873236)
As far as series go, I have two suggestions: D.J. Machale
wrote a 10 book Pendragon series (having nothing to do with King Arthur) that
is amazing! Plot twists that I didn’t see coming, and I actually haven’t read
book 9 or 10 yet, cause I don’t want it to end.
The First book, The Merchant Of Death is linked here: (9781416936251) And Diane Duane wrote a 9 book “Wizard”
series, with the first book So You Want to Be a Wizard, which deals with
other planets, wildlife, pollution, death, cancer, Ireland, and using Wizardry
to keep the world in balance. A great series: (9780152049409)
Other
Some great
non-fiction books to read: Dove
by Robin Graham (9780060920470),
a memoir about Robin, who, in 1965, sailed around the world, and found loneliness,
love, and ultimately, God.
Anything by Neil Postman, which is the basis for a lot of my
thinking, and helps to see the world via how we communicate, through TV,
Internet, images, etc… His most known book is Amusing Ourselves to Death
(9780143036531)
Hope this helps. If
you need more, I can recommend another 200 or so books. J
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