Suggestions?

Please leave comments with any suggestions for my blog.  What kinds of books do you like?  Are there books you want to know about?  Books you think I should recommend or NOT recommend?  Do you like the general format?  Do you want more information, or do you feel like I give enough?  Personally, I don't like to know much about the books I read in advance, just if they are good or not, but I have already read these books and already know what happens, so if lots of people want more detailed reviews, I can do that.  I also include links to Amazon so that you can see more detailed reviews by other readers.  Do you like the links?  One person has commented that I mostly have books on here with high ratings.  I did that because I have so many books to recommend, and I wanted to get as many recommendations on here as possible so you can enjoy the books I enjoy.  If you want me to review average books as well, let me know.  I've read lots of those.  Or what about guest bloggers?  If there are people who like the same kinds of books that I do, books that are clean and not trashy, I would be interested in other input besides my own.  Anyway, since I am not an amazing blogger, I welcome your suggestions.  

The Maze Runner Trilogy

I have read the first two books of The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner.



The third book just came out last month, so I will definitely be getting that soon and reading it!  These books are fast-paced slightly futuristic science fiction adventure books.  They are appropriate for teens and adults.  They are not girly books; my husband likes them as well and would recommend them.  The titles very aptly describe the books, at least the first two, so I am really interested in seeing how the third book will relate to its title.

Type of Book:  Science Fiction, but not the nerdy kind....
Rating:  8.5/10

Don't Read This Book!

My husband wants me to include books to avoid on this blog.  I guess it might save you from a few wasted hours. 

I read the Maximum Ride books by James Patterson.  The first one was pretty good, and the next couple were okay, but they seemed to get gradually and progressively worse after the first three.  I'm not saying not to read these books.  I'll even include a link so you can read more detailed reviews.  Because these books were okay, I thought that another series by James Patterson might be interesting.  So I read Witch and Wizard.  The story was great.  If only the writing wasn't so completely terrible, I would be able to recommend the book.  But the writing was AWFUL.  Really poor writing for an author so famous.  I am not including a link to this book.  Do not read Witch and Wizard if you are a literary kind of person.  You will be disappointed.   



This link is just to the first three books, the ones that weren't too bad.

Type of Book:  Modern Day Science Fiction Adventure
Rating:  7/10 for the first book, 6-ish/10 for the next two books

Books by Brandon Sanderson

I have read a couple of good series by Brandon Sanderson.  Both are worth reading.  The first series is the Mistborn Trilogy.


These books are long, really long.  I read the books several years ago, so the details are a bit fuzzy.  I know there's magic involved.  And some kind of fighting.  And a tough girl.  And I remember liking the books.  For more detailed reviews, you should probably click on the link and look at Amazon reviews.  These books are not appropriate for children; nothing bad that I remember but written for adults.

Type of Book:  Magic Fantasy Adventure
Rating:  At least a 7/10, but read too long ago to be more accurate

The other series that I really liked by the same author is completely different. 


You may not think that there can be such a thing as evil librarians.  You would be wrong.  (I guess I'm lucky that I don't have a library with evil librarians lurking around.  There's no place to hide in our county's bookmobile.....)  The Alcatraz books are really funny.  I laughed out loud many times.  These are books for older children, teens, and adults. 

Type of Book:  Modern Alternate/Hidden World Adventure
Rating:  8.5/10

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

I read this book today. 



Luckily, I started after my kindergartener left, so I could read it all in one sitting with no kids interrupting me, just the way I like to read exciting books like this one.  Well, I actually got up once to raid the leftover Halloween candy....  It was really quite good.  The book, not the candy.  On the cover, it says, "The Hunger Games Meets Harry Potter."  Well, that's not entirely accurate, but if you like both of those books, you will like this book as well.  I would definitely recommend this book to older children, teens, adults, and young adults.  The material is not appropriate for young children; it could be a bit upsetting.

Type of Book:  Magical Dystopian
Rating:  9.5/10

Books by Shannon Hale

This might be a long post.  Shannon Hale has written lots of really good books.  The first book I read of hers was:



This book is really good.  It is appropriate for older children, teens, young adults, adults.  Even though the very title makes it sound super-girly, boys would probably enjoy it as well.  They just might have to read it in secret. 

Type of Book:  Alternate World (Slightly Adventurous) Magical Fantasy
Rating:  9.9/10

The next book I read of hers:



This book is amazing!  If you are a girl, you will love it.  You might like it if you are not.  It is really well written. 

Type of Book:  I'm not really sure how to categorize this one....
Rating:  10/10

The next series of hers that I also loved:

plus

The first one, The Goose Girl, is my favorite in this series, but I really liked all the others as well.  There is adventure and romance and magic in these books.  These are appropriate for teens, young adults, and adults.  There isn't anything really inappropriate for older children, but they probably won'r be quite ready to enjoy the books yet.

Type of Book:  I just said, Magical Romantic Adventure
Rating:  9.5/10 for first book, 9/10 for the other three

She has a few other books, some for adults and some for children.  I like the ones I have read, but I haven't read all of them yet, so I'll wait to talk about those at a later date.  So I guess the post isn't really all that long after all.

Books by Obert Skye

One series that I like that is both fun and funny:



These books are appropriate for older children, teens, and adults.  They will make you laugh if you have a sense of humor. 

Type of Book:  Modern Day Alternate World Fantasy Adventure
Rating:  8.5/10

Another series that I like:



These books are fun for older children, teens, and adults.  I don't know when the third book comes out.  I'll have to ask the author.  I'm not trying to brag that I know a semi-famous anonymous author, even if I do.

Type of Book:  Modern Day Fantasy
Rating:  9/10

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

My husband found this book recently:



This book is one of the best children's books that I have read in a long time.  It is for readers ages 8 and up.  Older children, teens, and adults will all most likely enjoy this book.  Unless they don't like fun books.

Type of Book:  Children's Fantasy Adventure
Rating:  10/10

The Mysterious Benedict Society

I read these books last year and really liked them. 



I have several nieces and nephews and at least one of my own children who are all extremely gifted, so it's fun to read about these kinds of kids having their adventures.  The content in these books is appropriate for children ages 7 or 8 and up.  The reading level is much higher, maybe about 10 and up for average kids.  Older kids, teens, and adults will also like these books.

Type of Book:  Modern Day Children's Adventure
Rating:  9.5/10

Books by Jessica Day George

Jessica Day George is a wonderful author. 



I first read these books, and I really liked them.  They are appropriate for older children and teens.

Type of Book:  Fairytale Fantasy
Rating:  8.5/10

Then I discovered these books:



They are retold fairytales.  Really good books.

Type of Book:  Fairytale
Rating for both books:  9.5/10

And the last book that I have read of hers:



Type of Book:  Fairytale
Rating:  9/10

Books by Julie Berry

I love this author!  These books are not a series, but they are both really good.  Kind of girly, maybe really girly even.



Type of Book:  Fairytale?
Rating:  9/10



Type of Book:  Fairytale
Rating:  8.5/10

The Limit by Kristen Landon

A book that a lot more people need to read:



Of course, being a debt counselor (almost, once I finish my last few classes after I have this baby), I think that this a book that everybody should read.  It is a fun book, but it also shows how important it is for people to live within their means. 

Type of Book:  Modern Day/Slightly Futuristic Teen Adventure (What?  It could be a real category!)
Rating:  9.5/10

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Another good series:



The fourth book comes out in June.  Sometimes it would be easier to discover a series like this after all the books have been published.  Then I could read all the books together.



Type of Book:  Paranormal Romance
Rating:  8.8/10

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

I recently read the latest book in this series.

   

I have loved reading these books.  It will be hard to wait until May to read the last book.


Type of Book:  Modern Day Fantasy
Rating for the first five books:  9/10

Matched by Ally Condie

I loved Matched by Ally Condie. 



I am very excited to read the second book, Crossed when it comes out in a few days.



Type of Book:  Dystopian
Rating:  9.7/10 (VERY close to a 10)

The Hunger Games Trilogy

I'm sure you've heard of The Hunger Games.  You can read more detailed reviews on Amazon.  If you haven't read these books yet, you need to.  They are a bit shocking but amazing nonetheless.



Type of Book:  Dystopian
Rating:  10/10 (For all three books)

Juliet Marillier

I read two books by Juliet Marillier this last week. 



         and



My husband said that no self-respecting man would ever read books that look like these.  I admit that the covers do not make these books look enticing, but I enjoyed reading them.

Type of Book:  Romantic Historical Fantasy?
Rating:  8.5/10

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Favorite Book of ALL TIME:



Type of Book:  AMAZING
Rating:  11/10

I also love all other books by Jane Austen, so another good option if you have not yet experienced her books is:



Rating for all her other books:  10/10

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

A recent good book:



This is the type of book I couldn't put down.  Luckily, I didn't have to put it down until I was finished reading it.  That's the nice thing about being on bedrest, I guess.

Type of Book: Dystopian
Rating: 8.5/10

Divergent by Veronica Roth

A recent book that I loved: 




This book has a lot of action as well as being very thought-provoking, and it kept me interested throughout the entire book. 

Type of Book:  Dystopian
Rating:  9.5/10