Tuesday, July 17, 2012

More Books I've Really Enjoyed!


“We don't need to have just one favorite. We keep adding favorites. Our favorite book is always the book that speaks most directly to us at a particular stage in our lives. And our lives change. We have other favorites that give us what we most need at that particular time. But we never lose the old favorites. They're always with us. We just sort of accumulate them.” – Llyod Alexander

Hello lovely readers! I'd like to share four more books with you that gave me that empty feeling when I finished them, aka that "Aw man, I wish there was a sequel" feeling. So whether you're sitting on the beach with a strawberry daiquiri, relaxing on a raft in the pool, or lounging inside your air conditioned house, here are four more books that are ideal for any of those scenarios: 
  • Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult - If you've been reading some of my other posts, I'm guessing you've gathered that I absolutely love Jodi Picoult. This book is about Shay Bourne who is on death row in New Hampshire. He wants to donate his heart to a small child, but that child is his victim's sister. Shay becomes a sensation when he suddenly starts performing miracles in prison. The child's mother is conflicted between giving her daughter the heart of a man who killed her daughter's sister and saving her child's life. We later learn why Shay felt he needed to commit the crime. A quote from the novel: “When you're different, sometimes you don't see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn't.”
  • One Day by David Nicholls - I purchased this book before watching the movie. I remember first seeing advertisements for the movie and thinking that it looked interesting. Then I went to Barnes & Noble and saw the novel toward the front of the store, which is when I realized the movie is based off this book. The book follows Dexter (Dex) and Emma (Em) who first spend the night together after they graduate from college. It then details where they are in their lives on the same date of every subsequent year from that first day. They eventually become best friends. Dexter is a player and becomes very successful, while Emma rarely dates and seems to be putting her life on hold. The ending of this book is a complete tearjerker, but I still recommend it for an awesome read. A quote from the novel: "I suppose the important thing is to make some sort of difference," she said. "You know, actually change something." (opening line)
  • Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver - I remember reading this book for school once and really enjoying it. Apparently it's a sequel to the book The Bean Trees, but I never read that one and it definitely wasn't necessary to understand Pigs in Heaven. The book follows Turtle and her nonbiological mother, Taylor. When Turtle sees a man fall down the Hoover Dam she tells her mother and eventually, the man is rescued. Because of this rescue, Turtle and Taylor are asked to go on the Oprah Winfrey show. However, when a lawyer watches the show and notices Turtle is of Cherokee heritage she tries to return Turtle to her birth family. Turtle and Taylor go on the run and the book follows this journey. A quote from the novel: “Anybody can get worked up, if they have the intention. It's peacefulness that is hard to come by on purpose.”
  • The Pact by Jodi Picoult - This book is about Chris and Emily, two teenagers, who have been neighbors for eighteen years. Their parents are best friends and they are too until high school,  when their relationship turns into something more. When Emily dies from a gunshot wound to the head, Chris tells the police that him and Emily had a suicide pact. Rather than believing this story, the police put Chris on trial for murder. I read this one awhile ago, but I remember not being able to put it down. A quote from the novel: “She was all the things I wasn't. And I was all the things she wasn't. She could paint circles around anyone; I couldn't even draw a straight line. She was never into sports; I've always been. Her hand, it fit mine.”
What are some of your favorite books? I'd love to hear about them!

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8 comments:

  1. Hi Christine,
    I've never read anything from Jodi Picoult but recently I've viewed the synopsis of "The Pact" and it really intrigued me. But I've enjoyed and cry at the end of "One day".
    As for me this year, I was really touched by POUGHKEEPSIE BY DEBRA ANASTASIA.
    Lucie
    http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr

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    1. Yeah The Pact was definitely a good one :) & omg One Day was so sad. But hmm I'll have to look into Poughkeepsie! Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. I've heard of some of the books on your list but haven't read any of them yet! I did read Picoult's Between the Lines which was her newest and first YA book and really enjoyed it! :)

    Some of my favourite books to name a few are Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Divergent by Veronica Roth and Cassie Clare's The Infernal Devices series!

    Awesome post, Christine! ♥

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    1. Hey Celine thanks for stopping by :)! But ah I definitely want to read that one; it looks great! And I'll have to look into the others, but thanks so much <3

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  3. I love Jodi Picoult too! My favorite book so far by her has been Handle With Care, have you read it? I also like authors who write in the same style as her, or similarly, like Kristin Hannah and Diane Chamberlain.

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    1. Ahh I loved Handle With Care! It was so sad, but really good. And yes I recently discovered Kristin Hannah and really love her books as well, but I'll have to check out Diane Chamberlain :)!

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  4. I am LOVING that quote by Llyod Alexander:) Those two books by Jodi Picoult sound so thought-provoking and heart-wrenching. WOW. I am definitely interested in learning more about this author:)

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    1. Haha yeah I really liked that quote :)! & yes Jodi Picoult is amazing; I'd definitely recommend any of her books! Thanks for stopping by Zoe!

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