Favorite Books - Leslie

Sharing my favorite books is easy.  I LOVE to read.  However, there are so many that I like that it may be hard to stop me.  I apologize in advance if this is extremely long.  I'll condense as best as I can.  The links will take you to Goodreads for more information on the books/series.  You may want to use the bathroom and get a snack first...




Series:

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
(From Goodreads)
Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

(Related to HP series)

  


Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
(From Goodreads) 
Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender.

If she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
(From Goodreads)
They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever.

And I've always believed them.

Until now.

Now everything has changed.

Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, when she falls in love.

Authors:
Stephen King

A few titles I enjoy:

 Chuck Palahniuk

A few titles I enjoy:  

John Green

A few titles I enjoy:

Standalone Books:

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

  
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

   
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

  
Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

  
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Poetry special mention - The Flash of Lightning Behind the Mountain by Charles Bukowski

   
Children's special mention - Willoughby & the Moon by Greg E. Foley

What are some of your favorites?  Feel free to send any recommendations my way.  I'm always looking for something new!  Also, look me up on Goodreads!  Lesaphine 
 

Favorite Books~priddymomma

Welcome back!  I can not put into words how absolutely ecstatic I am about this week’s topic.  I love books, and I am not shy about recommending them.

Favorite Series

Okay, so obviously I’ve already mentioned I’m a Harry Potter fan.  Fanatic?  Say what you will, I suppose.  I could sit here and write all day about Harry Potter.  I think that highly of it.  Instead, I’ll leave it as its own entity and list my other favorite series(es?).

• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
• Heroes of Olympus (sequel series to above mentioned) by Rick Riordan
• Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

These aren’t facetious recommendations.  I have read these at least three times each and plan to continue to read them yearly until I turn to dust.  The exception is Dresden Files.  I’ve just recently discovered the series.  Jim isn’t finished yet, and it has fourteen books, so it’ll be a bit before I read it that many times.  And with Harry Potter…well.  I’m not even sure how many times I’ve read it.  I lost count around seven. 

 

Cheerios Champ’s Current Fav

Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester

Tacky the penguin is quirky and fun.  He’s a fav for my son (four years old).  He stars in several books and teaches kids that it’s okay to be different.  At times, being different is preferable to being just like everyone else.

Princess Cheerio’s Current Fav

Peek-a Who? by Nina Laden

My daughter (10 months) LOVES this book!  Its simple, repetitive rhythm engages tykes.  There’s a little window in the book that allows you to peek at the next page, which my daughter finds endlessly fascinating.  The colors and patterns are bold and appealing, and the last page is mirrored.  You can never go wrong with a mirror when it comes to babes.

 

 

I read just about anything that catches my eye and as a result, I end up reading a lot of preteen books too.

Favorite Tweeny Series

(outside of Percy Jackson, I mean)

39 Clues by Scholastic.  Misc. Authors

 This series is educational and full of action, and it’s written by amazing children's writers such as Rick Riordan and Gordon Korman.  Ages ten and up for violence factor.  An underdog brother and sister struggle to find family clues before the other branches of the family can do so, traveling throughout the world and having adventures and breaking codes and such.  The sister is bookish, so she’s constantly revealing facts about wherever they are. 

 I also end up reading a lot of young adult novels.  I can’t pick just one, so here are some of my favs.

• Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
• The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine
• Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray

 

Favorite Parenting Book

Have a New Kid by Friday:  How to Change Your Child’s Attitude, Behavior & Character in 5 Days by Dr. Kevin Leman

This book changed the way I parent for the better.  Hubby and I were at the end of our rope with the way our son was behaving.  We realized that many of the issues we were having were power struggles and that our son was using certain tactics to control us.  It was really eye-opening.  It feels nice to hold the cards again.  I don’t recommend this for the faint-hearted, though.  It requires you to take a deep look at your own hang-ups and childhood feelings.  If you aren’t ready to change too, don’t try this method.  If you do as he suggests, it works.  Now five days…you can rearrange your thinking and parenting style in that time, but it's best to keep in mind that parenting is an ongoing thing and consistency is key.  I recommend the book if you have kids or grand kids from the ages of three to thirty-three!

Favorite Stand-Alone Novel

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Miller draws inspiration from "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to bring classic Greek mythological heroes to life. The story is told by Patroclus, exiled prince and closest companion to Achilles. This is the story behind the big names of the Trojan War.  If you are interested in Greek mythology at all, this is for you.  I absolutely flew through this book.  It is also Miller’s first novel, so I’m excited to see what she comes up with next. 

Favorite Mystery Series

(outside of Dresden Files)

Jocelyn Shore series by Janice Hamrick (Death on Tour, Death Makes the Cut, to be cont.)

The thing I love most about this mystery series is that it’s hilarious.  A school teacher finds herself on the bad side of a murderer.  In the first book, she’s vacationing in Egypt.  In the second, she’s back home and a fellow teacher is murdered.  I have no idea how believable it’ll be for the next novel, but you know.  You really read this series for the dialogue. 

 

Favorite Horror

The Stand by Stephen King

I won’t even give you a description here.  King is the master and he needs no introduction from me.

 

Favorite Book for a Broken Heart

Stay by Allie Larkin

I didn’t actually read this book when I had a broken heart.  It would be good after a break-up or divorce though.  Hilarious at times and heart-warming at others, it’s the kind of book that will fill you with hope for the future and stoke the fires of your belief in true love.  It also is a grand example of how everything happens for a reason.  Essentially, this woman has to watch the man she loves marry her best friend.  Then, drunk out of her mind and watching Rin Tin Tin reruns, she orders a dog off the internet.  Things don’t go the way she plans and cue shenanigans.  This is my favorite stand-alone feel-good book.

Well!  I think I’ve dragged this on long enough.  You are probably more than ready to get on with your life…and maybe even set aside some time for a good read.  What are some of your favs?

If you have any special requests for topics, you can email us (thecaseofthemissingcheerios@gmail.com), or leave a comment and let us know.  :)