Hello Book Tuesday!

[Clover]

It seems as though last week's bookish links were mildy popular, so let's start with some more, shall we?

James Frey's Fiction Factory - Has everyone read this article about James Frey? It's the big, controversial thing that's been discussed on twitter and book blogs and it has everyone all in an outrage. And for good reason, I think.

56 Worst/Best analogies written by high school students - I don't know you, but I love goofy things like this. You guys know wnat an analogy is, don't you?

The Top 20 Authors on Facebook - Sadly, John Green is not on this list, but are you surprised at who is/isn't?

20 Obsolete words that Should make a comeback - A link for the wordy nerdfighters out there!

The most beautiful college libraries - Would you choose your university based on the library? I might, if I had the chance.

And now onto November's blurbing book club selection, which is Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. Here's the product description and the link to our discussion thread of the book.

They say ‘live every day as if it’s your last’ – but you never actually think it’s going to be. At least I didn’t.

The thing is, you don’t get to know when it happens. You don’t remember to tell your family that you love them or – in my case – remember to say
goodbye to them at all.

But what if, like me, you could live your last day over and over again? Could you make it perfect? If your whole life flashed before your eyes,
would you have no regrets? Or are there some things you’d want to
change...?

I chose Before I Fall for many reasons. First, I enjoyed reading it. Second, I thought that it could be suitable reading for all ages and not just for teenagers. Third, because there is a lot that can be discussed about. The structure of the novel. The aspect of bullying. Second chances. Facing your own mortality.

If you don't put much stock into my opinion on the book, here are a few other opinions:

Bewitched Bookworms

Bookmarked

Before I Fall's reviews on GoodReads

(I like doing this. Reading other book reviews on blogs from actual people and also the reviews posted on Amazon, or more likely GoodReads) I've had a few people write in on this website to say that they didn't enjoy Before I Fall, that they hated it in fact. To that I say, GOOD. A book is usually doing a good job if it makes someone feel such extreme emotions. To the people who aren't loving my choice of books for the book club, I would love to hear your suggestions for what to read next either in the comments on or this discussion thread about the blurbing book club. And that goes for everyone! :) Thanks.

My original idea for this week's post was to do with Harry Potter. I'm sure most of us out there are more than a little excited for the upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One! But I thought we could help each other by finishing this sentence. I'll start by giving you a few of my suggestions and then you can jump in with yours.

If You Like Harry Potter, You Might Like...

His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman - This begins with Northern Lights (or in America, The Golden Compass - let's discuss some other time how little publishers think of American teenagers by dumbing down their YA titles!!) and is a fantastic fantasy series following a whole cast of amazing characters. If you saw the movie, then my sympathies are with you, but don't avoid the books because of them.

The Old Kingdom trilogy by Garth Nix - I believe they might be called something different other places, but these books are Sabriel, Lirarel and Abhorsen. Garth Nix is one of my all-time favourite YA author and this series does not disappoint. He also has several other series of books - Keys to the Kingdom and Seventh Tower. I especially love Shade's Children, his scifi dystopic story.

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan - Not a series that I've read as yet, but they're certainly on my list of what I should be reading. It all sounds very fun, and I've heard, like with the Harry Potter books they start out for younger readers and mature and darken as the books go along.

The Bartimaeus books by Jonathan Stroud - I love Bartimaeus and Jonathan Stroud. The first book in the series is called The Amulet of Samarkand and follows a boy and a djinn. These books are absolutely hilarious and are a definite must read for fans of fantasy.

Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer - I haven't read the entire series, but I remember being shocked and surprised reading the first book in this hugely popular series at what Eoin Colfer has done to the fairy genre.

But there is really no need to hang about in the YA section for good fantasy. Move onto the adult section and fall in love with Terry Pratchett and George RR Martin and Raymond Feist and Douglas Adams and Trudi Canavan and Terry Goodkind and all the other wonderful fantasy authors out there. I'm sure other nerdfighters out there would be much better suited to giving out recommendations for adult fantasy than I would be, I hope that those of you who are in a good position to give out book suggestions and recommendations please would do so!

As always, if you have any suggestions, comments or advice on what you would like to see in these Tuesday bookish posts, please do not hesitate to let me know either in comments or send me a message. If you are involved in a bookish related project or know of any nerdy/bookish articles, links or videos, also please let me know.

Now it's YOUR turn. How would you finish the sentence?

[Jim]

They have a much different texture than the Harry Potter books, so they may be frustrating at first, but the Earthsea novels by Ursula K. LeGuin have always been close to my heart. Thematically, they have much in common with HP, especially in the drama of power and responsibility (and they're about wizards). Unlike HP, they drop the sense of childlike wonder and security very quickly. Like Tolkien, they can be a bit dry at times, but they gain a similar feeling of clarity and an epic scope. For HP readers that enjoy a challenge - A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, Tehanu, Tales from Earthsea, and The Other Wind.

[Sarah]

I#ve read pullman (awesome), stroud (amazing) and i loved colfer, so i think after before i fall i'll go for garth nix :)

[Lacy McClendon]

If you need any adult fantasty, I HIGHLY recommend the Dresden Files series. It's about a private detective/professional wizard in modern-day Chicago. When things go wrong in the supernatural community, it's pretty much always up to Harry Dresden to save the day (and usually the world). Action-packed, hardboiled urban fantasy/detective fiction at its finest! Harry Dresden is pretty much the most bad-ass character ever, and he you can pretty much count on him to always do the right thing, no matter how dangerous or outclassed he may be.

[Andrea Joy]

I'm actually reading the Percy Jackson series now and I'm really enjoying it. They're fun little books :) And the Artemis Fowl books are really good too. They're some of my favorites. Hmm my suggestions would be: The Once and Future King by T.H. White (King Arthur story), The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (an old book, but one my favorites). That's all I can think of right now :) Awesome links again this week! My favorite analogy was #19: "Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze." I can't believe someone actually wrote that XD And I think that I might try to use one of those obsolete words in conversations this week :)

[KinseyReed]

Maximum Ride!!!

[Alex the man behind blue eyes]

I must say that if it comes to harry potter and garth nix i'd say that his keys to the kingdom series are much more similar than his old kingdom series (Shade's children was so badass). If you want someone who makes you jump for joy at 4 in the morning (like harry potter does for so many of us) i suggest Jim Butchers works, although only for people 16+, cause his books get pretty, umm detailed... Side note George rr Martin is a literary pimp, just saying.