'Tis a book recommendation/discourage thread

[Prince Inigo]

Books! Most of us it is guaranteed we have read a book. *points to HG* But what more do we know? Want to share with us? Recommend? Discourage? Let's begin.

Please use this form when discussing. You don't have to provide a lot of information, and there isn't a limit. At least write something that's not just, "It was good." Constructive criticism/reason would be nice to know.

Edit: Oh, and let's try to get different books if we can. If you think the book you want to recommend/discourage hasn't been explained enough or better put than someone who already has recommended/discouraged, then do post. Just don't want like... 50 posts about one book with similar information on each. xD

[size=1][b]Title:[/b] Name of novel/series
[b]Author:[/b] Writer, silly. This might help distinguish between multiple books with the same name but different authors.
[b]Type:[/b] Book/Novel/Series (if series, please put how many or ongoing in parenthesis)
[b]Genre:[/b] List which categories the novel/series falls under.
[b]Summary:[/b]
[blockquote]Much like how you would get initial info about a book from the back or flaps, please provide information that would interest a reader to it. Don't give away the entire plot![/blockquote]
[b]Criticism/Review:[/b]
[blockquote]Is there things you think people should be wary of? Switching of perspective too much? Too old/new in language? Characters are one-dimensional? Write some things that might need to be known. It could be from the author's writing style to things about the book that might have turned you off/might turn others off/etc.[/blockquote]
[b]Recommend/Discourage:[/b]
[blockquote]Did you recommend or discourage against this book choice? Why bring this to our attention?[/blockquote][/size]



I'll start off one to get this started:

Title: The Dark Tower series

The Gunslinger (Book I)
The Drawing of the Three (Book II)
The Wastelands (Book III)
Wizard and Glass (Book IV)
Wolves of the Calla (Book V)
Song of Susannah (Book VI)
The Dark Tower (Book VII)

Author: Stephen King
Type: Series (7)
Genre: (by wikipedia) Fantasy, horror ( *not considered to me*), Western
Summary:

The last gunslinger of Mid-World named Roland Deschain of Gilead sets out on a perilous journey to a mysterious Dark Tower in the name of ka - destiny or fate. During his obsessive quest, he encounters allies for his katet - group bound by fate - and enemies to try to stand against their ka. An epic tale woven together in years of torture and short-lived passion (before the books start), Roland and his katet embark on an adventure that can twist even reality and time, all for the unknown Dark Tower.

Criticism/Review:

The series starts off confusing because you are not given with much explanation, instead you eventually learn the key terms - like ka - as the series progresses. In the beginning, there will be names of different places but no real significant information provided to help you understand Mid-World. It's more action than descriptive (in my opinion) so expect them to keep moving. Concepts on time and worlds and other things can be tricky, hard to grasp. There is switching of perspective but it's easy to figure out who we're looking behind. The books are written in third-person. There is little romance present but it's not particularly 'tender', and it's not gradually built-up. (In other words, love-at-first-sight but that's not the focus of the books). Expect to memorize or recognize key terms and translate a different kind of speech. Some mature content present, like sex and torture.

If you're not into lengthy books, it might be best to stray away. Each book tends to be long and increases length. There are references to other King books, but not knowing them will not be detrimental to knowing the series.

Recommend/Discourage:

I highly recommend the series. It's an epic series that's more classic with a modern tongue; it's just a group of people heading for a far-off destination of unknown purpose or existence. I'd say it's a lot more different than other fantasies of this type because it's gritty Western. It spells Western everywhere. The characters are likable and each book leaves you in mystery that could be explained in the next book. I enjoy trying to think; I love it. Classical adventure but with a twist.

[~Kayla~]

(Two of my most favorite books in the world ;D )

Title: Leviathan
Author: Scott Westerfeld.
Type: Series (the second one comes out in October)
Genre: steampunk (It's basically a sub-genre of fantasy and science fiction combined.)
Summary: Alexander Ferdinand is the son of the Arch Duke Ferdinand. His parents are assassinated and he has to run for his life. He is traversing across Europe, heading for Switzerland in a Stormwalker (a mythical gas powered engine with legs that walks all over the place).

Deryn Sharp is a commoner who's dream is to be in the war as a soldier, fighting for the British forces (a.k.a the "Darwinists") The only way she can do this is pretending to be a guy. She gets accepted and through a series of events gets on the fabricated animal called the Leviathan. (Fabricated animals are more mythical creatures. In the story Darwin creates these animals that have many different species in one. The Leviathan is a giant, flying whale.)

This is the story of both Deryn and Alex's fights for survival and their battle with enemy forces. The book is set right before World War 1 starts and has actual historical facts incorporated into the novel. The two children's paths cross in unexpected ways and they go on a journey that will change their lives forever.
Criticism/Review:
The book switches between the two perspectives of Deryn and Alexander, which does get kind of confusing, but is pretty much easy to follow. There isn't any romance in the first book, mainly because Deryn is pretending to be a guy and Alex is trecking through Europe with just his mentor and the Stormwalker crew. The mixture of fact and fiction get's kind of tricky but it's all explained in the end of the book.
Recommend/Discourage: I love this book. It's not all robots and mythical science creatures. It's a story about these two kids who are growing up in remarkable circumstances and their fight for survival. It is very different from the other book series Westerfeld has written and that, I think, makes it even cool because that in itself shows how much work he put into the books. This book is very good and I much recommend it.

Title: The Sight
Author: David Clement-Davies
Type: Series (The second book is called Fell)
Genre: Fantasy
Summary:
It's winter in the middle of a medieval Transylvania. A wolf pack is hunting for shelter because the alpha female is about to give birth. They are being hunter by her sister. They find refuge under an abandoned castle and two pups are born. One is snow white and her name is Larka. The other one, Fell, is black and there's a curious green flaw in his eye. A terrible darkness is falling and a prophecy will be fulfilled. The pack will have to loose much and go through even more to save everyone from a dark evil.
Criticism/Review:
This book is one of the darkest books I've ever read. It starts off depressing and ends depressing. I think the author laid on the death and despair stuff a tad too thick. The prphecy is also a bit hard too follow, just because it's a very complicated riddle that takes re-reading the book multiple times to figure out. Also it very strongly incorporates the idea of self- sacrifice which is also depressing and glum.
Recommend/Discourage:I definitely recommend this book. It is dark but there is a lot of meaning between the lines. It is very heroic and quite mysterious and, because it's based off local legends, tells a lot about Transylvania. There are definitely no vampires in this storys though. Or was that Romania?

[Prince Inigo]

Nice, Kayla. : O Might want to look into them.

Title: The Art of Racing in the Rain
Author: Garth Stein
Type: Novel
Genre: Sports, family, animal
Summary:

Taken behind the perspective of a dog who learned his intelligence from television, born with a flat tongue, Enzo the Golden Retriever watches as his master and eventual family grows, reduces, and events happen that send detrimental effects to all party members. Enzo, with the soul of a human 'blessed' by the body of a dog, must keep silent and pained with the knowledge of what's to come while trying to remain hopeful and cling onto the memories of happiness shared by the new family. As his master goes out to race, Enzo tells us human readers how a dog can be 'more' human than a human can be at times.

Criticism/Review:

The novel is both depressing and happy at the same time. Much like family life, it has ups, down, twists and turns. Language is modern and, yes, the dog mentally curses. Might have to wrap around the concept of a dog learning from television and be lenient on it.

Oh, be careful: you might love Enzo by the end; and, there is an ideology you might need to take and accept as it is.

Recommend/Discourage:

I recommend this book because it can be cute and funny in its way. Often you hear family life from the humans in books, not so much an animal, so it's nice to get a taste of what they're getting, what 'pain' they suffer from having knowledge but not being able to talk. It's a bit moralistic and allows you to immerse in other perspectives.

Title: Battle Royale(!!)
Author: Koushun Takami(!)
Type: Novel
Genre: Dystopian
Summary:

Governments have collapsed from economical and hardships; but, in the case of the Republic of Greater East Asia - Japan and other Asian countries - they have resolved their economical hardships and have thus prospered under laws and dictatorship. Setting in Japan in a different timeline - as it is now a socialist state - the passed Program sets 50 classes of junior high students to a cruel game of death and mistrust.

Following Shuya Nanahara, his class is kidnapped under the guise of a study trip and must participate in the Program: kill everyone till one stands under strict rules. Provided weapons and provisions, each must set out and disband previously established trust in order to stay alive under a cruel government.

Criticism/Review:

If you guys need to relate this to anything, relate to Hunger Games - though made earlier. It's even more depressing and ultra-violent. While the narration does not stay with Shuya, the change of perspective allows for one to see the ultra-gory death of each person. If you really cannot take blood and bits of brain, do stay away.

Originally a foreign book translated into English, it may be hard to find in your local library and may have translation mistakes.

Recommend/Discourage:

Definitely recommend it! Why? It's violent and awesome! In the book, you also see how trust really screws with people's heads and the attempts of some to struggle against an all-powerful government that was built on 'success'. Definitely read it!

Title: The Sanctuary
Author: Raymond Khoury
Type: Novel
Genre: (I guess) Thriller, Mystery, Historical
Summary:

A group of people in Iraq (I think) kidnap a woman named Evelyn Bishop, a former archeologist, which somehow centers around a mysterious book hidden long ago, a symbol of a snake eating its own tail, symbolizing eternity.

Mia Bishop, the daughter of Evelyn, with the help of the police, must try to gain information and locate the book before torture and death falls upon Evelyn. The greatest mystery the book holds has only brought destruction and ruin in the path of those wielding it, thousands and thousands of chaos, crossing time and place. Why do the group of people want it at the cost of a life? Why?

Criticism/Review:

Perspective changes very often and is confusing if not stated the name immediately. The novel also changes location and time period throughout the telling. We get both the protagonist and antagonist views. Eventually all needed information will be given. There is no romance between first impression/first look and already-established loves. You must be able to think and connect ideas to fully understand the book. There's not that many killings.

Recommend/Discourage:

I recommend this book because it takes a classic question and turns it into a high-action fiction. It's also a contemplative book in that you must look at the themes given and must think about it based on your morals. Also, historical fiction is cool... when done right.

Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Author: Mark Haddon
Type: Novel
Genre: Mystery
Summary:

A mysterious murder has befallen Swindon, Wiltshire: the killing of Wellington, a dog, with a garden fork. Neighbor of the dog's owner, Christopher Boone, a highly autistic boy of 15, embarks on the case to find out the murderer while also discovering and noting parts of his life and secrets held within.

Criticism/Review:

Told in first-person, the novel centers around Christopher's autism and the workings of his head, especially math, which he is good at. The book seems to stray from the original objective of finding the murderer in telling the back story and feelings of the protagonist, but it all ties together in the end. There are interesting concepts introduced to the reader. Morals are tested here, as well as the ability to understand those that are disordered.

Recommend/Discourage:

I recommend this book because it is also a moral/contemplative book. Rather being a character study than the actual case, it's very interesting to get into the mind of an autistic child who happens to have smarts in mathematics than talking. It's one of those narrators that I can try to relate to than I can already relate to with a normal girl/guy.

Might come up with a discourage book soon...

[~Kayla~]

My Favorite Book Series Ever (Besides, of course, the Hunger Games)
btw: I love The Art of Racing in the Rain It is a very good book. Didn't they make it into a movie?

Title: The Bartimaeus Trilogy

The Amulet of Samarkand[/color]
The Golem's Eye
Ptolemy's Gate

Author: Jonathan Stroud
Type: Trilogy
Genre: Fantasy
Summary:

Amulet of Samarkand- Nathaniel is an eleven year old Magicians apprentice, learning the traditional arts of magic. All is well until he meets Simon Lovelace, who publicly humiliates him in front of everyone. Nathaniel's master and mentor does nothing to help. To speed up his revenge Nathaniel speeds up his education, learning spells way beyond his years. He uses one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a 5,000 year old djinni to help him. Bartimaeus has a mind of his own and Nathaniel isn't ready for that. With Bartimaeus around Nathaniel is caught up in a story of rebellion, espionage and murder.[/color]

The Golem's Eye- The second installment in the series finds Nathaniel working up the ranks of the government. That's when a seemingly invincible clay golem starts terrorizing the streets of London. So Nathaniel and Bartimaeus have to travel to Prague to find the power behind the golem and stop it before all hell breaks loose.[/color]

Ptolemy's Gate- Three years have passed since the incident with the Golem and Bartimaeus is getting weak form spending too much time away from his world. Nathaniel is increasingly uppity and busy and is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever. That's not the only problem. Britian's enemies are attacking ever closer to home and Nathaniel can't stop them on his own, but he's too proud to ask for help from anyone else.[/color]

Criticism/Review:
This trilogy is really very good. It switches between the rather boring second-person narrative of Nathaniel and the hilarious first-person narrative of Bartimaeus. In the second book the story is also told by a backstreet rebel names Kitty. It is a bit hard to follow the different stories in the same story but I think that this story is best told the way it is, plus Bartimaeus is quite funny. The series is also a bit childish, no emotional and deep messages hidden deep between the lines, but I love it.

Recommend/Discourage:
I definitely recommend this trilogy. It's a nice story, with a lot of twists and unexpected turns. Also the views of a 5,000 year old, all powerful djinni are quite refreshing. It is a good series and I definitely recommend it. [/size]

[Jasik]

Luna, I heard that Battle Royale was, like, incredibly sexually graphic. I think I heard that about the manga adaptation, but I wasn't sure. Is the novel sexual, too, or is it just the manga?