April Questions - Five Books

[orangerful]

faeriesfolly asked that I Rec 5 books. Recent or not. (and I feel like it's okay for me to do this at work because Reader's Advisory is part of my job, yeah?)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams -- my all time favorite book. Love it to pieces, can quote it on demand (though I usually don't want for a demand and just quote it anyway). No other book makes me laugh so much.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak -- the more serious end of the scale, Zusak's beautiful novel, narrated by Death, observing a young girl as she navigates life and childhood in Nazi Germany.

Shopgirl by Steve Martin -- Bittersweet, melancholy, and poetic, I just love this book and everything about it.

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King -- fantastic YA novel about a boy dealing with being bullied, his parents, growing up and everything else a teen deals with on a daily basis. I love King's stories because she always has this little big of magic mixed in. Not enough to call it a fantasy. In the book, the boy escapes his torment in his dreams each night where he hangs out with his POW Grandfather in Vietnam...

Blankets by Craig Thompson -- gotta have at least one graphic novel in the mix and this is one of my all time favorites. Great coming of age, first love story, so beautifully drawn and honest to a fault. <3

Comments

[poniesandphotos.livejournal.com]

Totally good to do at work!

I'll look into these! I've only read Hitchhikers off that list although Book Thief has been on my list for a while.

[pleasant-valley.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for absolutely ages. Also The Book Thief is flawless.

[geekslave.livejournal.com]

I loved "Shopgirl." It's not a long story at all, but I was always pretty proud of myself that I finished it in two days while reading it only while I was at work. I've only read it once, and don't own it, but I found it really funny and honest and loved the characters.

Stacey

[rhoda-rants.livejournal.com]

42!

Have you seen the movie adaptation for The Book Thief yet? I remember hearing unfavorable critiques for it, but I thought it was wonderful.

Shopgirl I haven't read, but I have seen the movie. Assuming it's the same one--it stars Claire Danes and Jason Schwartzmann in addition to Steve Martin, right?

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I had it on hold at the library but decided I didn't want to watch it with Tim because he hasn't read the book and I really want to get him to read the book at some point. So I returned it and put myself back on the list.

Yep, that is the Shopgirl movie! It was actually a pretty good adaptation too, I remember being pleasantly surprised!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Book Thief is good but all I really remember now is curling up into a ball and crying after I finished it LOL. I need to read it again though, I've forgotten so much of it now...

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

When I was in high school, I made ALL of my friends read Hitchhiker's Guide. I remember being very sad when one of them didn't "get" the humor. It is so funny but you have to be into that dry, British wit.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I need to reread it. I have a copy that I took from the donations pile at work with the intention of reading it and then adding it to the collection LOL. Yeah, there are MANY books on my shelf that have that story behind them.

[geekslave.livejournal.com]

I still have a book that I checked out from my elementary school library. But in my defense, I've returned far more than I've kept.

Stacey

[faeriesfolly.livejournal.com]

I have The Book Thief on my bookshelf (and have for several years). I really need to get off my Kindle and read more actual books.

HHGttG is the only other one I've read off this list. I'll have to keep an eye out for the others!

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

I have read and love all of these except for Everybody Sees the Ants, so I guess that's another one for my "to read" list, thank you :)

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I highly recommend any of A.S. King's novels, she has not let me down yet!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

That's why I don't buy books - no due date means I will never pick them up because the ones with due dates override them. I keep waiting for a blizzard that makes me stay in my apartment AND knocks out all the power so I'm forced to sit and read all day LOL. I'm so bad.

[faeriesfolly.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I would wish for that if I wouldn't still be expected to make it in to work.

:|

Or get strikes against me for missing work.

Like I'm a slacker because I woke up at 5am and my car is buried and there is snow everywhere (my cul-de-sac and road totally unplowed) up to my knees....

I just need to be paid to read books.