Young at Heart Reading: (for those who don't dig on blood, guts, and sex)

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis -

Before Harry Potter and the stone, there was Lucy and the Wardrobe. Now while 'The Lion, the
Witch, and the Wardrobe' and 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' are my faves of this collection, I
*highly* recommend all seven books. I DO NOT recommend reading them out of sequence.
Most collections have book six first (The Magician's Nephew). It means more if you read it in
order.

the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling-

I think it goes without saying that this is on the required reading, but I'm saying it again. You
don't have to be Harry's age to enjoy the books. No one is going to look at you oddly for
reading a Potter book, and if they do, it's their dilemma for just not getting it. I will say, that even
though book 5 was fantastic and dark like I like my children's books, book 3 is still holding the
highest place in my heart.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess-

I love Suess. I love him like I love standing outside on a cool day that smells like rain. 'Green
Eggs' is my favorite though. I like it because of the little lesson... how do you know you don't
like something unless you try it? Now while that certainly doesn't work with everything, it's a
nice theory for most things. Don't fear the unknown. Be not afraid to try new things.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White-

Sometimes we can become more than what is expected of us if the right people care and love
us enough. Some people are just lovely... they'll support you no matter what. It made me like a
spider. That's a feat in itself.

The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Anderson-

I will never know exactly what it is about this particular fairy tale that speaks to me. An evil
curse, a selfless girl, stinging nettles, a vow of silence... and people persecuting the poor thing
for a witch. The end always gets me. Always.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith-

It's just funny. It's just hilarious as all get-out for a kid's book. They skew all these fairy tales. The
artwork in the book is also pretty darn funny too. I mean, wouldn't you want to read a story
called 'Little Red Running Shorts'?

Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman-

I like all of Cushman's stuff that I've read. Mathilda Bone is good too, but Catherine is my fave.
She's a plucky medieval gal who doesn't want to get married. And why should she? She's
barely a teenager. It's just an example of how one can be smarter than one looks.

The 13 Clocks by James Thurber-

A quirky little fairy tale. It's almost satirical. There's a princess, a prince, and evil duke, and a
happily ever after... with a bit of sarcasm.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket-

While I have only read book 1 of this series, I can already recommend it. The Baudelaire kids
are just the right amount of quirky. The all have their foibles. Also they are quite clever and stick
together to outsmart their relative Count Olaf. The writing style is awesome. My particular love
is the 'storyteller' pausing to explain what certain words mean in the text. Very interesting.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery-

All girls should read this one. It should be issued to them like social security numbers are. This
is the story of the ultimate fiery redhead. Anne's smart, spirited, exuberant, and decidedly full of
imagination. She's a wee bit of a drama queen, but we wouldn't love her so well if she wasn't.
Her trials and tribulations while trying to come to terms with herself and the place she wants to
consider home are touching and at the same time often hysterical.

Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume-

This is a must. It should be issued upon entering the fourth grade. It's also a must for anyone
who has a 'difficult' younger sibling. It's walks that fine line between reality and absurdity
perfectly. This one is especially good for reading aloud.

The Plot Against the Pom-Pom Queen by Ellen Leroe-

If you are not/were not popular in high school, this one will hit a nerve. It's witty, but at the same
time says that being yourself is always the best option. The ugly duckling DOES get her swan
moments though. Decidedly. It also points out that oftentimes the thing you are most looking for
is sometimes right in front of you.

Slightly Jaded Reading: (not as fluffy, but not completely hardcore either)

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger-

I talk about this one a lot. It's not for everyone. I'll be the first to admit that. It has a lot of
antiestablishment messages within. There are also a fair amount of swears within. Holden's
actually NOT a nice guy. His disenchantment with the world very nearly gets the better of him.
But there's something almost beautiful about someone who has let their irritation with society get
to them that much. I think everyone should read it at least once.

Wicked, the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire-

This is actually one of the more recent additions to my favorites. It's so clever. I love seeing the
other side of things. Not all darkness is necessarily evil. Sometimes it's just dark. I love Elphaba.
She's just... wicked. Anyone who got any sort of enjoyment from any part of the Wizard of Oz
needs to at least give this book a try.

The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton-

It's just fun. The Star Wars nerd in me loved this book. There is a particular part where C-3PO is
trying to help Han land Leia, and mister gold and shiny makes up a song about Han and his
attributes and is singing it. Hysterical! I like this because it's VERY fanfic-ish. And funny. And
sweet. And because I've been rooting for Han and Leia since I was a little girl.

Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher-

I'm a big Fisher fan. I recommend all her works, but this one is my favorite. It's very little like the
movie of the same name... even though Carrie wrote the screenplay for it. The book is darker
and goes to places the film likely could not. I specifically recommend the cocaine rock
sequence. It's eerie, yet mesmerizing. The book is excellently written, and Fisher has a penchant
for sarcasm. Recently a sequel called "The Best Awful There Is" was published, but I have yet to
read that one.

Bridget Jones' Diary and Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding-

Can't say enough about it. Bridget's such a spaz she can make just about any woman feel totally
normal about their idiosyncrasies. While Diary is fun and introduces us to a plethora of wild
characters through Bridget's eyes, Edge of Reason takes it a step further. Bridget gets herself
into even MORE outlandish trouble in the sequel. The diary entry style of both just makes
everything even more fun. The best thing ever is Bridget interviewing the actor Colin Firth in
Edge of Reason. Though I'd probably harp on the wet shirt in Pride and Prejudice too.

Carrie by Stephen King-

This book is responsible for my fascination with telekinesis. It is my favorite King, I think.
Something about it said things to me.

It by Stephen King-

Big book. Much scarier if you have Tim Curry's Pennywise in your head when reading it. The first
time I read this, I want to say I was 12 or 13. It creeped the bejesus out of me. As I started my
teens I loved horror novels. It appealed to me because none of the adults could see what the
kids were seeing.

Pet Semmetery by Stephen King-

I vividly remember getting in trouble for reading this book. I got caught with it so many times. I
think that might have led to my liking it so much. It was forbidden. I was also a bit jazzed about
the concept of something being buried in a certain place and coming back to life.

The Body by Stephen King-

The short story from which the movie Stand by Me is based. I highly recommend it. Especially if
you liked the movie. It is my favorite short of his.

Dracula by Bram Stoker-

I can't say this is responsible for my vampire fascination, but it certainly didn't hurt it. I read this
book when I was 11. I read it because I had never known Bela Lugosi's character came from a
book. Once I found out, I had to read it. I'm not saying I understood all of it then, but I got enough
to know I kinda liked Dracula. There are so many takes on this myth I feel that this is another
book everyone should read at least once. Especially if vampire lore interests you.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen-

Stick with the A&E miniseries unless you are hardcore. While this is an excellent read, it is also
a difficult one. Jane Austen is so very proper with her style that sometimes it gives me an eye
twitch. I've read all Austen's novels. It was a close call between this one and Sense and
Sensibility as to which was my favorite, but Pride wins because of that haughty Mr. Darcy.
Though if we are talking film representations, Emma Thompson's screenplay for Sense is
excellent.

White Oleander by Janet Finch-

This one's borderline being something a very mature person should read. It deals with some
hefty subject matter. It doesn't go into great great detail, but this novel isn't for the faint of heart
either. It's a very haunting tale about a girl's journey to separate herself from her imprisoned for
murder mother, whom she despises but can't help but love a little. It's a 'coming of age in some
of the worst possible scenarios' story.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald-

I never read many of the books I was required to read in high school. Most of them I read after. I
wasn't interested in reading "the classics" at that age. This is one of the few exceptions. I just
found it interesting. I didn't give a hoot about the symbolism and all that rot that teachers talk
about when reading this one. I just liked the story. I just liked how Fitzgerald presented things. It
also had a message that I don't think they teach in school - no matter how untouchable you might
be, don't go thinking you actually are. In other words, never start to believe your own hype. I
blame this book for my lack of egoism.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley-

Just read it. Just once. No film, in my opinion, has done her haunting work justice yet. It says a
great lot to me about humanity and humanity within humans. The message of this one to me... no
acts are without consequence. It's all about the karma. It's also quite tragic and creepy.

Cupid and Psyche from Mythology by Edith Hamilton-

While I don't recommend reading everything thing in this book, as I find large portions of it mind-
numbingly boring, I can say the tale of Cupid and Psyche is excellent and well worth a read. It
explains the phrase 'heart and soul' rather well. It's also a nice little Greek myth version of a love
story.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare-

I love the bard. Truly. I even like reading his plays, but like I said about Jane Austen earlier, don't
bother unless you're hardcore. Shakes is tough unless you get it. This one is my fave because of
Beatrice and Benedick. Two people whose dislike becomes something quite lovely and greater
than the both of them. While Taming of the Shrew certainly does this as well, I like Beatrice
better than Katherina. There's a bit more of a softness to Bea. She's not a total bitch. She's just
snarky. Also, my favorite plot ploy is used in this one, and as opposed to Romeo and Juliet, the
faked death actually works the way it was supposed to.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare-

Crossdressing. Paternal twins. Mistaken identity. And one of the best lines ever written... "I have
one heart, one bosom, and one truth, and that no woman has; nor never none shall be mistress
of it, save I alone."

For the Roses by Julie Garwood-

While this IS considered a romance novel, it certainly reads better than your basic bodice-
ripper. I like it because it's message is that your family, who you make and consider your blood,
isn't always necessarily your actual blood.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Richie Tankersley Cusick-

This is the novelization of Joss Whedon's screenplay. It gives a clear indication of how much
darker and less camp Joss intended the movie to be. It's also proof that someone else saw the
same things I did when I read his screenplay.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson-

This was made into a movie that showed simultaneously on Lifetime and Showtime in 2005. It's
what turned me on to the book. The movie, while very good and definitely more artistic in style
compared to most of the fare on Lifetime, is NOTHING to the book. I highly recommend it. It has
a bit of a 'Catcher in the Rye' feel to it. Some of Melinda's observations are absolutely hilarious.
It hits on a lot of the things I hated about high school. This book does have a dark side to it
though. Beware. It's funny and true, but also dark and a bit twisted.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Authur Golden-

Has been made into a movie. It's not a particularly happy tale, but some of the best ones aren't.
What I like about it is that anything I wouldn't have understood in the course of the story is
explained to me. I learned more about geisha from that book that I ever would have trying to
research it myself. I like that in a story. It was explained, but not dumbed-down. Also, it didn't end
as I thought it would.

that's all for now...

back

Adult reading: (not for the young ones... some of these DEFINITELY not)

the Dark-Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon-

Jinni got me into these. Creatures of the night based in Greek mythos. Love it. Snarky
characters, weirdos, and gods. Fantasy Lover, Night Pleasures, Night Embrace, Dance with
the Devil, Kiss of the Night, Night Play, Seize the Night, and Sins of the Night are the books so
far.

the Anita Blake Seiries by Laurell K Hamilton-

I'll admit, I've only read up to Cerulean Sins. Mainly because I've heard the latest book delves
even more deeply into beyond. Guilty Pleasures, The Laughing Corpse, Circus of the Damned,
The Lunatic Cafe, Bloody Bones, The Killing Dance, Burnt Offerings, Blue Moon, Obsidian
Butterfly, Narcisus in Chains, Cerulean Sins, and Incubus Dreams are the books so far. I
stopped reading at Cerulean though.

the Merry Gentry Series by Laurell K Hamilton-

Haven't read the latest books in this series either, but I like the universe she created here.
Warning, there's LOADS of sex in these. Even more so than the AB Series. Kiss of Shadows,
Caress of Twilight, Seduced by Moonlight, and Stroke of Midnight are the books so far, but I've
only read the first two.

Daughter of the Night by Elaine Bergstrom-

Not a happy tale, but interesting. It takes certain facts about the Countess Elizabeth Bathori and
weaves them into a vampire tale. Fascinating because Elizabeth Bathori was one of the first
known and female of serial killers. Like I said, not a happy tale, but chilling and fascinating. Do
not read it if you are bothered by girl on girl action though. Also, I should mention a certain fact
about the Countess... she liked to bath in the blood of virgins. They don't leave this out.

Justine by the Marquis de Sade-

Definitely not for the proper. The man was sick. He was also a raging pervert. The word sadist
comes from his name for a reason. But I think it's an interesting study into how twisted the
human mind can be. I think it worth reading at least once, but be careful. Once you know de
Sade, you can't unknow him. There lies the danger.