Books EVERYONE should read!
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Fantasy | Classics | Non-Fiction | Historical | Mysteries | Other |
Fantasy
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Yay for HP! Despite the daunting length, these books are quickly devoured.
His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman The Golden Compass is the best, you'll find they get progressivley weirder and the villians change sides too much, but you can't stop reading them anyways!
The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein If you invested nine hours in the movies, you should at least try the books. The Hobbit is good, too. :)
The Maze in the Heart of the Castle by Dorothy Gillman One of the most engrossing things I have *ever* read. Even non-fantasy lovers will like it!
The Ellinium Trilogy by David Eddings ...and all of David and David & Leigh Eddings' other trilogies. Packed with a combination of fantasy and political intrigue, these books are hard to put down! Even if they are a little strange sometimes.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke It's fantasy and Jane Austen combined! London in the 1800s with a magical twist.
Classics
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The sarcasm on society in general still rings true today. And besides, Elizabeth is one of the more likable main characters you'll ever run across, especially in a classic (and, if you're Andrea, you'll want to marry Mr. Darcy)!
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather If you liked the Little House series, you'll like this! Besides, it's the daughter that ultimatley prooved most capable of running the farm. :D
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas Athos, Porthos, and Aramis...and of course D'Artangan (however you say that). Full of action and intrigue, and lots of twists of the plot, this is definatley worth reading.
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Better than Tom Sawyer. After reading this, you may want to take a raft down the Mississippi like Huck and Jim. And the end is amusing.
Plays by Shakespeare Everyone dies! Well, not always. Some of our favorites: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Julius Ceasar, & The Tempest.
Non-Fiction
The Lady and the Panda by Vicki Croke Pandas are cute and fluffy! The story of Ruth Harkness, the first woman explorer in China and the first person to capture a live giant panda. Very spiffy. We heart pandas.
Seabiscuit by Lara Hillenbrand One of us is obsessed with horses (can you guess which one), but even for those who aren't, this story of an underdog race horse is highly detailed and also fun to read.
Freeing Keiko : The Journey of a Killer Whale from Free Willy to the Wild by Kenneth Brower One of us is obsessed with whales (can you guess which one), but even for those who aren't, this story of the sick whale star of the movie Free Willy and his unlikely rehabilitation and relase is highly interesting and entertaining. Even if the end is a little sad.
The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw A true account of one of the voyages of Hannah Boden, the author's swordfishing boat. She has good insights into the characters of the people she works with.
1776 by David McCullough Yay for George Washington and the Founding Fathers! Well-written and engrossing, this book takes us through the yar 1776 and shows us exactly what the American Revolutionaries were up against. Yikes! One wonders how they won (but are very grateful that they did).
Historical
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara A thorough, engrossing account of the battle of Gettysburg. You really get to like and understand the people (no matter which side you're on). We recommend starting with this one, but if you like it you should read the other books in the trilogy, written by Michael Shaara's son (Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure). Then go watch the movies.
The Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder A quintessential story of growing up in the American West. And who can't appreciate getting Nellie to wade in the creek with the leeches *ewww*!
The Master and Commander Series by Patrick O'Brien Smoke and oakum! Some of the best historical novels of seafaring and intrigue, with the British Royal Navy's "Nelson-is-my-hero" Captain Aubrey and the "Darwin-is-my-hero" ships' captain. Note: They are better than the movie, but there are quite a few. Time on land drags by rather slowly, however; if you can make it thought that, the sea battles are really worth it!
Mysteries
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes demonstrates again why is he the most famous detective of all time. Also read the other collection of short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
The Mrs. Pollifax Mysteries by Dorothy Gillman You can't help but like the grandmotherly CIA agent
The 'Cat Who' Mysteries by Lillian Jackson Braun The characters are lifelike, the stories well-told. The audiobooks in this series have excellent narration- the narrator *is* Qwilleran
The Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene The originals are the best. Everyone should should read at least one, because I said so.
Other
Candide by Voltaire Best if read in French.
A Breif History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson An amusing and quick read for science buffs, and even those who aren't. Other books by this author worth checking out: In a Sunburned Country, A Walk in the Woods
Poems by Emily Dickenson We all need to read about death sometimes. Seriously though, you need to read some of her poetry if you haven't.
Structure and Reactivity by Seyhan Ege No comment
Oxford Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language This ubiquitus book, so oft overlooked, deserves more attention. Even with the evanescent nature of new idioms and slang, this book will remain ever a classic. Avoid the opprobrium that comes with ignoring this hallowed text. Oh, and please contact us when you finish reading it. There may be a prize. Maybe.