Summer reading...?

Question

Looking for something with a bit of romance and drama or action...basically something that I will not want to put down. Not into sci-fi, history, biographies...just looking to 'get away' for a while.

Answer 1

I have the 'perfect' book for you if you're looking for something with a bit of romance and drama or action....something that you will not want to put down.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is a 500+ page novel or 11 cds on audiobook. It was recommended to me by a friend, and while I was skeptical at first because it wasn't my usual genre, I ended up loving it. I couldn't put it down! It is a YA novel featuring a teen, Bella Swan, facing some pretty usual problems--moving to a new town, changing schools, making friends, falling in love--Bella's experience is definitely out of the ordinary. She's fallen in love with a mysterious classmate--one with a secret to keep--he's a vampire. There is romance, there is drama...and the writing is wonderful.

Answer 2

For more classic book, try the Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas. I read a partially abridged (it's quite long, too long to use in its full length for a high school English class if one wants to be practical) version for 11th grade H. English. It was very good, had much action, some romance I guess, and certainly drama.

It deals with a man bent on revenge and takes place in 19th century France. It can make you think if you want it to, but thats not a requirement, it's as much a novel as any book out these days.

If you don't mind the writing style, you'll want to read it whenever you get the chance. Plus if you've seen the film, the book is still better.

Stretching a bit further, The Scarlet Letter also did that for me, but that I would not recommend for a get away as its a bit heavier.

Answer 3

How about these books?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Overcoat, The Nose and Other Short Stories by Nikolai Gogol
1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Atonement by Ian McEwan
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahaeme
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Lemony Snicket’s books
The Catcher in The Rye
A Clockwork Orange
1984
Animal Farm
The Lord of The Flies
Brave New World
The Handmaid's Tale
The Old Man and The Sea

I hope this would help

Answer 4

Life of Pi

A boy in a lifeboat with a tiger. No romance, but drama and adventure in spades. I couldn't put it down.

Answer 5

Nevada Barr writes books with romance, drama, action. They are thrillers set in different national parks and follow the female park ranger as she solves murder/mysteries that will whisk you away. I just "found" Nevada Barr this summer at our local library and I've been trying to read as many as possible before summer is over. They are very high interest and keep you guessing to the very end. Fantastic author.

Answer 6

Hi there. I'm the author of a new medieval fantasy book that may not be THE best book out this year, but if you believe national reviewers, it certainly is in the running for one of the best fantasy books. The title is THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY. It's 445 pages of action, adventure, magic, mystery and mayhem. If you like Conan, LOTR or Harry Potter type books, this may be one you'll enjoy.

If you'd like to try a free pdf eBook demo of Blackgloom, email me at [e-mail]. No obligation.


Good luck, whatever you decide to read!

Jon F. Baxley (Author, Editor, Ghostwriter and Proofreader)

THE SCYTHIAN STONE (eBook only)
THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY (eBook and hard cover)
THE REGENTS OF RHUM (coming fall '07)

Major Media Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

STARRED Review. A fast pace, sly humor, amusing dialogue and a richly researched background lift Baxley's fantasy, the first of a new series set in medieval Britain. When Merlin's long-ago apprentice Kruzurk Makshare (aka the Boozer) receives a dreamlike visitation from the legendary mage, he learns he must destroy another former apprentice, the villainous Seed of Cerberus. To do so will require a visit to the demon-guarded Blackgloom Keep. Enter young Daynin McKinnon, who discovers a curious rune-covered headstone, which may be the fabled Blackgloom Bounty, and brings it to Kruz's attention. Kruz believes it will provide entry into the fortress, while Daynin hopes the sale of the stone will restore his family's fortunes. The colorful cast of good guys and ne'er-do-wells includes the Pictish ghost of Brude McAlpin liberated from his tomb, assorted pursuing Caledonians and a bemused Prior Bede, whose monastery serves as a hiding place for the Blackgloom Bounty. Suitable for fantasy enthusiasts of all ages.

Library Journal
"This series opener...is a good choice for fans of epic-style sagas and Scottish history."

Harriet Klausner, Amazon's #1 Ranked Reviewer!
"This terrific medieval fantasy...will elate readers for its fast-paced, action-thrilled story line starring a strong cast."

Nancy McCulloch, PRWEB Article, March 20, 2006
"Two thumbs up for a colorful cast of characters, nonstop, rapid-fire action and compelling storyline!"

Fantasybookspot.com Review by Tyler, Febuary 2006
"Taking place in Medieval Scotland, this tale of magic, adventure and love really captured my attention..."

Source(s):

Blackgloom @ Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594144...

Autographed copies:
http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/blbono...

Answer 7

Try Georgette Hyer's books, they're some of my favorite easy reads. She has written some historical romance-types, as well as mystery. Good, clean reading....enjoy!

Answer 8

If you like fantasy, try King Fortis the Brave - it's a fun book with great characters that will keep you turning the pages

Answer 9

If you are a Christian, try Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I don't know of a single person who didn't absolutely love it!!!

Answer 10

Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini.When his best friend, a young clergyman, is killed in a mockery of a duel by an arrogant noble, just to quiet his eloquent expressions of democratic ideals, Andre-Louis Moreau vows revenge. From that point, through meteoric careers as a consummate actor and scenario writer, then as a fencing master, and finally a politician, the brilliant Moreau keeps thwarting the aims of the aristocratic Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr. However, the nobleman causes pain to Moreau as well, and the time must come when the two will meet to settle their enmity once and for all. You are not likely to guess how their confrontation finally turns out. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, this swashbuckling novel is exciting throughout, and it presents one of the most dashing heroes in fiction, a man who can fight equally well with his mind, his mouth, his pen, and his sword, a man who stirs up events wherever he goes.

The Vivero letter by Desmond Bagley.Jeremy Wheale's well-ordered life is torn apart when his brother is murdered by a mob hit man, whose bait was a family heirloom - a sixteenth-century gold tray. The trail takes Wheale from Devon to Mexico and the wild tropical rain forests of Yucatan. In dense jungle, he helps two archaeologists locate the rest of a fabled hoard of gold - treasure from Uaxuanoc, the centuries-old lost city of the Mayas. But his brother's enemies are on Wheale's trail, and with them are the Chicleros, a vicious band of convict mercenaries.

Landslide by Desmond Bagley.Bob Boyd wakes up in a hospital with no memory,the only surviver of an accident.He was burned badly all over and needed extensive plastic surgery which was payed by a mysterious sponser.He is told that he's a geology student with a bad history.However Bob recovers and gets on with his life.Hired by the powerful Matterson Corporation to survey land before they build a great new dam, he begins to uncover the shaky foundations of the Matterson family and becomes a fly in their ointment.His accident and the Matterson family have more in common than he thought.

Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum.Forget the movie.The book is the real article."The Bourne identity" is the story of a man without a past, rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by some fishermen. He is very ill, and his body has suffered the impact of many bullets. The man is taken by the fishermen to a doctor in a nearby island, who helps him to recover physically and mentally. Our protagonist doesn't remember who he is, but with the help of the doctor he finds some clues he doesn't like too much. He only knows for certain some things, for instance that his face has been altered by plastic surgery, that he knows a lot about firearms and that he carried on him a microfilm that contains the code to an account of four million dollars.

In the Swiss bank where the account is he also finds a name: Jason Bourne. But... is he Jason Bourne?. He cannot remember, and if it were for quite a few people, he won't. From the moment he leaves the island onwards, our man without a past will be followed, and attacked. He doesn't understand why, but he reacts in order to stay alive. Add to this already interesting mixture a woman he takes as a hostage, Marie, a number of assasins (including the most famous assassin in the world, Carlos), and the possibility that he is, as a matter of fact, also an assassin, and you will understand why this book is so good. The main character will be hunted all throughout the book not only by the "bad guys", but also by the "good" ones (mainly agents from the USA Government). You won't be able to stop reading this book, and you will find yourself asking aloud to nobody in particular "who on earth is this man?" and "what started this whole mess"?.
Warning:A character gets raped.

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the Mars novels and the tarzan novels.There are 11 novels in the mars series beginning with 'a princess of mars'.Captain John Carter of the Confederate Army is whisked to Mars and discovers a dying world of dry ocean beds where giant four-armed barbarians rule, of crumbling cities home to an advanced but decaying civilization, a world of strange beasts and savage combat, a world where love, honor and loyalty become the stuff of adventure. The later books are about his son Carthoris,daughter Tara etc.John carter is a recurring character in all these books as martians live for 1000 years.

Dresden file book series by Jim Butcher.There are 8 books in the series beginning with stormfront.It narrates the story of Harry Dresden,chicago's only professional wizard who works as a detective.He stands between the general population who is ignorant about the supernatural world and the monsters - vampires,werewolves,fallen angels,fey.He is aided by Bob,a talking skull.Karrin Murphy-a police officer and Thomas-a white court vampire.