I need book reccomendations ASAP?

Question

I need book reccommendations ASAP.?

For my freshman English class, we must read a book of our choice and complete a project relating to it. The only requirements are that we musn't have had read the book before AND it must be at our level.

The project is due on Wed. the 8th. I haven't chosen a book yet, primarily because I've been ill with a horrid cold. Because of this, I only have a few days to read the book and finish the project. I'm normally an avid reader but haven't read much lately so I need help choosing a book.

1. I read at college level, so it should be an advanced book (at that level)
2. It should be relatively short (150-250 pages?), because I don't have a lot of time
3. Obviously, it should be a worthwhile read which stays with you beyond the school aspect.
4. It would be nice if it was a renowned book, such as a classic, but it doesn't have to me. If there are any hidden gems I would love to know about them.

Thanks! =)

Answer 1

These 2 are so great :

- Embraced By The Light
- The Awakening Heart

by Betty J. Eadie

http://www.embracedbythelight.com/leftside/embraced/ebtlindex.htm
http://www.embracedbythelight.com/leftside/awake/awakeindex.html

Answer 2

I don't know if you like Jane Austen, but I love Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion. Both are short easy fun reads.

If you like historical revenge drama, Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo is the most exacting revenge I've ever read.

If you like gothic novels, maybe try Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.

I don't know if you'd have time to read it, but Personal History by Katharine Graham (of Washington Post fame) is the best autobiography I've ever read. Which isn't much, but it won the Pulitzer Prize, so I can't be the only one who thinks it's good.

American Born Chinese by Gene Yang is a graphic novel (like a comic book) that just got nominated for a National Book Award.

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (one of the books collected together in Cordelia's Honor) is really good science fiction. I feel like she writes strong female characters better than a lot of authors.

Bujold also wrote The Curse of Chalion which is fantasy, also v. good. It was nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards, I think.

Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club was something I enjoyed reading in senior year of high school for class, nice and fun.

House of the Spirits by Isabelle Allende and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston are other books I remember reading for class at some point and enjoying.

Anyhows, hope this helps.

Answer 3

Michael Cunningham's 'The Hours' is 228 pages long (at least my copy is); personally I found it so engaging that I read it in one night. While it's not a "difficult" book I suspect there's a lot in it that could be leveraged for a school paper, particularly with regards to the parallels and references made to Virginia Woolf throughout. While you can read the synopsis of the book at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Hours-Michael-Cunningham/dp/0312305060/sr=8-1/qid=1162513591/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7982393-1739239?ie=UTF8&s=books - and of course there's been a movie adaptation as well) a friend of mine described it best in my opinion: it's a book about how beautiful life is even in the face of sheer despair ... Well worth the read.

Alternately, you might consider Steven Sherrill's 'The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break' http://www.amazon.com/Minotaur-Takes-Cigarette-Break-Novel/dp/0312308922/sr=1-1/qid=1162513864/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7982393-1739239?ie=UTF8&s=books This is a book that's not gotten half as much recognition as it deserves, imo. It's an oddly 'quiet,' moving book based on the premise that the Minotaur (of the mythical labyrinth) is actually still alive, has endured through the centuries, and is now a short-order cook living in a trailer park in the American South. Unique, with a number of mythical allusions one might develop a paper upon - and beyond that it's just a -great- exploration of feelings of alienation from society; the minotaur was an oddly identifiable character in that sense. Beyond that, Sherrill's narrative is truly a -pleasure- to read, definitely one of those "he really has a way with words" types of books =) My copy is 313 pp, but it's fairly large print and - as with The Hours - is engaging enough to be a rather fast read).

Good luck, whatever you end up selecting!

Answer 4

A Moveable Feast - Ernest Hemingway

Paris in the 1920's, hanging out with the likes of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Gertrude Stein and many others. How cool is that?

It's 219 pages, and a great read. Certainly not as challenging as Joyce, or even Fitzgerald, for that matter, but this is your book.

You'll love it.

Answer 5

two good books to read are Twilight and New Moon written by Stephenie Meyer. It is a story about a girl who falls in love with a vampire. Very, very, very good books. Here is what the summery of Twilight

Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife -- between desire and danger.

For New Moon

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning...



they are a little bit longer than 250 pages. but once you start reading it it is not hard to read it in a couple of days. i read it in about four days. Excellent books. print is a little bigger than normal that is why it is so long.

Answer 6

One book I read for a school project that stayed wiht me was "The Warrior Queens." I read it for an Advanced Placement English class so it should be of level (Since an early age I've read college text books for fun, so I'm not an accurate judge of difficultness).

Answer 7

Angela's Ashes
The Lovely Bones
The Bright Forever
Tuesday's with Morrie

Pick a book you would normally read on your own. When i'm into a book, i can read it within a day or two. That way you can actually put passion into your project, and wont have to suffer through it.

Good Luck :)

Answer 8

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. Its 223 pages.

Answer 9

I recommend Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. It's college level and a classic. It does deal with adult themes. It's around 300 pages but it's a really fast read.

Answer 10

Mark Twain. Hucklebury Fin or something like that. Mark Twain, or maybe something like Animal Farm. Animal Farm is a good book so far, and if ur talking about freshman HS, then that is perfect.