I really love reading, but I generally only read the books that everyone else knows of (ie. harry potter, a series of unfortunate events, all the roald dahl, sisterhood of the traveling pants, some current bestsellers, the classic school books).
I want to find new, exciting books that are similar to these types of movies:
Bridge to Terabithia, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Walk the Line, Big Fish, Moulin Rouge, Garden State, Zathura, Little Manhattan, Little Miss Sunshine.
Just a feel good, inspirational, moving story; although my favorite movies are Fight Club, Memento, American Beauty, etc., I don't want to read these types of stories.
I prefer adventure and fantasy to action and nonfiction.
and NOTHING SCARY, as i like to read close to bed time. =)
Anyone know any fun/incredible books that are similar to these types of movies/genre?
btw i am in highschool.
thank you!
2007-03-30 16:47:27 · 15 answers · asked by sdf s 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
thanks everyone! i now have a list of books i'm excited to read- exactly what i wanted!
to Human Rights Activist- lol it just so happens that the last book i read was "the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime," and i absolutely loved it! so good job understanding the types of novels i would enjoy.
any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated
2007-03-30 18:07:22 · update #1
Some really great SF/Fantasy YA books (a few are series but also stand alone):
Dark Lord of Derkholm - Dianna Wynne Jones
Spirit Fox - MickeyZucker-Reichert and Jennifer Wingert
The Two Princesses of Bamarre - Gail Carson Levine
Invitation to the Game - Monica Hughes
The Squire's Tale - Gerald Morries
The Hob's Bargain - Patricia Briggs
The Ship Who Sang - Anne McCafferey
The Ship Who Searched - Anne McCafferey
Nimisha's Ship - Anne McCafferey
The Fairy Godmother - Mercedes Lackey
One Good Knight - Mercedes Lackey
If you like series (title is for the first in the series unless all are noted):
So You Want to Be a Wizard - Diane Duane
Dragonsong/Dragonsinger/Dragondrums - Anne McCafferey
Magic Kingdom for Sale-Sold! (Magic Kingdom of Landover Series) - Terry Brooks
The Wind Singer/Slaves of Mastery/Firesong (The Wind on Fire Trilogy) - William Nicholson
On Basilisk Station (The Honor Harrington Series) - David Weber
Alanna: the First Adventure/In the Hands of the Goddess/ (Song of the Lioness Quartet) - Tamora Pierce
Wild Magic/Wolf-Speaker/The Emperor Mage/In the Realms of the Gods (Immortals Quartet) - Tamora Pierce
First Test/Page/Squire/Lady Knight (Protector of the Small Quartet)- Tamora Pierce
The Fire Rose/The Serpent's Shadow/Gates of Sleep/Phoenix and Ashes/The Wizard of London (Elemental Masters Series) - Mercedes Lackey
General fiction:
Love Among the Walnuts - Jean Ferris
Memoirs of a Bookbat - Kathryn Lasky
Auntie Mame - Patrick Dennis (This was also made into an old movie that's awesome)
The Edge of the Sword - Rebecca Tingle
2007-03-30 17:42:18 · answer #1 · answered by bookie04 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Based on what you said, I have a feeling you'd love a book I just recently read called, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon. Look the summary up on Amazon.com. It's a fascinating read that's very easy to get through.
Another one is "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger -- definitely a classic everyone loves.
Also, I noticed you mentioned some "chicklit" there--if you can get past the stereotypical title, I really recommend "The Dirty Girls' Social Club" by Alisa Valdes Rodriguez. The novel sort of reads like a journal entry of 6 different women--each one multi-dimensional and relevant. It gets intense at times, but you'll also laugh a lot and probably relate to the women in different ways.
I read a lot of existential literature, so I'm not that well versed in "feel good" novels. But check out these titles--you may find one or more very interesting.
Happy reading!
2007-03-30 17:42:27 · answer #2 · answered by Human Rights Activist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well... I'm in High School too, and I enjoy those genres as well. be ready for plenty of titles!
Kevin Crossley-Holland
1. Arthur, book one, The Seeing Stone
2. Arthur, book two, At the Crossing-Places
3. Arthur, book three, King of the Middle March
Tamora Pierce
1. the Lioness Quartet (4 books)
2. The Immortals (4 books)
3. Protector of the Small (4 books)
4. Trickster's Choice & Trickster's Queen (2 book set)
5. Circle of Magic (4 books)
6. The Circle Opens (4 books)
7. THe Will of the Empress (book one of new series)
8. Beka Cooper Terrier (book one of new series)
Brian Jacques
1. Redwall books (too many to name)
Diana Wynne Jones
1. The Chronicles of Chrestomanci Volume 1
2. The Chronicles of Chrestomanci Volume 2
Juliet Marillier
1. Wildwood Dancing
Madeleine L'engle
1. A Wrinkle in Time
Edith Pattou
East
2007-03-30 17:10:06 · answer #3 · answered by Nymphadora Tonks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Several of the movies you listed were books beforehand--Bridge to Terabithia, Charlie and teh Chocolate Factory, Big Fish.
Perhaps you should try White Teeth by Zadie Smith and Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. Also give Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende a shot.
2007-03-30 23:57:51 · answer #4 · answered by Sean C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A tree grows in brooklyn - classic
Shipping yard news, or anything by Annie Proulx (She wrote the 4 page story that lead to broke back mountain as a movie - thats a lot of writing power - four pages to two hours of film) Worth reading for her ability to turn phrases alone
Anything by Hasrouki Murakami. The kafka book is surreal - literally.
The Lover by Marguerite Duras - about a 15year old french girl in vietnam who takes on a rich lover to get her family out of the country. Woo - another woman writer with an incredible gift for phrases ("I knew by the time I was 15 that it was already too late")
Thats all I can think of now....
Good Luck
2007-03-30 16:53:37 · answer #5 · answered by freshbliss 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catcher in the Rye, Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck), and Anne Frank's Story. All three books are great "coming of age" books at certain points of history (in my opinion). The Catcher in the Rye is a good book depicting a young man's desperation, very well written and a good read. The Grapes of Wrath is one of my favorite all time books, I read it in my teens the first time. It is a very good book about a family's adventure to get out to California during the depression from Oklahoma. It's an amazing book, every generation should read it to understand the plight of some of our past generations. The Diary of Anne Frank is a young girl's own words written while hiding out in Amsterdam during the second world war. It describes what her family went through during that time and later. She was a pre-teen during that time and once again another well-written eye-opener. I think these are all good books for someone your age to read. Not right in line what you normally read, but I think they would peak your interest and make you thankful of the times we live in.
2007-03-30 17:20:08 · answer #6 · answered by daff73 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would probably like the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey or the Shannara books by Terry Brooks.
There is also The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.
These three writers are very prolific in their writings,so they should be able to keep you reading for quite a while.Happy reading! :)
2007-03-30 17:04:14 · answer #7 · answered by fantasy_lady428 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ALANNA:The First Adventure-Tamora Pierce
About a girl who wants to be a knight but only boys are allowed to train to be knights and girls have to learn magic and other things.So Alanna disguises herself as her twin brother and trains as a knight instead of him hiding her sex.Very good fantasy book I highly recomend it!
Anything by Tamora Pierce is really Good!
Harry Potter-J.K.Rowling(obvious but very good!)
Eragon-Christopher Paolini
About a boy who finds a blue stone in the forest but it turns out to be a dragon egg which hatches.I won't say any more because i don't want to spoil it!Also very good!
Warriors-Erin Hunter
About a bunch of Wild Cats living in the forest,not much to really say but it'll keep you reading till you're done!Very good book!
These are only some great Fantasy books!
Goblin's in the castle-can't remember the author but very good book!
2007-04-01 09:55:42 · answer #8 · answered by Dark Rider 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. It is about a diverse group of friends who make first contact with a distant solar system where there are 2 intelligent, civilized species. They have social and commercial interactions, and one also eats the other. Many ethical and spiritual themes are explored, as well as the nature of good and evil. It is troubling and inspiring.
2007-03-30 17:29:43 · answer #9 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Rose That Grew From Concrete tupac shakur
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2007-03-30 18:54:15 · answer #10 · answered by Matthew K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋