Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Secret Lifers Recommend

At the moment, I'm in the midst of writing, as always, and with it being my day to post, I'm at a loss. Writing-wise I can't think of anything to discuss. So I thought I'd talk about the real reason we all do this: BOOKS!


There are those books. You know the ones. Maybe you picked it up from the 50 cent rack at the thrift store or found it abandoned on a park bench, but you decided to read it and that was one of the best decisions of your life. It touched you, it made you laugh, it made you cry, whatever it did, it now has a place of honor on your bookshelf. You recommend it to everyone and surprisingly no one has heard of it! Oh the pain, the absolute injustice of it all! Everyone should read this book, damn it! 

Those are the books I want to talk about today. 

Leah's pick:


In a wasteland born of rage and fear, populated by monstrous creatures and marauding armies, earth's last survivors have been drawn into the final battle between good and evil, that will decide the fate of humanity: Sister, who discovers a strange and transformative glass artifact in the destroyed Manhattan streets; Joshua Hutchins, the pro wrestler who takes refuge from the nuclear fallout at a Nebraska gas station; and Swan, a young girl possessing special powers, who travels alongside Josh to a Missouri town where healing and recovery can begin with Swan's gifts. But the ancient force behind earth's devastation is scouring the walking wounded for recruits for its relentless army, beginning with Swan herself.

I have no words for how much I love this book. And even though it has a ton of ratings and reviews on Goodreads, everytime I recommend it to someone, they've never heard of it. It clocks in at 960 pages, but do not let that scare you. I relished every word. The characters are just... *sigh* The world McCammon creates is just... *sigh* I can't even... Just go read it!

Andrea's pick:


Paradise quickly gets gruesome in this thrilling page-turner with a plot that’s ripped from the headlines and a twist that defies the imagination.

It’s Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives.

But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations. As Anna sets out to find her friend’s killer, she discovers harsh revelations about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

Awaiting the judge’s decree, it becomes clear to Anna that everyone around her thinks she is not only guilty, but also dangerous. And when the whole story comes out, reality is more shocking than anyone ever imagined...

Andrea gives a one word review of this one, "Whoa." That's pretty high praise, in my opinion.

Stef's pick:


The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

Stef has recommended this one to me many times and I've been building myself up to read it. She says, "I think it's an important book for anyone who's ever had to deal with loss in some form or another."

Farrah's pick:


protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts


Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That's when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?

Alex's pick:


The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.

Alex says, "Korean culture + fantasy = awesome!" 

Heather's pick:


Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.




And there you have it. All book descriptions from Goodreads. 

Now we want to hear your recommendations!!! Leave them in the comments or head over to Twitter and use the hashtag #irecommend to tell us your favorites!

0 secret replies:

Post a Comment