I'm 27, and pretty open to most genres (although not a huge sci-fi fan)!. Need a few good books to read on the beach, and have exhausted my collection :)Www@QuestionHome@Com
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Position:Home>Books & Authors> What is this summers best beach-read?Question: What is this summers best beach-read!? I'm 27, and pretty open to most genres (although not a huge sci-fi fan)!. Need a few good books to read on the beach, and have exhausted my collection :)Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Lock and Key by Sara Dessen Marley & Me by John Grogan The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls Love The One You're With by Emily Giffin The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards Love Walked in by Marisa de los Santos The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Atonement by Ian McEwan The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson The Last Summer (Of You and Me) by Ann Brashares Remember Me!? by Sophie Kinsella Anything on this list would be good: http://www!.nytimes!.com/pages/books/bests!.!.!. also, this is what Amazon suggests for good beach reads: http://www!.amazon!.com/gp/feature!.html/re!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com the au pairs by melissa de la cruz it's a series it's the best summer/beachy book I've read I'm a teen but I think someone your age would like this book tooWww@QuestionHome@Com Fluke by Christopher Moore Caribbean by James Michener Pirates! In an Adventure With Ahab by Gideon DefoeWww@QuestionHome@Com the sex and the city bookWww@QuestionHome@Com Well at 27 you can read anything I've got so, here are my favorite reads in Fantasy: Shannara Series by Terry Brooks!. http://www!.terrybrooks!.net/bio!.html This is epic fantasy (14 books) with LoTR overtones but set in a post apocalyptic world where magic has replaced technology!. The first book that was written, The Sword of Shannara, follows Shea Olmsford in his quest to recover the magical sword and use it to defeat the evil Warlock Lord!. When this book was first published it rocketed up the best sellers lists, and with good reason!. This is high fantasy at its best and a must read for anyone who loved Lord of the Rings!. Mithgar Series by Dennis L!. McKiernan http://www!.amazon!.com/Mithgar-Dennis-L-M!.!.!. The first book was originally written as a sequel to LoTR, but once written the Tolken family backed out the deal!. So in an attempt to save the story, McKieran rewrote it, changing a few elements, names and so forth to make it unique!. But its still an LoTR sequel and that doesn't remove its charm!. He went on to write 17 books in this series, and each was better then the last!. The battle scenes are better, the characters are portrayed with more warmth and as long as you realize the parallels are intentional, you'll enjoy these as much as LoTR!. They have all of the ingrediants of high fantasy, elves, dwarves, warrows (hobbits), orges, trolls (by other names) a group of loyal companions on a quest against evil!. I stumbled onto this series late (Hel's Crucible)!. By then his writing had greatly improved and I enjoyed the books throughly!. Purists may wish to start at the beginning and watch the story, and the writer, grow but you can start on later books and not really miss out on anything!. Fun reads!. Truth Series by Dawn Cook http://dragonsheroesandwizards!.blogspot!.!.!.!. This series is delightful!. The characters are kept to a minimum; a welcome change from heavier epic fantasy!. There is romance, mystery, heartache, humor, prejudice, magic (or is it science!?) and dragons!. Well I picture them as dragons, Dawn Cook names them Ruka but they are still huge, winged, magical, intelligent lizards, yep, thats dragons! There is also an evil villain bent on taking over the world, but that just adds more flavor!. Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne Mcaffery http://www!.iblist!.com/series130!.htm Anne Mcaffery is one of those authors whose books just leave you feeling good once you read the last page!. While a combination of Sci-fi and Fantasy (the argument continues about which one it is) they sit on my fantasy shelf!. Anyone who has ever dreamed of riding a dragon should read these!. Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey http://www!.mercedeslackey!.com/biblio_ser!.!.!. This is a large collection and every book in it is excellent!. The concept of being *chosen* by a companion, which is essentially a telepathic horse with amazing powers, is delightful!. Once chosen you become one of the elite heralds, protectors of the realm!. Start with Arrows of the Queen!. The Belgariad (5), The Malloreon(5), The Elenium (3), The Tamuli(3) by David and Leigh Eddings http://www!.eddingschronicles!.com/index!.h!.!.!. I can't say enough good about these books!. They are full of rich content, fantastic worldbuilding and plenty of sorcery!. One of my biggest draws is the humor, the interaction between characters can be side splitting at times!. They are rift with dry wit, affectionate banter and personal quirks!. My favorite books hands down!. Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Mists_of_Av!.!.!. I've always loved her writing, even her Sci-fi books and I'm not a huge Sci-fi fan!. In this book she gives a feminist light on the Celtic era where Merlin reigned supreme by telling the story from the viewpoint of the women who played a part!. In a topic that has been done to death, somehow she manages to make it all fresh and new, and a great read!. There are more books in this series that she wrote with Diane L!. Paxton including a prequel called Forest House!. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and the sequels!. http://books!.google!.com/books!?as_auth=Do!.!.!. These books are a riot and considered a Sci-fi classic!. If you want space travel with a heavy dose of irony and humor I suggest these!. Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley http://mzbworks!.home!.att!.net/works!.htm#d!.!.!. I'm not a Sci-fi fan but I still loved these and sometimes the line between sci-fi and fantasy gets blurred anyway!. This is a huge series that can be read in any order since each was written to be a stand alone novel!. Darkover is a planet that is in a state of permanent Ice Age!. The ruling class or Comyn, possess different types of Laran which are psychic powers!. There are several unique cultures and alien races!. Great reads!. Riftwar Saga by Raymond Feist!. Start with Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Raymond_E!._!.!.!. Pug, an orphan boy is apprenticed to a magician and begins a set of adventures with his friend Thomas as their world is invaded by aliens who enter through a portal!. These books were originally created as an alternate D&D world and quickly grew in popularity causing him to write a lot more books to add to the series!. Forgotten Realms books by R!. A!. Salvatore http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Forgotten_R!.!.!. There is no easy way to summarize these books, the scope is just too large!. Best I can do is say they are full of adventure, elves, magic, and alternate worlds!. Once you start reading these you will find yourself hooked!. The Wheel of Time (11 in print, 12th book to be written by Brandon Sanderson) by Robert Jordan http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/The_Wheel_o!.!.!. This huge sage takes place in a medievil type world where magic is called the One Power and can only be used by women!. Men who are born with this ability are fated to go insane, if they live that long as once found are usually killed first!. The saga centers around one man who, born with the One Power, is fated to save the world, while trying to save himself from insanity!. The first book takes off slow as the extensive worldbuilding begins to take shape but once you get past that part you will never regret it!. Adult: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever by Stephen R!. Donaldson (1 and 2) http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Thomas_Cove!.!.!. Thomas Covenant is a leper, outcast and misunderstood his disease makes everybody treat him with fear and mistrust!. As a result he lives alone, shunning all human contact as much as possible!. When he is suddenly transported to a world where he is healthy, where health is a very tangible force, he refuses to believe, afraid that if he does he'll cease to focus on the rituals that keep him alive!. This series had a profound effect on me!. The angst of Thomas Covenant, the force with which he refused to believe what was happening to him, the tragic events that have shaped his life were all heart wrenching!. The first 6 books definitely changed how I looked at things, both inside and outside of myself!. (Note I don't care for the new ones written recently, long after the first 2 sets, but thats me!.) A Bone Doll's Twin, Hidden Warrior, Oracle's Queen (Tamir Trilogy) by Lynn Flewelling http://www!.amazon!.com/s/!?ie=UTF8&keyword!.!.!. In this story the boy twin is killed at birth and its body imprinted onto the girl twin in order that one day the girl could rule the kingdom (prophecy involved)!. Something goes wrong and the boy twin ends up haunting his sister (who doesn't even know she is a girl)!. This book is a really well crafted mix of ghost story (plenty of those), coming of age, with a twist and traditional fantasy with magic, warriors, witches and of course a well hated villain or 2!. A A Song of Ice and Fire Series (4 in print, 3 planned) by George R!. R!. Martin http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/A_Song_of_I!.!.!. A ruthless story about a ruthless world where harsh winterlike conditions make for harsh and gritty characters!. This series has all the typical elements of sword and sorcery; wars, prophecy, dragons (later in the series), invading creatures from another land, treason, betrayal, love, death and loyality!. Martin tells this tale from the viewpoint of many different characters, each bringing a unique perspective on the unforgiving land in which they live!. This series is rift with sex and violence and I do not recommend for younger teens!. A Kushiel Series by Jacqueline Carey http://www!.amazon!.com/Kushiels-Dart-Jacq!.!.!. If you want something completely different but with a definite adult theme try these!. I recommend them highly for open minded adults!. The world centers on a religion that honors sex and love in all its forms from sensual to masochistic!. But its not a trash novel, the subject matter is handled in a very mature and reverent way!. The story follows Phèdre as first a child in the "Night Court" to her training as a spy and on to her adventures both at home and across the lands!. There is a touching love story, high adventure, political intrigue, and a complex world to enjoy!. This series is on my favorites list!. A The Sword of Truth, written by Terry Goodkind http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/The_Sword_o!.!.!. Set in a medieval type world, Richard Cypher, a woods guide, lends a hand to a stranger who is searching for a nameless Wizard who disappeared many years ago!. Along the way Richard is challenged in every way possible, physically, mentally and emotionally!. This series showcases the virtue of remaining true to yourself and your morals, regardless of what life throws at you!. The author himself says he wrote this seriWww@QuestionHome@Com |