Twelve Books of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my media specialist recommended to me:
This is the second installment of the twelve books of Christmas. I have had some help this year gathering some recommendations for this year's list. I am blessed to have children and a niece who love to read, and this year's list is full of their recommendations. Some books on this list have already been mentioned in previous posts, but since they are in a series, they deserved mention again. Enjoy these books, and recommend a few of your favorites. And now to the countdown!
- Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. A fantasy with great characters, this trilogy was recommended by my son. A new and interesting magic system is introduced, allomancy, which is a magic of the metals. There is romance, unexpected turns and twists, and is action packed.
2. Forever War - Joe Haldeman - Here is another recommendation by my son. This is a science fiction book that features Private William Mandella who is willing to fight in a war that has been going on for over a thousand years. He wants to be able to go home, but he must realize that while he is away fighting, he ages in months while the Earth is aging in centuries. This book was first published in 1976, and soon after being published, it won some impressive awards:
Hugo Award for Best Novel (1976), Nebula Award for Best Novel (1975), Locus Award for Best Novel (1976), Ditmar Award for Best International Long Fiction (1976). (Goodreads)
3. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. Fairy tale twists (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel) are the main characters in these science fiction/fantasy books. Cyborg, intergalactic struggles, an evil queen, and strong female characters that will help save the world makes these books page turners. These books were recommended by my daughter and my niece.
4. Queen of the Tearling by Erica Johansen
This is a trilogy that was heartily recommended by my daughter. I have to admit that I was leery about reading this book. I usually am NOT into fantasy. Fantasy was not my first choice when I looked in the book sections of my favorite bookstore. However, I was drawn into this book, and I cannot wait until the third book comes out in June. There are so many elements about this book that ring true for us today - pollution and lack of stewardship in our world, religious zealots who make the rules regardless of what the true teachings were, and the downside of our technology. A group is led back? in time to another place, another time. There a new society is started, and where our character, Kelsea Raleigh emerges. Intrigued? You'd better have time to sit and read before starting this trilogy.
5. Blessed are the Crazy: Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness, Family, and Church by Sarah Griffith Lund
Let's face it. Mental illness is not something that we talk about within our families much. To be sure, we don't often talk about it enough in society. Why not? There is a stigma about mental illness, and we as humans don't like to think that maybe within our families and with those we love, something is not quite right. This is the author's memoir about her early life, her father's mental illness, and her brother's illness as well. How do we as a family help those we love? What can the church do to help our family members and ourselves deal with the implications that a mental illness can bring to a family? This book made me think - a lot - about our society and what we need to do better in helping those who suffer from mental illness.
6. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
This book was recommended by my son. He loves fantasy, and this book is one of his favorites. Toted as a coming of age story, this book chronicles the life of Kvothe, who becomes a wondrous wizard. As a huge Harry Potter fan, I think I am adding this book to my personal reading list.
7. Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas (Throne of Glass series)
Celaena Sardothian has spent the last year doing hard labor in the Salt Mines. These are the same Salt Mines where most people who are sent there only last for a month or less. She is offered her freedom by Prince Dorian on one condition. She must serve as the King's champion and fight battles to survive. She was once the country's most well known assassin until someone betrayed her. If she accepts the king's bargain, then maybe she can find out who betrayed her. Celaena is a very strong female character as well. I loved this series, and am anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.
8. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas
I had to include another series by Sarah Maas. This series is a brand new one, and like the Throne of Glass series, I liked this books very much. Feyre has to hunt to keep her family from starving. One day she is out looking for food and she spots a small doe in the woods. Just as she starts to hit her target, she notices a very large wolf who has also spotted the doe. Because of the size of the wolf, Feyre wonders briefly whether the wolf might be Fae, but she also knows her family needs to survive the winter and the pelt of the wolf could be sold for quite a lot of money in the market. She makes the kill only to find out a few days later that she has killed a member of the Spring Court and the wolf was indeed a shapeshifter Fae. Her punishment must be her own death, or to spend the rest of her days in the Spring Court as a prisoner. What does she choose? What will her family do if she is gone?
9. Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Red Rising trilogy
This is a recommendation from my daughter, who is a huge fan of Dystopian novels. She was also a huge fan of Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and the Divergent series. According to my daughter, this book is a little difficult to get into at first, but the plot twists will pick up and once you are immersed in the world, you never want to leave. The scene is a colony on Mars, and Darrow is a Red, which is the lowest of the low. This book has lots of twists and turns, and speaks about social injustice.
10. Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
This book is sitting next to my chair waiting in line to be read. I love the cover, and I have heard that this book is quite good. Since it is next on my reading list, I am going to recommend this book as one of the twelve. This book was inspired by the lives of those people who lived in Ancient Rome. Laia is a slave, Elias is a soldier. Both are ruled by the Empire. Neither are free. Nevertheless, their destinies are intertwined.
11. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
I chose this book because I was able to meet the author, and liked what she had to say in her short discussion during the recent conference I attended. The main character has an allergy that will not allow her to leave the house for any reason. Her life consists of seeing her mom and her nurse. Until...a new neighbor moves in. Hopefully her life is about to change...for the better.
12. Made You Up - Francesca Zappia
Alex is a high school senior who has trouble distinguishing between reality and fantasy. She has recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is learning how to deal with it. This book is a must read for anyone who who knows someone who struggles with a mental illness- which is probably all of us. Francesca is a UIndy graduate, and that makes her an Indiana author as well. This is her first book, so give it a try. We have a signed copy in the IMC.
Happy New Year! Happy Reading!
Thanks to my three helpers!
