Bookish friends are among the best kinds of friends, don't you think? I met one of my favorite friends when we were both in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps together. Honestly, I have no recollection of what brought us together but from my end, what keeps me obsessed with Alexis is the fact that she is one of, if not THE most caring person I have ever met. She is someone who actually listens to people and remembers details about their lives. I have a million and one other reasons to love her but one of the most glaring is that she is amazing at talking about books. I consider her to be a very well-read person and our tastes often overlap so I think it's also safe to say that she has impeccable taste. (I'm sure one of the traits Alexis loves about me is my AMAZING sense of humor) Even though we've been having great success with our recommendations, I knew Tatiana, Catie, and I needed a break from challenging each other in She Made Me Do It, so I decided to enlist this real-life reader bud of mine for the job of recommendation-maker. Plus, it has the added bonus of keeping us in touch since Alexis is finishing up her PhD on the east coast and I am just sitting here soaking up the fall Seattle rain. So, here we go...
Alexis Recommends to Flannery:
Green Rider by Kristen Britain
What it's about: A young woman on the way home stumbles into a dying man and takes up his mission, delivering a message to the king. The simple delivery turns into a major adventure.
Why I think she'll like it: I read A LOT of fantasy books with strong female leads thrust into world saving adventures. Green Rider doesn't break the mold, but instead fits the mold really really well. This is a satisfying fantasy adventure romp with a great female lead that keeps you wanting more. I recommend this to Flannery because sometimes a person is just looking for a comfort read--a classic, well written, fantasy epic.
What it's about: A young woman on the way home stumbles into a dying man and takes up his mission, delivering a message to the king. The simple delivery turns into a major adventure.
Why I think she'll like it: I read A LOT of fantasy books with strong female leads thrust into world saving adventures. Green Rider doesn't break the mold, but instead fits the mold really really well. This is a satisfying fantasy adventure romp with a great female lead that keeps you wanting more. I recommend this to Flannery because sometimes a person is just looking for a comfort read--a classic, well written, fantasy epic.
Maus by Art Speigelman
What it's about: A graphic novel that depicts one man's survival during the Holocaust and his son's efforts to remember and understand his father's journey.
Why I think she'll like it: This book was assigned to me in one of my first college classes. I remember going to the university book store to buy all of my assigned books and picking up Maus and feeling so liberated. No more textbooks! Maus is a powerful, complex story enhanced by the visual imagery. Since Flannery is on a graphic novel kick, I want her to read the book that started my obsession with graphic novels and remains my absolute favorite.
What it's about: A graphic novel that depicts one man's survival during the Holocaust and his son's efforts to remember and understand his father's journey.
Why I think she'll like it: This book was assigned to me in one of my first college classes. I remember going to the university book store to buy all of my assigned books and picking up Maus and feeling so liberated. No more textbooks! Maus is a powerful, complex story enhanced by the visual imagery. Since Flannery is on a graphic novel kick, I want her to read the book that started my obsession with graphic novels and remains my absolute favorite.
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
What it's about: A rookie in the Provost Guard tries to make it as a crime fighter in the roughest part of town.
Why I think she'll like it: I am always recommending Tamora Pierce books to Flan and she seems to enjoy them (although perhaps not with as much devotion as me). I think she will like this latest installment because it is the same fun, easy reading as Pierce's other Tortall books but focuses on the seedy underbelly which makes for some unique, entertaining characters and adventures.
What it's about: A rookie in the Provost Guard tries to make it as a crime fighter in the roughest part of town.
Why I think she'll like it: I am always recommending Tamora Pierce books to Flan and she seems to enjoy them (although perhaps not with as much devotion as me). I think she will like this latest installment because it is the same fun, easy reading as Pierce's other Tortall books but focuses on the seedy underbelly which makes for some unique, entertaining characters and adventures.
Flannery's Thoughts:
On Green Rider: This is probably the one I am most excited about because it has been a priority read for me for a year or two. I need the push and I hope this is the one that will get me over the finish line because I could do with a good fantasy novel at the moment, especially a female-driven one.
On Maus: This is such a classic graphic novel and I'm really ashamed I haven't read it yet. My family has had a copy of it on our bookshelves for decades and I'm fairly sure that every one of my siblings has already read it. *sigh* This is absolutely first on my list. I already checked out both volumes from the library and I am waiting until after work tomorrow to read them in case they make me cry, which I have a feeling they might.
On Terrier: Tamora Pierce is such a comfort read for me, and Alexis knows this. She's read many more of Pierce's books, maybe even all of them, but I still have many more to go. True confession: I even have two of Alexis's Tamora Pierce books sitting in a pile of books in my bedroom. Anyway, Pierce writes awesome young confident female characters and I am certain I will love this book.
On Maus: This is such a classic graphic novel and I'm really ashamed I haven't read it yet. My family has had a copy of it on our bookshelves for decades and I'm fairly sure that every one of my siblings has already read it. *sigh* This is absolutely first on my list. I already checked out both volumes from the library and I am waiting until after work tomorrow to read them in case they make me cry, which I have a feeling they might.
On Terrier: Tamora Pierce is such a comfort read for me, and Alexis knows this. She's read many more of Pierce's books, maybe even all of them, but I still have many more to go. True confession: I even have two of Alexis's Tamora Pierce books sitting in a pile of books in my bedroom. Anyway, Pierce writes awesome young confident female characters and I am certain I will love this book.
Flannery Recommends to Alexis:
Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose
What It's About: A jury of men deliberating about the guilt or innocence of a young man accused of murder.
Why I think she'll like it: Alexis is smart. She is also interested in politics and I think that interest will translate to the same kind of interest I had in this play from the 1950s. Alexis keeps up with the news and I found Twelve Angry Men to be scary--it reminded me just who makes up juries and how much trust we put in everyday people. I bet she'll find it just as compelling as I did.
What It's About: A jury of men deliberating about the guilt or innocence of a young man accused of murder.
Why I think she'll like it: Alexis is smart. She is also interested in politics and I think that interest will translate to the same kind of interest I had in this play from the 1950s. Alexis keeps up with the news and I found Twelve Angry Men to be scary--it reminded me just who makes up juries and how much trust we put in everyday people. I bet she'll find it just as compelling as I did.
Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer
What it's about: A pastry chef. Romance. You know the rest.
Why I think she'll like it: Alexis is like me in that she loves reading random contemporary romances to decompress. This book isn't earth-shattering or anything but I think she'll like it and it's very low on the attention requirement scale. I'm certain she could read this very fast but I'm also sure that she won't have any trouble dropping and picking the story back up later.
What it's about: A pastry chef. Romance. You know the rest.
Why I think she'll like it: Alexis is like me in that she loves reading random contemporary romances to decompress. This book isn't earth-shattering or anything but I think she'll like it and it's very low on the attention requirement scale. I'm certain she could read this very fast but I'm also sure that she won't have any trouble dropping and picking the story back up later.
Saga, vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
What It's about: A pair of star-crossed lovers (well, spouses) in space.
Why I think she'll like it: Well, I'm not positive she'll will, but I have high hopes. After she included Maus as one of her recommendations for me, I thought about what graphic novels she might like since I have read so, so many this year so far. I picked Saga because Alexis loves space stories (when they are well done), and I think Saga is the best graphic novel in that area.
What It's about: A pair of star-crossed lovers (well, spouses) in space.
Why I think she'll like it: Well, I'm not positive she'll will, but I have high hopes. After she included Maus as one of her recommendations for me, I thought about what graphic novels she might like since I have read so, so many this year so far. I picked Saga because Alexis loves space stories (when they are well done), and I think Saga is the best graphic novel in that area.
Alexis' Thoughts:
On Seeing Me Naked: I haven't heard of this book but it does sound right up my alley and I am definitely in need of some fluffy romance to decompress. I also happen to love books that involve cooking or baking which is an added bonus. Flannery says I will read this quickly which is probably a good thing because I suspect I will be craving baked goods throughout.
On Twelve Angry Men: Flannery does know me well. Back when I wanted to go to law school as a kid, this was one of my favorite movies. At the time, it never occurred to me to read the original source material. I will be interested to read this and go back to the movie as well for comparison.
On Saga, Vol. 1: The short blurb for this series sounds fantastic. I am intrigued that the main characters are married--so many of the books I read these days are "will they or won't they?" romance plotlines. My only worry with this graphic novel is that it will take awhile to identify with the main characters when one has moth wings and the other one has ram horns. I am up for the challenge though, haha.
On Twelve Angry Men: Flannery does know me well. Back when I wanted to go to law school as a kid, this was one of my favorite movies. At the time, it never occurred to me to read the original source material. I will be interested to read this and go back to the movie as well for comparison.
On Saga, Vol. 1: The short blurb for this series sounds fantastic. I am intrigued that the main characters are married--so many of the books I read these days are "will they or won't they?" romance plotlines. My only worry with this graphic novel is that it will take awhile to identify with the main characters when one has moth wings and the other one has ram horns. I am up for the challenge though, haha.
What do you think we should read? Are any of these favorites of yours? Are you sick of me recommending Saga to everyone and their dog?
