Thankful for Reading Material

To pass the time on our drives across Florida and Alabama, I brought along a few books. They were so good, I wanted to tell you about them, just in case you haven't read them already. And then I thought, hey, I should tell you about all the good books I've read recently. I've hardly made a dent in my stack, but here goes.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Set in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust, and narrated by Death, I was a little worried I wouldn't like this book. But, the way the author writes, and sets the words on the page, made me not want to put it down. It is pretty depressing material (Nazi Germany, remember), but it'll make you think, and realize we have no idea what a bad day looks like.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
If you're struggling with your life's purpose, or have a hard time 'following your heart', this is the book for you. A super short, easy read, it's the story of a shepherd how sells his flock to find a treasure, and all he encounters along the way. The book was written over 20 years ago, but it has a very spiritual, religious message, and I LOVED it!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Narrated by 3 main characters, 2 black maids and a young white woman, The Help tells the story of what it was like to be a maid in the South in the 60s. This book will have you experiencing every emotion, and have you amazed at the fact that this subject matter only happened 40 years ago. This book and The Book Thief really made me sad that people can be so mean, and that so many others just follow along. Great read! And, soon to be a movie.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
This trilogy consists of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. Set in the future, in a destroyed North America, the trilogy is the story of the Hunger Games, where a boy a girl from each of the 12 districts of Panem compete to the death. The stories are part Gladiator, part reality TV. Yes, morbid material. Yes, science fiction. But, yes, the 3 books are superbly written. They're classified as Young Adult novels, because the narrator is 16, but the subject matter is hardly child's play. Also being made into movies (because of Special Effects, I think we have to wait til 2012).

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Water for Elephants is the story of a vet student who joins the circus during the Great Depression. It's narrated by the vet, who flashes back between current day and his circus days. One of the main characters is Rosie the elephant, who you are sure to fall in love with. Said to be loosely based on the story of Jacob from the Bible. Sooo good. (Again, being made into a movie. I wish I could remember who the main actor is!! Ha)

And, last but not least...

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Ha ha ha ha. Hee hee. Did you think I'd have a book post without featuring my favorite?! Especially since Eclipse came out this summer, so I was forced to read it for a 4th time? I'll spare you the synopsis - if you don't know what it's about yet, then you've obviously not been following this blog, or current events, for that matter.


So, still on my list: Love in the Time of Cholera, My Sister's Keeper, and The Happiness Project. What have you read lately that you loved? I have a huge stack, but nothing's better than curling up with a good book on a cold night.