Second Read: Nominate a Book

I thought it about time that we nominated a second book for reading.

Post your ideas here, including the title, author and a short synopsis. When we have a few nominations, I'll open a poll to vote.

Okay I am going to nominate the same book I did last time, because I still think it's awesome.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Plot Summary:

Quote :

Death himself narrates the story of Liesel, a German girl left with foster parents just before the outbreak of World War II. Along the way to her new home with her younger brother, he dies, and after the funeral Liesel steals The Gravedigger's Handbook, though she cannot yet read. It is only the first of what will become a series of book thefts.

As she settles in with her harsh but caring foster mother, Rosa, and kind foster father, Hans, she gets to know her poor neighborhood and learns to read. Her obsession with books grows as the war closes in, rationing is put in place, air raids begin, and Hans takes in a Jewish man to hide in the basement. And through it all, Death travels the Earth, taking in more and more souls every day.

--

"Death recounts all this mostly dispassionately -- you can tell he almost hates to be involved. His language is spare but evocative, and he's fond of emphasizing points with bold type and centered pronouncements, just to make sure you get them (how almost endearing that is, that Death feels a need to emphasize anything). "A NICE THOUGHT," Death will suddenly announce, or "A KEY WORD." He's also full of deft descriptions: "Pimples were gathered in peer groups on his face."

Death, like Liesel, has a way with words. And he recognizes them not only for the good they can do, but for the evil as well. What would Hitler have been, after all, without words? As this book reminds us, what would any of us be?"

Ok, I'm going to nominate a book most people will have heard of:



Its quite long but nevertheless brilliant.

Basically, its the story of Scarlett O'Hara - the rich daughter of a cotton plantation owner. It's set at the time of the American Civil War and the book is an insight into how Scarlett copes with it.
But...more than the plot regarding the civil war it is a story about love, loss and passion. Its also really sad - heart-breaking at times.
Also, some of the characters are so loveable! Rhett, is just downright sexy and Melly is so sweet...

Quote :

Mitchell's work relates the story of a rebellious Georgia Southern belle named Scarlett O'Hara and her experiences with friends, family, lovers, and enemies before, during, and after the Civil War. Using Scarlett's life, Mitchell examined the effect of the War on the old order of the south, and the aftermath of the war on what was left of the southern planter class.

I think that quote summarises it pretty well. But, I'd like to add that its one of the best books I've ever read. Ever.

The Ladies' Paradise
by Émile Zola

Okay, chosing one of the "classics" is probably surprising hehe ... but I read this book just a while ago and I adored it, so maybe you'll like it too.

Here's what Amazon says:

Quote :

The Ladies' Paradise (Au Bonheur des Dames) recounts the spectacular development of the modern department store in late nineteenth century Paris. The store is a symbol of capitalism, of the modern city, and of the bourgeois family; it is emblematic of consumer culture and the changes in sexual attitudes and class relations taking place at the end of the century. Octave Mouret, the store's owner-manager, masterfully exploits the desires of his female customers. In his private life as much as in business he is the great seducer. But when he falls in love with the innocent Denise Baudu, he discovers she is the only one of the salesgirls who refuses to be commodified. This new translation of the eleventh book in the Rougon-Macquart cycle captures the spirit of one of Zola's greatest novels of the modern city.

Well, I'm going to nominate a book I've fallen in love with the first time I've read it, and have been reading once or twice a year ever since then.


Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgommery

Quote :

Miss Marilla Cuthbert and Mr. Matthew Cuthbert, middle-aged siblings who live together at Green Gables, a farm in Avonlea, on Prince Edward Island, decide to adopt an orphan boy from the asylum in Nova Scotia as a helper on their farm. Through a series of mishaps, what ends up under their roof is a precocious girl of eleven named Anne Shirley. Anne is bright and quick, eager to please but dissatisfied with her name, her pale countenance dotted with freckles, and with her long braids of red hair. Being a child of imagination, however, Anne takes much joy in life, and adapts quickly, thriving in the environment of Prince Edward Island.

I nominate the following book as I havent got around to reading any of these books yet and came across this write up on ebay and really want to read it.

I nominate: The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner

This is a Dr Who book.
Book Description
Mickey is startled to find a statue of Rose
in a museum - a statue that is 2,000 years old. The Doctor realizes
that this means the TARDIS will shortly take them to Ancient Rome, but
when it does, he and Rose soon have more on their minds than sculpture.
While the Doctor searches for a missing boy, Rose befriends a girl who
claims to know the future. But then the Doctor stumbles on the hideous
truth behind the statue of Rose - and Rose herself learns that you have
to be very careful what you wish for...

Old Magic by Marianne Curley =]

I nominate this book because it is a great story and not terribly hard to read but very enjoyable

Blurb:

When Kate first sees Jarrod she senses that he is special and that like her, he has magical powers. But she also knows he is completely unaware of his gift and will be difficult to persuade. Kate's grandmother realises that Jarrod and his family have an ancient curse placed upon them which they must tackle before Jarrod's life, along with the lives of his parents and little brother, can become happy, peaceful and free of the troubles that have plagued them. He must learn to use his gift, and when he does, Kate and Jarrod find themselves in a time hundreds of years old, and very very far from home pitched in the greatest battle of their lives. A fabulous book with the perfect combination of pace, intrigue, suspense, utterly entrancing characters, and romance.

.. why do I have the feeling that I've read this "Old Magic" bookie at some point? It was in German and the translation of the title was probably not word-by-word (and I can't remember it anyway xD) ... but if it's what I have in mind, then it's cool! :D

I'd like to nominate the following book:
Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson is no ordinary teenager...he’s just learned he’s the son of Poseidon and is accused of stealing Zeus’ ­lightning bolt – the most powerful weapon ever created! With storm clouds brewing, Percy embarks on an incredible cross-country journey to prove his innocence, recover the bolt and prevent a war amongst the gods that could destroy our world!