Top Ten Books You'd Hand To Someone Who Says They Don't Like To Read

 

1. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery Because I loved this book and I think most people could like this. It is straightforward fiction though, which some people dislike, and some of the ideas in the book are weird and a tad confusing. This is a bit like Jumping into the deep end, even though the water's warm.
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett Since I could draw them in using the great movie adaptation and then try to get them to read the book too! I actually did this with one of my friends who has never before read an entire book by choice. YAY!
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morenstern I think the person would have tobe someone who liked fantasy films/games but I do think this could be enjoyed by a lot of people. However, I admit that a handful of people might find it boring to read.
4. The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling Do I need to explain? Huge, well-loved films but everyone thinks the books are better.
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Again, I could convince them to read using the trailer for the movie and even possibly use the movie after it is out. Then they will just get the craving to read the books and then happiness ensues.
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth Another book that is really well-loved in the blogosphere so I think it reaches out to and connects with a lot of people. This is definitely something most to all would like.
7. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore Despite the infamous controversy over this book, it is a good book. It's action packed and extremely film like with its imagery and how one imagines the entire book. If I know someone who like Urban Fantasy films, I try to point them in this book's direction.
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Seriously, they are some of the wittiest, most amazing books I have read. Everything said in the books makes perfect sense when you think logically, but it's all so unreal and bizarre. The person would have to be someone who liked the whimsical and can take things with a pinch of salt, but they are great. 
9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson Very much an thriller/mystery/adventure/crime and it can appeal to anyone with even a little curiosity. There are some bits that are unpleasant to read, but the author is being honest- if brutally so. And, as a blogger reminded me the other day, Lisbeth really is one of the most amazing and unique heroines out there.
10. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger I don't think I say how good this book is sometimes, and how much I love it. It's slightly barmy and sometimes slow-paced but it makes for a great read. It reminds me of Romantic Comedy films in the way it is written and I think I'd be safe to recommend it to a few people who would take me seriously. (They can't lend my copy though since my Grandmother has it!!!)

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

(Debut authors, authors who seem to have taken a hiatus, OR for those who read classics authors you wish would have written another book before they passed.)

1. Jane Austen (Deceased) I haven't read all of Austen's books, but I think I've read half in less than a year. I feel as though I don't want to finish all her books because then I would dislike knowing there is no more. I could re-read, but there is no feeling like picking up a book for the first time and discovering a great love for it. Also, Austen's kind of my rock. If I have many bad books, I know can find Austen and rediscover a happiness in reading.
2. David Eddings  (Deceased) He wrote my favourite series of books and though he did write others, he never revisited this series. I don't want to say he left things unanswered, because I felt he did round off everything satisfactorily, but there were still other things I wanted to know about, other things I wanted to watch as they grew. I adored these characters and people too much.
3. Erin Morgenstern Though I doubt it happening, I'd love being able to dive back into the Night Circus either by her writing a new book or by an extension/sidestory. I just love this too much.
4. Kathryn Stockett I couldn't say she has taken a break or anything because with the film and her life, I imagine she's been ever so busy. Still, I loved the book and would appreciate another.
5. Michelle Paver I've read a lot of what she has written, and I find her a really engaging author that creates wonderful atmospheres and brilliant antagonists. She has other books, but I don't think I'd like them like I'd like her most recent writings. I actually don't mind what genre she's in. The series I read was YA/Teen Fantasy but another stand alone book was a Ghost Story; I loved both equally.
6. Douglas Adams  (Deceased) I imagine anyone who has read anything by him- either the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books, the radio script, or his other series can appreciate his unique wit and way of making people confused without ostracising them. He does it in a friendly, funny way. I always feel sad to think that he died, especially after reading stuff Stephen Fry wrote in his autobiography.
7. Muriel Barbery She's written something else and though I went to buy it, reviews warded me away. They said it wasn't bad, but if you'd read The Elegance of the Hedgehog (which is my favourite book) you might dislike her other book. Still, I may relent at some point since I loved her novel so much.
8. Stieg Larsson  (Deceased) I can think about him without feeling sad: he wrote all the books, left them with his publisher, and died before he could see them published. I wonder how he would feel knowing the response people had to them. And even though he lost me sometimes, he did have an insight into something that doesn't get a lot of press/
9. Anthony Horowitz Now he is neither my favourite writer nor one with remarkable skill: but he's good at coming up with stories and ideas for stories. The only reason I put him here is that he has written 4 books in a five book series but hasn't done the last one yet! When he did he publish number 4? 2008. Grrr. 
10. Stephen Chbosky Perks of Being a Wallflower is a well-known and well respected book, and I'm not asking that he write a sequel or anything, but I can appreciate his ability to write and craft really superbly realistic characters. I adored the book (are you seeing a trend in this list?) and I'd enjoy being able to buy something else by him and have him lose me in a great story I'll recommend to every passer-by.

Friday Hop Douze

I'm just going to say how happy it makes me to see that the first Follow Friday/TGIF hop of 2012, is my twelfth Friday hop. I love when things are coincidental like that, since this will never happen again!

Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?

I'm proud to say that my count is only around 40 including my physical books and eBooks. I'm kind of proud of this since it's more achievable in thinking about it than the hundreds other people seem to have. I'm one smug so-and-so right now!

But good luck to you all.

Reading Resolutions: What are some of your reading goals for the new year?

I'm not one for resolutions. I tend to not make any and then enjoy myself watching everyone else stumbling around as they try to achieve their own. I'm not a sadist (really!) but my cynical side tells me it's practically impossible to keep up with something for a year. When I have goals for something, they have developed more organically and gradually as time goes on. But I'll give you my organic goals.

•     Read 50 books. This is with Goodreads and I'm sticking with the same target as last year because it is achievable and I don't want to be stressed with reading, blogging and school all vying for time.
•     Mix up reading. I have system of reading books of three different types in order. The first book of this must be a book I've been requested to review, then the second and third books must be a Fantasy/YA/Dystopia then a Classic (or Classic first then Fantasy/YA/Dystopia), It allows me to choose what I want to read (in a way) but still keep my productivity high in terms of reading everything.
•     Get a Kindle. I'm getting to a point where I feel a kindle is practically necessary in order for me to read eBooks that I want and to have an easy way to read with me all the time. Also, free classics is nice! So I have a Kindle Plan. In the Interest of being healthy, I'm trying to eat less chocolate and the best way for me to do that is to not be allowed to buy chocolate or sweets for myself, or knowledgably have them bought for me. If at any point i am tempted to get any, then the money I would spend is to be taken and put towards a Kindle Fund. Either I'll get the Kindle, since I'm weak and find myself constantly tempted, or frugality will win and I'll stop buying chocolate for myself. Or I could not get a Kindle, but still buy truckloads of sweets. I try not to think that is an option. I find that if I have a feasible and desirable target like this, I should do better in achieving something.

Thanks for hopping by! Leave a comment if you want, and I'll be sure to hop back and comment if I can.

Also, if you're a non-follower, Happy New Year to you, since I can't have possibly wished you one!