amy and rogers epic detour,
So as I looked over my list here, I realized all of these are books that I have rated 5 stars on Goodreads. They are here for a reason- all of them are dynamic in their own right, and have a very distinct feel to them! All of them are books that have impacted me, and I hope if you're ever in a reading slump you can find a way out with one of these gems.
1) "Through the Woods" by Emily Carroll
Graphic novels are almost always my go-to when I'm not feeling meh about other reading choices. "Through the Woods" is a collection of five short horror stories drawn in rich selection of colors that range from the jewel tones of the story "A Lady's Cold Hands" to the muted woodland colors of "The Nesting Place" (which is one of my favorites stories within this book!). Seriously, the artwork alone is worth checking this out. The writing kind of reminds me of RL Stine's writing combined with the Brothers Grimm. These are unsettling and atmospheric tales that will certain hold your attention, and probably creep into your mind and settle in for a stay...
2) "Amy and Roger's Epic Detour" by Morgan Matson
This one's for anyone who needs a contemporary, whimsical, and yes, epic read. I see this on a lot of 'Summer Reads' lists due to the highway-blazing road trip duo of Amy and Roger, and the relationship that develops between them (no spoilers, but I will say this: NO INSTALOVE! YAH! ). This novel deals has themes of grief, family, romance, and finding oneself, all woven together as Amy and Roger trek across North America. This includes bear lockers, diners, Elvis, and a solid cast of supporting characters. There are also playlists and little photos included throughout which make for an awesomely immersive reading experience. Reading this just amplified my wanderlust and made me crave more Morgan Matson books!
3) "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline
This book could go on so many lists of mine- I recommend it quite a bit to people, especially if someone wants a sharp and adventurous read. It's very nerdy (lots of 80s pop culture and gaming references) but if you're not a gaming person, don't worry! One of the blurbs on the book says "Ready Player One" is like Willy Wonka meets The Matrix and that's super accurate: this is a great read that throws the reader right into the action and intrigue, so there's no waiting around for the fun stuff to start! This is a plot-driven novel where virtual reality gamers in the OASIS are all competing to find clues to where the OASIS creator hid his fortune. Despite being heavily plot-driven, the cast of characters in here are phenomenal and full of surprises, too! And the ending...dude. It's one of the best book climaxes ever.
4) "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chobsky
I'll be honest- I didn't read this book in high school like most people. Sure, I had seen the movie (because Emma Watson) but I read it for the first time last year and was emotionally gutted afterwards. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is an epistolary novel that tells the story of Charlie, a teenage boy who is very quiet and introverted and dealing with the loss of his best friend who recently committed suicide. Charlie is one of the best parts of this book- he is a fleshed out, hopeful, and relatable character, and I just wanted to become friends with him as I read his story. Besides Charlie, this books has lovely writing, a raw narrative on friendship and sexuality, and characters who leap off the pages with life.
5) "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Truman Capote
First of all, this is a good pick for a reading slump because it's super short. Like under 100 pages short. I didn't know this the first time I read it, but when I finished all I could do was wish it was longer! Truman Capote has a delightful, limpid voice that crafts a story as sparkling as a Tiffany diamond. It's sad. Sweet. Melting. Brief. Feminine. It's not fully like the film adaptation either, so don't think just of Hepburn and Peppard when you see this book. This has a voice all its own! Due to the time this was written there are some parts that are a bit racist, so just be warned. However, there are some lovely quotes in here, including one of my favorites:
"If you let yourself love a wild thing. You'll end up looking at the sky."
Top 5 Wednesday: Books To Get You Out Of A Reading Slump
As many of you know, Top 5 Wednesday is a Goodreads group created by GingerReadsLainey on Youtube; it's a group where each Wednesday, bloggers and vloggers and whatnot all put out their Top 5 of a certain subject. It's a great way to find new book suggestions and meet new bookworms- you can check out the group here if you're interested!So as I looked over my list here, I realized all of these are books that I have rated 5 stars on Goodreads. They are here for a reason- all of them are dynamic in their own right, and have a very distinct feel to them! All of them are books that have impacted me, and I hope if you're ever in a reading slump you can find a way out with one of these gems.
1) "Through the Woods" by Emily Carroll
2) "Amy and Roger's Epic Detour" by Morgan Matson
This one's for anyone who needs a contemporary, whimsical, and yes, epic read. I see this on a lot of 'Summer Reads' lists due to the highway-blazing road trip duo of Amy and Roger, and the relationship that develops between them (no spoilers, but I will say this: NO INSTALOVE! YAH! ). This novel deals has themes of grief, family, romance, and finding oneself, all woven together as Amy and Roger trek across North America. This includes bear lockers, diners, Elvis, and a solid cast of supporting characters. There are also playlists and little photos included throughout which make for an awesomely immersive reading experience. Reading this just amplified my wanderlust and made me crave more Morgan Matson books!
3) "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline
This book could go on so many lists of mine- I recommend it quite a bit to people, especially if someone wants a sharp and adventurous read. It's very nerdy (lots of 80s pop culture and gaming references) but if you're not a gaming person, don't worry! One of the blurbs on the book says "Ready Player One" is like Willy Wonka meets The Matrix and that's super accurate: this is a great read that throws the reader right into the action and intrigue, so there's no waiting around for the fun stuff to start! This is a plot-driven novel where virtual reality gamers in the OASIS are all competing to find clues to where the OASIS creator hid his fortune. Despite being heavily plot-driven, the cast of characters in here are phenomenal and full of surprises, too! And the ending...dude. It's one of the best book climaxes ever.
4) "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chobsky
I'll be honest- I didn't read this book in high school like most people. Sure, I had seen the movie (because Emma Watson) but I read it for the first time last year and was emotionally gutted afterwards. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is an epistolary novel that tells the story of Charlie, a teenage boy who is very quiet and introverted and dealing with the loss of his best friend who recently committed suicide. Charlie is one of the best parts of this book- he is a fleshed out, hopeful, and relatable character, and I just wanted to become friends with him as I read his story. Besides Charlie, this books has lovely writing, a raw narrative on friendship and sexuality, and characters who leap off the pages with life.
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| "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" |
5) "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Truman Capote
First of all, this is a good pick for a reading slump because it's super short. Like under 100 pages short. I didn't know this the first time I read it, but when I finished all I could do was wish it was longer! Truman Capote has a delightful, limpid voice that crafts a story as sparkling as a Tiffany diamond. It's sad. Sweet. Melting. Brief. Feminine. It's not fully like the film adaptation either, so don't think just of Hepburn and Peppard when you see this book. This has a voice all its own! Due to the time this was written there are some parts that are a bit racist, so just be warned. However, there are some lovely quotes in here, including one of my favorites:
"If you let yourself love a wild thing. You'll end up looking at the sky."
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