December 1, 2013

Book Recommendations

I get asked all of the time on my tumblr page for book recommendations.  Although I don't read as many books as I would like because of all the school work that I have to do, I do have 4 books that really stand out to me as absolute favorites.

Divergent by Veronica Roth: In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.  During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.  This book is really great and follows the distopian society theme that I really love.  It was such a fun read and I really love Tris' character.  There are three other books as well that I haven't gotten around to finishing but I will definitely be reading them this christmas break! AND it's being made in to a movie! I'm so excited for that!

Left to Tell by Imaculeee Ilibagiza: "Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she cherished. But in 1994 her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Immaculee’s family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans.  Incredibly, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them."  I read this book back in eighth grade at school, and I don't think I will ever forget it.  It is an absolutely incredible story, like no other you will ever read, and it's all real.  I cannot believe the strength and determination of this girl.  I'm a slight history buff so I really loved learning about some of the political conflict through this story as well.  I highly recommend this book above any other.  

Matched by Ally Condie: "Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow." This books was so awesome because I feel like it was very different.  I really loved the concept of being told who you will marry.  This book is so interesting, and there are two others! I haven't read the last one but I look forward to doing so soon! I've heard rumors that this'll get picked up for a movie, but nothing definite yet! 

Delirium by Lauren Oliver: "They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now, I’d rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie." This book plays along the similar love/being told who to love subject as Matched, but in a very different way.  I love the whole story line because it's so thrilling and the world it's set in is so different from the one we live in today that it's really amazing.  

What are your favorite books? I'd love to give some more a try now that school is settling down a little bit! 
Emma 

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