The Good Books Thread/ATARnotes Book Club!

[Shadowxo]

Currently reading the first book in the Outlander series. The title is Outlander, previously published as Cross Stitch. Anyone else read it? (Loved the tv series and book is just as good)

My problem is I have trouble finding a good book, I'm picky and not many books in the genre and style I like

I've really struggled to find the time to read with uni this year. I think part of the reason is also that I struggle to find series that I love, so I don't read as much as I'd like to.

I'm in the same boat haha. Been a while since I had enough time and was able to get completely immersed in a book.

The book I'm currently reading is The Thousandth Floor (I'll edit in the author later), it's a dystopia cross gossip girl style book. Just putting it here if anyone's interested.

P.S. It's been 5 months and author still missing

[sweetiepi]

P.S. It's been 5 months and author still missing

Oops! It's Katherine McGee

[Coffee]

I'm reading If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio and I'm so in love, I can't put it down. A must-read for any fans of Shakespeare and/or The Secret History. Synopsis below:

Oliver Marks has just served ten years for the murder of one of his closest friends - a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day he's released, he's greeted by the detective who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened ten years ago. As a young actor studying Shakespeare at an elite arts conservatory, Oliver noticed that his talented classmates seem to play the same roles onstage and off - villain, hero, tyrant, temptress - though Oliver felt doomed to always be a secondary character in someone else's story. But when the teachers change up the casting, a good-natured rivalry turns ugly, and the plays spill dangerously over into life. When tragedy strikes, one of the seven friends is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless.

[Quantum44]

I'm reading If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio and I'm so in love, I can't put it down. A must-read for any fans of Shakespeare and/or The Secret History. Synopsis below:

Oooh, that sounds very interesting. Loved the secret history I'll definitely give that a look.

This has probably been mentioned before, but 'All the light we cannot see' is absolutely fantastic. I was genuinely moved by the story. I'm usually more of a sci-fi person but historical fiction seems to be awesome as well.

[tashhhaaa]

Has anyone read Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father?
Is it any good???

[lm21074]

- To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: a very suspenseful novel. I particularly liked the climax 
The story is set in the point of view of Scout, a young precocious girl. She tells the story of the events leading up to the trial of a man in which her father, a lawyer, has to defend. This is proven to be difficult, as the town of Maycomb's residents are full of prejudice.
Rating: 9/10

- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Millennium Series - Steig Larsson.
The first book of this series follows a journalist in a legal battle, a computer hacker/private investigator and an industrialist with a missing niece who ultimately expose a corrupt financier. It was a little slow at times.
Rating: 8.5/10

- Harry Potter - J.K Rowling - every book in the series - no need to comment on this one!
Rating: generally a 10/10

- Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon
I found this one to be a little cheesy and predictable but also a little nice. Madeline Whittier is trapped inside her house, and has been for her whole life. She has a rare disease called severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and cannot go outside. However, her life turns around when a boy moves in next door.
Rating: 7/10

- Green Valentine - Lili Wilkinson - if you like (predictable) romantic novels, this one's for you! A girl meets a boy. They have opposite personalities. They fight for a cause; to make their city sustainable and full of plants. Of course, they fall in love.
Rating: 6.5/10

Stay cool! 

[Coffee]

- Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon
I found this one to be a little cheesy and predictable but also a little nice. Madeline Whittier is trapped inside her house, and has been for her whole life. She has a rare disease called severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and cannot go outside. However, her life turns around when a boy moves in next door.
Rating: 7/10

Glad to see you enjoyed this one! I'm seconding this recommendation, I recently finished reading it as well.

I didn't find it as cheesy or cringe-worthy as most YA novels, so I enjoyed it a lot, and IIRC I finished it in one sitting. There are issues with it, like its quite ableist when you think about it (Trying not give spoilers here ) but I'd encourage anyone who's even remotely interested in the premise to pick it up! You won't be disappointed. The movie adaptation is also coming out this month which is exciting!

[elysepopplewell]

Update: I have abandoned "Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It." If I didn't like Eat Pray Love - why did I think I would like the memoirs of people inspired by EPL?? Nope.

Some good stories in there, I actually see Heidi really liking it.

But, I just don't like short soppy stories, or sometimes sad stories. Couldn't get into it.

Now onto: The Course of Love. by Alain de Botton. Novel.

Edit: Brenden just told me to read Cloudstreet. Maybe that will be next. Has anyone read Cloudstreet?

[quinn_03]

I really liked the Austen books, as well as Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, etc... (can you tell I'm a classical literature nut??) I also kinda liked Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky (read: crazy Russian guy) which is kinda weird and disturbing but very interesting. I'd really recommend 1984 as well and Ray Bradbury's short stories, especially Fahrenheit 451 which was *amazing*

[elysepopplewell]

It's #bookloversday!

What's your favourite book?

[Calebark]

It's #bookloversday!

What's your favourite book?

A Storm of Swords from the A Song of Ice and Fire series! Had me at the edge of my seat (...my bed? I was lying down) the entire time! There were so many great twists that I had to reread the page to make sure I didn't miss anything because it was such a holy shit moment. I also loved that after getting up to these twists, I had realised that there had been hints towards it right in front of me for the past few books, which blew my mind.

If we're talking about my favourite book not in a series, well, I have no idea -- I'll give it a think and get back to you!

[katie,rinos]

It's #bookloversday!

What's your favourite book?

I don't have a favourite book, more like favourite series.
I'm still obsessed with Harry Potter (first read them when I was in year 2 )
I really like Cassandra Claire's Infernal Devices (although mortal instruments and Dark Artifices are pretty good too).
A couple of years back, I was in love with all of John Green's books.
I like quite a few more, but can't think of them at the moment.
Although, I haven't read in ages 

[Natasha.97]

Most of these are from my childhood Unfortunately, I haven't been reading as much as I would have liked :/
- Partials series (Dan Wells)
- Holes/Small Steps (Louis Sachar)
- A Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket)
- The Faraway Tree - Enid Blyton
- Malory Towers - Enid Blyton

Agatha Christie. I can still vividly remember the plot of the A.B.C. murders (the first book I have read that was written by her)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon). Even though I've had to study it for English, I still really enjoy it

[peterpiper]

I'd really recommend 1984 as well and Ray Bradbury's short stories, especially Fahrenheit 451 which was *amazing*

Haven't read Fahrenheit 451 but what I do know is that it's definitely not a short story haha

[elysepopplewell]

Most of these are from my childhood Unfortunately, I haven't been reading as much as I would have liked :/
- Partials series (Dan Wells)
- Holes/Small Steps (Louis Sachar)
- A Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket)
- The Faraway Tree - Enid Blyton
- Malory Towers - Enid Blyton

Agatha Christie. I can still vividly remember the plot of the A.B.C. murders (the first book I have read that was written by her)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon). Even though I've had to study it for English, I still really enjoy it

A Series of Unfortunate Events was my first love, that I had read independently! Roald Dahl was my first love, but dad used to read them to me. I vividly remember reading The Witches, which is odd because I think I'd say my favourite is Matilda, but I can hardly remember reading that. I think I might need to come back to it!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - I realllllly wanted to see this on stage in London but I could only get the ridiculous expensive tickets and that's just not in my budget! I definitely will read the book, I've heard too many good things not to!