The Good Books Thread/ATARnotes Book Club!

[elysepopplewell]

I’m 30 pages in to “The Power” by Naomi Alderman. It’s a 2016 dystopian book. It seems to have the main premise as women developing some kind of electrical ability through their bones, thus making them the dominant gender. Will keep you all updated! Has anyone read it?

I was told if I liked the Handmaid’s Tale that I’d like this too!

[bimberfairy]

I just discovered this thread and am so happy!!! I love reading books and it's cool to have a place to discuss them. Just a couple of my personal favourites and recommendations:
"The Truth About Alice" by Jennifer Mathieu: Multiple perspectives. Deals with some heavy topics but is so eye-opening + the narrators' voices are really honest and personal. I felt like I was reading a diary at some parts.
"This Song Will Save Your Life" by Leila Sales: Covers high school bullying and finding that one place that is your own
"The Rest of Us Just Live Here" by Patrick Ness: Really interesting concept! It explores the "background" characters in your typical hero stories. The ones who just want to continue on with their life and walk to their next class instead of having to deal with the hero battling a monster. Think Colin Creevey from Harry Potter lmao.

I’m 30 pages in to “The Power” by Naomi Alderman. It’s a 2016 dystopian book. It seems to have the main premise as women developing some kind of electrical ability through their bones, thus making them the dominant gender. Will keep you all updated! Has anyone read it?

I was told if I liked the Handmaid’s Tale that I’d like this too!

I really liked The Handmaid's Tale (That ending though!!!!!) and am trying to find other books similar to it. Will definitely check this one out!

[abbeyrose]

To those who enjoy reading Classics, what are your favourites? I finished Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles not too long ago (which I absolutely loved) and am currently reading Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. I'm always looking to expand my TBR list! 

[Coffee]

Did someone say Classics? 

I love finding people who love Classics as much as I do! Thinking off the top of my head, I’d recommend:
- Pride and Prejudice, Emma, or Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
- Nineteen Eighty-Four or Keep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (And while you’re at it, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte, and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte)
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
- Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
- A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

 

[falalalala]

How to Set a Fire and Why by Jesse Ball:
It's been a while since I've read this, but it has a special place in my heart. Its just so refreshing to have a female protagonist that is mentally tough, verbally crude (I remember quite a lot of swearing -really unfiltered!) but has her own set of values she sticks to. I don't think there's much of a plot to this book, but you see how Lucia tackles day-to-day obstacles and just get a feel of how she thinks. Jesse Ball writes in such an easy to read, poetic style that you feel like you're Lucia's best friend while reading. You just gotta check out the book to see what I mean.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak:
The Messenger by Markus Zusak:
This man is God's gift to humanity. I don't even know where to start. I love his writing style; it's simple, it flows and the imagery he uses -I JUST CAN'T. Don't even know if I can directly reference some of his writings but there's a line in The Book Thief that stuck with me where he describes roads 'like ruptured veins' or something like that. He has such control over words. Just ... JUST READ ALL HIS BOOKS.

[prickles]

am currently reading Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

How are you finding this? I don't know if to read it or not!

[hegihugo]

I’m currently reading the inferno by Dante Alleghri (I think that’s how you spell it) and the Prince By Machiavelli

[bimberfairy]

I’m currently reading the inferno by Dante Alleghri (I think that’s how you spell it) and the Prince By Machiavelli

I've had a copy of Inferno sitting on my bookshelf and burning a hole through the wood for months! I'd love to hear your current thoughts on it?

[rosecookiie]

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak:
The Messenger by Markus Zusak:
This man is God's gift to humanity. I don't even know where to start. I love his writing style; it's simple, it flows and the imagery he uses -I JUST CAN'T. Don't even know if I can directly reference some of his writings but there's a line in The Book Thief that stuck with me where he describes roads 'like ruptured veins' or something like that. He has such control over words. Just ... JUST READ ALL HIS BOOKS.

I love Markus Zusak's The Book thief, he is an exceptional writer and storyteller!
I'm currently reading Sapiens: A history of humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

I was never one for lengthy non fiction science books, but in my opinion this is a must read.

[itssona]

To those who enjoy reading Classics, what are your favourites? I finished Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles not too long ago (which I absolutely loved) and am currently reading Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. I'm always looking to expand my TBR list! 

love that! Frankenstein is a must, and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
also Virginia Woolf is amazing - read Mrs Dalloway and To the lighthouse

[Aearator]

I don’t know if this has already been said or not, but I would highly recommend reading 1984 and Brave New World. They were both really good though personally I liked the concept of Brave New World better.

[clarke54321]

Although a little confronting at times, I’d really recommend The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Atwood’s writing style is truly astonishing. A very thought provoking read.

[beatroot]

I recently just finished a sci fi book called ‘A Thousand Pieces of You’ by Claudia Gray. It’s all about travelling between different dimensions and how both fate and mathematics contribute to destiny. Would recommend this book to anyone! (There are also two more books in the series. I’m currently reading the second book)

[sweetiepi]

Currently reading sci-fi book Zero Repeat Forever, book 1 of the Nahx series. Interested to see how I go with the book, as it's not usually my style!

[abbeyrose]

How are you finding this? I don't know if to read it or not!

I actually quite like it. It's certainly different to what I was expecting, however I'm really enjoying Wilde's writing style. Having just read something from Thomas Hardy, whose writing style is rather beautiful and poetic despite a depressing plot, it is a pleasant change. Due to Christmas and New Years, I've been having trouble committing to reading though so I feel like I'm not enjoying it as much as I could. I'd recommend you read it nonetheless.