Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms. She writes weird books for teens in lots of weird genres like, fantasy (Blood of Kings trilogy), science fiction (Replication), and dystopian (The Safe Lands trilogy). Find Jill on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or on her author website.
Wrongo. This post, sadly, took me all night. Still, it was a good idea, and I appreciate my husband’s help.
But that’s okay. It’s really all the letters N, Q, and Us faults, anyway.
But here’s what happened. I decided to challenge myself and any who would like to participate, to an ABC Reading Challenge! I have made a reading list for the alphabet, and I’m going to try and read all these books this year. Like I said, I had a lot of trouble with N, Q, and U. If I had a library I could run down to, I’m sure I could have found something. Alas, I had to rely on Google to help me, which is why I ended up with those classics on the list. I also tried not to read more than one book by any author.
So here is my list! I’ll check back in with you in a year to let you know if I succeeded in reading all these. Most of them were already in my To Read pile. A few I had in my Amazon.com shopping cart. And then there was N, Q, and U… *sigh*
A- Alanna by Tamora Pierce
I just recently discovered Tamora Pierce, and I’ve never read any of her books. So I’m excited to dig in. I bought this one to read out loud to my daughter. (Other “A” books I recommend: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore, Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.)
B- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I’ve heard so many people rave about this that I finally bought it. (Other “B” books I recommend: Beauty by Robin McKinley, The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason.)
C- Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I just wanted to read this ever since I saw the cover. I just want to see what it’s like. I think the idea was brilliant. (Other “C” books I recommend: City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau, The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon—there is some swearing and adult situations in this book, so it’s not for everyone. But the story is told through the eyes of an autistic teen boy, and the voice is absolutely incredible. I was spellbound.)
D- Dune by Frank Herbert
I’ve always wanted to read this. But it’s SO THICK! But I found it at a thrift store for .50, so it’s in the To Read pile now! (Other “D” books I recommend: The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Delerium by Lauren Oliver.)
E- The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
I had this book in my hand at a thrift store. I swore I bought it, but I can’t find it anywhere in my house. So maybe I didn’t buy it. Which was dumb. All that to say, I’ve never read a Robert Jordan book, and I want to start with book one. (Other “E” books I recommend: Emma by Jane Austen, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, Eragon by Christopher Paolini.)
F- Feed by M. T. Anderson
Found this one at a thrift store as well. It’s been on my shelf almost three years now. I think it’s time. (Other “F” books I recommend: Failstate by John Otte, Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R. J. Anderson, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.)
G- The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
I’ve heard so many good things. I’ll have to check it out from the library. (Other “G” books I recommend: The Giver by Lois Lowry, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.)
H- Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
My mom told me to read this. I’ve been curious ever since. (There are a million amazing books that start with H. In fact, if you don’t know what to name your book, maybe something with H? It seems to spark bestsellers. Other “H” books I recommend: Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Holes by Louis Sachar, Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.)
I- Intervention by Terri Blackstock
This has been in my Amazon cart for three-ish years as well. And I really needed a letter I. (Other “I” books I recommend: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder, Isle of Swords by Wayne Thomas Batson.)
J- Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen
A few years back, someone told me to read Jonathan Friesen’s books. So I bought this one and the sequel. And they’ve been sitting for years. Waiting for my attention. (Other “J” books I recommend: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.)
K- The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
This is one I’ve heard a lot about. So, I’m curious. (Other “K” books I recommend: Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen, The King of Attolia (book three) by Megan Whalen Turner. Be sure to read The Thief (book 1) and The Queen of Attolia (book 2) first.)
L- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
I’ve had this book for ages. It’s super thick. I’m a little scared, but I think I need to give it a go. (Other “L” books I recommend: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.)
M- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and Carson Ellis
I’ve heard so many good things. I bought this, and it’s been patiently waiting its turn. (Other “M” books I recommend: The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Maximum Ride by James Patterson, Matilda by Roald Dahl, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, Magyk by Angie Sage.)
N- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
I’ve heard of Neil Gaiman, but haven’t read any of his books. But this book starts with an N. So I’m going to give it a go. Plus it’s spec fiction, so that can’t be all bad, right? (Other “N” books I recommend: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry )
O- Owlflight by Mercedes Lackey
I’ve never read Mercedez Lackey, who is a mega-famous fantasy author. I was in desperate need of an O book and I found this one under my bed! I know. It’s scary to be a book in my house. (Other “O” books I recommend: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot—which is the book the musical Cats came from.)
P- Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
My husband bought this at the Scholastic book fair four years ago and read it. Then I put it on my shelf and never touched it again. And I’ve always wanted to read it. (Other “P” books I recommend: The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis.)
Q- Quentin Durward Sir Walter Scott
I have no desire to read this book, and, frankly, if I’m going to fail this reading challenge, this is likely the place. I was desperate for a Q book. So very desperate. But there were some nice things said online that this might have been one of his best books. So, who knows? I might be pleasantly surprised. (Other “U” books I recommend: The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner, but read The Thief by her first, as The Queen of Attolia is boo two.)
R- Redwall by Brian Jacques
Yes, it’s true. I’ve never read a Brian Jacques book. I’ve owned the first two since Luke was two, so that’s been nine years. It’s long past time, don’t you think? (Other “R” books I recommend: The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.)
S- The Spirit Well by Stephen Lawhead
This is the third book in the Bright Empires series. I got it from the Amazon Vine program and need to review it. So, yeah… (Other “S” books I recommend: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.)
T- This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
(Other “T” books I recommend: To Kill a Mockingbird by by Harper Lee, The Time Traveler’s Wife by by Audrey Niffenegger, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. And in case you didn’t notice, I really like The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner and the other books in that series as well. Tuck Everlasting might also be enjoyable, though I’ve never read it.)
U- Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Here was another desperate search for a U book, but I’ve always wanted to read this one. I never had it assigned to me in school. So I’m assigning it to myself. Plus I was able to get it free on Kindle. Bonus! (Other “U” books I recommend: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld! Too bad I’d already read this…)
V- The Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers
My friend gave me this book for Christmas almost ten years ago. I’ve tried to start reading it twice, and failed! Yet so many people rave about this series. I will read this book. It will happen. Finally. (Other “V” books I recommend: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis.)
W- White Oleander by Janet Fitch
When I was on my book tour with Bill Myers, he told me to read this book. He “assigned” it to me so that I would notice the authors beautiful way with words. He said that it’s not a clean book, and that it’s not a feel good book. So I’m not sure what I’ve gotten myself into here… (Other “W” books I recommend: A Walk to Remember by Nicolas Sparks, Watership Down by Richard Adams.)
X- Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
This is the third book in the Ender’s Game series. But it started with an X, you see? I’m not going to be able to read this one unless I read Speaker for the Dead, book two. So this book might get me in trouble too. (Other “X” books I recommend: I have no idea! LOL An X-men comic, maybe? In fact, I have no recommendations for X, Y, or Z. I was pretty thrilled to come up with the books I came up with!)
Y- Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
I’ve heard lots about this author and have always been curious about him. This probably isn’t his most popular book, but it’s a Y and I’m going to read it! Boo-yah!
Z- Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O’Brien
I’ve had this book since my Alaska school visits when a librarian gave it to me when I told her I was thinking of writing a steampunk novel. She also gave me Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, which is a fabulous book. But Z for has been sitting all this time. I was so happy to find it on my shelf because I needed a Z!
Have you read any of these books? Do you have any recommendations? Especially for letters N, Q, U, X, Y, and Z?