Monday, November 8, 2010

What's Your READ Book Choice?

The fabulous GreenBeanTeenQueen blogged the other day about celebrities promoting books and how many of us just want to know why they picked the book they are reading in those famous READ posters.  Has Catcher in the Rye really shaped that many people's lives, or was because it's required reading in school and is the only book they remember reading?

It's hard to tell.  Some probably have read the book and have a great reason for picking it, like Nathan Fillion:
Nathan is a co-founder of KNTR (Kids Need To Read), and he's reading a book by his friend and co-founder YA Sci Fi author PJ Haarsma.  The book is Softwire: Awakening on Orbis.  You can really tell this is something he has a passion for, and is not afraid to talk about it.

But some may argue, at least they are promoting reading and it shouldn't matter what book they pick.  Which is totally true- at least the celebrity is taking the time to promote a book.  But if you are taking the time to do a READ photoshoot, give us a little line about what you loved about the book, or why you chose it for the poster.

So this brings me to my question.  What would you choose as your READ book?

I've had to sit and think about this one for a while.  There are so many books that I love, that have shaped and influenced me, and I want to hold all of them!

I narrowed it down to four:
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey (the Dragonriders of Pern series really launched my love of fantasy)
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman (I bawled like a baby at the end of the 3rd book, and I still ponder it sometimes)
Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn (I grew to love the characters throughout the series, and waited with baited breath for each subsequent book to come out- I again, bawled like a baby at the end because I was losing my friends)

But my choice would be Sabriel by Garth Nix. 



This is what the cover looked like back when I read it

 Sabriel struck a certain chord with me, that is still hard to explain to this day.  I still remember when I read it in Junior High and thought if I ever wrote a book, this is what I would want it to be like.  I never thought I would be a writer at the time, but this book pretty much is what permanently glued me to YA fantasy.  Garth Nix just has the natural ability to weave a fantasy adventure story with a little bit of romance, all the while doing it under 90,000 words.  Sabriel is what I would consider the perfect "formula" for a YA fantasy.

But if I could be holding Sabriel, and have the other three stacked next to me with the spines showing, that would be perfect.

So, what would be your pick for your own READ poster?

19 comments:

Colene Murphy said...

HP would be mine. Hands down but I guess that isn't new or original haha. But Sabriel is my other choice and you took it so, whatever! I loved these books!

I want to say I bought it for my mom from the book bus in 5th grade and ended up stealing it for myself after it sat on her bookcase untouched for weeks! Still have that same copy.

Or The Hunger Games.

Unknown said...

I'm with Colene, Harry Potter would definitely be on my list. I love them. Ummm, I could also go with Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins or any Susan Elizabeth Phillips book. Seems like I have quite a few choices that I adore.

Library Gal @Lost in the Library said...

This is an awesome question. If I were to look at the top shelf of my bookcase where my most treasured books go;it's lined with the Harry Potter Series/the Hunger Games Series/and The Twilight Series. All books that haved moved me or changed me in some way. If possible I'd like to hold my favourite from each of the series. Number 3 & 7 from HP, Hunger Games and Twilight.

Abby-Have you ever contacted Garth Nix and let him know what Sabriel means to you? I bet he would love to hear it. :)

GreenBeanTeenQueen said...

I would pick From the Mixed up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler-my alltime favorite book I read as a child. Or maybe Danny and the Dinosaur-the first book I ever learned to read.

Jessica said...

Hunger Games would def be up there as well as Rowan by McCaffrey and The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory or Wicked by Gregory Maguire OH and The Help was amazing...man there are so many I don't know how I could pick just one..oh Rebecca I loved...Jerry Spinelli books, I can't stop!!! Sedaris, Hiassen, King, Yep I would be on a big old pile of books...kind of like Scrooge and his pile of money :) But I think Harry Potter would be my pick because of how it turned so many adults into reading after a lifetime of never picking up a book....

Abby Minard said...

Ooh, these are all great choices guys! I see a theme here, and yes, Harry Potter is up there on my favs too! Hunger Games too!

Colene- HP is a great choice- you've always talked about how it has influenced and impacted you and your writing.

Sarah- I'm pretty sure I've read From the Mixed Up Files...I need to go back and look at them.

Library Gal- I never thought of contacting him. Maybe I'll make it my reward for if I get published lol. Although I just friend-requested him on facebook ;p

Jess- Oh yes, loved Wicked (of course). I just had an image of you on a pile of books wearing a scrooge outfit. Ha.

Jen- I never read Hex Hall but I've heard good things.

Lisa Galek said...

I'd have to go with Pride and Prejudice as my main pick, but I don't think a person's reading life is complete without Harry Potter in it :)

As far as books that have touched me, I'll always remember the experience of reading Of Mice and Men for the first time. The Road was amazing, too. And The Awakening also has a special place in my heart.

Rachael Harrie said...

Great question. I think it was "Magician" by Raymond E. Feist for me, read it as a teenager and fell in love with the fantasy genre :)

Rach

Andy said...

This is such a hard question! I would probably hold Dragons of Autumn Twilight from the Dragonlance Series. This was the series that seriously got me reading fantasy and thinking about writing. I would guess that I have read the series over 100 times, I have had to re-buy the books at least 4 or 5 times.

Rachael- I LOVE Magician, I just bought it in hardcover. Great choice!

Abby Minard said...

Lisa- I remember reading Of Mice and Men too, and I've heard so many good things about The Road.

Rachael- I'll have to check out Magician!

Andy- I should really read that Dragonlance series sometime (in all my spare time).

Jennie Bailey said...

What a GREAT blog post!!! And a hard decision. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien or Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor.

Anonymous said...

I would have to choose between Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere or Tad Williams' The War of the Flowers for being my all-time favorite books, or Stephen King's The Gunslinger, the book that made me want to become a writer.

I have an award for you over at my blog :-)

alexia said...

I think The Hobbit would have to be mine... I've definitely read it more than any other book. Oh, and can I say that Nathan Fillion is hot? He he. I watch Castle every week.

Also, I cried like a baby at the end of The Golden Compass series, too! I loved that series and was really mad that it ended like that.

justin said...

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer

Mixes my love of history and of completely crazy things. Oh, and it's almost believable. The guy really did this homework!

Abby Minard said...

Kelly- I've always wanted to read The Gunslinger, maybe I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the award- i'm a bit behind on blogs, and I'll run over in a jiffy!

Alexia- Yes, Nathan Fillion definitely is up there in hot "older" guys.

Justin- I have to read that! I know you were raving about it when you read it.

Unknown said...

They had Sabriel at my library during their $.25 sale and I am still kicking myself for not grabbing it!

Jessica Ann Hill said...

Oh, it's so hard to choose! There are just way too many fantastic books out there. Maybe Wicked by Gregory Maguire. The Hunger Games would be up there for me as well.

erica and christy said...

Oh my gosh. I've always loved to read, but don't know so many books! I will definitely check out Sabriel and get back to you! I need to think on this one. A poster is a big deal and I need to make the right choice. Thanks for telling me about READ. I love the tv show Castle that Nathan is on (and plays a crime writer) hehe.. so thanks for the info! christy

Unknown said...

Ooh, the Golden Compass! I loved/love that one too. Also cried my heart out at the end of the third book (still do whenever I re-read it!)

But... If I had to pick one series to read for the rest of eternity without being allowed any other books, it would have to be Harry Potter :-) Can I hold all 7 of them in my poster??