Tag Archives: book list

Must-Read Books from 2015

Every year, the stack of books sitting on your end table grows taller; and each year, your time becomes more and more precious. We can relate to that time-crunched feeling you get when the New Year is starting and you haven’t yet completed your New Year’s resolutions from the previous year. So, we’ve taken the time to cultivate a list of books you may have missed last year that we think you should make room for in 2016.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

an ember in the ashes bookThis young adult (YA) fantasy novel was named as one of the best books of the year by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Popsugar. Tahir weaves an epic story of survival, loyalty and love set in a terrifying ancient Rome-like world. The story unfolds in shifting points of view as Laia struggles to save her brother, and Elias fights for his freedom from the Empire.  An Ember in the Ashes is a satisfying mix of Hunger Games, Romeo and Juliet and Game of Thrones that reminds teen and adult readers alike to never give up hope.

The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev

bollywood bride bookThey say not to judge a book by its cover, but Bollywood Bride is just as captivating as the cover’s image. In typical Bollywood fashion, Dev’s novel is a story filled with emotion, family and glimpses of Indian culture. This witty romance tells the story of Ria Parker, a Bollywood star. Ria goes home for her cousin’s wedding when she is confronted with her childhood friend, Vikram, who thinks she’s sold her soul to become a celebrity.

 

Ashley Bell: A Novel by Dean Koontz

ashley bell bookDean Koontz’s newly released fantasy thriller is an unpredictable story featuring a wide array of characters, including a surfer girl, Nazi sympathizer and a Navy seal. Cancer patient Bibi Bell meets these characters and others in an effort to rescue Ashley, a teenager that supernatural messages are prompting her to save.

 

 

House of the Rising Sun by James Lee Burke

house of the rising sun bookHackberry Holland, the novel’s protagonist, is a character straight out of a western. He’s honorable and intelligent, yet troubled by the guilt he feels for his past. House of the Rising Sun follows the Texas ranger as he tries to reconnect with, and later rescue, his estranged son from the crosshairs of an arms dealer who believes the object Hackberry carries is the Holy Grail. Burke’s novel is a beautiful combination of landscapes from the withering Wild West and action packed scenes.

Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon

boys in the trees bookIn her #1 bestselling memoir, Carly Simon, singer of the 1972 #1 hit song You’re So Vain, tells the story of her difficult childhood, musical debut and marriage to James Taylor. The book includes tidbits about how songs came to be; but mostly it is a deeply personal account of her life experiences that showcase the vulnerable person hiding behind her sexy persona.

 

See Me by Nicholas Sparks

see me sparks bookThis is not just another romance. In See Me, Sparks blends his typical love story with a suspenseful thriller. Yes, the protagonists, Maria and Colin, meet by chance and fall in love; but they also face a terrifying series of events triggered by someone from Maria’s past. See Me is the perfect read for those who want a little romance combined with an Alex Cross style mystery.

 

Films You Didn’t Know Were Books First

Looking for new books to add to your book list? Browse your library of streaming movies. You read that right. Bookstores are great for discovering new titles but sometimes it’s the silver screen that introduces you to stories worth reading. Check out this list of lesser-known books that are movies.

 

The Rules of Attraction

The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis

Plenty of dystopian college kids identified with this 2002 film about disengaged intellectuals smoking too many cigarettes. TRoA was Ellis’ second book (after his breakout novel Less Than Zero) and it continued his brand of nihilistic characters talking about indie bands and philosophers. If you enjoyed the antipathy in the movie, there are many more paragraphs of it in the book.

 


 

Madame Doubtfire

Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine

OK, maybe there can be no Mrs. Doubtfire without Robin Williams, but the lovable trans-manny character was actually the brainchild of Anne Fine and her British novel of a slightly different name published in 1987. When your streaming services run out of good movies about creative childcare, delve into the pages of this delightful novel.

 


 

Jaws

Jaws by Peter Benchley

This is one of those movies that’s a great teaser for an even better book. Benchley’s terrifying tome was based on a real-life series of shark attacks on the Jersey shore. If you enjoyed the adventure of the film, the book has even more vivid character development and, believe it or not, heightened tension.

 


 

He's Just Not That Into You

He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo

This movie was a book. A self-help book. Originally meant to be a real talk dating advice manual, it took its title from an episode of Sex and the City where Behrendt was a script consultant. The movie took a humorous approach with cutting loose the players, but the book offers specific advice on finding (and holding onto) love.

 


 

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Here’s a film adaptation with a unique twist: casting actual people from the 1994 non-fiction book. Berendt’s riveting New York Times bestseller chronicles the stories of the eccentric people he met during a stay in Savannah, Georgia. Reading like the best crime fiction, it’s one of those stories that’ll have you espousing “truth is stranger than fiction.”