This is a weird list, do i just add the books I'm planning on reading?

I think its a good list, i like 1/2 the books on it, and the rest i havent read

Beyond Ugly this book is really wonderful coz it starts ov really sad nd then itz so great at der end. i lyk it coz it really won'tz u 2 read more nd itz a true life story.

the Twilight series is amazing!!

ok this is a wierd list

ha ha! ;)

There is always my book to vote for. =)

Dreamsbane of Tamalor

There are so many great books on here, some that I've read and some I've heard are just plain amazing. Of all these wonderful books, the ones at the top are STEPHENIE MEYER?? Are you kidding me? I don't even know what to say, it's disgusting how people love her when she is one of the worst authors I've ever wasted my time on. You have so many amazing books on this list, and that sh!t is at the top. Ugh.

and why is she advertised EVERYWHERE?? It can't be because of her talent. Maybe she is independently rich and can afford ads in every medium including all the lit sites on the internet.

I found two on the list I'd like to read this summer. There are others I plan to read this summer, but I don't think adding our own choices is an option.

Rosemary wrote: "Beyond Ugly this book is really wonderful coz it starts ov really sad nd then itz so great at der end. i lyk it coz it really won'tz u 2 read more nd itz a true life story."

Yes it is. I am ready breaking dawn now. I can't put the book down. I mean WOW.

Beebe wrote: "and why is she advertised EVERYWHERE?? It can't be because of her talent. Maybe she is independently rich and can afford ads in every medium including all the lit sites on the internet."

i think its because girls love daydreaming that "their edward" (who i personally don't like because he has no personality) will come, someone really hot who saves them always and lets them live forever. (not that i'm against dreaming of love, but this is just ridiculously shallow)

basically, really shallow anti-feminist dreamers love it. and there seems to be a h*ll of a lot of those.

I'm working on writing a book right now...
I hope maybe one day I can publish It.

I love being alerted to first books by authors. I take into consideration that the first book allows me to see the real writer before he/she is "formed" by the system. I know that each book thereafter will probably be better and better. Therefore, I am recommending The Slide by Kyle Beachy. I was able to see his style develop as the novel developed. I am looking forward to seeing his next one.

Excellent idea for a list!

Hey Nancy, maybe you can take a look at my book when I'm finished with it?? =)

Most of the books i heard once or twice. Some of them i took the time to read. but. it has a few books in there that i liked.

Meyer really is a horrible writer but I think what i've fallen most in love with is the story behind it all.

Thanks M.D. =)
I won't give up! ;)
I just have to edit and revise it now...

Stephanie Meyer is the best writer ever! Stargirl, I'm sorry, but I don't agree with your comment AT ALL.

Good list. I found myself voting multiple times, which I don't usually do.

Stephanie Meyer and Dan Brown hold the top 4 positions? A sorry comment on literacy. . . .

I don't think this list is supposed to be the best examples of literary expertise. It's a list of suggestions for reading over summer... whether they be classics or contemporary or what have you. I read for entertainment purposes and I thought twilight was entertaining. I don't contest that they are top examples of literary skill... but I DO know they entertained me... and that's enough for me :)

Our local library each year has a "One Read" program where anyone who wishes may read the same book over the summer, then in the fall they have several programs where readers can meet, discuss, and meet the author of the book. It is a wonderful program, uniting the city in a one read book. This year's selection is "The Air we Breathe", by Andrea Barrett. This is a good program for any city to originate.
In the past we have read "Tortilla Curtain" by T. C. Boyle--Water for Elephants--Sara Gruen--Whistling Season by Ivan Diog. This is our 7th year. I have been enrolled each year.

Our book, The Dyodyne Experiment was just released. It is a contemporary fiction thriller and was a Gold Medalist in the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Award) for the Popular Fiction Category! Imagine the government being able to secretly track you by your DNA. For a book summary, go to: http://www.dyodyneexperiment.com

Thank you,
V. Michael Santoro

Lonesome Point is a new crime novel that was released last week. Visit www.ianvasquez.net to see reviews and summary. It is the perfect summer read by a new novelist.

Beebe wrote: "and why is she advertised EVERYWHERE?? It can't be because of her talent. Maybe she is independently rich and can afford ads in every medium including all the lit sites on the internet."

that is incorrect you can add as many as you wish, the option should be in the upper right hand corner of the page.

Samia wrote: "the Twilight series is amazing!!"

Rosemary wrote: "Beyond Ugly this book is really wonderful coz it starts ov really sad nd then itz so great at der end. i lyk it coz it really won'tz u 2 read more nd itz a true life story."

i havent read ANY of these books. when i get older i will.

I definatly recomend reading kissed by an angel...it is one of the best books i have ever read...haha...and i hope it gets voted to the top...

The Host is a good book. I'm currently reading it. It's by Stephanie Meyer.

Wow, I'm sorry but the Twilight Series isn't that great, vampyres aren't what they use to be. The love seems fake and it can't happen like that. Marked I like cause it actually relates to teenagers and not fake crap.

Samia wrote: "Stephanie Meyer is the best writer ever! Stargirl, I'm sorry, but I don't agree with your comment AT ALL."

Best writer ever? Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but I think that's an outrageous statement!

Wow, read about 1/3 of them, have about 1/4 on my TBR list. I read only for entertainment and if I start a book that doesn't grab my attention in the first 50 pages, it's gone and I start another.

Stephenie Meyer isn't really the greatest writer... But you DO have to admit that the plot behind The Host was really unique and very interesting. But Twilight has interesting characters and it's something different. At least it's getting teen girls that might otherwise not read to read...

Stephanie Meyer is "Pulp Fiction".. Not a literary giant, but merely entertainment. I think you have to allow for both types of literature and be willing to recognize something for what it is. I read plenty of "filler" books between some of the bigger names. It helps to break it up a bit so I don't overwhelm myself with some of the heavier works, or underwhelm myself with too much shallow material.

So teenagers flock to it, and publishers know this and flood the market with it (because teens respond well to that). They don't yet seek out great works, but it at least keeps reading a part of their daily lives. Perhaps some of those enticed into reading it will move on to books with a higher pedigree someday. At the very least they may have a better vocabulary than most teens.

And yes, I've read Twilight. It was a little shallow, and borrowed a lot of ideas. It was also entertaining enough that I did not regret spending the time reading it.

I read alot. and I haven't finished looking at the list to my content but...I read one comment and it's fine they can have their opion but...I have to say Stephenie Meyer is an amazing author. You know that you have a great author when they can make you love the characters. I realize that yes, she borowed ideas but...I believe that every book has at least one borrowed idea from another story.

I have to say though...I didn't see Percy Jackson and The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan on the list. Which I was kind of disappointed in. I woul dput it on but I've already read it twice. It was amazing the author was very creative and surprising through out the book.

Samia wrote: "I'm working on writing a book right now...
I hope maybe one day I can publish It."

Oh, I'm writing a book too. As far as I can tell I haven't copied any ideas for the plot...I'm no where near done with it but...still.

MY BOOK, shamelessly promoted, because after you have read it, you will wonder why you didn't get your hands on it sooner.
Walking on a Rolling Deck: Life on the Ark,
by Kathleen C. Berken (2008 Liturgical Press)
http://www.faithjourneyhope.com/

I thought that twilight would be at the VERY top. I guess not

Such a shame that a site called "Goodreads" has Stephanie Meyers at the top of books to read. I can only hope that these readers are inspired to read something better in the future. I know for sure that in a few years they will feel ashamed that they loved this book so much. Youth knows nothing of permanence. If Edward Cullen was really such a long-lived being, he would teach Bella a thing or two about a good story, and also would have learned to write much better.

A couple not to be missed.
Bringing Vincent Home by Madeleine Mysko,
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

Both are very well-written, both are debut novels and both were hard to put down.

To people who hate Stephenie Meyer: You know...if you guys hate Stephenie Meter and her writing so bad why do you keep on bringing her up?

I have to say I'm disappointed that the hobbit made it to the first page...and that it was voted for. Tolkin's a has talent great writing but the hobbit was so drawn out. I found only one chapter in the book entertaining and that was, Riddles in the Dark. Don't get me wrong there were some short and sactered bursts of relitively good parts in the book but Riddles in the Dark was the only WHOLE CHAPTER I found entertaining.

MICHAEL wrote: "This is a weird list, do i just add the books I'm planning on reading?"

That's what I did for two of mine.

I agree with you, Russ. Hopefully Stephenie Meyer fans will realize that she does not write very good literature at all, and that they will read insightful and fascinating books such as The Da Vinci Code.

Stephany meyers is ok with writing i just think her books go more tward girls. my sister has read all the books in like 2 weeks and 3 days and then she read them all again.......... so a lot of girls like her books. I dont know any boy that has read the twilight series though so that makes me think it goes more tward girls.

This list runs the gamut from young adult to serious nonfic. It offers something for everyone. I picked 3 that I've heard about and am interested in.

As for the whole Twilight thing: everyone reads for his/her own reasons. It's the reading part that's important.

Happy summer somewhere. It certainly doesn't feel it in New England.

The Twilight Series is popular on here because there is no age limit on here and the votes all come from the teen set. There is hope however as my daughter is 14 and thinks the best book on here is To Kill A Mockingbird.