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Original Stories . . . a Breath of Fresh Air
A list for fantasy and YA books that are different from the current popular ones.
5,389 books ·
8,512 voters ·
list created September 23rd, 2010
by Maddison Jay (votes) .
Comments Showing 1-50 of 111 (111 new)
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Jan 28, 2011 12:55PM
some of these books I'v never herd of :) so I think I'v found a couple of good series :) the "Newflesh" books look good I like zombies.
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To me, the only "original" stories would be the Hunger Games, or the Wake Trilogy. Possibly I Am Number Four.
+The Lightning Thief .
As much as I liked Hunger Games, I don't think it's an original story at all. It's Battle Royale for YA.
I agree w/Lauren about Hunger Games. I read the description and thought Battle Royale, but i read the book anyway and enjoyed it.
Hi Maddison, I updated your list to remove duplicates.Regards,
Your Local Librarian ;-)
Twilight removed. If there is anything else on here that really really shouldn't be here leave a comment. I don't think some people really read what this list was about... :/
I voted for The Society On Da Run. It's the only original dragon story I've read. A space dragon empire is something not too many people would touch.
Hunger games is too an original story. I have read a lot of books and never once has I come across a book remotely similar. I think Suzanne has a very original mind that will bring us many more thrilling story's that will play with our emotions. P.S. if hunger games wasn't original then why are they making it into a major motion picture.
This list should be titled original stories to people who hardly ever read. I mean really? There is probably 5 books on here that are actually original. The hunger games, the lightning thief, and the city of ember were not original at all!
I won't disagree with you until you tell me why they were not original stories. I am curious to find out why you think this.
They aren't original because they've been done before. For example, The Hunger Games. It's battle royal, lord of the flies, Faerie Wars, harry potter and many other stories combined. Now were all of these original? No, but i am not saying they are, just that Hunger Games isn't. The fact that they are making a motion picture is never evidence. There are motion pictures for Twilight and Harry Potter as well, neither of which are original.
Mira wrote: "They aren't original because they've been done before. For example, The Hunger Games. It's battle royal, lord of the flies, Faerie Wars, harry potter and many other stories combined. Now were all o..."Ok. Umm no need to get snotty. We r all friends. DON'T BEEK HARRY POTTER. THAT'S TOTALLY UNCOOL!!!! Those were amazing books. The hunger games. Please name one book that's remotely similar to it. Because I am confident that you won't find one. So to sum it up. You have either read too much or too little because you seriously need to chill. All books can have good qualities and bad.
Payton wrote: "Ok. Umm no need to get snotty. We r all friends. DON'T BEEK HARRY POTTER. THAT'S TOTALLY UNCOOL!!!! Those were amazing books. The hunger games. Please name one book that's remotely similar to it. Because I am confident that you won't find one. So to sum it up. You have either read too much or too little because you seriously need to chill. All books can have good qualities and bad."That wasn't what Mira was saying. She was saying they weren't original, saying nothing about their quality. Also:
Payton wrote: "The hunger games. Please name one book that's remotely similar to it."
Mira did that. That was the whole point.
Exactly! I'm not saying anything about the quality, simply that they are not original. Also, I gave about six examples, and I could easily name more.
Ok ok. I'm sorry if I came off rude? What other books have you read so that I might understand your reading tastes??
Wow guys matched??
As much as people like to say The Hunger Games was like Battle Royale... I would say yes and no to that. Battle Royale was more of a psychological/human condition kind of book. The Hunger Games was more based around political structures and control. While there was politics in Battle Royale the focus was more on what the characters were going through killing their friends. The Hunger Games was focused around an uprising. Yes, they use the element of a forced fighting to the death in their plots, but their objectives are different. They are both great books in my opinion and I do not blame Suzanne Collins at all for using the idea. It wasn't original to Battle Royale anyway.
I would argue with these additions:Last Sacrifice, Unearthly, Hush, Hush, Fallen, Shiver, on the grounds that they are prime examples of popular works of the two genres mentioned in the subtitle of this list (all right, so Shiver is werewolves--they're nearly as rampant anyway) as genres this list is steering away from; The Lightning Thief because it is a classic example of the Harry Potteresque hero's journey; and Romeo and Juliet, which was not original when Shakespeare created it (the plot is as old as story!) and has thoroughly influenced our literature since it was written. This is not necessarily a reflection of the books' literary worth--they just don't belong on this list.
original
adjective
2. new; fresh; inventive; novel:
3. arising or proceeding independently of anything else:
5. created, undertaken, or presented for the first time
(Definitions taken from dictionary.com)
Books on this list should have a theme not frequently used, or a truly unique twist on a more common theme, or an unusual and outstanding way of telling the story. There are plenty of lists on this site for favorite books. This list is for people to come to when they are looking for something out of the ordinary.
The Book Thief is listed twice, second one is 159.
Payton wrote: "Hunger games is too an original story. I have read a lot of books and never once has I come across a book remotely similar. I think Suzanne has a very original mind that will bring us many more thr..."The Hunger Games is too much like Battle Royale
Aly wrote: "Payton wrote: "Hunger games is too an original story. I have read a lot of books and never once has I come across a book remotely similar. I think Suzanne has a very original mind that will bring u..."
I agree Aly as my husband told me it is the same plot as some book he read years ago. I forget what book he said it was. There are very few original plots.
I agree Aly as my husband told me it is the same plot as some book he read years ago. I forget what book he said it was. There are very few original plots.
Wolves of Mercy Falls is not very original, girl meets boy, boy is a paranormal creature. I've seen that too many times.Also, Beastly by Alex Flinn is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I enjoyed that book but I don't think a retold story should be classified as original.
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians added.
A book lovers dream site. IVe only just scratched the surface of the site and already have more books in the "to be read" than I'll ever read this year. Yipee!!
Payton wrote: "Hunger games is too an original story. I have read a lot of books and never once has I come across a book remotely similar. I think Suzanne has a very original mind that will bring us many more thr..."Just because it's a movie doesn't mean anything. Have you read Twilight? That's not too original, yet it's a movie. I've seen so many Vampire/Paranormalish romances before it was released, but that didn't affect Hollywood into making a movie from it.
The Hunger Games is original to some extent, but there are similarites to lots of other books. Such as, gladiator-type fighting and love surfacing in even the most difficult situations. I liked the book overall, but it wasn't completely original.
Hi everyone,I have created a new group called Goodreads All Sorts and I'd love for people to join it or just even just give it a look. It's a group that discusses anything and everything. There will be monthly group reads, movies, and music. There is a folder for everything you could think of. I'd really like if people could spread the word because I'd love for the group to be a success. Here is the link to the group:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/9...
Thanks very much,
Jack :-)
Read: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck!!! It is amazing and something different! You will love the series, no doubt about! Just check it out, you'll be captured with awe.
Elizabeth wrote: "Read: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck!!! It is amazing and something different! You will love the series, no doubt about! Just check it out, you'll be captured with awe."That paragraph right there summed up my experience almost perfectly. I am currently waiting for an undetermined ammount of time until the release of Tiger's Dream. Ah, how I wish to have an experience as wonderful as Kelsey's.
I would argue with a lot of these choices- for example, Fallen, Hush, Hush and Shiver. They fall for me within the 'typical paranormal romance' category. Matched and Delirium are also very similar, I would say Delirium is the more original as it came first. Also the world of Matched is virtually the same to that of The Giver.
lol You call these original? Yes, of course, some are, but many plots are recycled. Hunger Games, though good, was basically a Battle Royale rip-off as someone said. Fallen...don't even get me started on that, but it's right on par with Delirium :P
Why is Divergent on this list? It is a rip off of the Hunger Games.
Isabella wrote: "Why is Divergent on this list? It is a rip off of the Hunger Games."Not really....
But I say that Hunger Games is just a rip off of Running Man and Battle Royal, and yet I still think it's original in it's own way.
Aly wrote: "Payton wrote: "Hunger games is too an original story. I have read a lot of books and never once has I come across a book remotely similar. I think Suzanne has a very original mind that will bring u..."That's what I keep saying, but apparently no one's ever read the book or even seen the movie. It also reminds me of Running Man in ways too.
Elle wrote: "Isabella wrote: "Why is Divergent on this list? It is a rip off of the Hunger Games."Not really....
But I say that Hunger Games is just a rip off of Running Man and Battle Royal, and yet I still..."
I've READ Divergent, but, come on. The cover is a rip off of The Hunger Games.
I don't think Divergent is very similar at all to the Hunger Games. Other than the fact that there's a teenage girl fighting for the fate of her post-apocalyptic society. Tris and Katniss are completely different characters in almost completely different situations.
Chloe wrote: "I don't think Divergent is very similar at all to the Hunger Games. Other than the fact that there's a teenage girl fighting for the fate of her post-apocalyptic society. Tris and Katniss are compl..."For me, that qualifies them as very similar. Also, she is a smaller girl compared to her training opponents (just like in the Hunger Games). But then shows through other skills she's "special". Just like in the Hunger Games. Oh, and the book ends on a train, just like what? The Hunger Games. Yes, the story turned out somewhat different, but to much is the same to truly qualify as original.
Isabella wrote: "Chloe wrote: "I don't think Divergent is very similar at all to the Hunger Games. Other than the fact that there's a teenage girl fighting for the fate of her post-apocalyptic society. Tris and Kat..."I don't think that a couple minor details would constitute a rip-off. Katniss was taught how to hunt by her father from a young age, so she had something going for her. Tris had no idea what she was doing, she was raised to be tame and selfless. Katniss was only special through her rebelliousness and strength, while Tris was special because she had a rare quality. If you're judging the book based on the fact that it ends on a train, then by that logic every book that ends on a train is copying the Hunger Games.
Chloe wrote: "Isabella wrote: "Chloe wrote: "I don't think Divergent is very similar at all to the Hunger Games. Other than the fact that there's a teenage girl fighting for the fate of her post-apocalyptic soci..."You make excellent points. What I suppose I should have made clearer earlier is, I think it really comes down to opinion. My opinion is it's a rip off, you're opinion is obviously different. I'm just trying to express things that I felt were similar, and see if anyone else feels the same. I realized the minute I posted I was the odd one out since everyone I know loves Divergent. For me personally, almost all books in the post--apocalyptic section seem to be very similar, and I'm starting to get sick of it. This was what made me irritated, and say Divergent is unoriginal. It's not just about The Hunger Games, it's about the book trend in general that I'm just sick of.
But, it perhaps isn't the fairest thing in the world to tell everyone that. You are a perfect example Chloe, I don't know anything about you! Maybe you like this genre, and you like the book in the genre. I'm personally sick of it and all the books are starting to sound the same to me.
haven't read most of the book in here,so no idea whether they are original or not. So far none I would pick up.I am surprised Elric saga isn't here. It's the kind of original I am looking for.
I have mixed feeling with hunger games. Battle to death where people is put into situation where they have to battle each other to death. well, to me it's common setting. Not in novel, but I read manga too and that idea is used often. So to me, hunger game isn't all that original.
Isabella wrote: "Chloe wrote: "Isabella wrote: "Chloe wrote: "I don't think Divergent is very similar at all to the Hunger Games. Other than the fact that there's a teenage girl fighting for the fate of her post-ap..."Oh, I totally respect your opinion! And I DO think that they're similar, and I can see you getting tired of the genre. Honestly i'm not too into it myself, but I did enjoy both The Hunger Games and Divergent. I think I understand Tris a lot more than I understand Katniss as a person, and maybe that's why I am slightly overprotective of the series. I'm sorry if I came off hostile! I generally stick to realistic fiction (like John Green for example) so I understand what you mean!
Chloe wrote: "Isabella wrote: "Chloe wrote: "Isabella wrote: "Chloe wrote: "I don't think Divergent is very similar at all to the Hunger Games. Other than the fact that there's a teenage girl fighting for the fa..."I understand where you're coming from! If I read something that is similar to something I've already read, I still might like it better even if the plot isn't "original" to me anymore.
Hey, no sweat! I'm just glad you're a rational person I can have a conversation with, unlike so many other people on the internet. I read a lot of realistic fiction as well. Have to throw in I love John Green!
Please, as much as I like The Hunger Games... it isn't original, and thats okay! But still it isn't just Battle Royal, there are several books and movies with the same theme made before The Hunger Games.
Really,Half Bloods is on this list? From the reviews I've read this series is nearly identical to Vampire Academy.
Penny wrote: "A book lovers dream site. IVe only just scratched the surface of the site and already have more books in the "to be read" than I'll ever read this year. Yipee!!"haha. me too!
Sarah wrote: "Jessie wrote: "Wolves of Mercy Falls is not very original, girl meets boy, boy is a paranormal creature. I've seen that too many times.Also, Beastly by Alex Flinn is a retelling of Beauty and the..."
I loved The Wolves of Mercy Falls! Sure the boy meets girl thing isn't original, but the way the werewolves are is different. I haven't read a book that portrays werewolves like that before, like the temperature thing and the whole 'scientific-ish' part when they're trying to figure out what's wrong with grace.
I understand where you're coming from though, but I personally think that some things are original. I could be wrong though,
Payton wrote: "Hunger games is too an original story. I have read a lot of books and never once has I come across a book remotely similar. I think Suzanne has a very original mind that will bring us many more thr..."Tell me why. I disagree and I have read all the books and seen the movie.
Amazing story! Very engaging. The series is outstanding and ive read them over and over again, charishing every moment.I definetly recomend he Hunger Games Books
Anyone can add books to this list.
