What is the best book you've ever read? - Page 3 - The DIS Discussion Forums

badblackpug · 02-10-2013, 03:13 PM

The Color Purple Alice Walker

kaligal · 02-10-2013, 03:20 PM

Books I'd recommend for a 16yo whose first language is not English...

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Rebecca
Cold Sassy Tree
The Little Prince
A Seperate Peace (are they still assigning that in grade school or high school?)
...And, of course, The Catcher in the Rye

These are not my favorite books, but they're very easy to read books I think a teen girl would enjoy.

AlaskaMOM · 02-10-2013, 04:08 PM

I don't normally jump into book threads because I can never pick just one (or shut up about books)
But as someone who hosted an exchange student AND recommends books for a living I thought I would chime in.
First off I think it's nice your friend wants to have so many things available for her student BUT

she will be an individual, with individual tastes, probably not very likely to be like an American teen's taste.

Our exchange student picked a book he had read before (in his own language years ago) for his 1st book assignment for Language Arts class. It was The Witches by Roald Dahl. Yes it is a kids book, but he reads English at a much younger level, and already knowing the jist of the story it was easier for him to understand the English.
For his other books for reading he choose philosophy and art books, He learned about those topics extensively in his country and he wanted to see how they compare in the U.S. I guess.
He did try to read the Lightning Thief, but he didn't care for it.

So I could give you a long list of favorites (though many PP have hit upon some good ones already) but I think your friend should put some of the free classics on the kindle. But wait until her student arrives and has a day or 2 (or 5 or 6) to settle in and has the choice as to what type of book she would be comfortable reading in English before she actually purchases anything for the kindle.

DisReno · 02-10-2013, 06:24 PM

Never Mind

kaligal · 02-10-2013, 06:27 PM

Now that the above poster said it, I want to second it...because I thought it in the first place.

Kids that age can choose their own reading material. Also, if I were going to read books in the language I was learning, I would want to start with books I have already read in English.

We don't know how far along in her studies of English this girl has come. We don't know what she would really want to read.

It is nice to hand this girl books. It would be much nicer to ask her to help select one or two and then buy that for her. Also, ask her if she prefers a Kindle or a real book.

nym4588 · 02-10-2013, 06:52 PM

"She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb is quite good. "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy is one of the most haunting things I've ever read.

FayeW · 02-10-2013, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nym4588

"She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb is quite good. "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy is one of the most haunting things I've ever read.

I despised "She's Come Undone". Really, really, hated it.

So many of my favourites have been mentioned, but "The Time Traveller's Wife" is my favourite of those that have already been mentioned. Also loved:

To Kill A Mockingbird
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
Tuesday's With Morrie
The Hunger Games Trilogy
The Help
Secret Daughter

But my all time favourite, bar none, is "As The Crow Flies" by Jeffrey Archer, and another of his books, "Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less" is a very close second.

Actually, I keep getting "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" mixed up with another book, which I absolutely loved by can't for the life of me remember what it is (but apparently for the last 35 years, I thought it was "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn!").

It is about a young couple and if follows them through their courtship and early married life. The part I remember clearly is that they didn't have much money and the wife was an artist, so the husband sold his car to buy her painting supplies for Christmas. She, on the other hand, sold her art supplies to buy him tires for his car.

Does anybody know what book I'm talking about? It's not Gift of the Magi, she sold her hair!

Tarheel Gal · 02-10-2013, 07:08 PM

I loved The Secret Lives of Bees.

TwingleMum · 02-10-2013, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumbo4x4

Death In The Long Grass

Though it's non fiction and probably wouldn't interest a teen girl unless she's fascinated with African animals and/or hunting.

A favorite of mine. I went to Africa for 6 weeks on my Honeymoon

TwingleMum · 02-10-2013, 07:18 PM

Some of my favorites are
Pride & Prejudice
Sense & Sensibility
Harry Potter Series
Gone with the Wind
Black Beauty

JessicaR · 02-10-2013, 07:31 PM

The Lovely Bones was one of my favorite reads. I also really enjoyed these: So many more, just so hard to name only 1!

The Great Gatsby
My Sisters Keeper
The Bell Jar
The Fountainhead
The Master and Margarita

Looking forward to all the replies!

WDWBarb · 02-10-2013, 08:10 PM

The best book I have ever read was The Stand, without question.

I'd have a hard time picking a second, or a third. I really enjoyed Anne Rice's Interview With a Vampire series when I was a teenager. My favorite most recent book was The Art of Racing in the Rain. Loved every minute of it.

luvmy3 · 02-10-2013, 08:26 PM

My favorite book is The Time Traveler's Wife. I also really love The Five People You Meet In Heaven.
I'm currently reading 11/22/63 and I think I'd have to put that on my favorites list too.

I don't think any of them would appeal to a foreign teenager though

Lemonademouth · 02-10-2013, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nette

11/22/63
Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow (same story told from different POV)
Her Fearful Symmetry (by the author of Time Traveler's Wife, and definitely on Kindle)

It's near impossible to pick just ONE favorite book.

I was going to say the Ender series. Orson Scott Card has been one of my favorite authors forever. I made my husband read Ender's Game and he had read all of the older series within the week!!

PeterPanic · 02-10-2013, 08:31 PM

From high school until this year (a long, long time) my favorite was a book titled, "Wind from the Carolina's" by Robert Wilder.

This year I read 11/22/63 by Stephen King and was blown away by his writing and imagination and story telling as well as his ability to tie everything up at the end. Wonderful Story about Time Travel.

I have known that King was a very prolific writer and to be honest most of his stuff was not to my taste, but this one hit the button.

02-10-2013, 03:13 PM	#31
badblackpug If you knew her you would be shocked! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4,086	The Color Purple Alice Walker __________________

02-10-2013, 03:20 PM	#32
kaligal DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7,012	Books I'd recommend for a 16yo whose first language is not English... A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Rebecca Cold Sassy Tree The Little Prince A Seperate Peace (are they still assigning that in grade school or high school?) ...And, of course, The Catcher in the Rye These are not my favorite books, but they're very easy to read books I think a teen girl would enjoy. __________________ Yes, your kids will have fun at Uni and Epcot! ALWAYS pee before riding the monorail! MNSSHP > MVMCP Fantasmic sucks. Last edited by kaligal; 02-10-2013 at 03:26 PM.

02-10-2013, 04:08 PM	#33
AlaskaMOM BL II - Blue Team DH is my Prince Charming Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 898	I don't normally jump into book threads because I can never pick just one (or shut up about books) But as someone who hosted an exchange student AND recommends books for a living I thought I would chime in. First off I think it's nice your friend wants to have so many things available for her student BUT she will be an individual, with individual tastes, probably not very likely to be like an American teen's taste. Our exchange student picked a book he had read before (in his own language years ago) for his 1st book assignment for Language Arts class. It was The Witches by Roald Dahl. Yes it is a kids book, but he reads English at a much younger level, and already knowing the jist of the story it was easier for him to understand the English. For his other books for reading he choose philosophy and art books, He learned about those topics extensively in his country and he wanted to see how they compare in the U.S. I guess. He did try to read the Lightning Thief, but he didn't care for it. So I could give you a long list of favorites (though many PP have hit upon some good ones already) but I think your friend should put some of the free classics on the kindle. But wait until her student arrives and has a day or 2 (or 5 or 6) to settle in and has the choice as to what type of book she would be comfortable reading in English before she actually purchases anything for the kindle. __________________ MAR 2012 BWVDec 2010 AKV&OKW Jan 2010 BWV&OKW Dec 2009 AKV OCT 2007 OKW APR 2007 OKW DEC 2006 OKW OCT 2004 POR DEC 2003 CBR DEC 1999 offsite MAY 1994 offsite I LOVE YOU AJ - 8/3/90-8/6/09

02-10-2013, 06:24 PM	#34
DisReno Earning My Ears Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 50	Never Mind Last edited by DisReno; 02-10-2013 at 06:26 PM. Reason: Changed my Mind

02-10-2013, 06:27 PM	#35
kaligal DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7,012	Now that the above poster said it, I want to second it...because I thought it in the first place. Kids that age can choose their own reading material. Also, if I were going to read books in the language I was learning, I would want to start with books I have already read in English. We don't know how far along in her studies of English this girl has come. We don't know what she would really want to read. It is nice to hand this girl books. It would be much nicer to ask her to help select one or two and then buy that for her. Also, ask her if she prefers a Kindle or a real book. __________________ Yes, your kids will have fun at Uni and Epcot! ALWAYS pee before riding the monorail! MNSSHP > MVMCP Fantasmic sucks.

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02-10-2013, 06:52 PM	#36
nym4588 Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 219	"She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb is quite good. "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy is one of the most haunting things I've ever read.

02-10-2013, 07:08 PM	#38
Tarheel Gal Earning My Ears Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 4	I loved The Secret Lives of Bees.

02-10-2013, 07:18 PM	#40
TwingleMum DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New York Posts: 6,239	Some of my favorites are Pride & Prejudice Sense & Sensibility Harry Potter Series Gone with the Wind Black Beauty

02-10-2013, 07:31 PM	#41
JessicaR DIS Veteran I wanna shoot aliens in the AM too! The Grinch is rude in a funny sorta way run to the hams! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 14,897	The Lovely Bones was one of my favorite reads. I also really enjoyed these: So many more, just so hard to name only 1! The Great Gatsby My Sisters Keeper The Bell Jar The Fountainhead The Master and Margarita Looking forward to all the replies! __________________

02-10-2013, 08:10 PM	#42
WDWBarb It was, in fact, I who was sounding like a loose fan belt I need to put some distance between my coffee, my mouth and my monitor Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,462	The best book I have ever read was The Stand, without question. I'd have a hard time picking a second, or a third. I really enjoyed Anne Rice's Interview With a Vampire series when I was a teenager. My favorite most recent book was The Art of Racing in the Rain. Loved every minute of it.

02-10-2013, 08:26 PM	#43
luvmy3 When I drink I find its easier to watch my children because I see all 3 of them double, so all 6 of them of them take all my attention Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 18,260	My favorite book is The Time Traveler's Wife. I also really love The Five People You Meet In Heaven. I'm currently reading 11/22/63 and I think I'd have to put that on my favorites list too. I don't think any of them would appeal to a foreign teenager though

02-10-2013, 08:31 PM	#45
PeterPanic Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 494	From high school until this year (a long, long time) my favorite was a book titled, "Wind from the Carolina's" by Robert Wilder. This year I read 11/22/63 by Stephen King and was blown away by his writing and imagination and story telling as well as his ability to tie everything up at the end. Wonderful Story about Time Travel. I have known that King was a very prolific writer and to be honest most of his stuff was not to my taste, but this one hit the button.

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