RECOMMENDATIONS! for 15 yr old dd

[Hullygully]

She likes books where things happen, she is currently reading Half of a Yellow Sun. Need ideas!

The fault is in our stars
Special topics in calamity physics
The perks of being a wallflower*
The kite runners*
Beloved*

*some scenes/references of a disturbing nature

Oh no not Beloved, my personal most disliked book of all time.

What about Small Island by Andrea levy?
The cazalet chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard.
Things fall apart - chinua Achebe
I agree re white teeth and brick lane I think she would like them

Back on my nostalgia kick, I also used to love Mary Stewart's books, Margaret Kennedy The Constant Nymph too. If she takes to these older books then the Virago Modern Classics list has lots of good stuff.

Was just going to suggest Small Island to go with White Teeth and Brick Lane. And The Long Song also by Andrea Levy. A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman is very good too.

How about Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth, which also deals with the slave trade. As does A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory which is probably an easier read.

How about The Crow Road by Iain Banks? Some teenagers love The Wasp Factory by the same author, but be warned it's not for everyone!

I think part of what she likes is adult books about people her age, iyswim, which is why she likes Purple Hibiscus, Tiny Sunbirds etc.

Maybe I need to look for those...

How about the Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) books?

I'd say at least half of the main characters start off her age or younger.

Sophie's World is good if she will like the philosophy and can get used to the style of the book.

catmint

Why did you hate beloved so much? I'm just curious (Obv literature is subjective) - Put it as a recommend because if the OPs daughter can handle Half A Yellow Sun she can handle pretty much anything. Whilst the subject matter is harrowing and the style of writing esp. two chapters toward the end (Stream of consciousness type) can be a challenge it is nonetheless a well-written book.

What is your personal most liked book of all time?

(Me: An invisible sign of my own Aimee Bender yes the one that wrote about lemon cake and chairs but this book far better
Hey Nostradamus Douglas Coupland
The accidental Ali Smith
Dangerous Data Lurie-Gibson
Making Babies Anne Enright
K-pax Gene Brewer
The nation's favourite Simon Garfield non-fiction)

guilty pleasures - Bridget Jones High Fidelity

I liked Beloved very much, in fact I like all Toni Morrison's books.

Has she read I Capture the Castle?

People are obsessed with that book...

No, I suppose I really must get it, I've developed a quite unreasoning prejudice about it

Beyonce, I read it as part of my degree, which was a very long time ago. I didn't get on with the style of writing, and I hated the plot.

I found the way it was taught very upsetting as well, although I can't remember why, now.

For all those who got something from it that I didn't, I'm not rubbishing your choices. ( as if you'd care).

I didn't realise that two other people had suggested I capture the castle!

She might enjoy some Margaret Drabbles. Or what about The Bell Jar? Unless she has depressive tendencies.

Amy Tan's The Kitchen God's Wife is a great read from a few years ago.

People always suggest it on every book thread - it's one of those books. It just ramps up my prejudice, altho I did see the film version.

What about some Kurt Vonnegut?

For all those who got something from it that I didn't, I'm not rubbishing your choices. ( as if you'd care).

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Noooooooooo! I didn't think that's what you were doing catmint - really, I was curious: discussing book next week with five friends and two have already said they also didn't get on with the style of writing.

I started reading it while 41 weeks pregnant so had misgivings about dead babies etc but got through most of it whilst in hospital every two days so perhaps am biased as it really took my mind off heart scans etc

Have not yet seen the film with Oprah, Danny Glover and Thandie Newton but not sure I want to. What I didn't know is the novel was very broadly based on a real life incident.

As I said books are subjective so I wouldn't care only in that with literature as opposed to AIBU it is so much easier to agree to disagree!

example - I still cannot seem to complete Dave Eggar's debut despite its many plaudits.

Even if you hated Aimee Bender's invisible sign which I love, that would be fine, it's not everyone's cup of . Music and Film on the other hand are closer to my heart.

Which reminds me, my personal most disliked book of all time is...Cloud Atlas. Which loads of people love but I just could not get on with. So when my DH came home last week brandishing the DVD I was

Still want people's most liked books of all time though, especially any funny ones, need cheering up. Love recommended reads.

talking of Amy Tan hackmum Joy Luck Club might be a nice read for a 15 yr old DD.

I Capture the Castle is a wonderful book, loads better than the film .

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Both these have younger protagonists.

catmint - I'm saving my beloved Kurt, you need to be a bit more world weary and wise to really get Kurt. I saw him give a talk once a 100 years ago when I was at uni. He talked about Metamorphosis and drew a picture of a cockroach sliding off a page and chain smiked throughout.

Happy days.

I do keep trying to make ds (16) read Hocus Pocus

Uhmm Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children and Breathe by Cliff McNish are two I've read recently.

I love a bit of Kurt. The description of the giraffe horns...isn't Kurt one who you read one way when young and another way when older?

I also like Cloud Atlas, the audiobook is great. Maybe I will give Beloved another go...(and maybe not, since I am currently only reading children's books as a way to try and calm my anxiety down).

Had another thought re 15 year old, Douglas Coupland?

Jonathan Coe? The House of Sleep might be a good starter.

Tibor Fischer? The Thought Gang is v good.