Read anything good lately?

I know you're all DYING to hear what I've read lately... so I'll indulge you. Just this once.

Escape from Furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith

This is a young adult book series. I know, you hear the words "young adult" and automatically dismiss them. But these are truly great books. They're intense, written extremely well, and you can't put them down. They take place in a terrible prison for teenagers, called Furnace, where a 14 year old boy is being held after being convicted of a murder he didn't commit. There are 5 books in all. The first two (pictured above) are out now, but unfortunately you'll have to wait a while for the last 3. The 5th book comes out this March in the UK (where the author is from), but the 3rd book won't be released here in the US until August. I don't like comparing books with other books, but so you have an idea of kind of what this book is like, it has a "Hunger Games" feeling to it (the intensity). This is a surefire win.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

If you read "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield, you'll LOVE this book. It's a mystery, and a beautiful story about the connection we inexplicably feel towards our family that has passed on before us, even if we didn't know them. It is long, but one of those stories you just need to keep reading. You crave the words anytime you're away. My mom recommended this book, and I'm glad I took her up on it. (Warning: It will make you want to visit Cornwall, England BAD... just as much as you want to visit Guernsey.)

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman Trilogy by Pamela Aiden

My list wouldn't be complete without at least ONE Austen inspired book. This charming trilogy is the whole of Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's point of view. The first book is the original meeting of Elizabeth, and all that ensues. The second is the "silent" time of the original novel, when Mr. Darcy is absent from Austen's tale. The third, and final book (and my favorite) is his reunion with Elizabeth, and ultimately, the happy ending we have all come to know and love. While no one can really live up to Jane Austen's beautiful writing, Pamela Aiden does an excellent job staying true to the characters, and is an amazing writer herself. I fell in love with Mr. Darcy all over again while reading these (and I've read them twice since!!).

The Walking Dead (Book 1 & 2) by Robert Kirkman

This is a graphic novel series (ie: comic book for grown ups) about a zombie apocalypse and a group of people (lead by a sheriff Rick Grimes), trying to survive. Less about the zombies and more about the relationships and how the day to day stress starts to wear on each person, these are really great stories. This story is also being made into a TV series on AMC. I watched the first season, and that's why I wanted to read the books. The books are different enough from the TV show that they're not spoilers to what's to come (or so I've heard). So far there are 6 volumes of books (collections of the issues) and I hope to get them all. Since it's pictures and writing, it's easy to get through, and you obviously have a lot of visual aids to add to what you imagine it being like.