Book Recommendations
Today, whilst scrolling through social media, I came across a truly horrible book recommendation.
I mean it.
HORRIBLE.
Someone had suggested a series to a friend. I've read that series, and those books are the worst-written books I've ever read in my entire life. And I read a lot.
Naturally, I could not remain silent. I hope the person that recommended the books didn't mind, but I couldn't let my friend walk into that nightmare. I then recommended a much better series to my friend. I hope she takes my advice. It'll save her a lot of pain.
I figured I would share some book recommendations with all of you. I have one recommendation in several different genres:

Science Fiction: The Mind Over trilogy by Karina Fabian. This YA sci-fi trilogy is an exciting adventure with psychics, aliens, colliding planets, and war. My favorite of the books is Mind Over Psyche, which is the second book in the series; all three are truly wonderful, though. I have no idea why these books aren't more popular, but you should not be put off by their lack of popularity. These are great reads.

Fantasy: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is a master of writing. I have yet to read a line of his work and not feel something. This book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, is perfectly written. I would not change one word. If you'd like to read truly perfect, magical writing, try this book.

Mystery: The Glass Flame by Phyllis A. Whitney. This author is not very well-known any more, which is a real shame. If you want a truly great mystery with plenty of twists and turns, try out this exciting book. I did not see the end of this book coming.

Romance: A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. It's no secret that I'm not a big fan of romance novels, but if you're into this genre, I highly recommend this book. I enjoy very few romances, but I loved this one. Also, I cried hysterically at the end. So have a box of tissues handy.

Nonfiction: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. Strayed is a very honest writer, which is vital for good nonfiction. This book might not sound interesting at first glance as it's a compilation of answers from an online advice column, but these answers are compelling, raw, and powerful. If you're looking for truly beautiful and honest writing, try this book.

Literary Fiction: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. This novel is very, very different from the Harry Potter series. I certainly do not recommend this book for children, but adults that enjoy good writing and strong characters---and that don't mind some sex and language---will enjoy this book. In some places it was difficult to read because of the brutally honest nature of the writing, but that's part of what makes it so good. And, be warned, you'll cry at the end of this one too.

Graphic Novels: Avengers vs X-men by Brian Michael Bendis. You'll never see this one on the big screen because Marvel owns Avengers and Fox owns X-men, but luckily, you can read about superheroes and mutants fighting each other in this epic graphic novel. Pick a side, folks, and grab some popcorn! This is way more entertaining than Civil War.

Poetry: Ship of Fool by William Trowbridge. This is an excellent collection of poetry that focuses on the fool archetype. It's creative, and really makes you think. If you're a lover of poetry, give this collection a try.

Short Stories: Grimm Fairytales. You can generally find a collection of Grimm fairytales just about anywhere. These classic fairytales are the basis of many aspects of storytelling today, and if you don't have a lot of time to read, you can easily read one fairytale a night and still have some literary magic in your life.

Picture Book: All My Friends Are Dead by Avery Monsen and Jory John. This book is hilarious. Why not teach your children to read and to have a sense of humor?

Classics: Call of the Wild by Jack London. This is a great book that did something many other stories of its time never had: it went into the mind of an animal. It's not cartoonish, either. This is a great study of nature and a highly compelling story.

Horror: The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft. Yes, this is technically a short story, but you haven't read horror if you're not familiar with Cthulhu. H.P. Lovecraft is a master of horror and has many short horror stories available, but none of them match Cthulhu.

Dystopian: The Giver by Lois Lowry. Before The Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, and other dystopian novels, there was The Giver. This book, and the series, is highly well-written, and has so many deep meanings and messages. I was required to read it in elementary school, and I am so grateful for that requirement. If you haven't read it, you should.
Happy reading, everyone! If you try one of these recommendations, please contact me in the contact section of my website and let me know how you liked the book(s)! I'd love to hear from you.