Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan (DL (I do have a .txt file of this that reads a little better which I will give to those that want it.)

The Prince of Darkness has been given one last shot at redemption, provided he can live out a reasonably blameless life on earth. Highly sceptical, naturally, the Old Dealmaker negotiates a trial period - a summer holiday in a human body, with all the delights of the flesh. 

“How to describe hell? Disembowelled landscape busy with suffering, incessant heat, permanent scarlet twilight, a swirling snowfall of ash, the stink of pain and the din of…if only, hell is two things: the absence of God and the presence of time. Infinite variations on that theme. Doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Well, trust me.” 

Comment: Can we make this book a thing on Tumblr? Please?

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (DL)

 In Tally’s world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise. When Shay [Tally’s friend] runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world — and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

“Maybe they didn’t want you to realize that every civilization has its weakness. There’s always one thing we depend on. And if someone takes it away all that’s left is some story in a history class.” 

Comment: Right up there with The Hunger Games as best YA dystopia for me.

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (DL)

Meg’s father mysteriously disappears after experimenting with the fifth dimension of time travel. Determined to rescue him, Meg and her friends must outwit the forces of evil on a heart-stopping journey through space and time. 

“Don’t try to comprehend with your mind. Your minds are very limited. Use your intuition.” 

Comment: Possibly my favorite childhood book. My first literary crush was Calvin O’Keefe.

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (DL)

When Melinda Sordino’s friends discover she called the police to quiet a party, they ostracize her, turning her into an outcast — even among kids she barely knows. But even worse than the harsh conformity of high-school cliques is a secret that you have to hide.

“When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”

Comment: …and because I feel like it, have the DL to the movie.

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (DL)

After Basil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man’s portrait, his subject’s frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain the same comes true. Dorian Gray’s picture grows aged and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. 

“Words! Mere words! How terrible they were! How clear, and vivid, and cruel! One could not escape from them. And yet what a subtle magic there was in them! They seemed to be able to give a plastic form to formless things, and to have a music of their own as sweet as that of viol or of lute. Mere words! Was there anything so real as words?”

Comment: Is it possible to be sexually attracted to a book?

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (DL)

Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires. And he enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs or the joy of watching pages consumed by flames, never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid.

“The things you’re looking for, Montag, are in the world, but the only way the average chap will ever see ninety-nine per cent of them is in a book. Don’t ask for guarantees. And don’t look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore.”

Comment: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU DIE.

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (DL)

Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie is navigating through the strange worlds of love, drugs, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, and dealing with the loss of a good friend and his favorite aunt.

“I am very interested and fascinated how everyone loves each other, but no one really likes each other.” 

Comment: I know it’s overexposed but it’s still a damn good book. If you liked Catcher in the Rye then you’ll most likely enjoy this as well. 

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // Forever by Judy Blume (download)

Katherine and Michael meet at a New Year’s Eve party. They’re attracted to each other, they grow to love each other. And once they’ve decided their love is forever, they make love. It’s the beginning of an intense and exclusive relationship, with a future all planned. Until Katherine’s parents insist that she and Michael put their love to the test with a summer apart..

“That’s not a bad word, hate and war are bad words, fuck isn’t.”

Comment: I read this book when I was in 5th grade (I wonder if Jenn will see this, she remembers I’m sure), and it was so provocative and explicit about sex and love and it’s relationship I wondered how it had managed to get in the classroom in the first place. I reread it a couple years ago and it’s not as good as I remember it to be (there is just something missing about the characters…maybe it’s just outdated…not sure…maybe it was Ralph…?) but the message is still there and it’s one of those classic ya coming-of-age novels that everyone should read. 

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare 

(download)

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos. 

“I believe in good and evil…and I believe the soul is eternal. But I don’t believe in the fiery pit, the pitchforks, or endless torment. I do not believe you can threaten people into goodness.” 

Comment: This series was the answer to all of my book prayers. I remember when I finished the Gemma Doyle trilogy I was super depressed because I thought, ‘where else am I going to get a Victorian England fantasy adventure book of the same quality?’ and then…

Celi’s Book Rec of Doom // The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

A thousand years ago, the Angel Raziel mixed his blood with the blood of men and created the race of the Nephilim. Human-angel hybrids, they walk among us, unseen but ever-present, our invisible protectors. They call themselves Shadowhunters.

Comment: I’m not even going to- it’s just an awesome series imo. There’s so much wank surrounding Cassandra Clare that I’m always hesitant about saying anything about the series or her or whatever. I happened to really enjoy this series and it’s characters. It’s not perfect, but I don’t think it’s meant to be anything more than a bit of fun mixed in with some angst. So see for yourself: 1 2 3 4 <— downloads