Booked to travel
Cassandra McCarty
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: TruLife
Whether Midterm Break means lying on a beach with the ocean splashing nearby and the bright sun overhead or staying home and sleeping until noon, the best accessories for break include the most popular books of the season. Hastings employee Carla Hayes offers several suggestions of book series and novels that have been flying off shelves because of their success in the box office and television.
Anything Vampire
With all of the attention the vampire genre has gathered, Hayes said she had to move collections of vampire books to the front aisles. She said she noticed many people taking an interest in the "TruBlood" series by Charlaine Harris because of the new HBO television show. The "TruBlood" series follows the character of a young telepathic woman named Sookie Stackhouse, who becomes involved with vampires. Unlike other vampire-inspired novels, the "TruBlood" series introduces the concept of vampires making their presence known to the world. Other supernatural beings of this series include werewolves, shape-shifters and ancient Greek characters. "Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead is the story of Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir bodyguard for her best friend Lisa Dragomir, who is a Moroi vampire princess. The two girls participate in dangerous adventures and mysteries while being educated in the ways of magic at St. Vladimir's Academy, a school hidden in the deep woods of Montana, according to the book's official Web site.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Hayes said many novels or series people purchase from Hastings are literature that has been adapted into a film or a television series. The series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" also has been moved to the front of the store because of the movie's popularity.
"A lot of the time, we get people who want to read the books and then see the movie and then a lot of people who want to do the opposite," Hayes said.
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school when he notices ancient monsters and gods walking straight out of his Greek mythology textbook. He learns Zeus's lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect, according to the book's official Web site. He and his friends have 10 days to discover the stolen lightning bolt and return peace to Mount Olympus.
Stephanie Plum Series
Although the "Stephanie Plum" books by Janet Evanovich have not been made into a television show or movie, Hayes said they also are popular because they are light and fun to read for a quick mystery. The numerous books in this series follow Stephanie Plum in her new career as a bounty hunter. In the first book, readers meet Plum, who is out of a job and money. She blackmails her bondsman cousin Vinnie for a job as an apprehension agent, despite knowing nothing about how to do the job, according to www.evanovich.com.
Dear John
With the new film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks's book, Hayes said the novel "Dear John" has been another popular choice among the customers of Hastings. Sparks tells the story of a young man named John who enlists in the Army but falls in love with a girl named Savannah during his two-week leave. Savannah is left waiting for John's tour of duty to end and John wanting to settle down with the woman with whom he has fallen in love. Everything changes after the Sept. 11 attack, and John reenlists. During their time apart, John learns Savannah has fallen in love with another man and, when he returns, must face her, according to www.nicholassparks.com. "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks also will be released in theaters soon, and features Miley Cyrus.
Say You're One of Them
Readers should choose "Say You're One of Them" by Uwem Akpan for a book that received popularity because it made Oprah's booklist. Akpan's novel takes place in Kenya where a family is trying to find gifts for the Christmas holiday. In the story, a Rwandan girl tell her family's problems with maintaining a normal life while unspeakable acts occur. The text also follows a young brother and sister coping with their uncle's attempt to sell them into slavery, according to www.hachettebookgroup.com.
Pride and Prejudice
Professor of English Joe Benevento suggests the classic novel "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen because it's a wonderful book in which nothing in particular happens. He said it's a book in which readers become attached to the characters.
"[Jane Austen] is just devastating," Benevento said. "I remember when I first read that book in high school, and everybody was like, 'Oh, that's a book girls are suppose to like,' but I liked that book right away, and I don't have any apologies. It's a great book."
Anything Vampire
With all of the attention the vampire genre has gathered, Hayes said she had to move collections of vampire books to the front aisles. She said she noticed many people taking an interest in the "TruBlood" series by Charlaine Harris because of the new HBO television show. The "TruBlood" series follows the character of a young telepathic woman named Sookie Stackhouse, who becomes involved with vampires. Unlike other vampire-inspired novels, the "TruBlood" series introduces the concept of vampires making their presence known to the world. Other supernatural beings of this series include werewolves, shape-shifters and ancient Greek characters. "Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead is the story of Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir bodyguard for her best friend Lisa Dragomir, who is a Moroi vampire princess. The two girls participate in dangerous adventures and mysteries while being educated in the ways of magic at St. Vladimir's Academy, a school hidden in the deep woods of Montana, according to the book's official Web site.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Hayes said many novels or series people purchase from Hastings are literature that has been adapted into a film or a television series. The series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" also has been moved to the front of the store because of the movie's popularity.
"A lot of the time, we get people who want to read the books and then see the movie and then a lot of people who want to do the opposite," Hayes said.
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school when he notices ancient monsters and gods walking straight out of his Greek mythology textbook. He learns Zeus's lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect, according to the book's official Web site. He and his friends have 10 days to discover the stolen lightning bolt and return peace to Mount Olympus.
Stephanie Plum Series
Although the "Stephanie Plum" books by Janet Evanovich have not been made into a television show or movie, Hayes said they also are popular because they are light and fun to read for a quick mystery. The numerous books in this series follow Stephanie Plum in her new career as a bounty hunter. In the first book, readers meet Plum, who is out of a job and money. She blackmails her bondsman cousin Vinnie for a job as an apprehension agent, despite knowing nothing about how to do the job, according to www.evanovich.com.
Dear John
With the new film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks's book, Hayes said the novel "Dear John" has been another popular choice among the customers of Hastings. Sparks tells the story of a young man named John who enlists in the Army but falls in love with a girl named Savannah during his two-week leave. Savannah is left waiting for John's tour of duty to end and John wanting to settle down with the woman with whom he has fallen in love. Everything changes after the Sept. 11 attack, and John reenlists. During their time apart, John learns Savannah has fallen in love with another man and, when he returns, must face her, according to www.nicholassparks.com. "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks also will be released in theaters soon, and features Miley Cyrus.
Say You're One of Them
Readers should choose "Say You're One of Them" by Uwem Akpan for a book that received popularity because it made Oprah's booklist. Akpan's novel takes place in Kenya where a family is trying to find gifts for the Christmas holiday. In the story, a Rwandan girl tell her family's problems with maintaining a normal life while unspeakable acts occur. The text also follows a young brother and sister coping with their uncle's attempt to sell them into slavery, according to www.hachettebookgroup.com.
Pride and Prejudice
Professor of English Joe Benevento suggests the classic novel "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen because it's a wonderful book in which nothing in particular happens. He said it's a book in which readers become attached to the characters.
"[Jane Austen] is just devastating," Benevento said. "I remember when I first read that book in high school, and everybody was like, 'Oh, that's a book girls are suppose to like,' but I liked that book right away, and I don't have any apologies. It's a great book."
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