Reading is one of the best possible past times. I have provided, in my opinion, the best novels and series to read over the holidays.
1. "House" by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker
Peretti and Dekker are fiction, horror and religious writers. All of their books are parables written as a horror story. "House" was one of the first books I read by Frank Peretti, and I instantly fell in love. It is all about two different couples that get car trouble on their way out of town and have no choice but to stop at the only house in the area to ask to use the phone. But both couples end up being forced to stay at the house by a murderer to “play a game." This book is suspenseful, creepy and full of lessons.
2. "The Oath" by Frank Peretti
Again, this is a horror/mystery parable. It is all about a dragon terrorizing a town, but the attacks are disguised as bear attacks. Each person that is attacked by this dragon has committed the same sin. This novel is suspenseful and mysterious; you will not be able to put it down.
3. "The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Most people read this book at least once in their lifetime, and I consider it a classic. For those of you have not read it, I am sure you have seen the movies. The book is so full of action that it had to be made into three different movies. It is all about fictional characters’ journey to find treasure with many battles along the way.
4. The "Harry Potter" series by J.K Rowling
Again, I am sure that most everyone has read these, but I am always surprised by the amount of people who have not. The "Harry Potter" series is one of the best you will ever read in your life. The amount of adventure, problem solving and simply good vs. evil going on throughout the entire series is perfect. You will always be left wanting to read more.
5. "The Selection" series by Kiera Cass
This is a girlie, romantic series. They are all about a girl, America, that gets chosen to participate in a competition called the Selection for the prince’s hand in marriage. In this series, the United States of America have been through four world wars and are now called Illea, which is separated into provinces. On top of that, the cast system has been brought in. This sappy, adventurous, romantic series will leave you hanging and absolutely in love with love.
6. "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson
This novel is all about a girl that gets attacked at an end-of-the-summer party and becomes more and more isolated because others are bullying her for calling the cops. Throughout the novel, the girl goes through a process of healing and eventually refuses to stay silent any longer about her experiences. This book is heart warming and tear-jerking, and it sends a very powerful message readers of all ages.
7. "The Things They Carried" by Tim O’Brien
With it being the season of Thanksgiving, this is a wonderful novel to read. It is all about soldiers that fought in the Vietnam War. One soldier in particular tells all these war stories about his experiences in this war, and then in the end the reader gets a major plot twist. This novel will bring you to tears on more than one account, but will also make you realize the harsh reality of war and make you thankful for those who experienced it.
All of these novels and series are absolutely wonderful, and I highly suggest them to all. Take some time out of this busy holiday season to relax and read some; it’ll make your head and your heart happy.
