Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

From Goodreads.com:
   At the age of eighteen, Mary Shelley, while staying in the Swiss Alps with her lover Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, conceived the tale of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the monster he brings to life. The resulting book Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is a dark parable warning against the risks of scientific and creative endeavor, the corrupting influence of technology and progress, and the dangers of knowledge without understanding. Frankenstein was an instant bestseller on publication in 1818 and has long been regarded as a masterpiece of suspense, a classic of nineteenth-century Romanticism and Gothic horror, and the prototype of the science fiction novel. Though it has spawned countless imitations and adaptations, it remains the most powerful story of its kind.

   This year for Halloween I decided to read a classic horror novel that I've never read before. I was surprised by Frankenstein. I liked it but found myself sympathizing more with the "monster" than the human, that was unexpected. He doesn't want to be cruel, but feels he has no choice because he will never be accepted into society. He just pulled my heartstrings.
   The synopsis tells us this is a cautionary tale against technology and knowledge without knowing the effects. I think it also has a little nature vs nurture. The monster claims he only killed because without love, he could only cause fear.
   This book does not have a lot of dialogue. Dr. Frankenstein is telling a story, the story of his life. I would recommend this book as an audio book. I read it but the whole time I was thinking, this would be better to listen to. I rarely listen to books, I have only done it once or twice, but I'd audio this one if  I wanted to read it again.

The Stand by Stephen King

From Goodreads.com:
   This is the way to world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.
   And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides or are chosen. A world in which good rides on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abigail and the worst nightmares of evil are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the dark man.

   I'll try to keep this short, once I start talking about The Stand it's a very short leap to The Dark Tower and it's down the rabbit hole from there.
   I've read this book multiple times; the first was when Avian Influenza was in the news a few years back, this time around it's Ebola. This is not a good book to read when outbreaks are happening. Or if you have a cold. Talk about paranoia, but I keep going back to read it again. It is one of my favorites.
   This book is not for the faint of heart. It is over 1,000 pages and takes some getting into. The first time I tried I gave up. The second time I took notes (yes, notes, for something I'm choosing to read.) I had trouble keeping all the characters straight for the first few chapters. Once people started to meet each other it became much easier to remember who they were. So make sure you give it some time before quitting.
   It has one of the worst (or best, depending on the point of view) villains. I have a trouble classifying Randall Flagg as a 'villain,' he is so much worse than your standard run-of-the-mill bad guy. Even those who choose to follow him can't look at his face. The way King describes him is perfectly horrifying. He is not a man I'd like to meet. (Is he a man? Is he even human?)
   At it's core The Stand is an epic battle of good vs evil. There are so many societal observations and the quote above is probably my favorite. Oh, and I don't want to forget to mention the dreams! Characters all have similar dreams after Captain Tripps (the nickname for the virus) destroys the population. The theory pops up that maybe all the technology used today is dulling the natural psychic abilities most humans have.
   I could go on and on, there's all sorts of goodness in this book. I can't go into each brilliant thing and keep this an acceptable length. And it's impossibly hard to pick and choose so I leave you here; If you like a challenge that will stay with you long after you finish the last page, this is the book for you.

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

From the hardcover:
   Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them.
   But three years later, at sixteen, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else - an even more unpredictable new force in her life.
   The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to each other, they'd have a chance to remake their world.

   This book is stunning. I read the majority of it on a partially devoted Sunday just finishing it up after work today. I could not put this book down. I knew I'd have to finish it immediately after struggling through my work day. I could only think of how this book could possibly end. A lot of the YA I've read lately have not-so-happy endings *coughthefaultinourstarscough* so I was mildly concerned about half way through, when I realized I loved both Noah and Jude. "Mildly concerned," ha! I was a worried mess.
   One of my favorite things about I'll Give You the Sun is the way Noah sees people. Bursting at the seams with light, floating, the animals inside. Sounds a little strange, but he's an artist, and it's truly amazing. I could picture each description as it would appear on canvas, a work of art. I wish I saw the world through his eyes all the time.
      I laughed, I swelled with emotion, I even had trouble breathing for a short time. I hope I'm not spoiling anything because this book needs to be read. It is such a gorgeous tale of loss, family, and being true to you.