Recently read and rigorously recommended

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

By Susanna Clarke, 2004
A unique alternate history tale about two rival magicians in 19th century England. Its slow build-up (the book is 1024 pages) makes the events of the final chapters even more shocking and fantastical. Includes magical books, servants who are not what they seem, sojourns into the realm of Faerie, travel via mirror, kidnapping, death-defying spells, and ravens—lots and lots of ravens. 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
By Sherman Alexie, 2007 
The diary and sketches from a year in the life of Junior, a Spokane Indian teenager who decides to go against his tribe by attending a white high school in a neighboring town. Both funny and tragic, the book draws the reader into Junior's world—his coping with being poor, his attempts to fit in with his classmates and tribal members, and his internal struggle to come to terms with the devastating effects of alcoholism on his family and his tribe.
Ender's Game
By Orson Scott Card, 1985
This award-winning science fiction novel follows the life of super-intelligent Ender Wiggin, a boy bred to be humanity's hope against the buggers—an alien race that has attacked Earth twice and threatens to wipe out the human population. Sent into space to attend Battle School at the age of six, Ender is subjected to years of brutal combat training games and psychological manipulation. At the age of eleven, he must face the enemy as the commander of Earth's army—but on which side of the battlefield does true evil lie?

Fruits Basket

By Natsuki Takaya, 1999–2007
This fun, lighthearted manga follows high schooler Tohru Honda, ever optimistic despite the personal tragedies she has experienced. Living alone in a tent after the death of her mother, Tohru unknowingly camps on land belonging to the Sohma family. When she is discovered by Yuki Sohma, a popular boy from her school, he and his cousin Shigure convince her to come and live with them in their home. Once there, she meets the volatile Kyo, another member of the Sohma clan. As she gets to know her new roommates, Tohru discovers a dark secret—all three of them are afflicted with a family curse that causes them to transform into animals from the Chinese zodiac when embraced by a member of the opposite sex.

Holiday in the sun

No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, I've been on vacation!

First Big Chimp and I went to San Diego Comic-Con, where we attended lots of panels, including ones on writing, editing, Batman, Dexter, and Harry Potter. It was AMAZING! I also acquired way too many books, including a few signed ones, like Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon (who moderated a super cool panel on the young adult genre), and The Prometheus Project by Douglas Richards.

Another huge highlight was seeing Ray Bradbury speak about libraries, writing, and the importance of colonizing Mars:

And then there was the ultra cool Grant Morrison:

The next week, we left on a California road trip, which included LA, Yosemite, San Francisco (where I acquired even more reading material from City Lights Books), Monterey, Big Sur (where we revisited the Henry Miller Memorial Library), and Santa Barbara (Yeah UCSB Gauchos!).

By the end of the trip I had accumulated eight new novels and six new graphic novels, as well as a 1928 Underwood Portable typewriter (an awesome birthday gift from my best friend—thanks Audrey!). We had to check an extra bag:

In short, it was the best vacation ever.

Now, back to writing this book!