HP readalikes - for the young and young at heart (long)

[Neri]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Petra <ms_petra_pan at ...> wrote:

> The main flaw with searching these DBs is that data is all about the 
> tangibles whereas I'm looking for the intangibles: Am I going to care 
> about the characters? <snip> 

Neri:
Petra, I think I know exactly what you mean. What we're looking for
isn't "books about young heroes with magic and dragons". What we're
looking for are books that are imaginative, gripping, entertaining,
and most of all - have characters we'd care about. They don't even
have to be fantasy books, as long as they contain that intangible
element of wonder. 

Then I thought - I know a book like that: "Someone to Run With" by
David Grossman. This is a great novel by one of the best current
Israeli writers. It's been a huge bestseller in Israel (and rightly
so) but I'm not sure how much it is known over the world. Now, it
turns out there's an English translation and it's even available in
Amazon. Unbelievable. I'd grab it before they decide to take it off
their virtual shelves.

A few details: the book would probably be classified as a "young
adults" novel because the protagonists are teenagers, and it does have
its fair share of teen angst, but don't let that stop you - it's
recommended for adults and children and anybody who'd appreciate a
good story. It's a true romance, the way they (almost) don't make them
anymore: painfully realistic but also very lyrical and with certain
Dickens-like qualities. And the best - characters you'd really care
about. You'll find many more warm recommendations and detailed reviews
in Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Someone-Run-Novel-David-Grossman/dp/031242194X/
My advice: don't read them! They contain spoilers. Instead just click
on the book and start reading it with a fresh mind. By the time you'd
run out of sample pages you'd know if you like it. One promise: it
gets better and better, and the end won't disappoint you.


Neri