Books Within Books!
I really am not a buyer or a keeper of things, I don't like clutter, but I wanted to try and do something with this week's theme. It made me think about stories, which contain other stories within them. Some were more successful than others for me, but I would say, I always appreciated the effort it must take to sort of write two books at the same time.
- The Reader by Traci Chee
- Pulp by Robin Talley
- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
- Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
- The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
- Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
- Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
- The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan
- Literally by Lucy Keating
Do you like stories within stories?
Let us know in the comments!
I don't generally read genres that give you stories within a story but I'm certainly not against them if I find one in my favourite genres and it is well written...kind of like Stephen King's IT.
ReplyDeleteI don't read any horror, but I was actually impressed to have quite a mix up there - fantasy, mystery, historical, contemporary. It's something that doesn't always work for me, but it worked in these books.
DeleteOhhh, I like what you've done this week -- books within books is fun to read, but yeah, what it must be like writing them!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could keep track of one story, never mind, intertwine a completely different story, that has some sort of connection. Now I feel like I should have included Holes. That book was brilliant.
DeleteI agree with you about how much effort it must take to do a story within a story and especially to do it well. The only ones I've read from your list are Fangirl and The Princess Bride and I enjoyed the story within a story very much in both of those.
ReplyDeleteThe Princess Bride is such a classic, and that was so, so well executed. I wasn't that into the fanfic in Fangirl, though I loved the book, which is why I have not read Carry On, but I know there were tons of people, who adored that part of the story.
DeleteI am the same with buying merchandise and clutter. I'd also rather save the money to buy actual books. I like what you've done with the topic today! I have read and enjoyed a few of these, but have to read Truly Devious!
ReplyDeleteI am the same. I would rather spend my money on books, or better yet, book related trips. I loved Truely Devious. Great characters and a great story.
DeleteYes, I like stories within stories. I don't find a lot of them.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
It was a harder list to make based on my read shelf than I thought
DeleteOh, this is a cool list. I also skipped this week’s prompt because I don’t like stuff. I’ve read a few of these. I love Fangirl, and I’m hoping to read Eliza and Her Monsters before the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Eliza was really wonderful. I hope you get a chance to read it
DeleteIt depends. I loved Autoboyography but Truly Devious was ehhh.
ReplyDeleteI had Eliza from the library but had to return it before I read it so I need to give it another go.
I loved the Princess Bride but have only seen the movie.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I really liked Truly Devious. Stevie was fabulous. I hope you get to read Eliza one of these days. I really loved it.
DeleteA story within a story can be tricky - either both complimenting the other, or failing spectacularly. LOL Autoboyography and Fangirl were two that really worked for me. I Am Princess X was another fun one.
ReplyDeleteI have been meaning to check that out. Glad it was good. The story within a story in Emergency Contact and Final Draft didn't work for me, but more have been successful than not.
DeleteOoh nice topic twist!! This one would be really really hard for me! I can't always remember what books have stories within their story! Great picks too!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Some of these were really memorable, and I also used GR lists to find some, but I only include books I have read.
DeleteYes, sometimes I do like the stories within stories, it adds some fun, other times I don’t. For instance, I did not like the Fanfiction in Fangirl, it bored me. Great list of books up there.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I loved Fangirl, but yeah, I may have skimmed the fanfic and avoided Carry On.
DeleteFun topic! I love books with books. Autoboyography was the best <3 and Fangirl is a classic for me.
ReplyDeleteAutoboyography really was the best. I will never stop singing its praises. Funny, I loved Fangirl, but I skimmed the fanfic parts.
DeleteThe only two I have read from your list has been Autoboyography and The Wrath and the Dawn. Honestly, I kind of forgot that there was a book within The Wrath and the Dawn. It's been a while since I finished that, though. I think the book in Autoboyography was done so well! It really added another level of tension with the plot and Tanner and Sebastian's relationship! Great idea this week, Sam!
ReplyDeleteGenni @ Ready, Set, Read!
Honestly, I pretty much loved everything and anything about Autoboyography (except that thing with Autumn - why?). Such a great book!
DeleteLoved The Wrath and the Dawn! Kate Morton's The Distant Hours has a book within a book, and it is a fascinating story, I was convinced it was real!
ReplyDeleteI like the whole mother-daughter letter thing. Sounds like a great book.
DeleteThis is such a fun list! I really liked The Wrath and the Dawn and I want to read The Reader soon!
ReplyDeleteThe story in the Sea of Ink and Gold series is cool, because of the way it intertwines with the present events.
DeleteOooh this is fun! LOVE Wrath. The Reader was decent, if a little long. Eliza and Autoboyography were both great. How was Pulp? Love your list!
ReplyDeleteOverall, I liked Pulp. The 1955 timeline was incredible and there this part, where Talley ties it all together that I really loved. I struggled a little with the present day protagonist, but still thought it was a great story.
DeleteI have a copy of Fangirl, just haven't gotten to it yet. I read the Tragedy Paper and I think I wanted a different ending, but it was a story that I thought about for a while. :)
ReplyDeleteWith a name like Tragedy Paper, you knew it wasn't gonna have a warm and fuzzy ending. The romance and friendship in Fangirl is what owned me. I wasn't the biggest fan of the fanfic, but the rest was so good, it didn't matter.
DeleteOoh I like how you did this! Fangirl was really good and so was Truly Devious- I'm a big fan of both. And Princess bride- I love the movie, have never read the book.
ReplyDeleteThe Princess Bride defined my teens. My friends and I watched it too many times to count and would recite every line as the the movie played, but the book is good too. That is one adaptation I can get behind.
DeleteI saw this week's TTT and I confess that I find your pick so much more fun and interesting. Love within stories always add something extra to the book. I've only read Fangirl and The Princess Bride (I need to watch the film) from your list, but I can't wait to read The Wrath and the Dawn.
ReplyDeleteHappy readings! ;)
I really hope you get a chance to watch The Prince Bride. It's such a classic!
DeleteI've been dying to get to most of these books Sam! The Wrath & the Dawn, Eliza and Her Monsters, The Reader, Fangirl and Autoboyography! Silly me I didn't even know they were about books! Great list!
ReplyDeleteThey have stories within them. TWATD has folktales, Fangirl has fanfic, Eliza has a graphic novel, and Autoboyography has Tanner's book
DeleteThis reminds me of what John Green did in The Fault Of Our Stars. It was a fun concept!
ReplyDeleteHe did sort of include that book, but I don't think there were passages included, were there? It's been a while since I read it. I just remember there being many tears.
DeleteOoh, what a fun topic. The Princess Bride would be the first book I'd add to this list, too.
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by earlier.
I love that book and movie so much!
DeletePulp and Fangirl are both on my shelves waiting for me to read them! I really enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn and need to get to the sequel as soon as possible. DD: Eliza and her Monsters is on my wishlist as well ^.^
ReplyDeleteTWatD was such a great duology. I hope you finish it soon. The writing was so beautiful in those books.
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