IceD wrote:
So, do you want to talk about books, novels or manga? Decide then. A book is a book, manga is not a book and novels are a type of books. Equally, light novels are different things.
That seems like a rude thing to say. The title simply says "book;" novels, manga, and light novels are all types of books, however different they may be. It isn't as if it's impossible to discuss all three...
Now, as for the topic...
Novels:Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff. Think "The Matrix" meets "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." An over-the-top, pretty hilarious story regarding a woman who is recruited into a vigilante organization fighting evildoers. The only thing I dislike about it is the ending; I even went as far as to cut the last three pages out of my own copy. ^-^;;
The Hunger Games series. Ai luffs it. It's a post-apocalyptic novel, but rather than being one of those cookie-cutter, "How can we survive without civilization?" books, it takes place in a world where a community has already been established, and the conflict comes from the corruption within the community itself. Also, Haymitch is an awesome character. Just sayin'.
The Shining by Steven King. I don't believe there's any explanation needed here.
Manga:Detective Conan by Aoyama Goushou. I've always admired Goushou-sensei for his ability to take a completely ridiculous plot and somehow make it awesome. "Cocky genius runs after a guy with ridiculously long hair and goth getup and gets knocked out, then discovers he's de-aged ten years" is a ridiculous plot. In this manga, it is awesome.
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya. It's truly an engrossing and very emotional series. I'll never forget how I felt when the series ended; on the one hand, I was thrilled that the characters I loved were finally happy, but on the other, I didn't want such an amazing series to ever end.
Death Note by Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ouba. L. Enough said.