I've been in a reading rut lately. I'm a re-reader. An avid re-reader. And normally this is a good thing cause I can go to our library and peruse the shelves and usually something will strike my fancy - I'll see the spine and bits and pieces of the plot will flash and I'll know that it's just what I'm in the mood for - these are just the people I want to spend time with.
Lately I think I've been spending too much time with the old familiars. I wander around the room and consider plots and people and it's just...blah. I've either read them too recently or I've read them too many times and, well, it's time for some fresh faces.
So. If you have a mystery, fantasty, sci-fi, romantic suspense, or other fiction (please, please only fiction...I keep saying that I'm going to try to read more non-fiction but, if truth be told, I just can't bring myself to do it. So right now I'm hankering for fiction. I may ask about NF later) that you heartily recommend, let me know (and can you tell me a little about it and why it was good too, please?)
Additional Thoughts:
1) I tend toward liking "girl fantasy" more than "boy fantasy" -- in other words, Mercedes Lackey or Anne McCaffrey? Huge fan read just about all of it. Robert Jordan? Eh.
2) I've read everything by Nora Roberts/JD Robb at least five times. Except for the very newest NR that isn't in paperback yet (cause I'm cheap and don't do hardcovers.)
Thanks in advance! :)
1 day ago
I don't know what your tolerance for language, violence, and sex is in your reading so I'll try to give you a heads up on anything that I consider excessive. Also, I have no idea what you've read already. I'll give you four suggestions.
ReplyDelete1. Billy Straight by Jonathan Kellerman - language, violence, maybe sex. Really, anything by him is solid - his usual main recurring character is a psychologist who is friends with a police detective and usually gets sucked into helping solve cases. Billy Straight has a different main character - a lady detective - but features his usuals. It's my favorite of his novels.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving - Beautifully written book with great characters. It's laugh out loud funny in one sentence and then he'll have you weeping in the next. Simon Birch movie was loosely based on this novel. This one is in my all time Top 10.
Anything by Lisa Scottoline - lady lawyers ala John Grisham, but better written, imho. Recurring characters here, so you're best bet is to find her first novel and work chronologically.
Shutter Island and/or Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. Mystery/thriller with some language/violence/sex. Both are excellent - he's a lyrical writer.
Cool - thanks. :) My tolerance is pretty high, I always figure I can skim through offensive things. I actually haven't read any of those - so that's a great place to start!
ReplyDelete(I almost didn't ask b/c of the issue with you all having no idea what I've already read, but I figured I could always just nod and agree that it was a good book etc. if suggestions for already read books came along.)
Thanks, Jen!
Let me know when you want NF ideers... I probably read about as much fiction as you do non-fiction. :-)
ReplyDeleteMatt - Will do! I have yet to read the book you gave Tim..well, yeah that's cause you gave it to Tim :) but it's on my list of NF!
ReplyDeleteSo far though I'm considering all my school stuff to be my NF "diet".
I wasn't going to offer up anything, but when I read Jen's comment, I have to second (adamantly) Prayer for Owen Meany and Mystic River (and put the movie versions of both of these out of your head when reading). Both are on my all time top list.
ReplyDeleteThen one I think I've mentioned in another comment string that I'll put up is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Mark Hammon, I think. British author so the humor is a bit "off" but absolutely a brilliant,laugh out-loud, funny um, mystery. Yeah, that's it. Well, not really a mystery. I'm not sure the genre. But it's short and it's also on my Top 10 list. Go get it. Hurry! ;-)
Yay! Lots of interesting sounding recommendations - and so far nothing I've even really heard of! (Though I've heard of Kellerman, I don't quite live under a rock, just right next door. :) ) Thanks Gwynne & Ith! Those all just sound fun!
ReplyDeleteHere are my suggestions:
ReplyDeleteAnything from Mary Higgins Clark - If you like JD, then you will like her.
The Lady's murder club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.
Give James Patterson a go (because his books aren't bad).
I'm about to read my first Karen Robards - Don't know how that will go - will let you know. If you need any more - Let me know. Like you, I am an avid reader!
If you want a good laugh, try Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I really liked Nobody's Baby But Mine. I also think you'd like A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley. It's an older book, but if you haven't read it, I really believe you would LOVE it. It's a medieval, ordinary woman who finds out she has an extraordinary connection with God.
ReplyDeleteMore yay! :) Thanks Rachel & Michelle!
ReplyDeleteI've been a little wary of Mary Higgins Clark - I was under the impression she was really super suspsensful/scary. I can't read Stephen King or that ilk because I am super susceptible to nightmares. But if it's on par with JD Robb, I should be ok.
I love the Ladies Murder Club (but am too cheap to get the hardback thus haven't read 4 or farther.) I like some of James Patterson's other stuff, but had to put down and walk away from Violets are Blue so I was giving him a little break.
I've been tempted, Michelle, but Susan Elizabeth Phillips, not sure why I never went ahead and picked something up. :) And the other I haven't heard of, but if you think I'll really love it (and it sounds like I might from the blurb) then I will definitely give it a shot.
Thanks so much!!
Let me know when you're ready for the 1940's pulp noir. I've got a slew of suggestions there. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMary Higgins Clark - I was under the impression she was really super suspsensful/scary.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'll find that at all. She's more of a whodunit kind of mystery writer. Good stuff but some of hers are a little too stiff for my taste.
Have you read Sue Grafton's series, A is for Alibi, etc.? Female private eye, set in Santa Barbara. Very light, fun reading also in the whodunit genre. I've read the whole series...cookie cutter but fun.
Two suggestions:
ReplyDeleteGolden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle - Sci-fi but not too high tech and geeky. Great, great story with interesting characters and an interesting culture.
Rhapsody by Elizabeth Hayden - Fantasy, first in a trilogy. Interesting, funny with a little romance.
Beth,
ReplyDeleteYou've read Anne Perry's books, right? Then I would say you'd enjoy some lighter fare like Grafton or even lighter, "The Cat Who..." books. As for fantasy, Zenna Henderson's "The People" stories are good (did you say you've read those?) and L'Engle's "Wind in the Door" series. Not too up on modern chick lit so can't help you there. Rots of ruck. lgp
Wow! Super yay! Looks like I've got another few months of books lined up! :)
ReplyDeleteLyn(don) - I adore Anne Perry, and all the Cat Who books and Grafton (though I haven't read all of them, the heroine starts to annoy me after too much exposure.) I have read Henderson (from the family I come from, is it possible that I wouldn't have?) :) Ditto L'Engle -- she's one of my favorites. Actually I haven't re-read her in a while though, so thanks for the reminder!
Lynn S - thanks! I've seen both Gentle and Hayden on the shelves but not ventured in, so now I definitely will!
Tough making suggestions to family members...we all read the same books! Although I do remember you being vehemently opposed to Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. So give that another shot. lgp
ReplyDeleteGwynne's right - Mary Higgins Clark is not scary. I avoid Horrors like the plague too and for the same reason!!!
ReplyDeleteNow I've got some more books to order from the library! Problem is I've got heaps to read LOL.