An Appeal to the Flist - What's Good to Read?

[jenny_wildcat]

I was at the library earlier and I cannot find anything good to read (I like going to the library because it creates the illusion that I'm getting new books, even though I don't get to keep them).  Ever since "Harry Potter," I've been on the hunt for something really good - something that keeps me reading into the wee hours of the morning.  But I have been woefully disappointed on many fronts.  I tried "Eragon," which was fine for a while, then the damn kid started hitting on the elf girl (and then there's the fact that it was originally only supposed to be three, and now it's four... oy... -_-').  There was the stint with "Twilight," which I can appreciate... until I get to "Breaking Dawn" and then I want to slap somebody (really, that last one was completely unnecessary.  And don't get me started on the movies, regardless of how good the soundtrack was.  Too much over-hyped teen drama - it was better in book form.  I never imagined Edward as this teeny-bopper heartthrob.  Ugh, just the term "heartthrob"... *puke*  I'll probably still see these last ones, if just for the MST3K value).  Really, how hard is it to find something compelling to read that doesn't fall flat when you get to book four or five?

Maybe it's the concept of a book series.  Recently, I read "Elantris" by Brandon Sanderson and I enjoyed it immensely.  I found myself wishing there was more, but upon reflection, it was probably better as a stand-alone (on that note, Stephenie Meyer ought to ignore her fanbase's demands sometimes and stick with one-shot deals.  "The Host" was pretty good.  Then again, I've only read it once).  Not that I'm knocking the idea of series - I started Shannon Hale's "The Books of Bayern," but I haven't finished the first one of those quite yet, so the jury's still out on that one.  I intend to get to "Fablehaven" soon and then there's the "Artemis Fowl" series I started back when it was new and never finished (only because I found other things I wanted to buy and read - still, that's not a good sign).

I just want something to really get into.  And I want to appeal to my flist - what's something you all have read lately that kept you reading up until all hours?  I'm looking for all recommendations - it doesn't have to be fantasy or sci-fi (though those are my favorite genres).  If there's a sweet little love story thrown in there, so much the better. That's probably why I liked "Elantris" so much, come to think of it (nothing too racy - I'm not into graphic sex scenes, mind you).  Anyway, I just wanted to throw that out there and see what you all had to say.

Comments

[arkadelos.livejournal.com]

Karen has a good selection:

http://thenewagenda.net/2010/03/28/the-writings-of-lisa-see/

http://thenewagenda.net/2010/05/05/alison-weir-writer-of-history/

Have you read "War of the Flowers" by Tad Williams? Excellent book. I also enjoyed "Not Without My Daughter" by Betty Mahmoody and "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop, although the cultural issues made me set down the books a few times to shudder in revulsion. Still, they are really good.

I also enjoyed Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth" It had a virtuous monk and an evil bishop, and it was pretty fun to watch all the good guys and villains.

[jenny-wildcat.livejournal.com]

Lisa See and Alison Weir sound really interesting. I do enjoy historical fiction (as long as it's done well - though it's hard to describe what I think is "done well")

[amadseason.livejournal.com]

The Secret Journal of Brett Colton by Kay Lynn Magnum

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Any books by Sarah Dessen (my favorite author)

[jenny-wildcat.livejournal.com]

Those sound pretty good. I've wanted to read some Nicholas Sparks, but just haven't.

[narniadear.livejournal.com]

OH honey. You'll soon learn to NEVER. EVER. EVER. ask me for fantasy book recommendations.

But this time you did. HAHA!! Are you ready?

The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss. This is the best fantasy book I've read in the last 10 years. It's the first of a trilogy, the author is freaking hilarious in normal life (I read his blog) and the second book is due out in march. Go. Read it. This one is always at the very top of any recommendations list I do. :)

Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson. This is another standalone that's rather excellent. Better than Elantris simply because his writing gets better every book he writes. You'll dig this one.

Inda - Sherwood Smith. This is the first of a four book set and it's a set that I read OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Seriously.

Mistborn: The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson. This is the first of his epic trilogy. There are some weak spots, but now that the entire trilogy is out and you can read all three books in one fell swoop....wow. I envy you. It's pretty freaking amazing.

The Curse of Chalion - Lois McMaster Bujold. I like her scifi better than her fantasy, but this book is quite good. She has the best sense of humor.

If you're a glutton for punishment, start reading the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb. I can't recommend books more than I recommend those, but it's an investment. You have to read all 9 books for the awesome to be complete. And Damn. It's awesome.

If you want some ripping good fun, start reading the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's a lot of books (starts with Cordelia's Honor) but let me tell you this: I read the whole saga and had such a good time that I turned right around and read the whole thing AGAIN! I've never done that with a series before.

Anyway, this should get you started. I do not put books on a recommendation list lightly. These are all books that I absolutely adore and read and reread over and over again. :)

[narniadear.livejournal.com]

Oh, and please tell me you've read Enchantment by Orson Scott Card. Please? If you haven't, throw that on my list, toward the TOP. It's a standalone and probably my favorite book of his. I recommend it to everyone.

[jenny-wildcat.livejournal.com]

Oh wow - THANK YOU!! This is perfect. I'm actually glad I asked you :)

[narniadear.livejournal.com]

Just looking at that list makes me want to go home and reread ALL OF IT!! Actually, it's time for me to reread Enchantment. It's been a couple years. I envy you that you get to read them all for the first time. :D

[shellic.livejournal.com]

Are you on Goodreads.com? If you get on there and have a good network of friends, you can find lots of good recommendations.

I just finished reading Ella Enchanted. Have you read it? Love it. I didn't like how it turned into another Cinderella story, but the heroin's personality more then makes up for it. She actually has a sense of humor. I love reading books that make me laugh out loud.

Also, have you read any Terry Pratchett books? His earlier stuff isn't as good in my opinion, but this guy is hilarious. Once he got comfortable writing about his Disc World he started making comedies that happen to be science-fantacy. His books are definitely LOL books.

[jenny-wildcat.livejournal.com]

I have a Goodreads account, but I haven't had the time to put too much into it, so I guess that's something I'll have to do.

I knew you'd mentioned Terry Pratchett, but for some reason I was getting him confused with Terry Goodkind. Anyway, he's going on the list.

[shellic.livejournal.com]

Well, you should friend my on Goodreads because I can't find you.

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Read any Robin McKinley? She's got a lot of good ones, though I recommend sticking with her early work -- her more recent ones are rambling enough to drive me cross-eyed (and I'm a Dickens fan, so that just shows you). I recommend "The Outlaws of Sherwood," "The Door in the Hedge," and especially "Beauty." "Deerskin" is good but disturbing in some ways (it deals with sexual abuse).

[narniadear.livejournal.com]

I adore The Outlaws of Sherwood and I really realy really love Sunshine. Sunshine has the wee beginnings of a sex scene, but nothing happens and it's done. :) (Deerskin is also good, but that's venturing into her weird verbose phase, so you may not dig it. I liked it though.)

BUT WAIT JUST A SECOND!!! Speaking of Robin McKinley, have you read The Hero and the Crown or The Blue Sword? Add those to my big old fat list above. They are YA, but OH SO GOOD. Her very best books in my opinion. (Dang, this is making me want to reread everything I own.)

[jenny-wildcat.livejournal.com]

I love YA books! (I want to be a teen/youth services librarian, after all) I'm open to those as well.

[jenny-wildcat.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendations. I've never heard of Robin McKinley, but I'm putting her on the list.