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

[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.