Book Recommendations
So I've been on a book jag lately. I was waiting for the new "Tiwlight" sequel, "Breaking Dawn" by Stephanie Meyers, and I saw a lot of negative reviews. Saw some other suggestions, so I got them and some other NPR stuff. So here are the recommendations:
The "Twilight" Series by Stephanie Meyers:
I wasn't into the hype about these books when they first came out. However, the first 3 books, "Twilight," "New Moon," and "Eclipse" were all excellent. It's an appealing mix of the supernaturel and teenage love. Most of us could identify with the heroine, Bella Swan. I am still getting through "Breaking Dawn," which is as long as some Robert Jordan "Wheel of Time" novels (a series I also highly recommend for the different societies and how he puts together certain pre-modern military/social customs from this world into his). Although I read some of the spoilers in some of the online reviews, I am still plugging through Breaking Dawn.
However, for some great escapes, I point to these:
The Mercedes Thompson books, by Patricia Briggs:
"Moon Called," "Blood Bound," and "Iron Kissed." Mercy is a walker, not a skinwalker, but a different type of Native American shapeshifter (she changes into a coyote). I'm enjoying this series, because of the Northwestern setting and attitudes. Mercy was raised by a werewolf pack, but leaves, becoming a VW mechanic. Lots of drama, resulting from were and vampire politics. Reminds me a little of early Anita Blake (by Laurell Hamilton), without all the BDSM and graphic sex. I liked Anita better when she was facing villains and slaying them, without all the sex. Now Anita is all about the sex.
The Cassandra Palmer books, by Karen Chance:
"Touch the Dark," "Claimed by Shadow," and "Embrace the Night." Cassie is an untrained clairvoyant (she sees dead people, and sometimes travels back in time to help them). She was raised by a vampire, who killed her parents. And she's become the new Pythia (the original Oracle of Delphi). Vampire politics, mage wars, and some brushes with the Fey keep her going. I don't like this series as well as the Mercy series above, but the esp factor is appealing, as is the vampire aspect.
And for general mysteries, I heard about Denise Mina, a Scottish writer on NPR. Mina writes a couple of different series, centered in Glasgow. I am liking the Paddy Meehan series, "Field of Blood," "The Dead Hour," and "Slip of the Knife." Glasgow is not a great place to be in the mid-80s, if you're lower class, and descendant from Irish immigrants. There are aspects of this series that depressed me a little, due to the old-fashioned values that permeate throughout. Paddy is plucky and plump, trying to make it as a reporter in the old-style, unionized press community that is primarily male. Also, the description of poverty made me realize how lucky I am to be an educated, middle-class woman from CA, and not stuck living with my family (not that I don't love them, but . I just can't fathom being a woman, and not working (single or not), whereas here, married women generally don't work. And the attitudes of Paddy's family members who could work, but don't are puzzling to me. But this during Thatcher's reign in Britain, when she broke the old industrial unions and remade the British economy. It'll be interesting to read about Paddy in the 90s.
Sorry I haven't figure out how to embed the link, so you can could go straight to Amazon and look these gals up. Anyway, happy reading to you. And for those of you who say you don't have time, try audio books! I realized that when I had to choose between reading and doing chores, I was choosing the book. But lots of libraries carry many audio versions of books. I happen to prefer the "Master & Commander" series on audio due to the reader, who is fantastic, and really brings everything to life. Spoiled both the movie and the books for me after that.
Ta for now!
The "Twilight" Series by Stephanie Meyers:
I wasn't into the hype about these books when they first came out. However, the first 3 books, "Twilight," "New Moon," and "Eclipse" were all excellent. It's an appealing mix of the supernaturel and teenage love. Most of us could identify with the heroine, Bella Swan. I am still getting through "Breaking Dawn," which is as long as some Robert Jordan "Wheel of Time" novels (a series I also highly recommend for the different societies and how he puts together certain pre-modern military/social customs from this world into his). Although I read some of the spoilers in some of the online reviews, I am still plugging through Breaking Dawn.
However, for some great escapes, I point to these:
The Mercedes Thompson books, by Patricia Briggs:
"Moon Called," "Blood Bound," and "Iron Kissed." Mercy is a walker, not a skinwalker, but a different type of Native American shapeshifter (she changes into a coyote). I'm enjoying this series, because of the Northwestern setting and attitudes. Mercy was raised by a werewolf pack, but leaves, becoming a VW mechanic. Lots of drama, resulting from were and vampire politics. Reminds me a little of early Anita Blake (by Laurell Hamilton), without all the BDSM and graphic sex. I liked Anita better when she was facing villains and slaying them, without all the sex. Now Anita is all about the sex.
The Cassandra Palmer books, by Karen Chance:
"Touch the Dark," "Claimed by Shadow," and "Embrace the Night." Cassie is an untrained clairvoyant (she sees dead people, and sometimes travels back in time to help them). She was raised by a vampire, who killed her parents. And she's become the new Pythia (the original Oracle of Delphi). Vampire politics, mage wars, and some brushes with the Fey keep her going. I don't like this series as well as the Mercy series above, but the esp factor is appealing, as is the vampire aspect.
And for general mysteries, I heard about Denise Mina, a Scottish writer on NPR. Mina writes a couple of different series, centered in Glasgow. I am liking the Paddy Meehan series, "Field of Blood," "The Dead Hour," and "Slip of the Knife." Glasgow is not a great place to be in the mid-80s, if you're lower class, and descendant from Irish immigrants. There are aspects of this series that depressed me a little, due to the old-fashioned values that permeate throughout. Paddy is plucky and plump, trying to make it as a reporter in the old-style, unionized press community that is primarily male. Also, the description of poverty made me realize how lucky I am to be an educated, middle-class woman from CA, and not stuck living with my family (not that I don't love them, but . I just can't fathom being a woman, and not working (single or not), whereas here, married women generally don't work. And the attitudes of Paddy's family members who could work, but don't are puzzling to me. But this during Thatcher's reign in Britain, when she broke the old industrial unions and remade the British economy. It'll be interesting to read about Paddy in the 90s.
Sorry I haven't figure out how to embed the link, so you can could go straight to Amazon and look these gals up. Anyway, happy reading to you. And for those of you who say you don't have time, try audio books! I realized that when I had to choose between reading and doing chores, I was choosing the book. But lots of libraries carry many audio versions of books. I happen to prefer the "Master & Commander" series on audio due to the reader, who is fantastic, and really brings everything to life. Spoiled both the movie and the books for me after that.
Ta for now!