Book Recs
First of all, I want to extend a very heartfelt thank-you for all of the kind words I received on the news of my grandma. You guys really did make me feel a great deal better, and I am very grateful.
I'm feeling better now that things have had a chance to sink in. It was something that we had been expecting for sometime now. She lived a really long and healthy life, and then about two years ago, shortly before her hundredth birthday, she had a bad stroke. We had to put her in a nursing home, and she was unable to make anything close to a full recovery. She hadn't walked since it happened, and her mind was pretty obviously deteriorating. Then, a couple of weeks ago, she had another bad turn, and eventually, was placed on hospice care, where she stopped eating. We were fortunate enough to see her the day before she passed. She had lost all coherency at that point and we knew it was the last time we would likely see her. To be honest, at that point I was hoping it was coming soon since it was so sad to see her in that state. I was still oddly shocked when I got the news, though. When things like this happen, I guess its impossible to know exactly how you'll feel.
Anyway, in the hopes of distracting myself from sad thoughts, I thought I would give a little gift to whoever may want it. I decided to post a short little list of books that I have read and enjoyed, and I think that other people should read and enjoy. Its getting close to Christmas (no, I don't want to think about that either), so maybe I can give you guyz some ideas for gift giving and/or receiving. And PLEASE, if you feel like it, feel free to rec some books to me! Heck, it would be grand if anyone felt like posting their own little book list in their lj! If anyone out there is a Book Whore like I am, then we should all benefit from the awesome whoredom.
So enjoy! I'll mark warnings where appropriate. ^_^
1 - Swordspoint- by Ellen Kushner
From Amazon.com - In the highly stratified world of Kushner's nameless old city, the aristocrats living in fine mansions on the Hill settle their differences by sending to the thieves' den of Riverside for swordsmen who will fight to the death for a point of someone else's honor. Young Lord Michael Godwin is so taken by these romantic figures that he studies the art himself until challenged by the best of them. Master of the Sword, Richard St. Vier is picky in his contracts and precise in his killing but he nevertheless becomes embroiled in the nobility's political, social and sexual intrigues. When his lover Alec is kidnapped by Lord Horn, St. Vier must take drastic action. Kushner's authorial voice may be somewhat smug and self-conscious but that suits her subject. Her novel is intelligent, humorous and dramatic, with a fine, malicious feeling for the operation of gossip in a closed society.
Why this should be read: Holy Hannah, this is one of my most favorite books of all time. The characters are just awesome, especially the half-crazed snarky Alec. The relationship between Alec and Richard is one of the most satisfying and heart-warming ones I have ever witnessed, without ever being close to sappy. The ‘L’ word is never mentioned, but believe me, there is absolutely no need for it.
There are also two sequels written in this world - The Fall of Kings which I really liked until something happened toward the end of the book which made me SO MAD, that I literally threw the book across the room and then glared at it for a while (true story), and The Privilege of the Sword which I’ve never read, but seems promising.
warnings - Man-love, but no graphic sex. Some violence, and hints of rape.
2 - Drawing Blood- by Poppy Z. Brite
From Amazon.com - Five-year-old Trevor McGee wakes one morning to find that his father, cartoonist Bobby McGee, has murdered his mother and younger brother, then hanged himself. Twenty years later, Trevor, now a cartoonist himself, returns to Missing Mile, N.C. (a fictional town also featured in Lost Souls ), and the now-haunted house of his youth for answers: Why did his father choose to spare his life? What prompted the loss of creativity which Trevor himself now dreads? Meanwhile, 19-year-old Zachary Bosch, himself the tormented result of disturbed parents, arrives in Missing Mile on the lam for computer hacking. The two fall in love, and, with Zach's help, Trevor finds that he can reach the horrible but liberating truth the house holds for him. Though subplots and secondary characters sometimes hamper the pace of the main plot line, they do serve to evoke a certain 20-something, cyberpunk-era zeitgeist that resonates with the concerns of contemporary youth.
Why this should be read:Another one of my most favorite books ever. This book is definitely in the horror category, so beware of the gore, but again, such awesome awesome characters. And the story-line is pretty freaking interesting, too, though I skimmed through much of what is referenced above as ‘subplots and secondary characters’. I was definitely spooked by the final couple of chapters.
warnings - Man-love, and wonderfully graphic boy sex! Violence and gore.
3 - The Coldfire Trilogy - by C.S. Friendman
From Amazon.com - For over a thousand years, the colonists of the planet Erna have struggled to gain control over a land prone to seismic instability and infused with a wild, near-sentient natural force known as "the fae." While sorcerers and adepts manipulate the dark and light sides of this power, the Church maintains its stance in opposition to its use. As the dark side of the fae grows in strength, feeding off the nightmares and greed of the minds that are drawn to it, four individuals form an unwilling alliance to battle the source of evil. Friedman ( In Conquest Born , DAW, dist. by NAL, 1978; The Madness Season , DAW, dist. by NAL, 1990) has produced a splendid hybrid of sf and fantasy in this first volume of a trilogy. Hauntingly memorable protagonists, high drama, and vivid world-building mark the beginning of what promises to be a magnum opus of the imagination. A priority purchase for fantasy or sf collections.
Why this should be read: I absolutely adore this set of books, and NO ONE I know has ever read them! If its not obvious already, then it should be obvious by the end of this list, that I am absolutely obsessed with books that have strong characters. The two main characters in this trilogy, Gerald and Damien, are as good as they get. But what really drew me to these characters is the way we get movement with them as the story progresses. They start out as so starkly black and white, but then as events unfold, they both start to develop individual and varying shades of gray. And its not just that the darker character who starts to develop traits of goodness, but the ‘hero’ evolves as well, and sees that sometimes morals have to change when experience calls for it. The development of the relationship between them is just…lovely. There is no actual man-love in this trilogy, but I find it very very slashy. VERY. So read these books and create fanfic for the tiny little fandom that’s out there!
warnings - Violence and dark themes.
4 - One for the Money - by: Janet Evonovich
From Amazon.com - First novels this funny and self-assured come along rarely; dialogue this astute and raunchy is equally unusual. The gutsy heroine introduced here is Stephanie Plum of Trenton, N.J., a recently laid-off lingerie buyer who has no job, no car and no furniture. She does have a hamster, a deranged grandmother, two caring parents and several pairs of biking shorts and sports bras. Finding work with her cousin Vinnie, she becomes a bond hunter and scrounges money enough to buy a gun, a Chevy Nova and some Mace. Her first assignment is to locate a cop accused of murder. Joe Morelli grew up in Stephanie's neighborhood. Possessed of legendary charm, he relieved Stephanie of her virginity when she was 16 (she later ran over him with a car). In her search, Stephanie catches her prey, loses him and grills a psychotic prizefighter, the employer of the man Morelli shot. She steals Morelli's car and then installs an alarm so he can't steal it back. Resourceful and tough, Stephanie has less difficulty finding her man than deciding what she wants to do with him once she's got him. While the link between the fighter and the cop isn't clear until too late in the plot, Evanovich's debut is a delightful romp and Stephanie flaunts a rough-edged appeal.
Why this should be read:First of all, it should be understood that this is so not my genre of book. A woman at work recommended this to me a few weeks ago, and since my mother happened to have it in her library, I stole it last time I was visiting. Holy. Shit. I laughed so freaking hard while reading this book, that I’m pretty certain that I broke about three spleens. I find this type of quick humor hilarious. And (here I go sounding like a broken record) the CHARACTERS are so unbelievable! I am an individual that tends to dislike most female characters (I find all too often that so many read flat and like stereotypes) but I adore Stephanie Plum. She reminds me of myself a bit, but a lot funnier and a lot gutsier. And then there’s Lula the Ho. Enough said.
warnings - Violence, bad words, and sexual innuendo.
5 - The Grigori Trilogy - by: Storm Constantine
From Amazon.com - The Grigori Trilogy #1 The Grigori are an ancient race. Powerful people, possessing abilities and senses humans do not have. They live among us, their presence clear to those who have eyes to see... Owen and Lily Winter, twins, always knew they were different than the others who lived in the quiet hamlet of Little Moor. Their mother dead, never knowing who their father was, they lived alone in the large house. When Peverel Othman arrived in Little Moor he was looking for something or someone, he really was not sure which. When he found the twins he knew his search was over. For Lily and Owen their lives would be forever changed. The quiet hamlet of Little Moor just became the new home of a Grigori.
Why this should be read: Great story-line to the point that some of it was over my head. Then again, I’m not the sharpest tack in the box, so maybe things will be easier for you. Storm Constantine has a very gothic style in her writing, which I enjoyed very much. She uses a lot of old legends and religious symbols in this trilogy, which was tons of fun. Overall, its engaging, dark, and erotic. Read it!
warnings - Graphic man-sex! Graphic het sex! Bestiality! SEX SEX SEX! Also, rape and violence thrown in occasionally for the sake of variety.
I'm feeling better now that things have had a chance to sink in. It was something that we had been expecting for sometime now. She lived a really long and healthy life, and then about two years ago, shortly before her hundredth birthday, she had a bad stroke. We had to put her in a nursing home, and she was unable to make anything close to a full recovery. She hadn't walked since it happened, and her mind was pretty obviously deteriorating. Then, a couple of weeks ago, she had another bad turn, and eventually, was placed on hospice care, where she stopped eating. We were fortunate enough to see her the day before she passed. She had lost all coherency at that point and we knew it was the last time we would likely see her. To be honest, at that point I was hoping it was coming soon since it was so sad to see her in that state. I was still oddly shocked when I got the news, though. When things like this happen, I guess its impossible to know exactly how you'll feel.
Anyway, in the hopes of distracting myself from sad thoughts, I thought I would give a little gift to whoever may want it. I decided to post a short little list of books that I have read and enjoyed, and I think that other people should read and enjoy. Its getting close to Christmas (no, I don't want to think about that either), so maybe I can give you guyz some ideas for gift giving and/or receiving. And PLEASE, if you feel like it, feel free to rec some books to me! Heck, it would be grand if anyone felt like posting their own little book list in their lj! If anyone out there is a Book Whore like I am, then we should all benefit from the awesome whoredom.
So enjoy! I'll mark warnings where appropriate. ^_^
1 - Swordspoint- by Ellen Kushner
From Amazon.com - In the highly stratified world of Kushner's nameless old city, the aristocrats living in fine mansions on the Hill settle their differences by sending to the thieves' den of Riverside for swordsmen who will fight to the death for a point of someone else's honor. Young Lord Michael Godwin is so taken by these romantic figures that he studies the art himself until challenged by the best of them. Master of the Sword, Richard St. Vier is picky in his contracts and precise in his killing but he nevertheless becomes embroiled in the nobility's political, social and sexual intrigues. When his lover Alec is kidnapped by Lord Horn, St. Vier must take drastic action. Kushner's authorial voice may be somewhat smug and self-conscious but that suits her subject. Her novel is intelligent, humorous and dramatic, with a fine, malicious feeling for the operation of gossip in a closed society.
Why this should be read: Holy Hannah, this is one of my most favorite books of all time. The characters are just awesome, especially the half-crazed snarky Alec. The relationship between Alec and Richard is one of the most satisfying and heart-warming ones I have ever witnessed, without ever being close to sappy. The ‘L’ word is never mentioned, but believe me, there is absolutely no need for it.
There are also two sequels written in this world - The Fall of Kings which I really liked until something happened toward the end of the book which made me SO MAD, that I literally threw the book across the room and then glared at it for a while (true story), and The Privilege of the Sword which I’ve never read, but seems promising.
warnings - Man-love, but no graphic sex. Some violence, and hints of rape.
2 - Drawing Blood- by Poppy Z. Brite
From Amazon.com - Five-year-old Trevor McGee wakes one morning to find that his father, cartoonist Bobby McGee, has murdered his mother and younger brother, then hanged himself. Twenty years later, Trevor, now a cartoonist himself, returns to Missing Mile, N.C. (a fictional town also featured in Lost Souls ), and the now-haunted house of his youth for answers: Why did his father choose to spare his life? What prompted the loss of creativity which Trevor himself now dreads? Meanwhile, 19-year-old Zachary Bosch, himself the tormented result of disturbed parents, arrives in Missing Mile on the lam for computer hacking. The two fall in love, and, with Zach's help, Trevor finds that he can reach the horrible but liberating truth the house holds for him. Though subplots and secondary characters sometimes hamper the pace of the main plot line, they do serve to evoke a certain 20-something, cyberpunk-era zeitgeist that resonates with the concerns of contemporary youth.
Why this should be read:Another one of my most favorite books ever. This book is definitely in the horror category, so beware of the gore, but again, such awesome awesome characters. And the story-line is pretty freaking interesting, too, though I skimmed through much of what is referenced above as ‘subplots and secondary characters’. I was definitely spooked by the final couple of chapters.
warnings - Man-love, and wonderfully graphic boy sex! Violence and gore.
3 - The Coldfire Trilogy - by C.S. Friendman
From Amazon.com - For over a thousand years, the colonists of the planet Erna have struggled to gain control over a land prone to seismic instability and infused with a wild, near-sentient natural force known as "the fae." While sorcerers and adepts manipulate the dark and light sides of this power, the Church maintains its stance in opposition to its use. As the dark side of the fae grows in strength, feeding off the nightmares and greed of the minds that are drawn to it, four individuals form an unwilling alliance to battle the source of evil. Friedman ( In Conquest Born , DAW, dist. by NAL, 1978; The Madness Season , DAW, dist. by NAL, 1990) has produced a splendid hybrid of sf and fantasy in this first volume of a trilogy. Hauntingly memorable protagonists, high drama, and vivid world-building mark the beginning of what promises to be a magnum opus of the imagination. A priority purchase for fantasy or sf collections.
Why this should be read: I absolutely adore this set of books, and NO ONE I know has ever read them! If its not obvious already, then it should be obvious by the end of this list, that I am absolutely obsessed with books that have strong characters. The two main characters in this trilogy, Gerald and Damien, are as good as they get. But what really drew me to these characters is the way we get movement with them as the story progresses. They start out as so starkly black and white, but then as events unfold, they both start to develop individual and varying shades of gray. And its not just that the darker character who starts to develop traits of goodness, but the ‘hero’ evolves as well, and sees that sometimes morals have to change when experience calls for it. The development of the relationship between them is just…lovely. There is no actual man-love in this trilogy, but I find it very very slashy. VERY. So read these books and create fanfic for the tiny little fandom that’s out there!
warnings - Violence and dark themes.
4 - One for the Money - by: Janet Evonovich
From Amazon.com - First novels this funny and self-assured come along rarely; dialogue this astute and raunchy is equally unusual. The gutsy heroine introduced here is Stephanie Plum of Trenton, N.J., a recently laid-off lingerie buyer who has no job, no car and no furniture. She does have a hamster, a deranged grandmother, two caring parents and several pairs of biking shorts and sports bras. Finding work with her cousin Vinnie, she becomes a bond hunter and scrounges money enough to buy a gun, a Chevy Nova and some Mace. Her first assignment is to locate a cop accused of murder. Joe Morelli grew up in Stephanie's neighborhood. Possessed of legendary charm, he relieved Stephanie of her virginity when she was 16 (she later ran over him with a car). In her search, Stephanie catches her prey, loses him and grills a psychotic prizefighter, the employer of the man Morelli shot. She steals Morelli's car and then installs an alarm so he can't steal it back. Resourceful and tough, Stephanie has less difficulty finding her man than deciding what she wants to do with him once she's got him. While the link between the fighter and the cop isn't clear until too late in the plot, Evanovich's debut is a delightful romp and Stephanie flaunts a rough-edged appeal.
Why this should be read:First of all, it should be understood that this is so not my genre of book. A woman at work recommended this to me a few weeks ago, and since my mother happened to have it in her library, I stole it last time I was visiting. Holy. Shit. I laughed so freaking hard while reading this book, that I’m pretty certain that I broke about three spleens. I find this type of quick humor hilarious. And (here I go sounding like a broken record) the CHARACTERS are so unbelievable! I am an individual that tends to dislike most female characters (I find all too often that so many read flat and like stereotypes) but I adore Stephanie Plum. She reminds me of myself a bit, but a lot funnier and a lot gutsier. And then there’s Lula the Ho. Enough said.
warnings - Violence, bad words, and sexual innuendo.
5 - The Grigori Trilogy - by: Storm Constantine
From Amazon.com - The Grigori Trilogy #1 The Grigori are an ancient race. Powerful people, possessing abilities and senses humans do not have. They live among us, their presence clear to those who have eyes to see... Owen and Lily Winter, twins, always knew they were different than the others who lived in the quiet hamlet of Little Moor. Their mother dead, never knowing who their father was, they lived alone in the large house. When Peverel Othman arrived in Little Moor he was looking for something or someone, he really was not sure which. When he found the twins he knew his search was over. For Lily and Owen their lives would be forever changed. The quiet hamlet of Little Moor just became the new home of a Grigori.
Why this should be read: Great story-line to the point that some of it was over my head. Then again, I’m not the sharpest tack in the box, so maybe things will be easier for you. Storm Constantine has a very gothic style in her writing, which I enjoyed very much. She uses a lot of old legends and religious symbols in this trilogy, which was tons of fun. Overall, its engaging, dark, and erotic. Read it!
warnings - Graphic man-sex! Graphic het sex! Bestiality! SEX SEX SEX! Also, rape and violence thrown in occasionally for the sake of variety.