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Post by Dollanganger on Jun 22, 2005 20:01:56 GMT 10
Thought it'd be nice if well all suggested some reads to each other, since we quite clearly share the same tastes.
To make it easier to read, I'll set it out as such;
Author: Mark Chadbourne
Title: 'The Queen of Sinister'
Genre: Fantasy/epic
Why?: Chadbourne had me hooked from the opening lines, it's a very compelling read with an extremely unusual psychological storyline. It's part of a trilogy, by the way.
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Post by Faye on Jun 22, 2005 20:36:29 GMT 10
Author - Philippa Gregory Title - The Wise Woman Genre - Historical fiction/Horror Why? - If you like Kim's work, I'm assuming you like a fusion of the paranormal and history, and that's what this book is. The protagonist could never be considered likeable, but she certainly holds your attention and I respected her tenacity. A warning though; this book is definitely NOT for minors or the easily shocked! www.philippagregory.com |
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Post by Dollanganger on Jun 23, 2005 20:47:28 GMT 10
Okay, another from me:
Author: Sheri .S. Tepper
Title: All of her novels! Though, if you really had to choose, I'd say 'A Plague of Angels'
Genre: Fantasy
Why?: Tepper has this fantastic technqiue of blending the traditional elements of fantasy with regular modern fiction, meaning you can be reading a book about goblins that also concentrates on the AIDS virus. It's a very clever mix and every one of her novels is extremely unusual, so I beg you to have a read!
Louise x
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Post by spyndleshanks on Jun 28, 2005 12:51:38 GMT 10
Faye - I've heard you recommend that book so many times that I went out and bought it, though I haven't read it yet. I'm looking forward to it, it looks really good.
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Post by spyndleshanks on Jun 28, 2005 12:54:09 GMT 10
Author: Neil Gaiman
Title: American Gods
Genre: Fantasy
Why?: It's a dream within a world, or a world within a dream. All his books are like this, beautifully written. It's really hard to describe but essential to read.
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Post by Faye on Jul 1, 2005 6:53:13 GMT 10
Faye - I've heard you recommend that book so many times that I went out and bought it, though I haven't read it yet. I'm looking forward to it, it looks really good. I'm an excellent promotional nag! ;D [cackles] I think you'll like it. It was the first of Gregory's books I read and it's still my favourite (with The Queen's Fool coming in a close second). I hope you enjoy it, anyway! |
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Post by Faye on Jul 1, 2005 7:00:38 GMT 10
Another recommendation from me would be the book I've just finished reading; A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. Apparently it was written for teens (I'd personally stick to recommending it to around 15 year olds and above), but I've just spent the past two days absolutely hooked, and I'm 24. A story is a story. I really wish that there had been books like this when I was younger; it's a supernatural Victorian boarding school fantasy that presents a powerful image of women to its audience without making everything nauseating and implying that nothing ever goes wrong. There are some downright scary moments, actually!  My hat's also off to Bray for presenting a variety of hard-hitting subjects (which I won't go into here as they may constitute spoilers), and doing it responsibly and intelligently without preaching or breaking the narrative to deliver a sermon. AGATB was apparently an NY Times bestseller, but I'd never heard of it until someone in a historical community on Livejournal recommended it to me. That's pretty criminal; more recognition is definitely deserved. www.agreatandterriblebeauty.comwww.libbabray.com |
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Post by spyndleshanks on Jul 1, 2005 16:47:06 GMT 10
I just checked and the bookshop I work for doesn't have it  Amazon.com here I come! |
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Post by Faye on Jul 1, 2005 19:34:12 GMT 10
Yeah, it doesn't seem to be published outside the US. I got mine via Amazon.co.uk, but it's still an American edition, complete with strange spelling and all.  |
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Post by spyndleshanks on Jul 5, 2005 13:06:07 GMT 10
Americans are strange.
I'm only about 30 pages into it and already I like it! I had to finish the book I was reading on the Wars of the Roses. I think I'm becoming a bit obsessed with that period in history.
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Post by Faye on Jul 5, 2005 18:45:22 GMT 10
Glad you're liking it. Where was this woman when we were teenies?!? |
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Post by spyndleshanks on Jul 7, 2005 12:22:16 GMT 10
I know! But I have to admit that I'm finding Alys a bit of a pain - but I'm sure she'll get better when she stops being all self-righteous. I'm liking Morach though - she's a character ;D
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Post by Faye on Jul 7, 2005 20:44:36 GMT 10
She'll definitely stop being self-righteous, believe me!
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Post by spyndleshanks on Jul 8, 2005 10:55:38 GMT 10
I'm now almost 150 pages in and things are getting interesting! I didn't want to put it down last night but sleep won out in the end. I'll stop giving you a running commentary now! |
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Post by spyndleshanks on Jul 12, 2005 13:10:45 GMT 10
I know I said no more running commentary but Alys is EVIL!! And I'm loving it! ;D
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My hat's also off to Bray for presenting a variety of hard-hitting subjects (which I won't go into here as they may constitute spoilers), and doing it responsibly and intelligently without preaching or breaking the narrative to deliver a sermon. AGATB was apparently an NY Times bestseller, but I'd never heard of it until someone in a historical community on Livejournal recommended it to me. That's pretty criminal; more recognition is definitely deserved.
