I've been reading through the "20 questions" thread, and we all seem to be reading completely different things! Unfortunately, one of my favorite book series has been neglected! So, in the interest of spreading the wonderfulness, I am hereby recommending the following book:

"Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon

It is the first in a fabulous series of well-researched, well-written novels combining Scottish/American history, time travel, romance (with a multi-lingual, brilliant, heavily-accented, kilt-wearing red-headed perfecto-man), healing arts, heroic men fighting, genealogy and general mental heroin.

If anyone has read it or sees fit to read it, let us know what you think!
:)

~magpieDee
(who is always looking for a new book into which to sink her fangs)

Cool! I'll look that one up. :)

At the moment, I highly recommend The Little Friend, by Donna Tartt.
Excellent! :mrgreen:

Oooh! I read "Outlander" years ago and I LOVED it. In fact, I loved it so much that now I am going to drag it down off the shelf and read it again. :D

DG's books rock!

Any Anne Rice fans? I've just read her new one "Blackwood Farm" and it's amazing... her best in years.

Sheba

DG's books rock!

Any Anne Rice fans? I've just read her new one "Blackwood Farm" and it's amazing... her best in years.

Sheba
Anne Rice all the way, baby. :D I read and reread the Witches Chronicles over and over (and that includes the Witches Companion!). I was scarred for life when I finished them - THEY MUST CONTINUE!!! I miss Rowan! ::teartear:: And Lasher! ::sigh::

Anyway, I've been out of the loop for so long that I have no idea how many new books she's come out with. When did Blackwood Farm come out? What's it about?

I'm going to have to start the Vampire Chronicles. I can't believe I started reading her books in 6th grade (or 7th?) and still haven't read her Vampire series. :shock:

The Feast of All Saints was an excellent one, too. I just reread that for the second time. LOL! Her books are the ONLY books I've ever done that with. It's so amazing how many little things you pick up the second time that you missed (HOW?!) the first time. She amazes me.

If I could write like her, I'd be a stud. ::doin' the Elvis pelvic dance::

Must find a new book...

Oh! I've heard that White Oleander is an excellent read, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet (still sitting on my table LOL). It was either read or learn to knit. Time to read it now. ;) LOL

Anyone have any suggestions for new aromatherapy, cosmetic forumla, and/or beauty books? All of mine are ancient and have been reduced to oil stained, smear paged, poor little broken remnants of books.

Great topic!!!

I haven't read any of the books mentioned, but, I have to say I love Stephen King's books. My fave is Rose Madder. It's sort of fantasy, and some hair stuff in it too! ;)

DG's books rock!

Any Anne Rice fans? I've just read her new one "Blackwood Farm" and it's amazing... her best in years.

Sheba

AR fan here. I read Interview at 13( I was a genuinely weird kid), and have read most everything she's written since.
I wasn't big on the Mayfair Witches, and haven't picked up the latest Lestat blast. I've got Servant of the Bones right now, switching back and forth with House Corrino, one of the Dune prequels.
I'm also reading dry as dust academic reports right now. Better than Sominex and a sledgehammer to the temple for sleep aids.

Don't know anything about this "multi-lingual, brilliant, heavily-accented, kilt-wearing red-headed perfecto-man" Outlander fella, but I'll tell you what I do know about Scotland - the men are getting few and far between.

Scotland's population is in serious decline - so much - they're advertising for residents - we're considering it - Scotland is one of the most gorgeous places on the planet (except for Glasgow on Friday night/Saturday morning about 2:00 am -- eeeeuuuuuuuuwwwwwww :no )

Gren

DG's books rock!

Any Anne Rice fans? I've just read her new one "Blackwood Farm" and it's amazing... her best in years.

Sheba

Yessss I love the Outlander series - have the latest in my to read stack (it's a huge stack)

About Anne Rice - I'm hot and cold on her but ???? her sister whose name I can't remember is doing a supercool werewolf series, anyone remember her name, I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment...g

DG's books rock!

Any Anne Rice fans? I've just read her new one "Blackwood Farm" and it's amazing... her best in years.

Sheba

AR fan here. I read Interview at 13( I was a genuinely weird kid), and have read most everything she's written since.
I wasn't big on the Mayfair Witches, and haven't picked up the latest Lestat blast. I've got Servant of the Bones right now, switching back and forth with House Corrino, one of the Dune prequels.
I'm also reading dry as dust academic reports right now. Better than Sominex and a sledgehammer to the temple for sleep aids.

Don't know anything about this "multi-lingual, brilliant, heavily-accented, kilt-wearing red-headed perfecto-man" Outlander fella, but I'll tell you what I do know about Scotland - the men are getting few and far between.

Scotland's population is in serious decline - so much - they're advertising for residents - we're considering it - Scotland is one of the most gorgeous places on the planet (except for Glasgow on Friday night/Saturday morning about 2:00 am -- eeeeuuuuuuuuwwwwwww :no )

Gren
Nice to have a fellow weirdo around here. ;) LOL

BTW, you reminded me that my last book wasn't Feast of All Saints, it was Servant of the Bones. ::shaking head to clear the mice:: ;)

[
Nice to have a fellow weirdo around here. ;) LOL

BTW, you reminded me that my last book wasn't Feast of All Saints, it was Servant of the Bones. ::shaking head to clear the mice:: ;)

I loved Feast of All Saints, but one of my favorite AR books is Cry to Heaven, Anne captured a magnificient time in Italian history perfectly- and after I read it the first time was prompted to go on a hunt for the Farinelli recording- no joy though - it's very rare.

Thank you for the compliment - weird makes the world go round - in slightly eccentric orbit!

Gren

Stephanie... I LOVED the Mayfair Witches, much better than the Vampires even! I can't believe she just abandoned the saga. Merrick was really good but it didn't exactly pick the Mayfair story back up.

I haven't read much Anne Rice since I getting really horrified by the "boiled in molten gold" scene in Servant of the Bones.

I've seen the Outlander series and it does look really good... I'll have to see if they have it at the library. I'm about due for some mental heroin... LOL.

i must again sing the praises of terry pratchett. his books are incredibly funny and very well crafted. his books aren't really written in such a way that you need to read them in order. my suggestion for a start is reaper man. that's the one started with, and i loved it.

my other fav. author is laurell hamilton. her anita blake books are great novels about vampires, werecreatures, zombies, and various other supernatural beings. she's also started a fey series that's really well written as well.

i picked up american gods by neil gaimen tonight. i've had people whose tastes mirror my own tell me it's an incredible novel.

i then went to dollar general and picked up 4 more paperbacks (at $1 a book, you can't go wrong).

Terry Pratchett is a genius!

Wyrd Sisters and Witches Abroad are my absolute favorites.
I just finished NightWatch. and am waiting on the hub to finish The Science of Discworld.

Cool - another Pratchett fan! 8)

so far i've read

[list]
reaper man
witches abroad
pyramids
the hogfather
moving pictures
(and about half of) the truth
[/list:u]

i'm really quite fond of DEATH, so i want to read the other books in which he's a major character. i'm an english teacher, so i'm always really curious to read the wyrd sisters.

Stephers.... great minds think alike ;)

"Servant of the Bones" was amazing! Loved it!

"Blackwood Farms" came out just before Xmas.... it weaves together the vampire storylines AND the Mayfair witches! It's fantastic. Merrick appears as well as Lestat, Rowan, Mona, Michael, etc. plus the new character "Quinn" who tells the story. If you love both lines (as a I do)... you'll love this one!!

::Anne Rice Heaven::

I've read just about every one she's ever written... the only book I couldn't get through was "Violin"... it just sucked!

Great topic... nice to know there are a lot of other weirdos like myself :twisted:

:heart: Sheba

Oh, how I love to read...!!

Here are some books I've read lately (or not-so-lately) that are GREAT:

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond -- very thought-provoking look at why the world has developed the way it has. (For example, why did the Europeans bring all sorts of nasty diseases with them to the Americas, killing millions of Native Americans, while the Americas had no equally deadly diseases to pass on to the Europeans? Why is that?)

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire -- the Wizard of Oz story told from the Wicked Witch's perspective. Definitely worth the read!

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking -- physics, astronomy, math -- oh my! :)

Einstein's Dreams by Alan P. Lightman

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. One of the best books I've ever read -- the overwhelming power of forgiveness. Wow.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, a very cool modern Japanese book with two alternating plots.


And many, many more.... I'm a voracious reader.

;)

Gabi, her name is Alice Borchardt. I love them, too, even though my husband makes fun of me! I think the covers are a little... well, hokey... but the insides are great and will hook you in a second!

I also love Anne Rice and have nearly everything she's ever written. I love Lestat and watch the movies for Interview and QOTD frequently. That's right... I'm a closet Goth! I may look "normal" on the outside, but on the inside, i'm a Cure-loving, Anne Rice-reading, all black-wearing little goth! Ha!

But people... Outlander is fabulous. I promise. Heh heh.
~magpieDee

Are there any other Romance Fantasy addicts? I love Dara Joy, Kathleen Morgan, and Christine Feehan!

--Cheryl

DG's books rock!

Any Anne Rice fans? I've just read her new one "Blackwood Farm" and it's amazing... her best in years.

Sheba
Anne Rice was my answer to those late teenage years :) I haven't read much of the 'new' Vampire series. I just can't get into it as much as the original. The Mayfair Witches were wonderful, so full of imagery. Not to sound too much like a goof, but I loved her Beauty series, Exit to Eden and Belinda. (You won't find THOSE titles at your local public library heeheehee) I followed her work religiously for years.

Stephen King has been a reappearing fave since childhood. I first picked up Carrie when I was 7 :)I have now read all his work except "From a Buick 8". His non fiction "On Writing" was quite insightful.

Gabi, her name is Alice Borchardt. I love them, too, even though my husband makes fun of me! I think the covers are a little... well, hokey... but the insides are great and will hook you in a second!

I also love Anne Rice and have nearly everything she's ever written. I love Lestat and watch the movies for Interview and QOTD frequently. That's right... I'm a closet Goth! I may look "normal" on the outside, but on the inside, i'm a Cure-loving, Anne Rice-reading, all black-wearing little goth! Ha!

But people... Outlander is fabulous. I promise. Heh heh.
~magpieDee

Aha - thank you thank you - we are going book shopping tomorrow :D

Yea, about those covers. Don't you just hate being seen with tacky covers :oops: :rolleyes: "Bob her Husband" makes fun of me too but I always have something to read whereas he is always on a desperate search. We devour books :rolleyes:

Another suggestion for all who like cats and spiritual allegory:

Gail Greeno - The Gatti's Tale, several books in the series, the first two definitely the best - more goofy covers

Louise Cooper - the Indigo series, essential to read from the start

Tara K. Harper - Wolfwalker series, also good to read from the start but not necessary, she also has other animal involved books like "Cat Scratch Fever" that are delightful

I'll think of more...:DD...g

I STILL haven't been able to find Anne Rice's "Blackwood Farm." :?

I'd like to recommend "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins (I think it is his best book), and "Group Portrait with Lady" by Heinrich Boll. (Good luck finding that last one, it's been out of print for years...)

Oh! I've heard that White Oleander is an excellent read, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet (still sitting on my table LOL). It was either read or learn to knit. Time to read it now. LOL


Definitely a good read, but not exactly cheerful. Choose a time when you're feeling emotionally strong.

I read Ann Rice when I was 13 too. I read the Vampire Chornicles up to The Body Snatcher and then I got disillusioned and stopped. I did read Memnoch The Devil, but I don't really consider that part of the Vampire Chronicles. More of a philosophy tract :D

DBF: I have read all the books you mentioned except for the last one. They are all wonderful! Although Einstein's Dreams was given to me by a yucky ex--boyfriend, so I've been meaning to re-read it without thoughts of him cluttering up the book :D

I just finished The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Great, great book. makes me want to be a tortured author. I probably won't, though. I also just read The Burgermeister's Daughter by Steven Ozment. It's kind of a scholarly romance novel. About a very um... singular woman in the 16th century. Based on her (and the boys') letters. It was one of those books I couldn't put down.

White Oleander was indeed a good read.
The Bell Jar another one to re-read - due to Gwynnie's movie, which looks interesting.

10 months later on this thread - I'm readling Jean Auel's Shelters of Stone, bits and pieces of the Oxford Astronomy Dictionary, and just finished Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code.

Gren

edited because I didn't really realize that November is 10 months from February, not 6...<smacking self on forehead>

Okay, ladies, picture in your mind a man who is built like Fabio, sounds like Sean Connery, and has hair like Sunsailing's. That's the Jamie Fraser in the "Outlander" series. LOVE THEM, Love them, love them. Oooooooh baby.

I read some Anne Rice years ago, started getting a little too far out for me, and a little too repetitious or something.

Recent reads:The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
Late Bloomer by Fern Michaels
Flirting with Pete by Barbara Delinsky
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman
and some how-to books on watercolor
Thanks for the suggestions. Time to hit the library!

I just finished "Fall On Your Knees" by Ann-Marie MacDonald. Fascinating read. I'll just say that if you think your family is extremely dysfunctional, it will seem normal compared to the one in this book. ;)

I just finished "Fall On Your Knees" by Ann-Marie MacDonald. Fascinating read. I'll just say that if you think your family is extremely dysfunctional, it will seem normal compared to the one in this book. ;)

Somehow, I doubt that. My family put the word dysfunctional on the map.I will however, look for the book, as I'm always up for reading about how screwed up other families are, and how sometimes some of us conquer all that and go on to be okay people.

Okay, ladies, picture in your mind a man who is built like Fabio, sounds like Sean Connery, and has hair like Sunsailing's. That's the Jamie Fraser in the "Outlander" series.
Ye gods, I've died and gone to heaven. Does such a creature exist?
Alright, these are must reads now.

Gren

shoot, i was thinking we'd start a geniune book club.. we pick a book, we all go read it, and then report back what we all thought. Wouldn't that be cool? i'm sure we'd learn alot about each other that way, and expand our reading horizons too....

just an idea..

*saj slinks back into the corner to figure out what to read next*

shoot, i was thinking we'd start a geniune book club.. we pick a book, we all go read it, and then report back what we all thought. Wouldn't that be cool? i'm sure we'd learn alot about each other that way, and expand our reading horizons too....

just an idea..

*saj slinks back into the corner to figure out what to read next*

I'm up for it! Perhaps we could have one volunteer per month to choose the book?

I just got around to reading Possession by A.S. Byatt. Seems like it was very popular about 5 years ago, but it was never high on my list. Very good book, though! I thought the end was predictable, but other than that, it was a great read. :)

What else...? I just finished An Introduction to the Languages of the World by Anatole Lyovin. Yeah, yeah, I know -- not everyone's fancy. ;) But it was very fascinating!!

Gawd - there are lots of books worth reading, but they're all too different to really group together. Here's a handful from a few different genres (for my reckoning).

Sci-Fi : Harry Harrison's "Stainless Steel Rat" series. It's comic, but that's my taste for you. Also, almost any work in the genre by Orson Scott Card.

Fantasy : Gemmell's Drenai and Rigante series', and Simon R. Green's Haven and Forest Kingdom books.

Philosophy : Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet".

Historical Fiction : Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" books and Ian Serraillier's "The Silver Sword".

Poetic : Milton's "Paradise Lost" and works by George Herbert (if you don't mind a Christian tilt to your poetry). George Herbert's also a fascinating man, if you ever care to read about his life - he essentially gave up a life of fame and fortune to become an unknown priest, and never published a single one of his poems until after his death.

Political Fiction : George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and Mikhail Bulgakov's "The Master And Margarita".

Comedy : The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett and the Brentford chronicles by Robert Rankin.

Children's : The Harry Potter books (naturally), Alan Garner's "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen", most anything by Roald Dahl and the trilogy "Truckers, Diggers and Wings" by Terry Pratchett.

Gawd - there are lots of books worth reading, but they're all too different to really group together. Here's a handful from a few different genres (for my reckoning).

Sci-Fi : Harry Harrison's "Stainless Steel Rat" series. It's comic, but that's my taste for you. Also, almost any work in the genre by Orson Scott Card.

Fantasy : Gemmell's Drenai and Rigante series', and Simon R. Green's Haven and Forest Kingdom books.

Philosophy : Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet".

Historical Fiction : Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" books and Ian Serraillier's "The Silver Sword".

Poetic : Milton's "Paradise Lost" and works by George Herbert (if you don't mind a Christian tilt to your poetry). George Herbert's also a fascinating man, if you ever care to read about his life - he essentially gave up a life of fame and fortune to become an unknown priest, and never published a single one of his poems until after his death.

Political Fiction : George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and Mikhail Bulgakov's "The Master And Margarita".

Comedy : The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett and the Brentford chronicles by Robert Rankin.

Children's : The Harry Potter books (naturally), Alan Garner's "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen", most anything by Roald Dahl and the trilogy "Truckers, Diggers and Wings" by Terry Pratchett.

WOW!
Ellephant - our bookshelves probably look scarily similar. The only authors' work I'm not familiar with on your list are the fantasy writers.

Hmmmmm. Amazon.co.uk may be the way..... I loved the Sharpe books, and Discworld - have you read the Science of Discworld yet? Quite entertaining.

Off to look for new fantasy authors....

Thanks! :D

Gren

I hope you enjoy them... :)

Gemmell and Simon Green are responsible for creating some of the most memorable book characters I've ever read about - Green's peak is with Hawk and Fisher (who start out as Rupert and Julia in Blue Moon Rising, but change their names later), while Gemmell's most memorable characters are probably Druss The Legend and his sidekick Sieben the Poet, closely followed by the rather more solitary Waylander.

Of the two, I've yet to read a weak book by Simon Green, while one or two of Gemmell's later books don't quite live up to the calibre he set himself with his first ever book, "Legend". However, even his weaker books are good enough to be considered a decent read, so enjoy...

Also - with Gemmell, one book I'd recommend outside of the two series I mentioned is "Knights of Dark Renown". I've read that it's supposedly tied into the worlds of a couple of others, but if so, it's very vague indeed - it works really well as a standalone fantasy novel, though.

good omens--neil gaimen and terry pratchett

"who knew the apocolypse could be so funny?"

I STILL haven't been able to find Anne Rice's "Blackwood Farm." :?
Oh goodness, Dulci, this is a must read for any AR fans! Especially since the sequel, "Blood Canticle" is now out!! BTW, don't read any reviews or jacket covers of BC until you've read BF... it will spoil BF for you. Have you tried your local library??

As an added motivation for you, without giving anything away, BC is Rowan and Lestat battling head to head. :twisted:

good luck - I hope you find BF soon!

What!?! So now that's two AR books I am behind? I'm going to have to ask DH to get them for me at the post library, my little county library has been run by the same two ladies for the last couple of decades, and I think they only order books that they...approve of. :rolleyes:

Rowan and Lestat battling? Huh, I would have thought they would get along...

Dulci -- check your email RE AR Blackwood Farms!

A trip to Borders....WOOOO HOOOO

We got
Neal Stephensons new book, Quicksilver, first of three in a cycle.
I love Neal Stephenson.

The NEW Terry Pratchett - Monstrous Regiment...wheeeeee!

Michael Critchtons Timeline, so I don't have to go to the movies for something that may be a better read.

A Harry Turtledove alternate reality, which will probably be the last thing either of us read out of the new batch.

And, AND, last but not least, on the recommendations here, I got Anne Rice's Blackwood Farm. When I've read it, I'll post a review.

So, the AllBlacks are playing the Welsh, and it's probably going to be a massacre. Off to watch the haka.

Gren

...just finished Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code.

What did you think of that Gren, is it worth chasing down?

...just finished Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code
What did you think of that Gren, is it worth chasing down?

Yes! It was a wonderful book. I read it in about two days. Couldn't put it down. If you have a chance to read that, do!

...just finished Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code.

What did you think of that Gren, is it worth chasing down?

Absolutely.
I enjoyed it thoroughly. It will be a while before I re-read it though, so I can forget exactly how the twists and turns resolved themselves.

I will admit it, I am a re-reader. I've been through Steven King's books over and over, I make an effort to read some books once a year or so.

Gren

Finally I've read something somebody else has!
I've read Outlander!
OMG! It was such a good book. I couldn't put it down. I remember doing things like vacuuming my house with my right hand, holding the book in my left, taking a couple of swipes with the vaccuum, glancing up at what I was doing, then reading a paragraph or two and back to vaccuuming.

I just fell in love with the characters. Mmmm....especially Jamie Frasier! :D

Rowan and Lestat battling? Huh, I would have thought they would get along...
ahhhh... that's why you need to read Blackwood Farm ;-)

:twisted:

Blackwood Farm was AWESOME. I'm just starting Blood Canticle , checked it out from work.. but pleeeease tell me it gets better. I'm 2 chapters in, and am only SLIGHTLY interested so far.. please please please tell me it gets better the further I go... I know some Anne Rice books start out, well, DULL, but get very good.. I'm hoping this is one of those???

Mata Hari by Sam Waagenaar
Anastasia The Riddle of Anna Anderson by Peter Kurth
All Conan Doyal's Holmes stories
Hessian Tapestry by David Duff
Jane Eyer by Charlotte Bronte
Anna of the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Compleat Jack the Ripper by Philip Sugden

i picked up american gods by neil gaimen tonight. i've had people whose tastes mirror my own tell me it's an incredible novel.


I just read American Gods and Neverwhere for the 2nd time. :) Gaiman's Coraline is wonderfully creepy. "And you will never think about buttons in quite the same way again."

Anne Rice: I read the first 2 books from her first vampire series and loved them. Then I got to Queen of the Damned, which sucked so bad I could not even finish it. The only other Anne Rice book I've read is Belinda, which I liked quite a bit.

Roald Dahl: Matilda and The Witches. These are children's books, but don't let that stop you. Very clever and entertaining.

I've enjoyed all the Sue Grafton books I've read, but K Is For Killer is my favorite of the series. Dark, disturbing, and a compelling story.

I just finished The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Great, great book. makes me want to be a tortured author.

I read this one and a book of her poetry about 20 years ago. They were perfect companions for listening to Joy Division. Also read an autobiographical novel by Plath, but don't recall the name of it. She was an incredible writer.

bunniee

[edited to add the bit about Sylvia Plath]

Anne Rice: I read the first 2 books from her first vampire series and loved them. Then I got to Queen of the Damned, which sucked so bad I could not even finish it. The only other Anne Rice book I've read is Belinda, which I liked quite a bit.

Roald Dahl: Matilda and The Witches. These are children's books, but don't let that stop you. Very clever and entertaining.


Oh bunniee, it took me two or three tries to get through Queen of the Damned but it was good once I did... Her latest one however, i'm drudging through as quickly as I can in order to check out something more entertaining from work :D

And Roald Dahl... AWESOME. The two you picked are my favorites by him. Have you seen the movie "The Witches" ?? It's good! (the one based off his book).
:DD

And Roald Dahl... AWESOME. The two you picked are my favorites by him. Have you seen the movie "The Witches" ?? It's good! (the one based off his book).
:DD

Yes! I have "The Witches" on videotape. Anjelica Huston does a wonderful job of portraying the Grand High Witch.

:jestor:

bunniee

:Star: :Star: :Star: :Star: :Star:

Yay! DH picked up a paperback Blackwood Farm for me, he saw it today while shopping for Christmas lights. :P

... Then I got to Queen of the Damned, which sucked so bad I could not even finish it.

:o ohhh bunniee, I think Queen of the Damned is my favorite Anne Rice book!

i picked up american gods by neil gaimen tonight. i've had people whose tastes mirror my own tell me it's an incredible novel.


I just read American Gods and Neverwhere for the 2nd time. :) Gaiman's Coraline is wonderfully creepy. "And you will never think about buttons in quite the same way again."



WOWOWOWOWOW! I just finished American Gods OMG. What a fantastic read. I've been a Gaiman fan for a long, long time - I was a regular comic reader, and a complete Sandman fanatic.

Now I gotta find Coraline.

Gren

Blackwood Farm was AWESOME. I'm just starting Blood Canticle , checked it out from work.. but pleeeease tell me it gets better. I'm 2 chapters in, and am only SLIGHTLY interested so far.. please please please tell me it gets better the further I go... I know some Anne Rice books start out, well, DULL, but get very good.. I'm hoping this is one of those???

I just finished reading Blackwood Farm, and it turned out to be surprisingly good once I got past chapter one. I almost didn't make it through the first chapter, the writing was so awful.

I hope Blood Canticle turned out to be a good book.

WOWOWOWOWOW! I just finished American Gods OMG. What a fantastic read. I've been a Gaiman fan for a long, long time - I was a regular comic reader, and a complete Sandman fanatic.

Now I gotta find Coraline.

Yay! I loved American Gods. If you have trouble finding Coraline, check in the children's book section - that's where I found mine. :)

bunniee

I've been wanting to read American Gods, but I've been waiting for my brother to dig his copy out of his nest... er, I mean room... for me. At this rate, it'd probably be a good idea to go buy or borrow the book.

Has anyone here read Hanna's Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson? (It's Anna Hanna och Johanna for the Swedes here.) I read it a few years ago, but I just read another of her (as yet untranslated to English) books, so I was reminded of it. I thought Hanna's Daughters was a good read.

Or how about Before You Sleep by Linn Ullmann? Another Scandinavian author, I know, but what can I say? I like Scandinavian literature.

I could use some recommendations for good books. I'm surrounded by books in my house, but none of them ever catch my interest. I must be in a slump or something. :?:

I read White Oleander because someone here recommended it ages ago.
It was good, but weird. I wasn't sure what to do with myself after I finished it!

I've read Neverwhere because wurmfood told me too (I liked it), my house is full of Pratchett, I'm also a DEATH fan...I read the Shannow novels, they are Gemmel aren't they? I've also read about 2/3 of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, but I got stuck. My DH reads all that gear......but it's mostly not my scene.

What I've read recently:
Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials *shudders of pleasure* I LOVE it, just some of the best stuff I've read. I find it a little more sophisticated than JK Rowling, but I like them both for different reasons. I like Harry Potter for the "ripping yarn" kinda read. Goody :)

William Dalrymple's From The Holy Mountain - should be read by all people with an interest in Christian History or the past and future of the middle east. He's a fantastic writer, all his books are probably good. Lots of humour and humanity too.

I like Oliver Sachs, oh..........I don't know. I need to raid my library, obviously.

I am reading the most interesting book right now! It's called Hey, Waitress! The USA from the Other Side of the Tray (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0520217500/qid=1080794245/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/103-6855772-6360615?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), by Alison Owings. "Containing lively, personal portraits of waitresses from many different walks of life, this book is the first of its kind to show the intimate, illuminating, and often shocking behind-the-scenes stories of waitresses' daily shifts and daily lives. Alison Owings traveled the country-from border to border and coast to coast-to hear firsthand what waitresses think about their lives, their work, and their world."

Some of the personal accounts are hilarious, and some are just heartbreaking...I'm trying to remember if my waitressing days were this interesting LOL.

I'm also rereading John Steinbeck's Tortilla Flat, I just love that little book, I read it every few years. :jestor: Too bad the library doesn't have Cannery Row, that is supposed to come next. :?

I was just reading over this thread and think it would be fun to start up a book club again.

I LOVE Steinbeck. Dulci, have you read Cannery Row before? That was one of the first Steinbeck novels I read. I love the way his descriptive words paint such vivid images of people and the landscape.

Maybe we could read a Steinbeck book for our first club pick? :wink:

As for the waitress accounts, that sounds very interesting. My mom was a waitress for aver 10 years and has a lot of stories from that time.

sgrace

...I LOVE Steinbeck. Dulci, have you read Cannery Row before? That was one of the first Steinbeck novels I read. I love the way his descriptive words paint such vivid images of people and the landscape...


Oh yeah, I think I have read everything he ever wrote. I loved Cannery Row, I even liked John Huston's movie! (even though it was actually based on Sweet Thursday). My first Steinbeck book was in Jr. High, we read The Pearl, so sad!

I am a re-reader, I read my favorites again every couple of years... :heart:

I'm all for it - I haven't read Steinbeck since 9th grade.
I'd like to nominate Bradbury's Farenheit 451.
Definitely worth a re-read.

Gren

Steinbeck or Bradbiry would be fine with me.

I have never read Farenheit 451 before, but probably should have. I have to go the the library today maybe I'll check it out.

sgrace