*giggle* Then how about trying one of the Morgaine books I keep babbling about? I have no idea whether you'll like it or not, but hey!
Other random ideas are Wings of Dawn by Sigmund Brouwer; my brother really likes this one, too. Or Daphne Du Maurier? I've read Rebecca, of course, but my mother strongly insists I need to read My Cousin Rachel. Pretty high recommendation coming from her.
Have you read any Agatha Christie? I can give you specific recs, since some are definitely better than others, not to mention as introductions. Others, similar but quite different, are books by Dorothy Sayers and Margery Allingham.
:-) Is Morgaine something to do with the Cherryh books you've been talking about?
Daphne is one of my favourites! And yes, I'd agree on "My Cousin Rachel".... I love "Rebecca", but it ties closely with "House on the Strand".
I've read a few Agatha Christie. I *loved* "The Secret Adversary"; the others were Poirot and took me forever to get through. Maybe they weren't the best ones; I have no idea now even which ones they were. I've not read any Miss Marple, though - would be glad to know of good ones featuring her and see what she's like.
Yep! Let me see... this entry explains it best. Although it's rather rambly and functions more as an explanation of why I like it so much, with a review/explanation embedded within. http://nuranar.livejournal.com/66986.html Cherryh is the author and she's written a lot of different stuff, but the Morgaine books were the first I read and still my favorites.
Glad to for the reverse rec! :D
The Secret Adversary is one of Christie's thriller-type books; they're inherently my favorite! If you like that one, you should definitely read Partners in Crime as well, the sequel. (There are other T&T stories, but they're later and some are weird.) Others in that subgenre: The Man in the Brown Suit The Secret of Chimneys; sequel The Seven Dials Mystery The Boomerang Clue/Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
I recommend all of these highly.
For Poirots, just try a couple of the earliest/best ones. If you don't like them still, don't bother. :) The Mysterious Affair at Styles (the first Poirot and a terrific book) Murder on the Links Thirteen at Dinner/Lord Edgeware Dies Peril at End House
For Miss Marple, two recs at the top of my mind: The Tuesday Club Murders is a set of short stories. Depending on your tastes, it could be a great intro; however, most of the Miss Marple stuff is in full length books. My mother's favorite and mine is Murder at the Vicarage.
hmm..not entirely sure what you are looking for, but looking on my shelf: (You may have read some of these already)
Imzadi by Peter David Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien Catherine Called Birdy The Murder of King Tut (if you like Egyptology) -Bob Bryer (I know this has been debunked, but it is still quite informative. They weren't able to take a closer look at the x-rays.)
It didn't dawn on me till now how many fandom and romance novels I have. Most of my non-romance/fandom books must be still packed away due to the ceiling issue (which is still an issue)
Also anything by Jane Austen. I prefer P&P and Persausion personally, but Mansfield Park is also good. I haven't managed to get through Emma or Northanger Abby nor gotten to Sense and Sensibility. But the first three are good.
Golly, I've never read Rivers West, but Flint is a big favorite. Catlow and Borden Chantry and, of course, The Daybreakers are also ones I really enjoy.
Good thought, and I agree. Catlow's certainly got lots of action; Borden Chantry not quite so much. I like Daybreakers mostly just as a stand-alone book anyway. Oh, and Man Called Noon is pretty good as well.
ROFL. I thought of you as I wandered by the Westerns aisle today. I know they have enough Zane Grey there to bury Goliath with. It was insane.
I'm sure they're bound to have at least one of those. I need to branch out and I've never read anything remotely Western. I lied. I did read one once called "When a Man's a Man" or some such.
Stardust, Neil Gaiman (SO different from the movie) The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova (weird and long, but GOOD) Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, T.S. Eliot (funny poetry, esp. if you like cats. Which you do) Freakonomics, Two guys (It's about economics, but trust me, not boring.) Outliers, Malcom Gladwell (About what exactly contributes to success) 1984, George Orwell (classic dystopian fiction) A Walk in the Woods & other books by Bill Bryson (hilarious travel writing) Till We Have Faces CSLewis (Retold Greek myth)
'Wise Children' by Angela Carter. It's the best book in the world ever, and I've got one and a half degrees in Literature, so I'm qualified to say that. :op
If you like classic stuff, Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' was my favourite thing I read at uni throughout my whole undergrad degree. 'The Ruby in the Smoke' by Philip Pullman is a kids book, but I adore it, and the sequels. I like them better than his more famous 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. For funny books, you can't beat P. G. Wodehouse. I'm trying to think what modern fiction I've read recently ... I quite liked 'Desirable Daughters' by Bharati Mukherjee.
Ironically, I did finally select a Wodehouse today since I haven't read him before. I'm always hesitant to get books that are supposed to be funny because a LOT of times, while they may not be bad reads, I just don't get the humour. Like with Terry Pratchett. I've read several of those with a perfectly straight face - just am not on that humour wavelength or something. My dad picks one up and is in hysterics the whole time. We'll see!
Who can resist characters named Gussie Finknottle and the various Biffy, Beffy, Stiffy, Tipper, Tuppy, Corky, Sippy, and let's not forget Honoria Glossop!
I second Wise Children- just fabulous. I adore Angela Carter in general. For a classic of 1930s self-deprecating British humour, I recommend The Diary of a Provincial Lady by EM Delafield (the way it's done as a diary makes it very easy to dip in and out of depending on your attention span) and Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winifred Watson.
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Date: 2009-07-21 05:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 05:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 05:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 06:47 pm (UTC)I bet I could probably find a cheap copy at the used bookstore, though.
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Date: 2009-07-21 08:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 07:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 08:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 09:16 pm (UTC)Other random ideas are Wings of Dawn by Sigmund Brouwer; my brother really likes this one, too. Or Daphne Du Maurier? I've read Rebecca, of course, but my mother strongly insists I need to read My Cousin Rachel. Pretty high recommendation coming from her.
Have you read any Agatha Christie? I can give you specific recs, since some are definitely better than others, not to mention as introductions. Others, similar but quite different, are books by Dorothy Sayers and Margery Allingham.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 09:28 pm (UTC)Daphne is one of my favourites! And yes, I'd agree on "My Cousin Rachel".... I love "Rebecca", but it ties closely with "House on the Strand".
I've read a few Agatha Christie. I *loved* "The Secret Adversary"; the others were Poirot and took me forever to get through. Maybe they weren't the best ones; I have no idea now even which ones they were. I've not read any Miss Marple, though - would be glad to know of good ones featuring her and see what she's like.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 09:41 pm (UTC)http://nuranar.livejournal.com/66986.html
Cherryh is the author and she's written a lot of different stuff, but the Morgaine books were the first I read and still my favorites.
Glad to for the reverse rec! :D
The Secret Adversary is one of Christie's thriller-type books; they're inherently my favorite! If you like that one, you should definitely read Partners in Crime as well, the sequel. (There are other T&T stories, but they're later and some are weird.) Others in that subgenre:
The Man in the Brown Suit
The Secret of Chimneys; sequel The Seven Dials Mystery
The Boomerang Clue/Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
I recommend all of these highly.
For Poirots, just try a couple of the earliest/best ones. If you don't like them still, don't bother. :)
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (the first Poirot and a terrific book)
Murder on the Links
Thirteen at Dinner/Lord Edgeware Dies
Peril at End House
For Miss Marple, two recs at the top of my mind: The Tuesday Club Murders is a set of short stories. Depending on your tastes, it could be a great intro; however, most of the Miss Marple stuff is in full length books. My mother's favorite and mine is Murder at the Vicarage.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 10:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 08:25 pm (UTC)Imzadi by Peter David
Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
Catherine Called Birdy
The Murder of King Tut (if you like Egyptology) -Bob Bryer (I know this has been debunked, but it is still quite informative. They weren't able to take a closer look at the x-rays.)
It didn't dawn on me till now how many fandom and romance novels I have. Most of my non-romance/fandom books must be still packed away due to the ceiling issue (which is still an issue)
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 08:57 pm (UTC)Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 08:26 pm (UTC)The First Fast Draw
Rivers West
Flint
The good news is that he's never hard to find in a library.
Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 08:40 pm (UTC)Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 08:42 pm (UTC)Just trying to get Jael started on some of more exciting and non-series ones.
Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 09:18 pm (UTC)Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 09:19 pm (UTC)Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 09:30 pm (UTC)Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 09:54 pm (UTC)(I'm a teacher, FYI, not a creep with fascination for boys!)
Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 10:07 pm (UTC)Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 10:42 pm (UTC)Re: Just try
Date: 2009-07-21 08:57 pm (UTC)I'm sure they're bound to have at least one of those. I need to branch out and I've never read anything remotely Western. I lied. I did read one once called "When a Man's a Man" or some such.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 08:31 pm (UTC)The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck
The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova (weird and long, but GOOD)
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, T.S. Eliot (funny poetry, esp. if you like cats. Which you do)
Freakonomics, Two guys (It's about economics, but trust me, not boring.)
Outliers, Malcom Gladwell (About what exactly contributes to success)
1984, George Orwell (classic dystopian fiction)
A Walk in the Woods & other books by Bill Bryson (hilarious travel writing)
Till We Have Faces CSLewis (Retold Greek myth)
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 09:00 pm (UTC)Yay, I have plenty of titles to hunt for now when I go back to the library.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 09:24 pm (UTC)If you like classic stuff, Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' was my favourite thing I read at uni throughout my whole undergrad degree. 'The Ruby in the Smoke' by Philip Pullman is a kids book, but I adore it, and the sequels. I like them better than his more famous 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. For funny books, you can't beat P. G. Wodehouse. I'm trying to think what modern fiction I've read recently ... I quite liked 'Desirable Daughters' by Bharati Mukherjee.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 09:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 09:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 09:58 pm (UTC)Who can resist characters named Gussie Finknottle and the various Biffy, Beffy, Stiffy, Tipper, Tuppy, Corky, Sippy, and let's not forget Honoria Glossop!
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 10:09 pm (UTC)This harks back to my Tintin days. "It's Thompson. With a P! As in PSYCHOLOGY!"
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 10:19 pm (UTC)I've concentrated on the Blandings Castle books as well as Jeeves & Wooster.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-21 10:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 01:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 02:15 pm (UTC)