|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9292 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Thu, 01 January 2009 18:06   |
 |
 Susan from Athens
Messages: 817
Registered: October 2008
Location: Athens, Greece |
Senior Member |
|
|
I have just finished King's Shield the third and latest book in Sherwood Smith's Inda Series. I started this series from a recommendation on Pollyanna and I have enjoyed it immensely (so has my sister) thank you to the two people who recommended it (and I have forgotten who you are, ungrateful sod that I am) I am also too lazy to look you up on Library Thing. I enjoyed Inda and The Fox tremendously and this installment too. The world building is wonderful and the characters are fascinating and although Inda is in many ways a bit too good to be true, there are enough flaws to make him sympathetic and interesting. I have enjoyed how the story evolves and the intricacies of the politics and interpersonal relationships. I like how the societal roles unfold and highlight different characters. Three most enjoyable reads.
On a different note, I would like to recommend a cookbook, as we haven't really started such a discussion here and as I have a collection of cookbooks I love. So come to think of it I will recommend two:
Julia Child's The Way to Cook, because I really like the way that she has a master recipe which she explains completely, clearly and unfussily, going in depth to discuss cooking techniques and then riffs on variations. The Chocolate mousse is to die for and the pears stewed in wine syrup (which I make with bitter chocolate sauce) are divine.
Claudia Rodin: The Book of Jewish Food, because it is a social history a geography lesson and a font of amazing recipes that work.
I could go on, but I will stop there (for now).
I guess it is a sort of a threat 
Of the nicest kind.
[Updated on: Thu, 01 January 2009 18:07]
“I have always imagined heaven to be a kind of library.” –Jorge Luis Borges
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9299 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Thu, 01 January 2009 19:35 |
ferndale1910
Messages: 15
Registered: December 2008
Location: Northern California |
Junior Member |
|
|
I'm re-re-re-reading Carol Kendall: The Gamage Cup, The Whisper of Glocken (sequel), and the Firelings (pre-sort-of-quel). Must go fetch Firelings from cold attic, to read by warm stove.
"Far and few, far and few, are the lands where the Jumblies live." Edward Lear
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9300 is a reply to message #9292 ] |
Thu, 01 January 2009 20:18 |
|
| Susan from Athens wrote on Fri, 02 January 2009 12:06 |
I have just finished King's Shield the third and latest book in Sherwood Smith's Inda Series. I started this series from a recommendation on Pollyanna and I have enjoyed it immensely (so has my sister) thank you to the two people who recommended it (and I have forgotten who you are, ungrateful sod that I am) I am also too lazy to look you up on Library Thing. I enjoyed Inda and The Fox tremendously and this installment too. *snip*
|
I suspect I may have been one of the recommenders of the Inda series, Inda was one of the best books I had read in a LONG time when I first read it, and I will happily rave about it to anyone prepared to listen.
Smith has written lots of other books, many in the same world as Inda, and I recommend the Crown Duel/Court Duel duology as well (the first Smith books I read)
I bounced off Senrid (a historical precursor) as the more juvenile language format was more than I could cope with, but there are lots more of Smith to enjoy
In a slightly similar style, I would also recommend Jim Butchers Furies of Calderon - the beginning of an excellent series in which book 5 has just been published (but I havent read yet)
|
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9306 is a reply to message #9304 ] |
Thu, 01 January 2009 21:08 |
|
| Laura wrote on Thu, 01 January 2009 20:56 |
This is a great idea! Mods? Any chance we could get a cookbook rec thread started in Playing With Your Food?
|
Just added one. Good idea!
Smooshes!
|
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9481 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Mon, 05 January 2009 15:40 |
|
I think I'll have to break down and read TTW, I think. It's been haunting me, everyone is STILL talking about it.
If I wanted to read Terry Prachett, (sp?) where would I start?
"And by the way you look fantastic in your boots of Chinese plastic."
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9482 is a reply to message #9481 ] |
Mon, 05 January 2009 15:58 |
|
With Pratchett, you can start pretty much anywhere. I'd say go to your local bookstore/library/whatever and pick up one that looks fun to you.
Re. TTW, I actually had to read it for an english class a few years back. It's a really fascinating premise, and very well done.
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9530 is a reply to message #9481 ] |
Tue, 06 January 2009 17:11 |
katherinegrace
Messages: 1
Registered: January 2009
Location: Waco, Texas, USA |
Junior Member |
|
|
I started with Hogfather (which is still one of my favorites of his), which features Death and his granddaughter Susan.
I adore Susan. Lots of fun fairy-tales-turned-strange.
Two titles I just finished that no one's recommended yet:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, and Graceling by Kristin Cashore.
Guernsey takes place right after WWII and is riveting - all correspondence and a few journal entries near the end. It made me beam with delight and wish I could move to Guernsey to befriend them all.
Graceling is more of an adventure/fantasy, though very compelling in its own way. Certain people have Graces (a special talent). Katsa's Grace is killing.
And one I read a while back which is certainly a keeper: Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. It's was her first book; now there is a sequel. It is about a young woman waiting for a Cary Grant-kind of man, but when he comes along, ends up falling in love with his young daughter Clare instead. How Cornelia changes, from a somewhat aimless waitress to loving surrogate mother is sweet, somewhat heartbreaking and written very, very well.
Santos has a very unique and real way with words.
[Updated on: Tue, 06 January 2009 17:39]
|
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9712 is a reply to message #9481 ] |
Fri, 09 January 2009 18:41 |
GBKDalton
Messages: 51
Registered: December 2008
Location: New England |
Member |
|
|
I'll recommend Breaking Trail by Arlene Blum, who also wrote Annapurna, A Woman's Place (which I'm now meaning to read). Blum was and is a groundbreaking woman climber, trekker, and biophysicist. This was a great memoir, and I would recommend it to anyone but particularly to those of you who like to hike and travel.
| ssshunt wrote on Mon, 05 January 2009 15:40 |
If I wanted to read Terry Prachett, (sp?) where would I start?
|
Personally I would start at the beginning of one of the arcs, or with a stand alone. The arcs include Death (Mort), the City Watch(Guards! Guards!), Rincewind(The Color of Magic), and the Witches (Weird Sisters). Some of the books further down in the arcs don't really stand alone in that they can be so much funnier if you've already read the back stories.
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #9970 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Thu, 15 January 2009 14:22 |
 |
Beauty/Anna
Messages: 481
Registered: November 2008
Location: America |
Senior Member |
|
|
A gook book is Amanda and Miranda by Richard Peck. He is a fabulous writer of young adult books and books for younger readers but this book is quite different from the rest of his books.
I also fairly liked Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I mostly liked it because of the very different twist it had on Cinderella.
[Updated on: Thu, 15 January 2009 14:24]
"You are your best resource for success"
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #10000 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Thu, 15 January 2009 21:41 |
|
i am almost finished nora roberts pagan stone and it is very good.
Bonnie Holmes the faster ahead I go, the more behind I get
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #10308 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Tue, 20 January 2009 12:51 |
|
Beauty/Anna
Messages: 481
Registered: November 2008
Location: America |
Senior Member |
|
|
|
I just read Water Song by Suzanne Weyn (more detailes read the "New What are you reading" thread)
[Updated on: Tue, 20 January 2009 12:52]
"You are your best resource for success"
|
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #10628 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Tue, 27 January 2009 20:24 |
kfoster2047
Messages: 138
Registered: January 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC |
Senior Member |
|
|
I highly recommend Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache mysteries - cozy but literate with interesting characters and interesting themes. The first three form a nice arc and then the fourth changes ground a little but I enjoyed them all. Oh, and set (in full or in part) in an idyllic Quebec village and filled with wonderful food references. Delightful!
Karen
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #10632 is a reply to message #10628 ] |
Tue, 27 January 2009 21:33 |
|
Thanks for the Louise Penny recommendations - I have the first book out of the library ready to read in the weekend.
For the knitters and quilters I can make these recommendations
Friday Night Knitters Club and Knit Too (books 1 and 2) by Kate Jacobs
She also wrote another book about an American TV cooking personality - Comfort Food which is excellent
http://www.katejacobs.com/
For the Quilters, I am an enormous fan of the Jennifer Chiaverini - Elm Creek Quilters books - 10 in the series I think
http://www.elmcreek.net/
Can all be read as standalones, but there is a continuing story thread through which benefits from reading in order, and delightful
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #10674 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Wed, 28 January 2009 10:48 |
 |
shalea
Messages: 781
Registered: October 2008
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, ... |
Senior Member |
|
|
From those of my stack o' books hauled painstakingly to the Netherlands for my two week business trip that I had time to read, I recommend the following:
A College of Magics, Caroline Stevermer. Sort of a turn-of-the-century-Europe feel, with occasional magic. The main character is neither all-knowing nor infallible, and I fear she and I are more alike than I would care to admit.
Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells. The main character is NOT a teenager! LOL. She's a woman of indeterminate (older) age with a checquered past returning to, essentially, face that past. And save the world. The setting is sort of Asian, but not overtly so, and is well-crafted and well thought out.
Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson. Cyber-punk. Well, sort of. It takes itself FAR less seriously and is much smarter than the vast realm of most cyber punk that I've encountered otherwise. For example, the main character's name is "Hiro Protagonist," which should give you a good idea. It's a bit slower-paced than you'd expect and the plot requires a good bit of exposition, but it's all handled well and is generally a lot of fun.
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #10713 is a reply to message #9259 ] |
Thu, 29 January 2009 03:46 |
|
Thankyou to the Louise Penny fans, I have just finished Still Life and LOVED it!!
I never realised I was a fan of crime/mysteries, they kinda snuck up on me (too much watching CSI type programs?)
Anyway I have the next one - Dead Cold - reserved at the library. Also the 4th one which isnt a Three Pines book - will I spoil anything for myself if I read that before reading the previous 3?
And can I bounce up and down about the College of Magics recommendation (sequel is Scholar of Magics) - to me they feel like they are almost like a slightly more grown up version of Ms McKinley's work. I hope it doesnt offend either author if I say they have a similar 'feel' to them.
Stevermer does an excellent series of 3 books with Patricia Wrede (in a similar Edwardian type universe) starting with the Enchanted Chocolate Pot, and I adore these.
They may appeal to Heyer fans.
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #10717 is a reply to message #10713 ] |
Thu, 29 January 2009 08:46 |
kfoster2047
Messages: 138
Registered: January 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC |
Senior Member |
|
|
I don't think it would spoil anything to read the 4th Louise Penny book earlier; however, I would definitely read the first three in order since they have a definite arc. I have always liked mysteries but the kind I like (which I believe are called cozies) are often written really poorly. It's so nice to find someone like Louise Penny who can really write.
Susan Wttig Albert has a series of mysteries about China Bayles (ex-attorney, herb shop proprietor) that I like. Normally I void themed murder series but these are good and well-written. The first one is Thyme of Death.
Stevermer sounds great - definitely on my list to read!
Karen
|
|
|
|
| Re: Current recommendation thread [message #10804 is a reply to message #10797 ] |
Sat, 31 January 2009 15:50 |
kfoster2047
Messages: 138
Registered: January 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC |
Senior Member |
|
|
I haven't personally read it, but several people whose opinions I respect are very enthusiastic about Shannon Hale and give her books high marks.
Karen
|
|
|
|
Members
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
January 2009 recommendations
