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| Re: July-August 2011 recommendation thread [message #43531 is a reply to message #43188 ] |
Mon, 18 July 2011 10:28   |
 gonetotervs
Messages: 17
Registered: October 2008
Location: Kabul Afghanistan |
Junior Member |
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Two books I've really liked this month: Spellcast by Barbara Ashford (debut author I believe, paperback original) and A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness (e-book original, now out in hardback). The first is a nicely crafted contemporary book about a theater and director that changes the lives of its actors, with elements of romance and fantasy. Discovery of Witches crosses all sorts of genre lines -- maybe best described as an academic vampire novel (?) -- and requires the reader to suspend disbelief at various stages. This story has a lot of energy and pulled me in, despite the odd "huh?" and it was nice and long.
I also sprung for the eArc of Ghost Ship by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee, now available via the Baen Website. Their usual solid space opera (which I love) but for good or for ill, this isn't a conclusion to the saga. (I think overall that is a good thing).
And last but not least, for those who want to read mysteries and are willing to go online, "ShadowUnit" is out on Kindle, as well as being online (donations requested, no payment required.) This is series of short fiction and novella length stories following a fictional FBI unit, a la "X-files" by a series of mostly SF/fantasy authors. I like it very much.
Jeanine
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| Re: July-August 2011 recommendation thread [message #44170 is a reply to message #43188 ] |
Tue, 09 August 2011 20:27 |
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L.R.K.
Messages: 1079
Registered: October 2008
Location: Sweden |
Senior Member |
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J K Rowling: "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (or "Sorcerer's Stone" for the Americans) - The first in the series, and, I believe, needs no introduction. (I don't think the rock exists that is big enough to live under in order to avoid hearing anything about Harry Potter.  )
Peter Dickinson: "The Gift Boat" (or "Inside Grandad") - A beautiful story about the bond between a boy and his grandfather.
Lloyd Alexander: "The Gawgon and the Boy" (or "Fantastical Adventures of the Invisible Boy") -
"When I first met the Gawgon, I never suspected who she was: climber of icy mountains, rescuer of King Tut's treasure, challenger of master criminals, and a dozen other things. But that came later, after I died - nearly died, anyhow.
"They really thought you were a goner," my sister said cheerfully. She had come to stand at my bedroom door. "What a nuisance you are.
In April that year - one of those sour-tempered Philadelphia Aprils - I had the good luck to fall sick. I was delighted. Not that I enjoyed the worst part of it, but the best part was: It kept me out of school. Aside from a beehive buzzing in my head and a herd of weasels romping through my insides, I was beginning to feel pretty chipper."
Katherine Paterson: "Preacher's Boy" - It's 1899 and - quite possibly - the end of the world is nigh...
Eva Ibbotson: "Monster Mission" (also published as "Island of the Aunts") -
"Kidnapping children is not a good idea. All the same, sometimes it has to be done."
(Honestly, though, I mean, I know that "A rose by any other name -" and all, but this is frankly quite ridiculous! Good way to spread confusion...)
Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean, like butter that has been scraped over too much bread.
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| Re: July-August 2011 recommendation thread [message #44360 is a reply to message #43188 ] |
Thu, 18 August 2011 04:48 |
Susan in Melbourne
Messages: 184
Registered: October 2008
Location: Melbourne |
Senior Member |
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I've just finished 'Unnatural Issue' by Mercedes Lackey. This is part of her Elemental Masters series - retold fairy tales in an early 20th century English setting, cross-over characters, with mages, magic, water spirits, and the like.
I couldn't immediately work out which fairy tale this was, then suddenly realised it was 'Donkeyskin', which of course our own R. McKinley retold as 'Deerskin'. These are two very, very different retellings. 'Unnatural Issue' probably doesn't dig quite so deep into the psyche, but is still an interesting approach from a well-regarded author.
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| Re: July-August 2011 recommendation thread [message #44364 is a reply to message #43188 ] |
Thu, 18 August 2011 11:25 |
ownedbycats
Messages: 12
Registered: August 2011 |
Junior Member |
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A booklist only for recommendations, hmm, good books.
I've been rereading tThe Liaden Universe series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The newest book is Ghost Ship, it just came out and is really good, but it's better to read the earlier books in the series first. Characters from earlier in the series keep popping up in Ghost Ship and it can get pretty confusing if you don't already know who these peoplel are. The series starts with Agent of Change, Carpe Diem, Plan B, and I Dare.
You can get the ebook versions from Baen's webscriptions (no DRM, and lots of formats).
Found on Smashwords: Into the Forest Shadows by J. A. Marlow. It's a very well done science fiction retelling of Red Riding Hood
Oh, just wanted to second the recommendation for A Discovery of Witches.
[Updated on: Thu, 18 August 2011 11:27]
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| Re: July-August 2011 recommendation thread [message #44706 is a reply to message #43188 ] |
Tue, 06 September 2011 15:46 |
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L.R.K.
Messages: 1079
Registered: October 2008
Location: Sweden |
Senior Member |
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There are many good ones - my personal favourite is "Devil's Cub", which is a sort of sequel to "These Old Shades", but can be read as a standalone - I know this as it was the one I read first.
Others I like, in no particular order: "Arabella", "Sylvester", "Sprig Muslin", "Frederica", "The Quiet Gentleman", "The Unknown Ajax", "The Nonesuch", "The Reluctant Widow", "Cotillion"... well, maybe I ought to stop now.
Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean, like butter that has been scraped over too much bread.
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July-August 2011 recommendation thread
