Soliciting recommendations

[ginny_t]

I've had a little literary malaise lately. The dissatisfaction with the last 2 books of the Tales of the Otori were just the last straws. I've enjoyed some of the books that I've read recently, but none of them have completely knocked my socks off. I guess the last one was Sunshine. (Yep, there was a Kay after that, and while I enjoyed it very much, I know that it's one of his that's even better on a second read.) Poor jez_e_bel, every time I visit her, I demand more books. Then I don't read them. Bad Ginny, bad!

So, knowing that I like Guy Gavriel Kay, Robin McKinley, Patricia McKillip, and Charles de Lint (and others, but those are a good start), and that I have low tolerance for trilogies/series &c., does anyone have any recommendations for me?

(I've been thinking of checking out Michelle West, although that is a series. And she recommended Judith Tarr to me, so I should look into that also, but I like lists, nice long lists of recommendations.)

Comments

[seangaffney.livejournal.com]

Anything by Christopher Moore, but I suspect you've read him already.

Postcards from the Edge, by Carrie Fisher (but none of her other books).

Gene Wolfe's Shadow and Claw series (I know, series, sorry).

Anything by Paul Magrs.

Anything by Dorothy Sayers starring Peter Wimsey. Anything by Margery Allingham starring Albert Campion.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Christopher Moore good. I'll check out the others though - thanks!

[mmarques.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read Sheri Teper? Although she writes science fiction, her worlds have a fantasy feel to them, and she tells really interesting stories.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Was she the one who did a Sleeping Beauty re-telling called simply Beauty? I remember trying to read that, but it made me unhappy. Is there a particular title you recommend?

[mmarques.livejournal.com]

Yes, but that's not so typical of what I'd recommend.

What I most recommend is Grass. If you can't find that, I suggest Six Mooon Dance or A Plague of Angels.

[sarcasm-hime.livejournal.com]

Be warned that Tepper has a strange attitude towards men, and it comes out in her writing - they're either evil rapists or obedient lapdogs. -.-;; I still really liked Beauty though.

Have you read Tanya Huff? She has some short series, but a good one-shot was The Fire's Stone. That's one of my faves.

Also good are Jane Yolen's White Jenna duology, Meredith Anne Pierce's Darkangel trilogy, Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, Waking the Moon by Elizabeth Hand.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Kind of reminds me of Robert Jordan's women. ick.

I'll try the others - thanks!

[ex-chose.livejournal.com]

i'd recomment faye kellerman and her husband's books too, jonathan kellerman, but i would think they're what you describe as series. so, no. uhm. can't think of anyone else at the moment, sorry.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

But they're *good* series? I'm willing to branch out & give things a try, if the quality is consistent and the story is satisfying.

[ex-chose.livejournal.com]

it is definitely good writing. more on the thriller side, I would think. and the quality is more than consistent.

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Guy Gavriel Kay is the only one of those that I've read anything by, and it was a long time ago, so I'm kind of at a loss. I'd be quite happy to grab a pile of books to loan to you, though, if you want. I could give you the DVDs at the same time.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds good - yes please! (I also enjoyed The War of the Flowers quite a bit, if that helps the selection process.) BTW, do you want me to provide replacement DVDs or just pay you back for the ones you use?

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Everything else of Tad Williams' is *highly* series-ish, other than Tailchaser's Song, which I haven't read, myself. ;)

You can give me replacements to pay me for them or neither. Whatever works best for you. I think that they cost about $2.50 each when I bought them. It's not really necessary to pay me back, though.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

I have read Tailchaser's Song, which although it started slowly, finished well. I also really enjoyed Memory, Sorrow & Thorn - wow! Ginny liking a series!

I have an extra couple of DVD+Rs - can you use those? (Along with the usual baked goods of gratitude. :D )

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think my drive only uses DVD-Rs. Honestly, it's okay. It wasn't really a huge deal. :)

[hysteriachan.livejournal.com]

I really like both Robin Hobb and Lynn Flewelling. I haven't read much worked published under "Michelle West", but I really liked what I've read of her work when she was writing under "Michelle Sagara" (if only I could *find* book three of that series). Anne Bishop's "Black Jewels Trilogy" is my guilty pleasure fantasy series, although I don't much like her later trilogy.

On a non-fantasy front, I really like Pat Conroy's work.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

I've actually *had* the first of the Black Jewels Trilogy for over a year now, just haven't got round to opening it up. Guilty pleasure fluff could be just the thing. Thanks for the suggestions.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

-- Sharon Shinn's The Shape-Changer's Wife. It's a stand-alone, and it's utterly beautiful and probably up your alley.

-- Sarah Zettel's fantasy books - so far a series, but two books in and worth it.

-- Robin Hobb

-- Peter Beagle (especially Tamsin) - all stand-alones


That's all I can think of for now, but if you go by Bakka (on Tuesday, when I'm working) and ask Chris, she'll hook you up. *g*

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I forgot to put Sharon Shinn on that list. Although some of her stuff's pretty close to guilty pleasure. You're working at Bakka? Lucky! I'll stop by, maybe check out some of those recommendations.

[mmarques.livejournal.com]

By the way, did you know that Michelle West is msagara? She has really interesting posts on the publishing industry, from her experiences both working in a bookstore and as a writer.

I was looking up her books on amazon.com and was thinking I'll pick up something... hopefully once I've whittled down my "to read" pile... or maybe I'll add it to my birthday/christmas wishlist.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

I did know, and I do read her, but thanks for pointing her out. Wishlists are good... very good.