tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post8176463840975563833..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: A Reader ChallengeBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-84993726715006005912007-09-06T17:21:00.000-04:002007-09-06T17:21:00.000-04:00Jim Butcher's great, but Fantasy not SF. For SF I...Jim Butcher's great, but Fantasy not SF. For SF I'd suggest John Scalzi's "Old Man's War."Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17005872586423404670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-46160119958399197412007-09-05T22:22:00.000-04:002007-09-05T22:22:00.000-04:00Hmm. Now that you mention it, I do tend to gravita...Hmm. Now that you mention it, I do tend to gravitate to one or two genres -- classics, and women's fiction. Right now, I'm loving Anita Diamant's <I>The Red Tent.</I> Then I'm planning to read <I>The Notebook</I> just to study the plainest possible prose and learn to imitate it.astrologymemphis.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08094432734141490681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-527399166519306052007-09-05T00:49:00.000-04:002007-09-05T00:49:00.000-04:00I took a chance with reading Fantasy romance, late...I took a chance with reading Fantasy romance, late last year I think it was, and so glad I did!! It was my Jerri Ready-Smith, a LUNA book, EYE OF CROW. Wow it was just fab! I've been so looking forward to book two which I think comes out next month. I always thought that it would be complicated to read, so would Science Fiction romance, but I was wrong! The author pulls you in just like any genres, and everything explains itself as you read along. I haven't read much SF/Futuristic romance so that I'm reading more of. But with the Fantasy romance, since I read one, I don't want to stop and looking for more!<BR/><BR/>I don't read horror becuase I did before and didn't sit well weith me, so it wasn't because I didn't try.. I do otherwise read across the board with romance, historical mysteries, historical fiction. One thing I was thinking about reading is Harry Potter cuz everyone else talked about those and I never read one! I shall challenge myself to that! I know that may be one many read but I haven't and I'm even proud I thought of challenging myself with this one NOW as i put it off forever already, LOL<BR/>Cathie<BR/>tbranxiety@Yahoo.comCaffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11830854922444380155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75225530435084744092007-09-05T00:10:00.000-04:002007-09-05T00:10:00.000-04:00For SF I reccomend Alan Dean Foster. The man has ...For SF I reccomend Alan Dean Foster. The man has a fabulous voice that makes his books a pleasure to read. His Flinx & Pip series is awesome!<BR/><BR/>For Fantasy try Elizabeth Moon's the Deed of Paksenarrion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-64769331172403618162007-09-04T23:17:00.000-04:002007-09-04T23:17:00.000-04:00Over the years, I've read just about every genre. ...Over the years, I've read just about every genre. I go through phases. These days, I read mostly mystery, suspense/thriller, and romantic suspense. I go through a couple of non-fiction books a year, along with cookbooks galore. Probably the best way to see what I'd suggest would be to look at the 5-star rated books in my LibraryThing catalog: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/adeptmagic<BR/><BR/>I think I may have to sort through there and do a blog post on my favorite books, though. Hmm...I really don't need to do yet one more thing to avoid writing!<BR/><BR/>The only thing I haven't ever really gotten into is erotica. Most of it just seems boring and pointless. A friend lent me a couple she really likes, though, so I am going to give them a shot.Laura K. Curtishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444534759113332744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-15018848369476507752007-09-04T22:13:00.000-04:002007-09-04T22:13:00.000-04:00Jessica, Jim Butcher is urban fantasy and he's one...Jessica, Jim Butcher is urban fantasy and he's one of the best at it. UF is my all time favorite genre to read and write, Kim Harrison and Vicki Pettersson being my #1 fave authors in the genre.<BR/><BR/>I've read a bit of everything, but I've been hankering for a vintage story set in the early 1900s, WWI or WWII. Not a war story (eeww), but nostlgic and deep. I've heard a few are being published now and i can't wait to get my hands on a good one.Karen Duvallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839711547501582977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-56279604876681243472007-09-04T19:56:00.000-04:002007-09-04T19:56:00.000-04:00I'll read anything put in front of me, but I do ha...I'll read anything put in front of me, but I do have preferences. I like fantasy, like Anne Bishop and Neil Gaiman. I like socio-political scifi (mostly short stories there) and intense horror (meaning Nancy A. Collins and Poppy Z Brite more than Stephen King or Dean Koontz). I have a weakness for paranormals of any genre. I've been testing out some erotic romance lately, both writing and reading. I'm finding I like writing it because in some ways it's easier. I never thought I admit this, but it's easier to write sometimes when I know nothing really bad is going to happen to anyone.<BR/><BR/>I read some mysteries, though I prefer the harder ones (JA Konrath). I've tried suspense, and I admire the writing tools and strength, but in the end I feel too often that it's too much invoked drama for a "not that big a deal" story.<BR/><BR/>I'll read literary works, but as with suspense in the end I usually end up feeling impatient for something to happen. I like memoirs, but never buy them. I just don't have enough money to buy everything I'd like and spec fic usually takes my budget.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62996997139271969892007-09-04T18:38:00.000-04:002007-09-04T18:38:00.000-04:00I love Anne McCaffrey. Her Dragonriders series is ...I love Anne McCaffrey. Her Dragonriders series is excellent, but I also enjoyed many of her other series too. I love her characterizations. <BR/><BR/>Characters are also the hook for me for the Belgariad series by David Eddings. I really enjoyed the way each character was unique and had a deep backstory, but the plot moved along well.Francesca Hawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280521929025352600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50204354767968055222007-09-04T18:26:00.000-04:002007-09-04T18:26:00.000-04:00Thriller and mystery are my primary writing genres...Thriller and mystery are my primary writing genres, but I've read all over the place. These are some of my own recommendations:<BR/><BR/>Cozy Mysteries: <BR/><BR/>Donna Andrews. She has a new book just about to come out, I think. Her last one was Owls Well That Ends Well. If you want a fun read and lots of a laughs, she's a good author to check out.<BR/><BR/>Haily Lind's Brush With Death, an art lover's mystery. The main character is an art forger. Isn't that cool?<BR/><BR/>Mystery:<BR/><BR/>The Ellah Clah series by Aimee and David Thurlo. A new book just came out.<BR/><BR/>Thriller:<BR/><BR/>The First Cut. I heard the writer speak at a conference and got the book based on that. It's really pretty good.<BR/><BR/>African Ice by Jeff Buick. Chasing the ultimate diamond mine.<BR/><BR/>Anything by Lee Child.<BR/><BR/>And there's a really good one by Tom Grace called The Secret Cardinal coming out this month (I was able to get an ARC at a conference).<BR/><BR/>Young Adult:<BR/><BR/>Anything by Tamara Pierce. She's really good. I have most of her books, and I go back to revisit them like old friends.<BR/><BR/>Poison Study. Found this one at the grocery store, and it was a wonderful story that drew me in.<BR/><BR/>Romance:<BR/><BR/>The Bride Finder. I got this on a recommendation from someone else, and it turned out to be a really good book.<BR/><BR/>Horror:<BR/><BR/>Morbid Curiosity, by Deborah LeBlanc. This wouldn't have been a book I would have gotten--I actually won it in a drawing. <BR/><BR/>Fantasy:<BR/><BR/>The Green Rider by Kristen Brittain. This is one of my favorite books. I'm looking forward to third one to come out, whenever that will be.<BR/><BR/>Urban Fantasy:<BR/><BR/>Second anything by Jim Butcher.<BR/><BR/>Science Fiction:<BR/><BR/>Powers That Be. I don't read a lot of science fiction, but the cover caught my eye. It's a really good book, though the ones that follow don't have the same magic.<BR/><BR/>Last one, which I just got and haven't read. It's called Nefertiti by Michelle Moran.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5720335206278402632007-09-04T16:14:00.000-04:002007-09-04T16:14:00.000-04:00For a dark, disturbing SF read that isn't "hard" S...For a dark, disturbing SF read that isn't "hard" SF, I recommend Stephen Donaldson's Gap series. You can even just read the first one, THE REAL STORY, by itself and not bother with the rest. The focus is largely on the characters and the changes they go through. Plus, the book is on the shorter side. <BR/><BR/>Frederik Pohl's GATEWAY is great, too, although dated in some ways now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-40491241925291947982007-09-04T16:11:00.000-04:002007-09-04T16:11:00.000-04:00I HIGHLY recommend Neil Gaiman! I don't know how ...I HIGHLY recommend Neil Gaiman! I don't know how to classify his stuff--fantasy, I guess? I recently bought NEVERWHERE to give him a try and, WOW! I was blown away. I'm now glomming his backlist!Kristi Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369818655242695351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-14114105250464013022007-09-04T16:01:00.000-04:002007-09-04T16:01:00.000-04:00Funny, I don't stick to one genre.Sci Fi--Robert H...Funny, I don't stick to one genre.<BR/><BR/>Sci Fi--Robert Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Ann McCaffery, Andre Norton, <BR/>Terry Brooks, <BR/><BR/>Non-fiction--Barbara Tuchman, Jared Diamond, Desmond Morris<BR/><BR/>Mysteries--Elizabeth Peters, Patricia Wentworth, Dorothy L. Sayers, Carol O'Connors, Julie Smith, Agatha Christie, Mary Roberts Reinhart and many more.Jennifer McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03613714863799177911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-46700965032394835852007-09-04T15:35:00.000-04:002007-09-04T15:35:00.000-04:00I stick closely to the traditional mystery/suspens...I stick closely to the traditional mystery/suspense genre, but in the past year, have broadened my horizons with these terrific books:<BR/><BR/>AMAZON ROSE by Daisy Miller (e-book)--an extremely well-written and darn funny erotic mystery.<BR/><BR/>HELL'S BELLES by Jackie Kessler--a humorous paranormal romance about a succubus.<BR/><BR/>DIE A LITTLE by Megan Abbott--a lyrical noir tale set in 50s Hollywood.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75610706331749669072007-09-04T15:28:00.000-04:002007-09-04T15:28:00.000-04:00I read mostly science fiction and fantasy. I would...I read mostly science fiction and fantasy. I would recommend anything by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Douglas Adams. <BR/><BR/>That said, I try to branch out with various biographies, mysteries, thrillers, and certain nonfiction titles that touch on topics like the global kidnapping rings, corrupt politics, spirituality and psychology. Examples of those would be Ransom, Talking Hands, Big Fat Liars, and Sleep Demons.JRVogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11501549592361240370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-68174883485522394682007-09-04T13:52:00.000-04:002007-09-04T13:52:00.000-04:00I love "The Cat Who" books. They are fun cozy mys...I love "The Cat Who" books. They are fun cozy mysteries. I'm pretty good at solving the mysteries, but the cat who ones always throw me for a loop.<BR/><BR/>ChessieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-84834904362303256472007-09-04T13:22:00.000-04:002007-09-04T13:22:00.000-04:00uh that should be "branch" out.????uh that should be "branch" out.<BR/><BR/>????bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01500014712284794881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-2736525142483717792007-09-04T13:19:00.000-04:002007-09-04T13:19:00.000-04:00Great idea! I read a little of everything or so I...Great idea! <BR/><BR/>I read a little of everything or so I thought. Then I realized last year that I never caught the bug for all the vampire stories (or Buffy on tv for that matter) so last year I picked up Mary Janice Davidsons Undead and Unwed which then had me going and picking up the rest of her Undead series - I was very surprised how much I enjoyed them.<BR/><BR/>But reading your post I realize I continually pass the "cozy mystery" <BR/><BR/>I've read stuff that was more Thriller than Mystery so I guess I should branh out and give it a try.<BR/><BR/>So any Cozy Mystery recommendations would be appreciated.<BR/><BR/>Again, what a great idea!bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01500014712284794881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-51181272530604459412007-09-04T11:44:00.000-04:002007-09-04T11:44:00.000-04:00Outside of romance... my new favorites are Neil Ga...Outside of romance... my new favorites are Neil Gaiman, Laurie R. King and I've always been a big Nelson Demille fan.<BR/><BR/>And ditto to amyb... who said Raven Prince was even better than Leopard Prince (which I did enjoy.)<BR/><BR/>Serpent Prince is good too. Elizabeth Hoyt has become an autobuy for me now!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-61404621337063277242007-09-04T11:31:00.000-04:002007-09-04T11:31:00.000-04:00Angelle...my son LOVES those Percy Jackson books! ...Angelle...my son LOVES those Percy Jackson books! And Amyb I have Elizabeth Hoyt sitting in my TBR pile.Amie Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145328243563702260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-32638425069969419272007-09-04T11:30:00.000-04:002007-09-04T11:30:00.000-04:00I write erotica/erotic romance and I think I've re...I write erotica/erotic romance and I think I've read pretty much everything....I can't think of anything I *don't* care for. <BR/><BR/>I LOVE Vicki Pettersson for Urban Fantasy, Terry Brooks for fantasy, old Anne McCaffrey for Sci-fi (please don't kill me. I remember her most fondly though I could never read any of her dragonrider books), Marsha Moyer (women's fic? Literary women's fic?) because her writing is STUNNING *sigh*, Lisa Gardner for suspense (that woman keeps me up all night!) and Jami Alden for erotic romance =)Amie Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145328243563702260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50019387096321197552007-09-04T11:12:00.000-04:002007-09-04T11:12:00.000-04:00I'm going to give my "hear hear," to reading Susan...I'm going to give my "hear hear," to reading Susan Grant. Love her!<BR/><BR/>I've read YA, horror though not much because it gives me nightmares I can't shake, suspense, fantasy (in my youth) and of course romance.<BR/><BR/>ChessieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-91323412083278001602007-09-04T11:08:00.000-04:002007-09-04T11:08:00.000-04:00I wish I had time to read more than I do. That's t...I wish I had time to read more than I do. That's the biggest limitation on reading across genres for me. I love suspense/mystery/thriller stuff, epic fantasy (really wish George Martin would hurry up and finish his next Fire and Ice book), most anything with paranormal elements, strong romantic elements, stories set in medieval times, and the list goes on. Actually, it's the element parts that pull me the most. I'll read a good story teller in any genre if it has some particular element that I like. It's the compelling characters, intriguing worlds/settings, and sense of adventure and travelling beyond our everyday world that gets me.<BR/><BR/>That said, there have been some great suggestions here, and I'm not so well read to include many others, but...<BR/><BR/>Joan D. Vinge's Snow/Summer Queen books are probably my favorites SF reads of all time. It has a fascinating world, compelling premise, and really wonderful characters involved in an epic storyline. Fantastic books.<BR/><BR/>George Martin's Fire and Ice series is hands down my favorite fantasy story ever. It defines what epic fantasy is for me, though Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel books are a close second.<BR/><BR/>Can't really go wrong with Stephen King for horror. The Dark Tower, while not strictly horror (it's part western, SF, and half a dozen other things) is simply grand in it's scale, and has some of the best written characters I've had the joy to adventure with.<BR/><BR/>Nora Roberts/JD Robb. She's just plain enjoyable to read no matter what she writes.<BR/><BR/>There's a bazillion others of course, and so little time to read most of them.<BR/><BR/>JDuncan<BR/>www.jimnduncan.comJDuncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487305836910594252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-20100171205115811652007-09-04T10:58:00.000-04:002007-09-04T10:58:00.000-04:00I slither from one genre to the next, blissfully h...I slither from one genre to the next, blissfully happy with the variety. Since July and August are the months for my children's summer reading assignments, I usually dip my toe into YA stories. So far I've never been disappointed, and this summer was no exception. 'Bloomability' and 'The Ransom of Mercy Carter' are topnotch books on the ways and means of surviving life. Both were darn good reads!Sookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04309019627346019836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-18461735095456448472007-09-04T10:38:00.000-04:002007-09-04T10:38:00.000-04:00I mainly read romance, since that's what I enjoy a...I mainly read romance, since that's what I enjoy and what I write. I'm quite aware of "genre blindness" though, so I try to diversify. <BR/><BR/>For mysteries, I love the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters. <BR/><BR/>For edgier mystery, I adore Harlan Coben, both his single titles and his Myron Bolitar books. He has the most wonderful narrative voice. <BR/><BR/>My mother steers me toward some more mainstream fiction that I have enjoy, like Sarah Dunant's "Birth of Venus". It usually doesn't find me on its own, though. *g* <BR/><BR/>Have not seriously read sf/f since I was a teenager, though my husband gives me extensive oral book reports on what he reads.Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34268250208984111322007-09-04T10:33:00.000-04:002007-09-04T10:33:00.000-04:00If you want to try something different, I'd sugges...If you want to try something different, I'd suggest authors with an Indian heritage - such as Vikram Seth (A SUITABLE BOY) and Salman Rushdie (MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN). Midnight's Children takes a while to get into, but it is well and truly worth perservering. Probably one of the best reads I've ever had. Also, THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS by Arundhati Roy. There's something about the storytelling of Indian authors (layering, character arc, etc) that to me, is so appealing and very different to authors of other nationalities I've read. Perhaps it's all that wonderful rich culture and history that shines through. Whatever it is, I'd suggest giving it a try.Alli Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363202163419352155noreply@blogger.com