BOOKS!

[lithera]

More books I have read since my last update on books I have read some time in August.

Here we go.

39 - The Good, The Bad and the Undead by Kim Harrison
40 - Every Which way but Dead by Kim Harrison
41 - A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison - These books are entertaining. Nothing fantastic but good to read and entirely enjoyable. I appreciated the descriptions of Mackinaw.

42 - Keeper by Greg Rucka
43 - Finder by Greg Rucka
44 - Smoker by Greg Rucka
45 - Shooting at Midnight by Greg Rucka
46 - Critical Space by Greg Rucka - Enjoyable. The first one feels a bit stiff but, then again, it is a first book. There is almost always a feeling of breaking in a pair of boots with a first book. Especially earlier in a writer's life as a writer. I really started liking these books at about Smoker and while the Drama twist was unexpected and that threw me for a moment, I obviously kept reading. Partially because I have a thing for assassins. I know. I'm weird.

47 - Book of which I'm not sure I can tell the title because I don't know if it is a secret by C.E. Murphy - I liked this. There were a few surprises. And, of course, reading it super early means that I have to wait even longer for another new one. It'll be interesting to read it again after the editing process to see what stays and what goes and what gets changed entirely. (Unless I'm wrong and it has already been through that.)

48 - Princeps' Fury by Jim Butcher - This book isn't out yet. Yeah. I know. Sometimes work has some totally bad ass perks. And I managed to have good timing on snagging this one. It took me a little bit to get back into this universe because I read the four before all in a row, so I didn't every slip out of the world at all. I enjoyed this one very much, though I wish they weren't quite so easy to plot out what happens next. (Though the ice was a surprise, I'll admit.)

49 - A Fistful of Rain by Greg Rucka - This was brutal for me to read. I wanted to reach into the book and shake the main character. Some part of me wanted to yell at her, but I know if I were confronted with someone like her in person, I'd want to take care of her and try to help her and probably get all twisty and hurt.

Coming up next: Anathem by Neal Stevenson - This'll take a bit for me to tackle. His books are like a millions pages of dense needing to think things. Little, Big by John Crowley - Hrmm. Not sure what to think by the back. The five Thomas Cahill books - I love these things so much.

I NEED NEW AUTHORS. I like biographies of interesting woman (particularly if they're named Joan). I've read about Jeanne d'Arc, Pope Joan, the Duchess of Devonshire, her friend Marie Antoinette, Catherine de Medici.... I like studies of Ancient Rome, Greece and that whole Med area. I like assassins, sociopaths and high political intrigue! Give me suggestions, people. What have you read that you love? I need me some more books.

Comments

[solcita.livejournal.com]

The Lies of Locke Lamora? I don't recall if I've seen it on your list before, but it's entertaining. The second, Red Seas Under Red Skies, isn't as good, but has its high points.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I haven't read those at all. What's the gist?

[solcita.livejournal.com]

Thieves, assassins, and high political intrigue of the fantasy kind. Much of the witty swash-swash-buckle-buckle. Good world-building and unpredictable plot twists.

[ex-ruckawri.livejournal.com]

Uhm...glad you liked 'em?

email me your address, I'll wing you a copy of PA.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

When I find an author I just tend to read everything I can get my hands on all at once. Of course, then I get to the point where there isn't anymore and I have to wait which makes me find new authors... It is a frustating and yet rewarding situation to be in. And in this case, well, I caught up on Q&C and had the genius revelation that, well, you didn't just write comics.....

I liked them a lot and have started to give them to other people to read.

I don't have your e-mail address to send you my address. But! My e-mail address is the name of my LJ here at gmail so you can drop me a note so I can send it to you.

[jeditigger.livejournal.com]

Ahhh...good point. I should pick up Greg's stuff, as I finished the last Brust I had.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I love Brust's books but man those go fast.

[jeditigger.livejournal.com]

Well, I've read the chapters Greg's posted and found them immediately alluring, so I want to read his stuff...what do you recommend first?

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Well, have you read any Queen and Country in Graphic Novel form? If so, I'd read those novels first. If you haven't, I'd start with the Atticus Kodiak books. Those start with Keeper.

[ocicat.livejournal.com]

Read anything about Eleanore of the Aquataine?

I first heard of her from the Lion in Winter, but that movie doesn't begin to scratch the surface...

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Y'know I haven't but I've thought about it. Last time I looked there wasn't a book that caught my eye as a place to start. Any suggestions?

[technogreek.livejournal.com]

My absolute favorite series of books is the "Roma Sub Rosa" series by Steven Saylor. Basically, it's a historical mystery/murder series set in Ancient Rome. He's a professor of Roman History so the actual books are 100%(ish :) accurate to the time period, he just inserts his characters in to the intrigue. SOOOO GOOD. The Falco books by Lindsay Davis (same concept) are also good, but the Saylor ones are the best...

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Hrrrrrm. That sounds like something I would like. Thank you for the recommendation! I will have to look them up.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

It's not a secret. :) And no, it hasn't been through the revision process (I just got the revision letter yesterday) so there will definitely be changes. Ted refuses to read my books until they're printed because he can't staaaaaaaaaand having things change. *laughs* :)

ZOMG SO JEALOUS! *clutches at PRINCEPS' FURY*

I like Alison Weir's Tudor biographies!

[jeditigger.livejournal.com]

What she said.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

There were a few places more toward the begining that felt sandpaper-y or in need of sandpapering but it faded out by the time I got a quarter of the way in.

Oh! I have read one of those Weir books. I always think about picking up others but never do. I should do that.

Thank you.

[futuredirt.livejournal.com]

Two of my all-time favorite books are:

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - This one is difficult to explain. I believe the best thing to do is to call it "Experimental Fiction" and strongly suggest you give it a chance. I find that people who pick up this book fall in to one of two catagories - love it or hate it. There really isn't any middleground on this one.

Junky by William S. Burroughs - The most linear of his works, but not really the reason I like it. It is a very honest book about the decent in to drug additction with a good helping of humor (though admittedly the humor may not hit with everyone).

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I think I've read both of those but, given the fact that I read a million or so books, I'll have to actually find copies and flip a few pages before I can confirm or deny.

Thanks!

[amit.livejournal.com]

It's more in the mythological realm than reality, but I really did like Margaret George's Helen of Troy.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

*nods* It would be interesting to see if I coudl read somethign to convince me that Helen wasn't a spoiled brat. *grins*

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Political intrigue? Hm. I think you might really like Jennifer Fallon's Second Sons trilogy, starting with The Lion of Senet.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

Seconded! Thirded, even! Fallon's a good writer, and the Second Sons trilogy is my favorite of her work so far.

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

I've not been quite as impressed with her others, though they weren't bad (her new series 'Immortal Prince' though? Real step down, IMO). The Wolfblade series was all right. Second Sons was the first of her works that I read, and it was truly awesome. The best of all she's written, I think.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the new series yet, but generally I'd agree with that assessment. Second Sons was *awfully* good, though. Hard to live up to, maybe. :)

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Give it a miss. It's terrible. I found myself wincing at the clichédness of it :/

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I've read her other series (what's the plural of series?) and I liked the second one of those better than the first one. So, I'll give those a prod and see if I like them too.

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Serials? I dunno. ;)

Second Sons is really the best. I don't know if you've read Lynn Flewelling at all, but I enjoyed her Tamir series.

[julzerator.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you are much of a fan of Poppy Z Brite, but if you do like her books, I have found that Silk by Caitlin R. Kiernan has been very enjoyable so far.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Hrmmmm. I will take a look.

Thanks!

[hawkfist.livejournal.com]

There is a series of murder mysteries by Alan Gordon, starring a jester whose guild is an intelligence bureau of sorts, in the medieval period. Excellent books, and very well researched.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I will look these up. It sounds very interesting to me.