2010: Reading what I want

[oftherain]

Last year I didn't read much at all. And I think I forgot to keep track of everything I did read, in fact. 2009 was the year Knitting took over as my number one free time activity. Knitting totally stomped all over everything else. But I'd like to have 2010 be a year in which I find a balance between all my hobbies. So hopefully I'll read more

Comments

[twotone]

...I was going to try and recommend some of my favorite fantasy books to you, but I just realized that they're almost all YA and Kids books. Or fantasy books that I enjoy *because* they're fun and junkfood-y.

[oftherain]

well I'm not adverse to YA and kids! not at all. I have probably read some of those. But still please do recommend me some! and fun and junkfoody sounds really good to me! It will balance out the classics. Can't be literary and stuff all the time!

[twotone]

I should probably preface this by saying that I tend to enjoy stories that toy with fairytale and folklore conventions. Having said that, I've enjoyed

[oftherain]

Thanks so much! I'm gonna have a good look at these!

[cliomuse]

There are many ways you can go with fantasy -

There is the epic far-reaching multi-volume thousands of pages stuff like J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time) and Terry Brooks (Shannara)

There is the less serious but still novel spanning (but much lighter reading) of David Eddings (The Belgariad), Anne McCaffrey (Dragonriders of Pern) or Alan Dean Foster (Spellsinger)

There is the off-the-wall straight out humorous fantasy of Piers Anthony (Xanth), Terry Pratchett (Discworld) or Douglas Adams (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - technically sci-fi but worth a read)

If you want a bit of science fiction I can't recommend Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan saga enough - her fantasy books are also excellent - Chalion series and the Sharing Knife series.

I am more of a series reader but I know of several excellent stand alone novels I can point you to as well.

There are some that I would steer you clear of but everyone needs to make their own judgment on these matters

[oftherain]

Wow! that's a great list. Thank you! And so nice to hear from you. How are you? How far along now with the baby? I kinda want to know what you would steer me clear of. I'm alone in the dark, and I don't want to go the wrong way.

[cliomuse]

Baby and I are doing great - 6 months in and just entering my third trimester. Starting to get a bit impatient but there are only 3 months to go

[oftherain]

6 months! times goes fast. Glad you are doing great. :)

I'm gonna check out the Belgariad/Mallorean series. Thanks!

and thanks for that warning on the Donaldson book. I appreciate it.

[oftherain]

Well if not a epic series, any oners in fantasy that you would recommend?

[oftherain]

Excellent, I have the Hobbit on my bookshelf!

[hannah_nutwood]

great question! i don't do much in the way of fantasy, but if you haven't read the hobbit yet, you really ought to.

my friend has been raving about george r. r. martin's series "a song of ice and fire" i've read the first one (a game of thrones) and am now onto the second. it's really quite engaging (epic series, mind you) and, even though i haven't read all of it yet, i would recommend it. it's not too fantastical and does a good job of making its world believable as well as the characters. also, i hear it's being made into an hbo series so you know it's good ;)

[cliomuse]

Another good one indeed. I need to pick up this series again and finish it.

Man I could go on forever on this topic.

One day you really need to come on out to Aldergrove and check out my library oftherain.

I will make tea and scones and we can talk books for a couple hours :)

[oftherain]

That sounds like something very close to heaven. :) I'd love to see you. Maybe the newly engaged here can make some time for us as well and it will be like old old times.

[cliomuse]

Excellent - you let me know a day and I can almost guarantee I will be free.

[niamhaevalnimue]

If you don't mind YA fantasy, there's Melissa Marr's "Wicked Lovely" series or "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater. I've heard great things about Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" and "Stardust" as far as adult fantasy goes but never read him. Same goes for Charles De Lint (although I think he's YA).

I'd love to hear what you're reading and what you think of them. I'm on a bit of a hiatus due to the little one. Although I just finished "A Beautiful Blue Death" by Charles Finch. First book in a series about a "gentleman" detective in the 1860s. I enjoyed the writing but the plot dragged a little but I'm still going to read the other two books so far in the series. :-)

[oftherain]

Oooh. when i hear about a detective series set in the 1960's I get all aflutter. I will have to check it out! Thanks.

I read StarDust and thought it was great. I also read Gaiman's Neverwhere and enjoyed it immensely. So I guess, if that is considered fantasy, I'm on my way! I have heard of De Lint! I can't remember why and where from. But I know it was a recommendation in the past. Thanks for the tips!

I hope you, your hubby and your little darling are doing well!

[oftherain]

i meant 1860's of course. gosh, that's a major difference. hehe.

[niamhaevalnimue]

Ha! I knew what you meant.