We're looking for recommendations from each other this week, geekers. Assignment here:
I love recommendations. Mostly because I always think I'm missing something - some kind of awesomeness that all of the other readers are in on that I'm not. And apart from hysterical romances and westerns, I'll read nearly anything.
If it has a good story, I'm in like a tabby in a box of cat biscuits. Genre-wise, like I say, I'm not fussy, although I'm having a bit of a dystopic moment, with The Knife of Never Letting Go, and The Year of the Flood.
I'm also - thanks to Her Fearful Symmetry - in the mood for some good spine-tingling ghost stories. And I'm always in the mood for a well-written fantasy novel, or suspense novel, or horror novel, or general fiction novel, or ... you get the picture.
As for what I can recommend ...
Well.
Here's my post from January, looking back on the 2008 reading year:
http://justaddbooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/just-add-books-yearender.html
http://justaddbooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/just-add-books-yearender.html
For this year's reads so far:
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, obviously. Which, if you haven't read, and found to be awesome ... I can't help you.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearce Which. I can't even tell you. So, so good.
Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. In general.
Soldier in the Mist by Gene Wolfe - I'd nearly forgotten about that one!
The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
And ... The Source by James Michener. I read it a few years ago, but it's a really, really good book. Oh. And the Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough.
That ought to do, right?
Happy Weekly Geeks. :)
6 comments:
For noir suspense, try reading books by T L Hines. You will definitely like him. And Agatha Christie mysteries are must reads.
Weekly Geeks: Recommendations
Since you list westerns as something you don't normally read, I think you should try one! My suggestion? Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty. Great book!
Maree, have you seen DIAMOND DOVE (aka MOONLIGHT DOWNS) by Adrian Hyland yet - winner of the 2008 Ned Kelly first novel.
So crime fiction, very definitely Australian-
Emily Tempest returns to Moonlight Downs, a scatter of corrugated iron hovels nine hours from Alice Springs out in the spinifex desert, 14 years after leaving to go to secondary school in Adelaide. The daughter of a local miner, Motor Jack, she is welcomed home by Lincoln Flinders, the head of the community. The Moonlight mob have only recently returned to their land themselves. The Moonlight mob are Emily's community by adoption - her mother was a Wantiya woman from the Gulf Country. Unmistakably aboriginal in appearance, Emily has not yet decided which world she belongs to - aboriginal or white. She meets up with Lincoln's daughter Hazel, her best friend in the past. The morning after Emily arrives, Lincoln is found dead, unmistakably murdered, and Emily finds it impossible to rest until she knows who killed him. Adrian Hyland's debut novel. Very polished writing and a feel of authenticity about the setting and customs. I came away feeling I had learnt quite a lot.
I'm currently enjoying So B. It by Sarah Weeks. You might like it too.
I'm also going to recommend a western to expand your horizons: Buffalo Grass by Frank Gruber.
My full post is here.
Have you read Dracula yet? I'm partway through it for the Dueling Monsters Read-a-long that Fizzy Thoughts is co-hosting with Age 30+...A Lifetime of Books, and I thought it would be all innuendo and suggestions of weirdness; boy was I wrong! There is all kinds of full-on weirdness and creepiness going on. I'm quite happily surprised by it so far.
I loved The Help by Kathryn Stockett-good story and good characters. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexander Dumas), Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen) and The Thirteenth Tale(Diane Setterfield) were all books that I also really enjoyed over the last year or so. (The links are to my reviews).
oh, i am getting The Strain on Monday from the library! glad to know someone who's liked it!
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