Yesterday, and! help Rolanni find something to read

[rolanni]

Yesterday was sunny and warm -- more June than November. The tide was out when I arrived, but the sea was active. Waves the pure, hard green of peridot with deep laces of bright white foam rose up as high as a house before coming down with a roar and a crash. The air was full of moisture, which acted like a lens in the brilliant sunshine. I could easily see the houses at Cape Elizabeth, and the waves slamming into the point, shattering into white shards, like ice.

There were scores of people on the beach, most stripped down to t-shirts; sweaters, wind-breakers, or sweatshirts tied around their waists; caps pushed 'way back on their heads. Dogs accompanied many -- dozens of those sturdy orange dogs that everyone seems to have -- yellow lab-and-something-mixes -- big, happy, sociable dogs, with kind brown eyes. Several galloped up to solicit my opinion of the day, offer a nose to be shaken, or a paw to be held.

I could have walked for hours.

But, of course, I didn't.

On the way home, I stopped at Barnes and Noble in Augusta, where I had my first sighting of Carousel Tides in a bookstore, which was exciting.

The store was gratifyingly full of eager shoppers -- this despite the gorgeous weather. Alas, I couldn't find anything on the shelves to tempt me. I think I'm tired of SF/F -- something that happens from time to time.

So -- what have you been reading in mystery, romance, literature that's blown you away? It doesn't have to be new; I'm 'way behind the curve on reading almost anything. SF/F need not apply for this exercise; I'm resting the genre for a while.

Comments

Reading Material

[murphy73.livejournal.com]

I'm doing a reread of Connie Willis' Blackout to refresh for a new reading of All Clear.

Have you read Mira Grant's (aka Seanan McGuire) Feed. Very good book even though I cried at the end and don't usually like Zombie stories.

Re: Reading Material

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

SF/F need not apply for this exercise; I'm resting the genre for a while.

Particularly (no disrespect to the author) are zombies out. No love for zombies here at the Cat Farm. It's a personal quirk.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Charlaine Harris -- the Grave books. Harris's real Murder Club and succeeding books are ok, too. Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick romances. Entertaining enough.

I think I burned out on Patricia Cornwall, though I read them for a long time.

[muirecan.livejournal.com]

I'll second these. I quite liked Charlaine Harris' Grave books. Also the Krentz etc group are good an light reads. Note she has actually been writing across Pseudonyms for the Arcane society books. Quick for Victorian, Krentz for modern, and Castle for her future books. The last three actually where specifically a trilogy carried across all 3.

Yasmine Galenorn's Chintz 'n China series is a nice set of mysteries. Also the J.D. Robb in death books continue to stand up well.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

I'm reading this great new book written by someone around your way. Someone called Sharon Lee? Dunno if you know her.

*g*

Prior to that, still F/SF I'm afraid, "Shadow Pavillion" by Liz Williams (Detective Inspector Chen #4).

[sibylle]

Richard Powers' The Echo Maker (or anything else by Powers, really) is a worthwhile read.

[sibylle]

Or, hmm, Joan Didion's Where I was from was another recent read that I enjoyed - other than that it's been Postmodernists all the way, as I was putting together my class syllabus, or books about the Supreme Court (syllabus #2) ... .

[patchwork-prose.livejournal.com]

Diamond Star, by Catherine Asaro: it was the first I'd read of her science fiction, and I liked it so much that I went out and rounded up as much as I could of the rest of the Skolian books. Connie Willis's Blackout and All Clear (read within 24 hours). Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell.

My Carousel Tides pre-order arrived from B&N; one to keep and one to give as a holiday present.

[masgramondou.livejournal.com]

Elise Hyatt(better known as Sarah A Hoyt)'s Daring Finds mysteries. - "Dipped Stripped and Dead" and "a French Polished Murder" - http://daringfinds.sarahahoyt.com/

Reads

[(Anonymous)]

Just read Heyer's Conqueror and An Infamous Army while waiting for Carousel Tides to arrive, but I suppose you have already read those at some time.

Sidney

[patchwork-prose.livejournal.com]

I also should have mentioned Victoria Lawrence's psychic investigation books and any of Susan Albert Wittig's Beatrix Potter mysteries.

[enleve.livejournal.com]

Victoria Lawrence's psychic investigation books

Do you mean the series starting with Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye (http://www.amazon.com/Abby-Cooper-Psychic-Mysteries-Book/dp/0451213637) by Victoria Laurie? If so, I like those too.

[--deb (from livejournal.com)]

I'm rereading Sherlock Holmes, because the BBC/PBS "Sherlock" has renewed my obsession for Holmes.

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

I quite liked Steve Hockensmith's Holmes on the Range, which is about two barely literate ranch hands who become enamored of the Sherlock Holmes stories and decide to do some detectifyin' themselves. Very entertaining, good story, quick read. There are sequels I've also heard good things about but I haven't read them myself yet so I can't personally vouch.

[murphy73.livejournal.com]

For an historical mystery, you might try C. J. Sansom's Dissolution. Story set during the time of Henry VIII and very well done. It's the first book of a series.

Another historical mystery set in Revolutionary America is Barbara Hamilton's Ninth Daughter. The main character is Abagail Adams. Also very well done with a good feeling for the period.

And if you like historicals, Sharon Kay Penman is excellent.

[amm-me.livejournal.com]

Ahem. Mrs. Adams' name is spelled Abigail.

Lighthearted contemporary (that is, 30 years old) romantic suspense and even better Regencies are those by Elsie Lee. They're worth picking up, if you ever see one in a used bookstore.

I believe there are one or two recent entries in Laurie King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books that I haven't read yet. I love all of those, and also I was blown away by her contemporary Kate Martinelli mystery, The Art of Detection, which contains a tour de force first person novella by Holmes, and also the best ending twist I ever read.

Abigail Miller

[patknuth.livejournal.com]

When I'm not reading SF/F, I tend to read mysteries. I discovered Louise Penny a year or so ago. Her Chief Inspector Gamache mysteries are set in Quebec. The first one is Still Life.

A friend recommended Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries, which are set in Venice. I enjoyed the earlier ones more than the later ones.

I've also enjoyed the two Abigal Adams mysteries written by Barbara Hamilton (aka Barbara Hambly).

[shana.livejournal.com]

I like Kerry Greenwood's mysteries. The Phryne Fisher series are set in 1928-29, the Corinna Chapman ones are modern. Both are set in Australia.

When I discovered them, less than half of them were available in the US, so I ordered the rest from Australia. Since then, the American publisher (Poison Pen Prss) has caught up.

Books

[cvwillc.livejournal.com]

I like Kerry Greenwood too, Have most of her books. I also like Julia Spencer-Fleming.

[mardott.livejournal.com]

Maria V. Snyder "Poison Study" and "Magic Study"

There's a third book, but I haven't gotten to that one yet.

Mysteries

[starrcat.livejournal.com]

Marcia Muller, though I would start at the beginning. I like to read a series in order and there has been so much character development in this one.

Zoe Sharp. Same recommendation. Her Charlie Fox series is one of the best I have ever read.

Jan Burke if you haven't already read her.

Charlaine Harris Shakespeare series. Remains my favorite of hers and the first one, Shakespeare's Landlord really blew me away.

Yep, I understand...

[dmellieon.livejournal.com]

You too, eh? Usually I avoid the NYTimes best sellers list and Oprah's recommendation. I'm odd that way. With that said my SF/F club's Mystery Book SIG picked "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Yes, I know its everywhere and on the NYTimes best seller's list. But, for some reason we picked it. I think because none of us had read anything by that author. Anyway, I finished it last week, it was surprisingly good.
If you enjoy biographies and such I can recommend "The Autobiography of Donovan: the Hurdy Gurdy Man", "Yesstories: Yes in Their Own Words", and "Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet"
If you enjoy historical mysteries, I've enjoyed Laura Joh Rowland's Sano Ichiro series and Pauline Gedge's Hera Series, Lynda Robinson's Lord Meren series, Lauren Haney's Lieutenant Bak seriers.
As for regular mysteries the only two that come to mind are Paul Mann's George Sansi series and Nathan Aldyne's Valentine and Lovelace series (warning very hard to find).
Last but not least, have you ever considered manga/graphic novels? If yes, I can highly recommend Rumiko Takashi's Maison Ikkoku series. Its a modern day soap opera - no super heroes, mech warriors or magical critters. Oh, speaking of critters how could I forget the cat silliness of Makoto Kobayashi's What's Michael series.
Hope this helps!

Re: Yep, I understand...

[(Anonymous)]

I was also pleasantly surprised by The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but I liked the sequel, The Girl who Played with Fire, even better - stayed up really late to read the whole thing. A nice change from SF/F.

[friendlyquark.livejournal.com]

Ellis Peters writes the Cadphael mystery series, all of her mysteries are wonderful.

I still adore Lord Peter, and the new writer who did the latest book nailed the series, in my opinion.

Laurie R. King writes Holmes novels that are rich, deep, and very satisfying.

Ok, non-SF/F

[(Anonymous)]

Charles Todd's mysteries are layered, historical and extremely good. There's one series with Scotland Yard Inspector Iain Rutledge, who came back from WW I with PTSD - and another set during the war with nurse Bess Crawford. I like Iain the best because he's more tortured - but that's me. A good comparison to Christie, Sayers and Grimes.

If you're looking for lighter fare, Katie Fforde writes these chick-lit/British romantic lit that's got a bit more depth than the average chick-lit. "Stately Pursuits" about a house-sitter trying to renovate the old family mansion is my favorite so far - but they're all good.

Oh - if you want a good, basic police procedural set in Baltimore, I've got "Past Sins" by John French (it was a small press - Pad Wolf I think?).
Lauretta@ConstellationBooks

Recomnendation

[(Anonymous)]

Nathan Lowell's Quarter Share just came out in print...but I find his podiocasts (Itunes FREE!) extremely satisfying because of his sexy voice and occasional French additions. Sequels Half Share, Full Share, Double Share, and Captain's Share are also due shortly in print, if you can wait that long, but I'd suggest the audio downloads now. Space opera with a different point of view and great character development. I love his writing because of the very positive view of women (among other things) but my brother gobbled the books up too.

Re: Recomnendation

[muirecan.livejournal.com]

These are really nice and fun books. I mentioned them before in the thread about happy endings and YA. Because I really enjoy them yet they don't have massive battles etc and instead revolve around normal shipboard life and problems.

[isabellag.livejournal.com]

David Hewson's crime novels set mostly in Rome, but a couple in Venezia - chewy, interesting characters, strong plots & terrific local colour.

Charlane Harris and Lousie Penny

[(Anonymous)]

BIG BIG thumbs up for the folks above who recommended Penny's
Gamache series and Harris' Lily Bard series. They're not really
cozies but they aren't really procedurals either. And they are
EXCELLENT. Lily runs a maid service in Shakespeare, Arkansas - and
therefore sees all sorts of things most folks don't. She's quite the tough lady herself. Inspector Gamache spends some of his mysteries in a small town on the Canadian side of the Vermount/Quebec border...a setting you and Steve will appreciate.

[(Anonymous)]

That was me,
Lauretta@ConstellationBooks

[saruby.livejournal.com]

This is surprisingly difficult. I find that most of the romances I read cross over into urban fantasy, so those are out. However, if you are looking for really light reading, try Lori Foster. I've also been re-reading Georgette Heyer, who is a perennial favorite of mine. I will second the suggestion of Charlaine Harris' Harper Connolly (Grave) series, in the mystery column. I don't know if you are into biographies at all. I have two recommendations there: "Wishful Drinking" by Carrie Fisher, which is funny and a nice glimpse into Hollywood from someone who grew up there, and "The Commitment" by Dan Savage, a chronicle of how he and his boyfriend decided to get married and a nice balance of political and personal. This last one is also quite funny, but may be funnier for gays and lesbians. I am currently at a bit of an impasse myself on books and finding that some of my "read again" books are dissatisfying at the moment. This is an unfortunate side effect of being a fast reader and not having either enough money to buy and bunch of new books or a decent local library.

[6-penny.livejournal.com]

Pip Granger's 'Not all Tarts are Apple' is a delight.

[readinggeek451]

I second this. The sequel is also good.

Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugack mysteries are good. Her Liam Campbell series isn't bad, either.

[magda-vogelsang.livejournal.com]

I very much enjoyed the Julian Kestrel mysteries by Kate Ross, and suspect you would as well if you've not read them. They take place in the late/post Regency era.

I love wit and good character development, and this series has plenty of both.