A request...

[prisoner_24601]

Since I seem to be stuck in a reading rut, I thought I'd ask you all to recommend some books for me. At the moment, I'm having a rather difficult time finding books that look interesting enough to bother reading. I'm right in the middle of reading Jingo by Terry Pratchett and The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold, and while I love both of these authors to death (Bujold is one of my all time favorites for her Vorkosigan series), these two particular books aren't doing a hell of a lot for me. I'm kind of stalled out reading them (I've taken to re-reading both the Dresdon Files books and the Miles Vorkosigan books instead of finishing them), but every time I go to the bookstore and browse I can't seem to find anything that captures my attention.

So I'm turning to you all for help. Recommend a couple of books for me (and when you do so, tell me why you like the book). I'm pretty open to any genre or style, although I do admit that while I'm a sucker for a good romance, I detest 99% of romance novels out there. I also am not a big fan of most fantasy books (because seriously, if it has hot elves in it, I instantly tune out), but have enjoyed the occasional fantasy novel. Non fiction is also fair game, even though I tend not to read much, but I suspect that there are some seriously interesting books out there. Comic books are also fair game as well, although I like to read things in the trade paperback format and finished story arcs.

I very much like books that are *different* from the norm, or take an old, worn out idea and do something new with it.

Comments

Re: With my luck you've read both.

[bald-as-malak.livejournal.com]

It just sounds like the typical fantasy novel of the special stable boy (who is really the son of the king) with the special powers that everyone discovers and who changes the world. There are so many books with almost exactly that beginning, that I admit that I'm leary of reading the series.

It's refreshing in several ways. First, he's not really all that powerful and he's often lost, overwhelmed, used, and abused. Second, it's the characters and the grittiness of the whole story that really stands out.

But it's the second Farseer trilogy that really stands out for me!

Another series that stands out for me is "The Bone Doll's Twin" (the name of the first book) by Lynn Flewelling.

Also, try the first quartet by Ian Irvine "View From the Mirror". Excellent and definitely different! (He has a second quartet, but I stopped reading that one... the writing was good, but the characters and general flow were too similar to teh first one IMHO)

And then there's my favorite, Charles de Lint. I generally save his books for when I want something really good. (Though the last couple of books were a bit tired, so get something from at least 3-4 years back).

BaM

Re: With my luck you've read both.

[prisoner--24601.livejournal.com]

Heh you know, I bought the farseer trilogy, I just keep getting stuck on the first few chapters. While the book is clearly well written, I just can't seem to stit down and make headway with it. Maybe it's my mood. I think I'm probably going to let it sit for a month and try again later.

Re: With my luck you've read both.

[bald-as-malak.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the first few chapters were a bit slow in the first trilogy, but it's worth working your way through.

Also, read stuff by Barbara Hambly. No Mary-Sue's with god-like powers there. Gritty!

BaM

Re: With my luck you've read both.

[prisoner--24601.livejournal.com]

You know, I've read some Barbara Hambly, but not her sci-fi/fantasy stuff, but her mystery stuff. Her Free Man of Color mystery series about a black detective back in pre Civil War New Orleans is really rather cool. So I think I'm going to have to take your suggestion on that, I'm just not sure where to start lol.

Re: With my luck you've read both.

[bald-as-malak.livejournal.com]

Either the Windrose Chronicles (The Silent Tower is the first book) or the Winterlands (Dragonsbane is the first book) series are good.

Me, I think I might now check out teh Free Man of Color one.

BaM