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And since I asked it, I should prolly answer.
I'm a book hoarder, and will read just about any fiction genre put before me. As a result of several used book stores and library bag sales in my area, my TBR (To Be Read) "pile" numbers somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200, which makes for little room in my closets for anything else.
As I mentioned, mysteries and thrillers seem to be my latest genre of preference, and in that field so far my tastes run to Mary Higgins Clark, Tony Hillerman, JD Robb (who adds romance and a bit of sci/fi into the mix), Jonathan Kellerman, and Sue Grafton.
And I am someone who judges a book by its cover, but if you've ever been to a library book bag sale, you'll understand why. Some of those people are ruthless! If you don't grab it when you see it, forget about it!
GM Reexa
______________________________________
Currently Reading: Dead by Sunset by Ann Rule; The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman
Books and/or authors are tending to jump genres nowadays, so I can't really say which is who anymore. Here's what I enjoyed reading that wasn't crazily sci-fi or fantasy (read: something that could plausibly happen in real life even though it's still considered sci fi or deals with that topic):
Greg Bear
--Darwin's Radio (a story about human speciation told from the perspective of the Homo Sapiens Sapiens parents--mostly a polito-psychological story about racism)
--Darwin's Children (mostly the same story, just 20 years in the future, told from the perspective of the children--very reminiscent of WWII-era concepts a la Holocaust)
Dean Koontz
--Mr. Murder (action thriller, with a weird little sci-fi twist involving genetic mutation and clones, very well done in my opinion--plus, Koontz provides a disturbingly funny little poem about an evil Santa)
--Hideaway (while part of the sci-fi genre, focuses mostly on religion, mortality, and similarly not-s-o-sci-fi stuff like that)
--(title unknown) (story about the drug-forfeiture laws and a black-budget government agency that's gotten out of control and growing increasingly fascist)
--Icebound (thoroughly action thriller, one of his older works rereleased and renamed)
Michael Crichton
--The Last Survivor? (political action thriller about airplanes, pure and simple)
--Terminal Man (schitzophrenic man is given experimental treatment, becomes violently psychotic, and escapes from the hospital to terrorize the city--sound familiar?)
(author unknown)
--(title unknown) (a book with action revolving around the Korean DMZ, possibly a cliche about some North Korean president offering a truce/peace deal and some hard-liner plotting to assassinate him for it)
J'Lo, no that other one
The Manipulation List -- http://symphaena.com/index.html
Greg Bear
--Darwin's Radio (a story about human speciation told from the perspective of the Homo Sapiens Sapiens parents--mostly a polito-psychological story about racism)
--Darwin's Children (mostly the same story, just 20 years in the future, told from the perspective of the children--very reminiscent of WWII-era concepts a la Holocaust)
Dean Koontz
--Mr. Murder (action thriller, with a weird little sci-fi twist involving genetic mutation and clones, very well done in my opinion--plus, Koontz provides a disturbingly funny little poem about an evil Santa)
--Hideaway (while part of the sci-fi genre, focuses mostly on religion, mortality, and similarly not-s-o-sci-fi stuff like that)
--(title unknown) (story about the drug-forfeiture laws and a black-budget government agency that's gotten out of control and growing increasingly fascist)
--Icebound (thoroughly action thriller, one of his older works rereleased and renamed)
Michael Crichton
--The Last Survivor? (political action thriller about airplanes, pure and simple)
--Terminal Man (schitzophrenic man is given experimental treatment, becomes violently psychotic, and escapes from the hospital to terrorize the city--sound familiar?)
(author unknown)
--(title unknown) (a book with action revolving around the Korean DMZ, possibly a cliche about some North Korean president offering a truce/peace deal and some hard-liner plotting to assassinate him for it)
J'Lo, no that other one
The Manipulation List -- http://symphaena.com/index.html
Well, in two weeks I'll be opening a bookstore/coffeeshop (!!). We'll have new and used books, about 6,000 titles altogether. And after sorting all the used books in the past few weeks, let me tell you that you can most definitely write a book about ANYTHING. Particularly if it's religious or in the self-help genre. Yeesh.
My non-fantasy books tend toward the sociology/anthropology section when I'm not re-reading the Wheel of Time so I can be ready for the newest book (man, is that a time investment!). I'm going for a PhD in anthro this fall focusing on Latin America and peace and conflict studies...I highly recommend Eduardo Galeano, Guillermo Gomez-Pena, Ariel Dorfman, and Luis Alberto Urrea (who has a great fiction work, Hummingbird's Daughter, coming out in paperback next month) for some fantastic non-fiction cultural studies stuff.
Isabel Allende, Galeano's fiction, Julia Alvarez (who I got to meet while in college), John Updike, JD Salinger...I could go on forever. At the moment I'm reading the advanced copy of Alvarez' Saving the World as well as Hummingbird's Daughter, the newest Sports Illustrated, and the March Backpacker magazine. I love travel writing and guidebooks for places I've never been and don't plan on traveling to in the foreseeable future.
I'll be watching everyone's posts very closely and checking favorites against our list of titles!
Kate
My non-fantasy books tend toward the sociology/anthropology section when I'm not re-reading the Wheel of Time so I can be ready for the newest book (man, is that a time investment!). I'm going for a PhD in anthro this fall focusing on Latin America and peace and conflict studies...I highly recommend Eduardo Galeano, Guillermo Gomez-Pena, Ariel Dorfman, and Luis Alberto Urrea (who has a great fiction work, Hummingbird's Daughter, coming out in paperback next month) for some fantastic non-fiction cultural studies stuff.
Isabel Allende, Galeano's fiction, Julia Alvarez (who I got to meet while in college), John Updike, JD Salinger...I could go on forever. At the moment I'm reading the advanced copy of Alvarez' Saving the World as well as Hummingbird's Daughter, the newest Sports Illustrated, and the March Backpacker magazine. I love travel writing and guidebooks for places I've never been and don't plan on traveling to in the foreseeable future.
I'll be watching everyone's posts very closely and checking favorites against our list of titles!
Kate
<<I love travel writing and guidebooks for places I've never been and don't plan on traveling to in the foreseeable future.>>
I do too, Kate, and count Bill Bryson and Peter Matthiessen among some of my favorite authors over all.
GM Reexa
______________________________________
Currently Reading: Dead by Sunset by Ann Rule; The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman
I do too, Kate, and count Bill Bryson and Peter Matthiessen among some of my favorite authors over all.
GM Reexa
______________________________________
Currently Reading: Dead by Sunset by Ann Rule; The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman
I am in total agreement Reexa. Those library book bag sales are like shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. A lady got into a fight with my 3 year old step-daughter over a book at one of those. My step-daughter is a feisty one though so she won that fight. One of those things you find extremely amusing after some time passes. Btw, that Dean Koontz title unknown is Dark Rivers of the Heart really good one. Ironically, fits with the sort of stuff our current government is being accused of right now.
<< Books and/or authors are tending to jump genres nowadays, so I can't really say which is who anymore.
Agreed, genre doesn't ever matter to me. It's purely a matter of author/story.
Arcelebor
"Back off, man. I'm a scientist."
PSA - Sakhara's definition of RP (like many things) is erroneous
Agreed, genre doesn't ever matter to me. It's purely a matter of author/story.
Arcelebor
"Back off, man. I'm a scientist."
PSA - Sakhara's definition of RP (like many things) is erroneous
Wow, I haven't been to a library in ages...forgot they exist. I will probably get shunned for my next favorite author outside of the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Jude Deveraux....historical romances...though her lastest set was about a psychic. And then i guess i'd have to say V.C. Andrews though i haven't read any of her stuff since the..I can't remember..the one with Ruby in it I think. I don't really read much outside of sci-fi/fantasy...reading is to escape the reality of the world around me so I prefer not to read a book that is based on the same world I'm trying to ignore for a good hour or two.
Upon the fabric of this pristine apron is embroidered various wilted flowers. Written in fair script are the words, "This Empath likes to watch you die -- move on."
Upon the fabric of this pristine apron is embroidered various wilted flowers. Written in fair script are the words, "This Empath likes to watch you die -- move on."
Hmmmm, other fiction genres. Thrillers (Tom Clancy particularly), gay trash (don't ask), historical fiction of various types, including romances, mysteries, horror, well, pretty much anything but literary fiction, actually. I'm not impressed with people trying to impress me.
But my big weakness at the library is non-fiction. Sociology, history, anthropology, pop-culture, essay collections, mythology, folk tales, just random new fiction on the shelf. I love libraries. Even if the book is lousy, I'm not out anything so I can just try again.
But my big weakness at the library is non-fiction. Sociology, history, anthropology, pop-culture, essay collections, mythology, folk tales, just random new fiction on the shelf. I love libraries. Even if the book is lousy, I'm not out anything so I can just try again.
Piers Anthony, I think, has a series of books that are more of a fictiony summary look at human history rather than his normal sci-fi stuff. I think it's 4-6 books all about the same story about a Sopranos type of family (the kind that tend to get rich, make lots of enemies, and get into lots of adventures) told from the vantage of each family member.
J'Lo, no that other one
The Manipulation List -- http://symphaena.com/index.html
J'Lo, no that other one
The Manipulation List -- http://symphaena.com/index.html
>>Piers Anthony, I think, has a series of books that are more of a fictiony summary look at human history rather than his normal sci-fi stuff. I think it's 4-6 books all about the same story about a Sopranos type of family (the kind that tend to get rich, make lots of enemies, and get into lots of adventures) told from the vantage of each family member.
I think he also wrote one called the isle of man? I vaguely remember reading it years ago....
Upon the fabric of this pristine apron is embroidered various wilted flowers. Written in fair script are the words, "This Empath likes to watch you die -- move on."
I think he also wrote one called the isle of man? I vaguely remember reading it years ago....
Upon the fabric of this pristine apron is embroidered various wilted flowers. Written in fair script are the words, "This Empath likes to watch you die -- move on."
Whatever category the Salmon of Doubt falls into. There are a couple fictional short stories, but most of it are little anecdotes, philosophical meanderings and experiences from Douglas Adams' life, published posthumously.
Rev. Reene, player of a few
Niaura asks, "wat happen?"
>
You say to Niaura, "Someone set you up the bomb."
Rev. Reene, player of a few
Niaura asks, "wat happen?"
>
You say to Niaura, "Someone set you up the bomb."
"As I mentioned, mysteries and thrillers seem to be my latest genre of preference, and in that field so far my tastes run to Mary Higgins Clark, Tony Hillerman, JD Robb (who adds romance and a bit of sci/fi into the mix), Jonathan Kellerman, and Sue Grafton."
I'm not sure if this is a little known fact or what, but JD Robb is a pen name for a very well known romance book author...maybe I just know this from working in a book store for almost three years.
Eruwyn's Player.
P.S. Someone may have already pointed this fact out...if so my fault for not reading before posting.
I'm not sure if this is a little known fact or what, but JD Robb is a pen name for a very well known romance book author...maybe I just know this from working in a book store for almost three years.
Eruwyn's Player.
P.S. Someone may have already pointed this fact out...if so my fault for not reading before posting.
<<I'm not sure if this is a little known fact or what, but JD Robb is a pen name for a very well known romance book author>>
Yes, she's Nora Roberts. They are printing that on all her covers now, but I hope it won't dissuade men from picking up the books. I'm afraid it might, though.
GM Reexa
______________________________________
Currently Reading: Dead by Sunset by Ann Rule; Monster by Jonathan Kellerman
Yes, she's Nora Roberts. They are printing that on all her covers now, but I hope it won't dissuade men from picking up the books. I'm afraid it might, though.
GM Reexa
______________________________________
Currently Reading: Dead by Sunset by Ann Rule; Monster by Jonathan Kellerman
Speaking of pen names...I know Mercedes Lackey has one, I saw it a long time ago but I can't remember what it was. Anyone else know it?
Upon the fabric of this pristine apron is embroidered various wilted flowers. Written in fair script are the words, "This Empath likes to watch you die -- move on."
Upon the fabric of this pristine apron is embroidered various wilted flowers. Written in fair script are the words, "This Empath likes to watch you die -- move on."
Was trying to think of various authors/books I read that aren't scifi/fantasy. There aren't many of them besides my math textbooks. I love Calculus!
One that came to mind was a book I read a couple years ago called Devil in the White City, about the Chicago Worlds fair and one of the first known serial killers, sometime around the 1890s. Really enjoyed that one. No idea who wrote it, but it was really interesting.
Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy usually are pretty good. I tried reading some mystery novels, Sue Grafton etc, and found that once you read one, you've read them all.
Mole
_______
When it crosses my mind to do something, I don't ask why, I ask why not. And usually theres no reason not to, so I just go ahead. Its given me the strangest collection of hats.
One that came to mind was a book I read a couple years ago called Devil in the White City, about the Chicago Worlds fair and one of the first known serial killers, sometime around the 1890s. Really enjoyed that one. No idea who wrote it, but it was really interesting.
Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy usually are pretty good. I tried reading some mystery novels, Sue Grafton etc, and found that once you read one, you've read them all.
Mole
_______
When it crosses my mind to do something, I don't ask why, I ask why not. And usually theres no reason not to, so I just go ahead. Its given me the strangest collection of hats.
