I love the Sookie books. They’re kooky and that can be great sometimes. I did start to lose interest toward the end and have yet to finish the series (despite True Blood being one of my favorite shows ever). And at least there’s a reason why the vamps love her (extra tasty magic blood).
I love the Sookie books. They’re kooky and that can be great sometimes. I did start to lose interest toward the end and have yet to finish the series (despite True Blood being one of my favorite shows ever). And at least there’s a reason why the vamps love her (extra tasty magic blood).
I enjoy her Irish mythology based books and her descriptions of Ireland’s beauty. But I don’t bother with anything else from her since her plots are predictable after a few books.
I enjoy her Irish mythology based books and her descriptions of Ireland’s beauty. But I don’t bother with anything else from her since her plots are predictable after a few books.
The Blue Castle is a TREASURE. I just love it, though I haven’t re-read it yet. But I discovered it five years ago and it became on of my all-time favorites. I love LMM’s “Anne” series, too. LMM books are “cozy”.
The Blue Castle is a TREASURE. I just love it, though I haven’t re-read it yet. But I discovered it five years ago and it became on of my all-time favorites. I love LMM’s “Anne” series, too. LMM books are “cozy”.
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you, truly.
To readers like me, it is not “weird” at all to read books again and again for escape! Please don’t ever think that. Bookworms love books for this reason. That’s what stories/novels are for. Storytelling can also be used to teach us valuable life lessons, but for a lot of people, it’s for the entertainment. I think it’s COMPLETELY “healthy” to help yourself get through grief with this method. I can’t think of a healthier way.
My “comfort book” was always the Narnia series. I used to read them about once a year and often when I was going through loss. I also had a companion book written by Paul Ford and he said that he had met many readers of Narnia who said the same thing, that they read it when they wanted to “go home”. Now, I’m no longer a Christian so I don’t get the same fuzzy feelings from them as I used to and thus don’t have a single go-to book anymore. But I read a lot of fantasy and instead of re-reading, I’ll just read a lot by the same author. So I’ve read a bunch of LJ Smith, Cassandra Clare, Patricia Wrede, Robin McKinley, Neil Gaiman, etc. Once I find a voice/vibe I like, I read all I can.
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you, truly.
To readers like me, it is not “weird” at all to read books again and again for escape! Please don’t ever think that. Bookworms love books for this reason. That’s what stories/novels are for. Storytelling can also be used to teach us valuable life lessons, but for a lot of people, it’s for the entertainment. I think it’s COMPLETELY “healthy” to help yourself get through grief with this method. I can’t think of a healthier way.
My “comfort book” was always the Narnia series. I used to read them about once a year and often when I was going through loss. I also had a companion book written by Paul Ford and he said that he had met many readers of Narnia who said the same thing, that they read it when they wanted to “go home”. Now, I’m no longer a Christian so I don’t get the same fuzzy feelings from them as I used to and thus don’t have a single go-to book anymore. But I read a lot of fantasy and instead of re-reading, I’ll just read a lot by the same author. So I’ve read a bunch of LJ Smith, Cassandra Clare, Patricia Wrede, Robin McKinley, Neil Gaiman, etc. Once I find a voice/vibe I like, I read all I can.
When you read, what gives you butterflies? Whatever that is, write that. That’s why writers always advise “read a lot”. Write the books you want to read.
Neil Gaiman. Don’t care what the plot is, I know it’ll have beautiful prose and will take me on a weird journey.
Juliette Marillier. I love her descriptions of nature on long journeys.
Cassandra Clare. I love her characters. They’re so real and described often but not repetitively (for me).
Patricia Wrede. She has “cozy” fantasy and has a great blog.
I voluntarily read so many “quality” books when I was a teen/early 20s (lots of 1700s/1800s Brit lit, etc) that I don’t feel bad about reading whatever I want now.
Also, I’m hoping to one day submit a manuscript in the YA/adult fantasy genre so I’m reading to know what the market is.
I’d recommend classics because I loved what I learned from them, but just read what you like. Have fun. YOLO.
Patricia Wrede rewrote her first book Shadow Magic when she felt she was a better writer. I have both versions and it’s really interesting to see the differences. The first version is very old fantasy style, focusing on the lay of the land and the male character. The rewrite is more from the FMC POV and how she feels about things.
I just read an article that Terry Pratchett re-edited his first book here https://www.denofgeek.com/books/terry-pratchett-first-novel-tolkien-homage-to-parody/
I think it’s like a singer re-recording an old song of theirs (kind of like a “Taylor’s Version”, lol) and if another author wanted to do it, it would be like a cover. Anyway, I like the concept!
The Mortal Instruments series. I really love Cassandra Clare’s writing style. It’s like a warm blanket to me. She writes really good characters too. The “are they siblings?” didn’t bother me because I could tell right away how it would end up. She writes relationships really well and balances romance and action. I’m reading her Clockwork series now and hear it’s even better so I’m looking forward to where it takes me.