Now that I know that there is no quick fix and I will be off work for at least another four weeks until I see the consultant I am wondering what I can read.
After the Twilight Series I went onto Mike Carey CFelix Castor Series – good read, The “Watch†Series by Sergei Lukyanenko and the first six of Laurell k Hamilton Anita Blake series.
Does anyone have any recommendations based on this genre that is not a teenage love story?
Hmmm....I don't know if this would be of interest but I've been re-reading some books my mother had around in my childhood called The Williamsburg Series I think,by Elyswth Thane. I'm a girl, but I think they might be fun if you're a guy too...basically there are about 8 books,and they start with the American Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War...you get the drift. They are a bit of a love story, but great characters, and all the men are Journalists and war correspondents and go to different countries during the different wars. I find they're mostly about what it means to have good friendships as well and I like them because have learned a lot of details about history by reading them. The last 3 or 4 novels end up in England, because some of the family in the series has moved there and gotten married, so they cover the first World War and the blitz. So anyways I've been re-reading them....
I was also thinking of re-reading James Harriot, as I haven't read those in a long time either. I also re-read almost the complete works of Madeline L'Engle. Have you read those? They are classed as science fiction/fantasy fiction young adult I think and her most famous is ""A Wrinkle in Time."" It is actually a triology so you might like those if you like the other series you have read.
Anyways, thanks for posting this! I've been home sick too and looking for a job, and I'm just about bored out of my mind. I've actually run out of movies to watch, AND books to read. Now that is a sad and sorry state.
Bee
Hi Bee, Thanks for the suggestions I shall investigate further. Trouble with finding a new author is that I tend to read a lot of their material one after each other and get ""read"" out with that author. One of my issues is that for some reason I am unable to watch day time TV. I feel guilty if I watch TV/DVD etc. Book reading in the conservatory is a pleasure on a sunny day like today.
The magicians by Lev Grossman this is a really good book, quite strange but I would definately read it again. I have been off work since 14th feb and had hoped togo back on 26th April but now know that this is not going to be possible, it looks like mid may is my earliest possible return point.
Have you tried Trudi Canavan's two trilogies of books. They are adult sci-fi, not normally my sort of thing but couldn't stop reading them! They do have romance running through them but as I say they are adult fiction not teenage. She s an australian author and has a website if you wanted to have a squiz.
i have just finished a set of books that fit that. The first is poison study, then magic study and then fire study. I cant remember the authors name but they are very good and for adults
Amanda
Just remembered too the series of books by Cornelia Funke called InkHeart, InkSpell and InkDeath. If you look i Waterstones they are in the 8-12 section but I think they are very well written and not just about romance they are total fantasy. The first is also a good film now.
Will have to look for those you mention Amanda.
I like this thread, even though I'm luckily not stuck at home. I am however addicted to books so always glad to hear of more to read, plus I work in publishing and like to hear what people are reading - it gives me ideas.
Have you tried the Charlaine Harris 'Dead...' series? (One, not sure which, is called Dead Reckoning.) Her Sookie Stackhouse ones are more famous, haven't read those but I did enjoy the Dead ones.
One of my favourite books ever, which I still read, is called The Shadow Guests by Joan Aiken. It's out of print and a children's book but so, so good - don't know if it's quite what you had in mind but worth a try, all sorts of interesting things and it doesn't feel at all 'childish' even though written for children.
I also like Robert J Sawyer though that's more straightforward sci-fi. Alison Sinclair's Darkborn trilogy has been recommended to me though I haven't read any yet.
btw if you haven't heard of them/used them The Book Depository are very good - they deliver free worldwide. Or are you a Kindle addict?
just remembered
I love the wind singer trilogy...they are for older teenagers but a good read and I also like ""book of the dead days"" by Marcus Sedgewick I think...I also love the Jonathan Kellerman psychological thrillers, they scare me lots but I just cant stop one once I have started it...Faye Kellerman (his wife) also a good read and then the anthisis of these sorts of books I really like Katie Fforde and that sort of thing. We have a 50p charity book shop in one of the towns near me...it is one of my favourite shops. I think in a past life I was a book worm. We also have a conservatory which is the perfect reading room.
Oooh Peter - how long have you got?
If you're looking for something light you could look at the David Eddings sword & sorcery type series, starting with the Belgariad.
If you want something a little more complicated you could try Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series but be warned - book one is a little slow, but don't give up, things improve considerably from book two onwards.
Lyndsey Davis' series of Falco novels provides good historical whodunnits.
Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series provides food for thought but makes your brain ache.
On the principal of leaving the best for last, have a go at Terry Pratchett. These books can be read on several levels - firstly there are the jokes, then references to current affairs/literature/films, and also social commentary.
I hope you find some of these worth trying.
xx
Edit - I meant to mention a book that Terry might have written especially for you - it's called Soul Music and it's about music with rocks in it ..........
Dear All, This is getting interesting. I am a technophobe who likes to have paper in my hands plus vinyl or at a push CD’s. Terry Pratchett I have tried and disliked but the TV things with David Jason are good. David Eddings and Stephen Donaldson I read when they first came out 30+ yrs ago, I think. My favourite author in this genre is probably Roger Zelazney and his Amber series. Again quite old but makes you think of dimensions in time etc. Anyone tried A Madness of Angels (Matthew Swift 1) Kate Griffin books? They are looking quite tempting along with Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
There is an excellent website called Fantastic Fiction (fantasticfiction.co.uk) which lists authors and their books. If you look up an author you've enjoyed, at the end of the entry it lists authors who write similar books. I worked in a bookshop for 18months and we used it all the time to help customers find new authors or track down booklists.
i love true blood, series and books
x
I thought the Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larsson was fantastic. I'm also a huge auto-biography reader and enjoyed Chris Evan's and Stephen Fry's new books!
x
Have you tried Raymond Feist's Midkemia series? if you liked that, it links with the Empire trilogy he wrote with Janny Wurts.
Katherine Kerr's Devery series has a sort of Celtic feel, if you like that sort of thing.
Janet Evanovich's books always make me laugh, but they're probably a bit girlie for you.
Book reading in the conservatory is a pleasure on a sunny day like today."" Oh...that sounds lovely!
Well for the record I love Madeline L'Engle and share the same birthday. She has written at least 20 books, and I've been re-reading them all and joking that if I don't find a job by the time I'm done I'm going to go crazy! Anyways, I really like her themes, and she has great characters who are good people. I really think you would like them.
Bee
Audrey Niffenegger. I loved The Time Traveller's Wife and I am noe really enjoying reading Her Fearful Symmetry. Very different. But then you are talking about the same person that loves the shopaholics series, Jodi Picoult, Trudi Canavan and Stephen King!
I love Madeleine L'Engle, didn't discover her until I was sharing a flat post-uni with my American friend. Sadly she only had one of the books, would love to read more. I also discovered that the wonderful Patricia C Wrede actually wrote 4 books in the 'Dealing with Dragons' series - again technically children's but very clever and funny.
btw I realise I made a mistake with Charlaine Harris - the 'Dead' series is the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood ones, which I haven't read. The ones I was thinking of were the 'Grave' series.
Thanks Philomela! By the way, can you get copies of Madeline L'Engle in the UK? I think she's an American author. She has written at least 20 books, both children and adult, but some of them are hard to get even here. I just like her a lot so collect them.
Hi Bee,
I don't think they are easy to get over here - at least they weren't when I was younger, or I think I'd have found them! I'd never even heard of her until my American friend produced A Wrinkle in Time. Should be easier now with the internet though, I've had some fun and probably spent a bit too much money collecting children's books I loved but managed to lose, and ones by authors I like but which I haven't read.
Reading in general is good, but have to say reading (good) children's books is complete hedonism. One of my favourite ways of relaxing - of course I read adult books too, but there's something about children's ones. When I had an insane set of undergrad exams I went a bit mad with Enid Blyton 
xx
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