I’ve been so lucky lately with my book purchases. The last five books I’ve picked up have all been fantastic reads. And the sixth one I’m reading right now, is going to be the same. Awesome.
1. The Outlaw Demon Wails - Kim Harrison This book rocked. Ms. Harrison is right now the only author I will buy in hardcover. Her stories are worth every penny I spend. She has the uncanny ability to completely submerse me in her work. If or when I grow up, I want to be able to write like her.
2. Kitty Goes to Washington - Carrie Vaughn I’m late coming into this series, but it’s kinda cool cuz I can gobble up all the books in one sitting. I love Kitty as a heroine. She is different from most heroines in UF. She’s got a vulnerable side to her and she’s unsure of herself. And I like that about her. For a werewolf she’s more human than the humans. Great book! Loved it!
3. The Touch of Twilight - Vicki Pettersson The third in the Zodiac books does not disappoint. Packed full of action and twists and turns and a bittersweet ending, this book exceeded my expectations. I love Vicki’s writing. It is razor sharp and just gets better with each book. Fantastic read!
4. Uglies - Scott Westerfield I’ve been reading some more YA books. Trying out different writers. I really like the start to this series. It’s different, not like the other paranormal books out there about vampires or werewolves or demons. This book doesn’t have any of those present. It takes place in a dystopian type future and is about one girl’s tragic choice. I loved this book. It spoke to me on many levels. I liked it so much, I have the second book Pretties on my TBR pile.
5. Valiant - Holly BlackThis is the second book in her fae series, the first being Tithe. Both books are raw and harsh. And I think that’s what I liked about them. Definitely not for the faint of heart. There some real teenage stuff in here, there is no skirting the issues, even if both books are about the fae that live among us. Not the cute faeries of Disney, but sometimes vicious, cold, and murderous beings that don’t care too much about mankind. Fantastic book. I’m looking forward to reading Ironside.
And the sixth book I’m currently reading is Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. It’s really good. The writing is awesome. She really knows how to tell a tale. The next series I might tackle is the Twilight books. I want to know what the hype is about. But sometimes the hype ruins the reading experience for me. I usually wait till it dies down or goes away before I indulge. Like the Harry Potter series. I still haven’t read them. I have all the books and they are waiting for me, but I’m still not quite ready to read them.
How about you, does hype bother you? Do you cater to it, or abhor it?
Oh, and you HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT. Especially if you are a Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, or Neil Patrick Harris fan. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog…it’s priceless!
July 17th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Hey Vivi…..I don’t pay much attention to hype, because sometimes it’s very overrated….I mean, the da vinci code was an ok book, but I think the preceding one, Angels and Demons was far better…glad they’re making that on into a movie!
I loved Twilight and the subsequent books…read them before the hype became what it is today, but I have to confess can’t wait to pick up Breaking Dawn this summer…I just read the first two in a trilogy….YA BTW…city of bones and city of ashes by Cassandra Clare and I loved them….different from some of the others I’ve read as well! I’ve made notes and will add some of your faves to my TBR pile…thanks for that!
ps…love Kim Harrison…I’m just starting For a Few Demons more!
July 17th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Hi Vivi! I hope you are having a great day. I have to say hype does little for me at all. If I have a friend or family member with similar reading prefs and they suggest a book, I will read it. Otherwise, I tend to buy/read whatever suits my mood at the time. Definitely not a fad follower either.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hi Vivi.
I like to read YA as well, and have read Marr, Black, and Meyer. I have Westerfield’s books, but haven’t read them. My 13 y.o. read the first three, I think and really loved them.
Now, about the hype. I think there is a fine line between effective hype and hype that becomes a disappointment. I read Twilight and New Moon before the hype and Eclipse as soon as it was released summer 08, perhaps that was the beginning of the hype phase? Anyway, I think the beginning of a hype phase is great and exciting and helps readers become more aware of popular reads. For nonreaders (especially YA or teens) excessive hype is a good thing, because the pressure to find out what its all about is overwhelming. But for me, when the hype becomes constant, all over the net, magazines, in your face, etc. I get turned off. I don’t know why. Maybe its just too much? Like having so much sweets that taste sooo good and then ugh. All of a sudden you’re sick of it, even if it was your favorite sweet. I’m glad I read the Twilight series when I did … I don’t think it would live up to the hype if I read it now.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Thanks Vivi, you reminded me about the Kitty books, gotta get that on my TBR list.