Bethany K. Warner posted about her love for Watership Down by Richard Adams saying, “I have read this book many times and sometimes picked it up just for the El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle stories. In college, we were assigned a wonderful essay about this book and my roommates kept calling it the "rabbit book" and I was so distraught because it's about so much more than rabbits.”
Indeed they are.
Lady T went for a little more Chick in her Lit with Johanna Edwards, Your Big Break.
The plot revolves around Dani Myers,who works for a relationship break-up service and one of her clients requests her help in breaking up with a married man who turns out to be Dani's father!I know, this sounds very chick flick but it's a fun and funny story with loads of great side characters like Dani's brother who plays amateur detective (too much CSI watching) and an obnoxious repeat client who actually insists that Dani become his friend to broaden his understanding of women. Edwards is becoming one of my favorite female-friendly authors.
Follow the clues to your local bookstore if you’re as intrigued as I am.
Vicki chimed with choices for every age group:
Children: Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes. A less well-known, but very funny retelling of traditional fairy tales. It was re-released in 2003 so it should be fairly easy to find nowadays.
Teens: The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. This is the perfect fantasy book for the horse-loving tomboy in your life. McKinley once, I believe, described this as the fairy tale SHE would have wanted to read as a girl.. what more do I need to say?
Adult: The Sea Road by Margaret Elphinstone. A beautifully written, immersive tale of the life of Gudrid of Iceland, mother of the first European born on North American soil, and sister-in-law of Leif Eriksson.
Marianne McA is thinking about giving Lian Hearn a try, so I think it’s only right that we all consider checking out her choice, “I've just reread Lois McMaster Bujold's A Civil Campaign, and was thinking afterwards what a satisfying book it is. It's effectively a Sci-Fi/Fantasy version of a Regency Romance, and it's light and fluffy and funny. It is part of a long series, but isn't written in such a way that you need to have read the other books to enjoy this one.”
NJ Dave would like to nominate A Prayer for Owen Meany for Great American Novel of the 20th Century. His favorite read from last year was a “tie between Middlesex (yes, it's kinda mainsteam, but it's a great book) and Villa Incognito (Tom Robbins).”
That’s okay, Dave, I love mainstream.
Mapletree7 has favorites for every mood (something I totally understand).
In The Garden of Iden by Kage Baker.It's just about perfect, and it kicks off the best science fiction series currently being written.
On other days my favorite books are Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers and Spring Moon by Bette Bao Lord.
Milady Insanity seconds my Tales of the Otori recommendation (well, thirds if we count Marianne McA’s dh). Hazzah!
China G brought up the incomparable Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, “Storm Front is the first. It's good and the series just gets better and better.”
An excellent list all around, everyone, and I hope it gives you something to think about next time you’re wandering around the bookstore looking for something to read.
Until next time, Gadget.
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