while she knits/surfs

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

While we're waiting waiting waiting for another book, tell everyone:

What have you read lately that you would wholeheartedly recommend?

Comments

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

...and I will start because I read Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta and loved it. Here's a great review from Booklist:

Ten years before the story’s start, assassins crept into the kingdom of Lumatere and murdered the royal family, with the possible exception of Balthazar, heir to the throne. As rumors circulated that Balthazar survived, a mystic cast a curse that created a magical barrier around the kingdom and prevented thousands who had fled from returning. Marchetta focuses her tale on 19-year-old Finnikin, the son of a former royal guard, who is serving in exile as an apprentice to Sir Topher, a former advisor to the murdered king. While aiding refugees, they meet a young novice who can enter others’ dreams and claims that Balthazar has chosen Finnikin to “take his people home.” As Finnikin gathers forces to return to the kingdom, intrigue and double-dealing ensue. It is the achingly real characters, though, and the relationships that emerge through the captivating dialogue that drive the story. Filled with questions about the impact of exile and the human need to belong, this standout fantasy quickly reveals that its real magic lies in its accomplished writing. --Lynn Rutan

As the reviewer says, the characters are what makes the book so good. Lots of angst, political intrigue, and characters who have to come to grips with their fate and their roles in saving a country.

[the-grynne.livejournal.com]

Guy Gavriel Kay's latest, "Under Heaven".

been waiting to use this icon!

[styromgalleries.livejournal.com]

Nothing because I'm still in school mode despite having finished with school potentially forever. :/

[peanut13171.livejournal.com]

Odd and the Frost Giantsy Neil Gaiman. My 8 year old grand-newphew couldn't put it down so I got it and enjoyed it a lot. I listened to the audio and Gaiman is one of the very very few authors who are also good readers. *shudders when thinking of the audio of Wrinkle in Time read by L'Engle*

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Wowzah! Only one month removed from a new book and you're already impatient for the next? ;)

I have read nothing lately that fits within the typical Sounis fare to recommend - bad luck lately - so I look forward to the suggestions.

[styromgalleries.livejournal.com]

Aw, L'Engle wasn't a good reader? That's sad. I really want her to be.

[hwaet.livejournal.com]

I read the reviews for this and thought "yes...yes...yes!" and put it immediately on my book order, waited impatiently for it to come, and was so disappointed when I simply could not get into it at all. Maybe I wasn't reading it carefully enough, but I couldn't connect with the characters, couldn't keep the different regions straight, and I was disappointed in the killings. Then again, I also couldn't really get into Jellicoe Road either (although I still bawled through the last forty pages or so). I know her fans are many, and I did like Saving Francesca, so I think this must be a failing on my end.

I also got The Lost Conspiracy in the same order, which I did enjoy and then pressed into the hands of a reader too polite to not take it, and A Brief History of Montmaray, which I enjoyed but which left me wanting more at the end.

[peanut13171.livejournal.com]

Sadly, no. I was surprised that no one told her that she wasn't a very good reader. Guess it's hard to say anything negative to an icon.

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I loved Jellicoe Road, but had the same reaction to Finnikin that you did.

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I re-read Jellicoe Road, which I loved again. I just finished The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer; I'm just discovering her works and can't believe I haven't read them before!

[ballerina-222.livejournal.com]

same here! I just finished her series that started with The Sea of Trolls

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Just finished two books that I found through recommendations on a previous thread on Sounis! Both are adult rather than YA.

'Freedom and Necessity' by Emma Bull and Steven Brust. Twisty Victorian mystery stuffed full of sinister relatives, political plots and treachery. Oh, and it has one of those irresistible 'mad, bad and dangerous' to know heroes. Swoon.

'The game of kings' by Dorothy Dunnett. Historical mystery, again full of twisty politics and betrayal, and again with an irresistible lead character.

Thank you so much to the recommenders!

[msmcknittington.livejournal.com]

I recommended Freedom & Necessity. I AM SO HAPPY YOU LIKED IT. It is one of my absolute favorite books of all time and . . . ohmigawd, you liked it.

And, yes, Jamie is AMAZING. As are his interactions with Susan, who is also AMAZING. Does not wear sensible stays! Best friend does opium to enhance her psychic abilities! I love all the characters. I am such a fool for this book.

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

I just devoured "The God of the Hive" by Laurie R. King. It's her 10th Mary Russell mystery and I love the series. If you don't mind some liberties being taken with Sherlock Holmes canon, you'll enjoy the series.

[dreamingrain.livejournal.com]

Well, the best new book that I've read reccently was The Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey. At first glance it seemed like another paranormal teen read and I was reluctant to pick it up. Then, I read a glowing review so I thought, 'heck, why not.'
AWESOME.
It uses all different types of mythology but foccuses mainly on Maori myth and culture. The main character is an interesting female lead - not perfect, but intelligent. We have the wonderful rejection of the stalking issue that has plagued YA novels reccently, and the story was beautifully told.

Old read that I'd rec is Poison Study by Maria Snyder. Poison Study once again, has a strong female character who is clever, and appealing. Snyder reads a bit like Tamora Pierce, and her side characters are by far the most interesting. Ie. Ari and Janco.

[teenareena.livejournal.com]

I'm between LMBujold's Vorkosigan saga at the moment but I don't think any of you need recommendation on that direction *winkwink, nodnod*.

Besides that serie, the one I can wholeheartedly recommend is Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking Trilogy. The knife of never letting go, the first book in the serie, is unbelievably intense. The scene is set futurewhere a group of pseudo-christian settlement lands on a planet which has this weird virus caused people to hear each other's voice. Then men gone berserk, some ugly things happen, as well as some hush up.
The story opened with Todd, a soon-to-be thirteen boy who about to discovered something big and bad and dangerous.

I know it's not typical Sounisian recommendation and to be frank, it's the kinda book that stunned you in the way a punch did rather than the way a kiss did, but it's just so good I want to spread the word.

[coyul.livejournal.com]

I finally read Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett and I have no idea why I haven't read his stuff before now. On to more next.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Leah Cypess's MISTWOOD is wonderful! Angieville says it all in this wonderful review (http://angieville.blogspot.com/2010/01/mistwood-by-leah-cypess.html) -- and she particularly recommends it to MWT fans, and I think she's right on that score. Twisty court politics, hard choices, emotions that run deep without gushing all over the place, and a premise that sounds overdone (girl shapeshifter must save kingdom) but is handled in a fresh and interesting and unexpected way. Highly recommended!

[thief-alchemist.livejournal.com]

Ah no, that happened to me too with FotR... :(

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

The Death-Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

was so disappointed when I simply could not get into it at all. Maybe I wasn't reading it carefully enough, but I couldn't connect with the characters, couldn't keep the different regions straight, and I was disappointed in the killings.

I could have written this exact thing...about The Lost Conspiracy! I read half of it and finally let myself quit. Every page was a chore. Too funny!

[twelfthfantasy.livejournal.com]

White Cat, by Holly Black. For unreliable narration, cons, and complicated relationships galore. And for a better review than I could write: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2010/04/joint-review-white-cat-by-holly-black.html

[octopirock.livejournal.com]

I recently read The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss. My friend wouldn't let me borrow it until after midterms, because he knew I wouldn't put it down once I had started, and he was right. It is one of the best books I have read in a really long time.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

I re-read The Demons Lexicon yesterday. I blame Robin Mckinley.

me! me!

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

I actually read something! Bewitched and Betrayed by Lisa Shearin (4th Raine Benares book) Yay for snarky narrative and hilarious pirates and sneaky cool people.

It was awesome fun but I felt the writing was a bit rushed. It's longer than the first three and was full of stuff happening. I wish she could quit her day job and write full time. This may be because I read it so fast wanting to know what happens next. I'll reread slower and See What Happens.