I need some book recs

[CallMeMommy]

I need new books and am heading to the library today - but I don't know what to get! Suggestions? I devoured the Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse series(es? what's the plural of series?) and am kinda in that kind of mode right now but am open to anything. Love horror/mystery, okay with romance as long as it has a good story line. Help me out!

[AuntNi]

After those two series, I started the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter books by Laurell K. Hamilton. They're pretty good. Definitely mysteries about vampires. They're not the best-written books in the world. To be honest, if they didn't take place in my city, and the author didn't live in the next suburb over from me, I wouldn't be as interested in them.

I also recommend the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovitch. They're not supernatural, but they are mysteries about a female bounty hunter. They're very funny.

Have you ever heard of this website: http://www.literature-map.com/ I absolutely LOVE IT! You can input an author you like, and it gives you a mapped-out list of other authors you might like. I've found some new favorite authors through that site.

[CallMeMommy]

Originally Posted by AuntNi

Have you ever heard of this website: http://www.literature-map.com/ I absolutely LOVE IT! You can input an author you like, and it gives you a mapped-out list of other authors you might like. I've found some new favorite authors through that site.

Sweet! I'm on Shelfari and was looking all over for something like that, thinking they had to have SOMETHING. And I saw the Stephanie Plum thread right after I posted mine and they definitely look like they have potential

[Areia]

Kelley Armstrong's books are fun reads -- thanks PP for that website tip. I'm going to try that out!

[Pinoikoi]

I posted a thread recently about Spirit Gate and Shadow Gate.. off to find the link.. you might like it..

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1109051

[Thalia the Muse]

I like Tim Powers' novels a lot -- they're these sort of fun romps in which he blends big chunks of real history with made-up supernatural explanations. The quality can be hit and miss, but his best are probably:

The Anubis Gates: A lit professor time-travels to London in the early 1800s for an adventure that includes meetings with a number of real historical figures, a run-in with a terrifying lord of the beggars, ancient Egyptian magic, werewolfery, and much much more. The very best of Powers, and fabulously entertaining.

The Stress of Her Regard: Romantic poets and vampirism -- two great tastes that taste great together!

Declare: WWII, espionage, Kipling, djinns, and Kim Philby. The plot is very convoluted, but this is the book that inspired me to read Kipling's Kim.

Last Call: Las Vegas, gangsters, tarot-card magic, good fun. there are two related books, but they're weaker.

On Stranger Tides: Totally inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at disneyland, and much better and more fun than the movies based on same. Lots of piracy, Voodoo, and a side trip to the fountain of youth.

[Porcelain Interior]

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Amazingly good read, even though it's not my usual style.

I read it for a book club, and I loved it. Very haunting.

[Amaranth]

For a really light but cleverly written mystery, I really liked "The Spellman Files" by Lisa Lutz (and there are two sequels, too!).

I didn't read "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" for a long time because I thought the title overly cutesy, and I missed out on an excellent book - thought-provoking, historically interesting, suspenseful, sweet - just so very good.

And if you want something a little more intense and darker (pardon the pun, given the racial themes in the book) - "The Professor's Daughter", by Emily Raboteau, was excellent. So was "Little Bee", by Chris Cleeve - though that was sad and disturbing in parts. But amazing writing in both, important ideas, etc.

[KYCat]

I second "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society". My book club chose it during my Twilight fever and I didn't think that I'd be able to read anything else, but this absorbed me from the get go! It's nothing like Twilight but the style moves quickly and I love all of the characters -- just like Twilight . It is lovely!