Urban Fantasy discussion
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What are you reading? (Part 1)
What was funny, considering that Twilight was packaged as YA, and the characters were doing the whole High School thing, and I'm an old lady, was that I enjoyed the series. I don't know if I would have looked at it, except my daughter (who is in her 40s) handed me the first book and said "read this," so I did.I'm in the middle of Grave Surprise and Chairlain Harris is foreshadowing how the relationship between her main characters is going to change in the next book. She is foreshadowing it heavily. I've read the series before, but one of the advantages to rereading is that you catch things you didn't see before when you know were a series is going.
Trying to get back in the habit of reading stuff from the library as opposed to always buying...
--Read this about 8 years ago, but thought my husband and I could read it together...
Finally picked this up at the bookstore...I tried reading one of the Aurora Teagarden books and just couldn't get into it.
Lynda wrote: "Read Twilight. Sorry, gave it 2 stars. I'll try New Moon. Sometimes I like 2nd book better. I was not impressed with the writing. "I got into a big "I hate this" discussion with a friend who's and English Teacher. She had to show the movie as a student request in her classroom. She and I both found nothing in it but repressed sex, females as property and I-want-your-baby; basic romance novel crap.
I've actually read 3 of the books, as a young friend bought them and insisted I read them. I learned along time ago that Best Seller doesn't mean Outstanding Book. I'd give it 1 star for vampire concept. As an environmentalist I didn't thing killing Pumas and other beautiful animals BETTER than killing humans who deserve some weeding out.
Crowgirl wrote: "I'd give it 1 star for vampire concept. As an environmentalist I didn't thing killing Pumas and other beautiful animals BETTER than killing humans who deserve some weeding out..."You know, that part actually bothered me too when I read those books. As an animal lover, I just didn't get the whole flippant attitude about the mass killings of these beautiful creatures. Okay, it is better than killing people for food and drawing attention to yourself and tearing apart families, but STILL... *sigh* Plus, the vampires don't even have FANGS! That is not what I call a vampire. :)
Lynda wrote: "Read Twilight. Sorry, gave it 2 stars. I'll try New Moon. Sometimes I like 2nd book better. I was not impressed with the writing. "I will agree that Stephenie Meyer is NOT a great writer, but I loved the books anyway. Can't really explain why, but they just struck a chord, I guess. I think they spoke to that teenage girl that's still buried inside me who still dreams about Prince Charming coming along and REALLY taking her away. If you didn't like TWILIGHT, chances are that you'll like NEW MOON even less. I thought it was depressing.
Michelle M. wrote: "Suz, are you liking Gil's All Fright? It had me cracking up. "Hey Michelle! YES totally loving Gil's All Fright Diner, it is a riot! Can't wait to see how it ends!!!
Susan (Suz) wrote: "Michelle M. wrote: "Suz, are you liking Gil's All Fright? It had me cracking up. "Hey Michelle! YES totally loving Gil's All Fright Diner, it is a riot! Can't wait to see how it ends!!!"
Zombie Cows!!! Love that book! :)
Yeah the zombie cows were classic!! I also love the little dog Napoleon!!
I agree with Melodie. New Moon isn't a bad book, but it is a downer.Stephenie Meyer is probably my favorite author. I loved the Twilight series, including the unfinished book. The Host is one of my favorite books too.
I don't have a problem with eating animals. I eat steak for breakfast.
Usually the first book in a series is a little slow to grab my interest--not the case with this one.
mostunexpected wrote: "I don't have a problem with eating animals. I eat steak for breakfast..."I am, by no means, a vegetarian. Although my acupuncturist frequently tells me that I should be. :) Never gonna happen. Tried when I was a wee little thing and it stuck for about a week.
Still, a big animal lover. :)
Suz, that sassy little dog is just adorable! I love the atypical were and vamp duo. They're such a contrast to all the hyper-sexy creatures we read about. I have more of Martinez's books sitting here...I really need to get at em!
I finished
last night. I was pleasantly suprised by the twist that happened in the middle of the book. Even if the rest of the story had sucked after that, I would still have been glad that I read it. It doesn't happen very often anymore, so I love it when a story can actually pull one over on me!
Finished New Moon and was left wishing for ice cream. I needed the endorphins. I am at a loss about the popularity of these books.Back in the early 1970's, I was an English major in college. I took a class in Advanced Criticism (Yes, I know my reviews show no sign of that, but remember how many years ago that was.) While we were discussing the New York Review of Books and other such periodicals, one of the students complained that they never reviewed really popular books. She cited Eric Segal's Love Story which was the current publishing phenomenon back then. I have never forgotten what the professor answered: There is a difference between a popular book and a great book, he said. A popular book touches something in the reader that causes empathy. The reader can relate to it. The great book is a great book because of the power of the words. We then had a conversation on what makes a classic stand the test of time.
To illustrate my point, I present the list of ten bestselling books of 1909:
1. The Inner Shrine, anonymous (Basil King)
2. Katrine, Elinor Macartney Lane
3. The Silver Horde, Rex Beach
4. The Man in Lower Ten, Mary Roberts Rinehart
5. The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, John Fox Jr.
6. Truxton King, George Barr McCutcheon
7. 54-40 or Fight, Emerson Hough
8. The Goose Girl, Harold MacGrath
9. Peter, F. Hopkinson Smith
10. Septimus, William J. Locke
(I got the list from Project Gutenberg.)
Well, enough of this. Would you believe I left a one line review on my update page.
I have started Fatal Error by Colleen Thompson, a refreshingly well written romantic suspense novel.
Anne wrote: "I finished last night. I was pleasantly suprised by the twist that happened in the middle of the book. Even if the rest of the story had sucked after that, I would sti..."Glad you liked EVERNIGHT, Anne! The 3rd one comes out early next year and I'm looking forward to it!
Lynda wrote: "Finished New Moon and was left wishing for ice cream. I needed the endorphins. I am at a loss about the popularity of these books.Back in the early 1970's, I was an English major in college. I ..."
As my grandpa would say, "That's what makes a horse race!" If we all liked the same books a lot of authors would surely go hungry!
mostunexpected wrote: "I don't have a problem with eating animals. I eat steak for breakfast."
You don't eat endangered wildlife I assume. That's the point. Humans are already pushing the wild out of existence by overpopulation without a book making it OK for vampires to help. I much prefer the stories that have Vamps eating the dregs of society like murders and child molesters. Leave the bears and pumas alone.
Just finished Dreamfever. LOVE that series and can't wait for the last one to come out.
Meredith wrote: "Just finished Dreamfever. LOVE that series and can't wait for the last one to come out."I finished that one a few weeks ago and started wailing "NO!" that I had to wait so long with a cliffhanger like that. :)
Currently reading two books... My Wicked Vampire which I really, really wanted to love, but not so much. In fact, it is sitting on my (new) kitchen counter at my (new) home because my interest keeps drifting.Also reading AND LOVING Trick of the Light by Rob Thurman. I think I love this book and the heroine better than Thurman's other series, Cal & Niko. I keep trying to sneak time in at work to read! :)
Theresa wrote: "Currently reading two books... My Wicked Vampire which I really, really wanted to love, but not so much. In fact, it is sitting on my (new) kitchen counter at my (new) home because m..."Congrats on the (new) home!
Crowgirl- I could be wrong, but I think the book said mountain lion. I don't remember them eating anything endangered.
Michelle M. wrote: "Suz, that sassy little dog is just adorable! I love the atypical were and vamp duo. They're such a contrast to all the hyper-sexy creatures we read about. I have more of Martinez's books sitting he..."Yeah I totally agree Michelle! I am definitely going to read more of his books, they look like they are very fun
Michelle M. wrote: "Congrats on the (new) home! ..."
Thanks, Michelle! :) I can't wait to unpack my boxes of books and really get reading again.
Cherra wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "[image error] starting a new series"oh! thats a good one jennifer!"
yes i have found that out already in the middle of one foot in the Grave and going to get 3rd at library soon!
Lynda wrote: "Finished New Moon and was left wishing for ice cream. I needed the endorphins. I am at a loss about the popularity of these books.Back in the early 1970's, I was an English major in college. I ..."
Wow. That explains so much, Lynda! I've always wondered why so many of the books that are considered classics seem boring and unreadable to me. I thought that they were all popular books at the time they were published, and that people's tastes have just changed dramatically over the years. Hmmm.
Crowgirl wrote: "...She and I both found nothing in it but repressed sex, females as property and I-want-your-baby; basic romance novel crap."Mostunexpected wrote: "...I don't remember them eating anything endangered."
Lynda wrote: "Finished New Moon and was left wishing for ice cream..."
Anne wrote: "Wow. That explains so much, Lynda! I've always wondered why so many of the books that are considered classics seem boring and unreadable to me..."
Anne and Lynda, I agree -- film (and to a degree, theater) work the same way. There are popular successful ones and then there are classic enduring ones. I think it's a matter of escapism, which makes things very popular in their time. I only like to read escapist novels! I live in the world of the book for too long to be able to stand anything too depressing or realistic.
I just, last week, read the whole Twilight series and I loved it for the beautiful escapism that it is. I think the third book (Eclipse) is my favorite ... the second (New Moon) is definitely the downer of the bunch. I really love (the first half of) the unfinished one.
The vampires eating habits don't bother me either, MostUnexpected. Edward used to kill murderers and molesters before he switched to an all-animal diet. He specifically says that they try to only hunt over-populated species and they actually eat a lot of deer.
Crowgirl, I have heard the complaints that note the repressed sexuality and credit it to the author's Mormonism. It doesn't bother me because Meyer created a frame that justifies it, and it suits her PG-13 audience. The frame I'm referring to is the Victorian-age vampires: Edward was born around 1900 and he expresses values from that time. Bella fights against them quite a bit, and she has no interest in marriage or children. Her priorities are in contrast to those of the women (vampires) born a century ago. I think it's a clever way for Meyer to appeal to a contemporary audience.
Well said Lauren.My favorite was the fourth.
Bella Smash! :-)
mostunexpected wrote: "Well said Lauren.My favorite was the fourth.
Bella Smash! :-)"
Thanks!
Actually... the fourth is so very enjoyable that I read it twice back-to-back. I was just going to indulge in rereading the opening chapter or two... but the story snowballs so rapidly, I couldn't stop until the end.
Just finished Gil's all fright diner. Loved it! :)Also finished Dead Witch Walking yesterday, which was a reread for me before starting the rest of the series. Just started Kitty and the Midnight Hour for a challenge book. Also, I love Twilight also but they're not my absolute favorite books. On that note, the Peter Frankenelli (sp?) the guy who plays Dr. Cullen in the movie was at the mall this weekend and I got to meet him and got my pic taken w/ him. :)
Lauren wrote: "mostunexpected wrote: "Well said Lauren.My favorite was the fourth.
Bella Smash! :-)"
Thanks!
Actually... the fourth is so very enjoyable that I read it twice back-to-back. I was just going to..."
I liked BREAKING DAWN a lot, too, but the one thing about it that just pissed me off was Bella having to beg for sex on their honeymoon. Just rang so completely untrue to me. I just had to put the idea completely aside to move on with the book.
Amen, Lauren! I'll take escapism over enduring literature anytime!
Melodie- Who talks about how much they love and respect their parents either? That's part of Edwards charm.He's such an arrogant bastard, he needs to have some charm. :-)
Couldn't finish Let The Right One In. Seemed boring a lot of the time and not as creepy as I had hoped.Might start Fluke next.
I finished
yesterday, and then ended up staying up (way too late) reading half of
. These books are addictive!
So burned out on UF that I'm just going to drop them for a while. My favorite authors are all backed up for reserve at the library for their newest books. So I'm reading an old series I never finished starting with Daughter of the Forest. This I read a long time ago and since there has been 3 more added.Irish historical fantasy with excellent plot threads to various fairy tales and lovely writing. Characters with depth and well turned phrases unlike so much Occult Romance that's being labeled UF. I think I may have to find a group devoted just to fantasy.
Just finished After by Amy Efaw about a 15 year old straight A student and star soccer player in jail for attempted murder. We --and she-- do not know why she did this terrible thing until the very end. It's a YA book a lot like Myers' Monster. Which is high praise, in my book.Next is either The Winds of Marble Arch by Connie Willis which is a 700 page book of no doubt amazing short stories and from the library. Or-- three novels starting with Hammered by Elizabeth Bear that just came from PBS. This Bear novel is scence fiction, I believe. Willis writes in all genres in my experience.
just finished Charlie Huston's lateest My Dead Body A Novel and now it's back to Simon Green to finish up Swords of Haven The Adventures of Hawk and Fisher.
Finished
and
. Both are excellent! Trying to read
right now.
Finishing up Pretties today. I received The Lost Symbol, The Graveyard Book amd a couple more books from the library yesterday so I'll be starting one of them tomorrow.
John wrote: "just finished Charlie Huston's lateest My Dead Body A Novel and now it's back to Simon Green to finish up Swords of Haven The Adventures of Hawk and Fisher."MY DEAD BODY is on the way to me. Looking forward to it, but I'll be sorry to see the series end.
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Urban Fantasy
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Suz, are you liking Gil's All Fright? It had me cracking up.