What books have you read recently?

[Zavi]

A self-explanatory thread about...well. You get the picture.

I've been in search of a really inspirational book lately--the search is going...all right. My latest find is the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins: it's a dystopian sci-fi about a domineering government who forces chosen citizens into deadly survival games to prove their power over the people. I'm treading into the second installment at the moment, but the first was incredible. I couldn't put it down.

I'd also recommend the Dresden Files to any sci-fi lit fan. It turns a lot of the conventions of the gene upside-down and dives you right into the supernatural world. I'm not usually into urban fantasy but this series is awesome.

[Coral]

I've read quite a bit this spring. I read more now that I have a Nook... Currently reading Jane Eyre and wishing to high heaven the new movie was playing here. I love Jane Eyre.

The best book I've read so far this year was Jewel of Persia by Roseanna M. White. A Biblical fiction set in the court of Xerxes II, at the time of Esther. I LOVE HER XERXES!!!!!!!!!! She made him so real and believable, and seamlessly wove together the events of the book of Esther with the historical records, including the massive battle with the Greeks. It was awesome.

[Zavi]

While not exactly biblical fiction, Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies is an excellent religious commentary. It's anthropomorphic fiction about red deer and does a wonderful job representing faith from several different viewpoints, both from the protagonists and the antagonists. IIRC it's one of Davies' first books so it's riddled with annoying adverbs, but it's an excellent read nonetheless.

[WickedElphie]

Let me second the Dresden Files love (since I actually introduced Mare to the series). I would add that you might like it even if you aren't normally a fan of Fantasy, Sci-Fi, or Urban Fantasy fan. The series mixes a lot of genres and does it really well. I will add that while the first two books are solid reads, 3 is where the series really starts to take off, and it's not until 5 that you really start to see the full extent of the series scope.

I'll also add that watching Game of Thrones on HBO finally got me to start the A Song of Ice and Fire book series. Finished book one and I'm part of the way through book two and so far I'm loving it. I will say that the series takes a 'realistic' approach to fantasy set in a middle ages feudal setting in that there is lots of violence, sex, incest, political intrigue and other ickiness. But also wolf puppies, supernatural horrors, and dragon eggs.

[Zavi]

You had me at wolf puppies. And while I enjoy romanticized fantasy I'm interested to see this more realistic approach. That'll definitely be on my list for this summer.

I've been trying to read Milton outside of any English classes for the longest time. Hasn't worked out so well. Trying to look for some help wading through the thing! It's wonderful, but so darn difficult! >.<

[fridamoonbeam]

As of now I'm half-way through Frankenstein for the first time. I've read the synopsis before but that's about it. I will say the 18th word usage can be hard for me to get used to, and the fact so much of the, the beginning was him (and the Captain's letters to his sister) talking about his upbringing in the first person perspective (I normally kind of hate that xD) but I got used to both after probably about 30 pages and now am sucked into the story! Oh Henry, I want to marry that guy <3 All from a 17 (which was like 30 then granted) year old chick! So crazy to think about xD

Also, I'm rereading Captivating which is a really sweet eye opening book and why women were made the way they were. I was at first apprehensive a little since with certain Christian/faith based theme books you don't know if its gonna be dripping in a misogynistic POV, but this isn't like that at all. Refreshing.

[Coral]

I'm in the middle of Jane Eyre for the first time. As much as I love the movies, this is the first time I've ever read it. I also love the Broadway musical and it's amazing how many lyrics are pulled straight from the book. Makes me wish I could actually SEE the musical and find out how much of the dialog was pulled from the book.

I haven't read Frankenstein yet either, but the circumstances surrounding its creation have always fascinated me. Mary had such a tragic life, even at only 17 she'd been through more tragedy than most people in a lifetime.

[Zavi]

Oooh, awesome Rachel! I love Jane Eyre so much. I've never been much of an Austen buff and I love the Brontes so much more (don't hurt me!). They're less technically-inclined but I find their raw emotional nature much better than Austen's fare.

Frankenstein I liked as well, although I haven't read it in a while.

Going home from college tomorrow so will hopefully find some good books in the library. In the meantime I'm peeking through my copy of Heart of Darkness and listening to the audiobook of Jim Butcher's "Grave Peril" on the road.

[Coral]

I flat out *hate* Jane Austen. Really hate. I'm just saying that to express a strong emotion towards her writing. That's what the emotion actually is! Hatred. Give me the Brontes any day, please!

[WickedElphie]

I'm an odd duck because I feel like the Brontes and Austen are pretty much apples and oranges. (And for the record I like both.) They were contemporaries or close to it but their works had entirely different focuses. I wonder if they'd be compared so much if they were male authors?

BTW Coral I'm curious about what of Austen's you've read. Not that it's a bad thing for you to just hate her work. But I'm wondering if Mansfield Park or Persuasion might be more up your alley than say Pride and Prejudice, since they're both more melancholy with heroines very different from Elizabeth or Emma. And of course if you've read them and still aren't a fan that's just that.

[Coral]

I've never actually read any of her books in their entirety. Just bits and pieces, though I've been forced to listen to significant chunks of P&P. Can't stand her!!! I don't like her characters, but I also flat out don't like the way she writes. It's not just characters I hate. It's the whole package. My sister has tried several times to talk me into reading Northanger Abbey, because she says that's the only one I have a chance of liking, but I'm really not interested. I don't like Austen's voice. It gets on my nerves.

I'm the same way with JK Rowling and Harry Potter. The movies bore me and the story itself isn't engaging enough for me to get past what I consider bad writing.

Austen had been dead for 30 years before Jane Eyre was published. Charlotte was born only a year before Austen died, so I wouldn't really call them contemporaries. Austen definitely helped pave the way for the Bronte sisters and Louisa May Alcott and Harriet Beecher Stowe and Kate Chopin. I don't deny how influential she was. I just really don't like her writing or her themes or her plots. Those sorts of plots don't appeal to me at all, never have.

Since Austen and Charlotte created romance as we know it in novel form, I think they would be compared as much if they were male authors. Mostly because what they wrote was so very different from everything else out there at the time.

[WickedElphie]

I gotcha Rachel. She's just not your cup of tea.

With Harry Potter the movies really are better as more of a supplement to the books than unto themselves. I liked the stories myself but there are elements and stylistic choices I'm not in love with (particularly the latter books) but I enjoy I lot of the good VS evil and secondary characters. Although I did start with the second book first and then found the first book a little boring. But again, it's not for everyone.

I was thinking more of Emily VS Austen since Wuthering Heights is more about the entanglements of landed gentry and thus easier to compare to Austen's stories.

[Zavi]

Rowling I like much more for her characters (secondary characters--Harry seems to change the least in the seven books) and world than her style of writing. And yes, I'd agree that the movies are best as a supplement to the books. I also remember finding the first book boring the first time I read it (about 10 years ago now) but I grew to like the series.

Picked up Michael Crichton's The Lost World at the library, and love it. Jurassic Park was an awesome novel and I'm pouring through this one.

[Coral]

I haven't read Wuthering Heights yet either. I need to, but it's way down on my list right now. I'm four books behind with my favorite author, and the list of ones I want that are coming out over the summer is almost obscene. One downside to being in a national writers group is you get to know so many people on their journeys, learn about their books, and your TBR pile can kill you if it falls over because you're constantly adding books to it.