I need a new favorite author

[KenK]

Since I noted a plethora of recommendations for "girl" books, I will recommend A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley, won a Pulitzer prize, farming related. One of the few female writers I can tolerate. Marjorie Rawlings being another.

Oh! in addition to not liking women authors, don't care much for Yankee writers either. John Irving would be my exception to that rule.

ks for cover and prepares to win friends and influence people: : )

 

[hennyannie]

Quote:
KenK you skipped my post, no girllies mentioned in mine, and I am not sure where they were born, but they write southern enough for a Carolina Girl!

 

[call ducks]

Clive Cussler = GOOOOD books

 

[sparkles2307]

Quote:
Those are two of my favorites! My most favorite...Gone With The Wind You've probably already read it but if not you should! It's better than the movie (which was great too)!

Oh I totally forgot to put down the Outlander series! I love them! Talk about sucking you in and never letting go!

 

[KenK]

Quote:
Never really could get into Larry McMurtry, not sure why. I do have the (maybe dubious) distinction of having read every Louie Lamour book written... My dad, noted for odd hobbies, set about collecting the complete works and both of us read every single one.

 

[hennyannie]

Quote:
Never really could get into Larry McMurtry, not sure why. I do have the (maybe dubious) distinction of having read every Louie Lamour book written... My dad, noted for odd hobbies, set about collecting the complete works and both of us read every single one.

Nothing odd in that, I collected so many I have to get them in paperback so I have room to store them!
I also have read alot of John Jakes, but the man gets over my head sometimes.

 

[biddybird]

Okay, since you have read most of the books I have read I'm going to make a suggestion. Even though you want to give up romance. I don't really consider these romance. There is usually something different going on.

Debbie Macomber--- They are mostly feel good books in the end but she starts them out and adds books to the line, updating you on the characters each time (in case you are like me and get distracted with life). Each book centers around a different character you were introduced to in the previous books. Best of all, she has many different ones already written. I don't have to wait

Never thought I would just get into these easy reading books but with everything going on in the world, they kind of take me away from it all.

Good Luck

 

[hennyannie]

Oh goody we are back to girl books!
I don't care for the new romances she has out now but Linda Lael Miller's McKettrick's Choice was a good read.
Sorry KenK, but you should read it too if you haven't.

 

[KenK]

hennyannie, since you like westerns, you should really try Cormac McCarthy. All the Pretty Horses is the first of his so called "Border Trilogy". I think I've read it ten times or so and thinking about it makes me want to read it again. In case you saw the very poor movie by the same title, don't worry, you haven't missed anything.

 

[Joz]

Jim Butcher - two series, "The Dresden Files" and "Codex Alera"

Dresden Files is about a wizard who is something of a detective in Chicago. It's got some fun characters, and is a gripping series. There are 12 books now...? This magic is learned, magic words, constructed spells sorts of things. There are Vampires and werewolves and Faeries.

Codex Alera is a Roman-esque historical-ish epic peoples' war/peace saga, with some magic. The magic is elemental and personal and instinctive. There are monsters and drastically different races that agree/disagree/find ways to work together against common enemies. There is some technology and teaching/learning, and a bit of romance.

Kate Griffin - the "Matthew Swift" series: Urban magic in London. Really interesting. Magic based on urban life and ability to "see things differently". Lots of bleeding and death, tho our protagonist is a really decent guy.

Terry Pratchett. All of it. The Discworld series is a start... There are Wizards, Werewolves, Vampires, Trolls, Dwarfs, Witches, Death (and his Granddaughter Susan), Coppers, Fairies, Imps, Dragons, etc etc etc etc. Young Adult friendly, tho they likely won't get all the jokes. Married friends of mine cannot read this solo... they're all so funny that you'll get tired of asking "what's so funny?" all the time, so they just cut to the chase and read them aloud. It's a parody of the modern world, and of Fantasy novels, and it's just plain fun.

"Good Omens", by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (previously mentioned, also fabulous) is one of my FAVORITE BOOKS EVER.

"Lamb", by Christopher Moore, also one of my FAVORITE BOOKS EVER. Fantastic. His other stuff is fun. Crass, a bit, but fun. Not necessarily serieses, but the characters tend to pop up frequently between books. I just re-read "Coyote Blue" and Loved it even more than the first time.

Gail Carriger's "Parasol Protectorate" series is a good time, also. Vampires, werewolves, steampunky.