Reading suggestions welcome.

[sister_luck]

Shopping spree today.

I bought a nighty (slightly too big), pyjama bottoms (slightly too long), white cotton undies, some mp3-/radio-/videoplayer thingy (that probably won't work under Linux but we've still got Windows) and only one book, Jasper Fforde's First Among Sequels.

So, I'm open to reading suggestions, preferably light.

I'm not really into romances or chicklit. Crime is good, including historical detective fiction.
Fantasy/sci-fi is fine, if done well. I don't know whether I want to read 'real' novels - escapist stuff sounds better to me right now.

I want to try the Sookie Stackhouse novels - anything else I should look up and order?

Otherwise, I'll just re-read old favourites.

Comments

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

Dan Simmons' The Terror.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I looked at Dan Simmons' books on amazon and read up on the two Hyperion books - but I didn't feel the tingle I usually do when I want to pick up a book and read it, so I shall look into The Terror.

You recently mentioned a crime series that you enjoyed, but I can't quite remember what it was. Anything in that genre that I should look up?

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

Did I? Sorry I don't remmeber. I haven't read a crime series for a while (the last crime novel I read was the one taking palce in Beijin that I had brought to India, but it wasn't something i'd recommend).

The Terror is great for escapism even though it's a fiction based on a true story, the Franklin's expedition; two ships The Erebus and The Terror left England in 1845 to find a new path in the North Pole but they got stuck in the ice and troubles ensued. It's a massive book but engrossing. Besides the historical facts(it's well-researched), Simmons uses as usual old myths (he's got here his own polar versions of the labyrinth and of its minotaur!), works of literature (there are many references more or less obvious), a little bit of fantastic, lots of metaphors...and he fleshed out great characters. The novel is written from the characters' perspective. It's a bit like Lost minus some annoying characters. :- )

I devoured it!

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Maybe it wasn't that recent? I only remember that the main character has got an unusual name and there also was a series about a lawyer, I think?

The Terror sounds good.

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

A lawyer? *scratches head*

Could it be Michael Connelly's famous crime series, the Harry Bosch novels? I mean Hieronymus Bosch isn't a usual name for a cop in L.A. Connelly also started a series about a lawyer, The Lincoln Lawyer, that takes place in the Bosch universe (everything is connected).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Connelly

Of course you could read the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo, my favourite one, but I am not sure it's been translated into German (you don't read Norwegian, do you?).

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's it. So, the cop with the unusual name and the lawyer series are connected.

I don't read Norwegian, no, but lots of Scandiwegian crime gets translated into German and indeed there's tons of Nesbo available. Hmm, where to start?

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

Concerning the Harry Bosch series I recommend "The Last Coyote", it's one of my favourites. "The Concrete Blonde" is good too, and so is "A Darkness more than night".

For Nesbo start from the beginning! The first Harry Hole story takes place in Australia, the second in Thailand and it's only in the third novel that Harry is showed in his regular world, his hometown, Oslo.

With Harry Hole you really have to read them in order so I hope they did translate them that way(I know that they didn't in the UK, they first translated the 5th novel which you shouldn't read before having read the 3rd and the 4th!).

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Okay, I've got the first Harry Hole in my amazon shopping cart, and also started at the beginning with Harry Bosch, but I'll go with your recommendation and choose a different one.

Hmm, I think "The Last Coyote" sound more meaty.

Thank you for helping me get my reading list together!

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

By the way, I checked my LJ archives and the entry in which I mentioned Connelly's work happened in May 2007!

http://frenchani.livejournal.com/210024.html#cutid1

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Well, recent is relative, isn't it?

It just shows that my memory is quite good, even if I didn't remember the names of the writers or protagonists.

I also remember a second post in which you talked about the lawyer series and it's an even older post (http://frenchani.livejournal.com/171125.html).

[comava.livejournal.com]

I wish I could suggest something but crime or sci-fi aren't really my genres. :/ Happy reading nevertheless!

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Oh, it doesn't have to be crime or sci-fi - I'm happy to read novels not in those genres and was actually looking for suggestions outside of crime or sci-fi.

Nothing too angsty though - or, if angsty, not too close to home.

Good satire might be something, too.