Also, in book news

[asra]

As an addendum to my last book update, in which I mentioned that I'm reccing 'Guernsey' to everyone I know, one of my students (who wrote a gorgeous piece on a bookshop last year) is already in love with it, and today I passed it on to another student who came into my office and said 'Please give me a book to read' (as they do). It's not a perfect book, but as I said before, I haven't enjoyed the process of reading a book so much in a very long time.

I also mentioned that I was marathoning Michael Connelly, whom I am completely over by now, after a handful of books. The plots were fairly interesting, especially 'The Poet' (serial killer who leaves verses from Poe at the crime scenes) and its sequels, but there's only so much I can read about a straight dude who sleeps with a different stunningly attractive woman in each book. For a satisfyingly long crime series, I'd recommend queer author Patricia Cornwell (who, fun fact, claims to have solved the mystery of Jack the Ripper's identity). Her lead character, Kay Scarpetta, is straight, but Scarpetta's niece Lucy, who's in several of the books, is gay (as well as unusually intelligent).

Because 'Guernsey' left me with a yearning for more of the same, I've procured two recs that showed up at the book's Amazon page: 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,' which I hadn't heard of before, and '84, Charing Cross Road,' which I had. I haven't started on them yet because I'm finally reading 'The Book Thief'. After 'The Pianist' (the film) and Elie Wiesel's 'Night' (which was traumatising to both my students and me) last semester, I thought I'd be off Holocaust books for a long time, but 'The Book Thief' is just incredibly beautiful. It's narrated by Death (who of course is Julian Richings in my head), and I can't get over the gloriousness of the many brilliant ways in which the author uses language. More after I finish reading it because this book deserves its own post.

In Americana land, we're up to Washington Irving now. Rip Van Winkle tomorrow!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_profiterole_/]

Not sure this would appeal to you because it's quite different from what you mention reading, but The Craft Sequence is urban fantasy set in a secondary world (which is usually a heroic fantasy thing, so that gives us a very imaginative worldbuilding). A lot of the characters are women of colour, including a trans woman (protagonist of the 3rd book, Full Fathom Five).

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Guernsey sounds good :)

I've heard so much about The Book Thief - I've got to check it out soon.

[colls]

BOOOOOOOOOOKKKKSSS!!!!!!!!!! <33333

I loved Guernsey (assuming you're talking about 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society'?), I listened to the audiobook version and it was very well narrated. I also read/listened to 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' and found it delightful as well. Have you read 'Code Name Verity' and it's companion 'Rose Under Fire'? I think they'd be right up your alley. Lots of female characters, focus on female friendships, etc. I'm reading 'The Nightingale' based on my aunt's recommendation (among others) although I'm lukewarm on the author's other stuff. I haven't read a Scarpetta book in ages, but used to really enjoy those.

Wasn't Michael Connelly the author the amazon series 'Bosch' was based on? I haven't watched it yet, but have been tempted.

[night-owl-9.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great book :) I'll have to look into it.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec honey, I love it when a book grips you that much you have to pass on the joy to others :)

[qwentoozla]

I love The Book Thief so much. That book is amazing.

I second the suggestion of Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire. :)

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

I'll try anything once, and I adore fantasy! Thanks so much for the rec. It sounds brilliant.

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

Both are amazing!

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

That's the one! The audiobook sounds fun too - maybe I'll try it out. I haven't listened to books in a very long time, and my iPod seriously needs some decent stuff on it. I haven't read the other books you mentioned, but thanks so much for the recs! I'm finally trying to put a dent in my Goodreads goal for the year. ;-)

Yes, Bosch is the character in the books. 'The Poet' was pretty good but I'd already read the sequel and knew who the killer was, so it kind of took the fun out of the twist lol.

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

I hope you like it. :-) It's heartbreaking, as Holocaust stories inevitably are, but in a bearable sort of way (if that makes sense).

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

Always happy to pass on the book-love! <3

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

It really is. I'm almost at the end now, and I'm constantly amazed not only by the characters and their stories but also the beautiful use of language.

Thank you - I'm definitely going to check them out! :-)