Monday, June 23, 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage. - Charles De Secondat

I read alot.

No, really.

ALOT.

Reading started for me, practically from birth. My grandmother would sit me in her lap every afternoon and when she wasn't reading one of my books, she would tell tall tales about what had happened to her that day. I marvel at her patience and her amazing imagination. I think she had cultivated both raising her family during World War 2 in England.  No television and three small children must have drove her crazy, so she told stories. Epic tales of How the Little White Mouse found Food, Peter the Canary and the Mirror. 

My mother used to fall asleep reading every night as I begged for another chapter. Please!!  I think she breathed a sigh of relief when I learned to read for myself. I grew up with Enid Blyton, the Fantastic Five, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Tucked in my bed with my glass of water on the side table I would sneak chapters long after bedtime.

When I outgrew those, I moved on to C. S. Lewis.  I think this is where my love for a "different" kind of tale comes from. Any religious tones were lost on me; but I loved the action, the talking animals and most of all the quality of writing.

During my early teens there were very few Young Adult themed books available, and those that were, I DETESTED. Sweet Valley High and Judy Blume were among the worst. Thankfully I grew up and managed to get my hands on Mills & Boons.

Those romances kept me interested in reading. Many of them had interesting story lines and kept my attention for the span of the book. Sandra Brown was my saviour during my angsty teen years.

When I was 19 I met the BF. He also loved reading but was totally unimpressed by my shelves of romance novels. He gave me my first Pratchett novel. I migrated from Romancelandia and became a solid citizen of Discworld that summer.

Whether I laugh or cry or grimace when my hero is hurt, a good story is a good story. My reading list these days is all over the board. Here are a few of the series I am following;

Anne Bishop - Dark Jewels/Ephemera - Very well written dark fantasy/romance. 

Kristen Britain - Green Rider - Reads like a light version of Mercedes Lackey's Arrows for the Queen. Girl goes on quest, outwits the bad guys (no sex). 

Jim Butcher- Dresden Files - Dresden is listed in the Phone book, under Wizard. Everyone thinks he's a joke, even the bad guys. (Little/no sex) 

Jacqueline Carey - Kushiel - Lots of sex/violence, kept me wanting to find out what happens next. 

Charlaine Harris - Southern Vampire/Harper Connelly- The harper Connelly series is among my favs right now. Girl was hit by lightning, can now find dead bodies/how they died. 

E.E. Knight - Vampire Earth - Humans are literally farmed for the vampire overlords, guerrilla warfare ensues. Detailed storyline that drags you along on the missions. 

George R.R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire - Alternative historical World Building at its finest. Story is told from the POV of a rotating cast. Murder/betrayal/magic it's all here. (Little/no sex) 

Simon R. Green - Nightside- the nightside is just down that alley and around the way, twisted modern fairytales. (Little/no sex) 

Greg Keyes - Kingdom of Thorn and Bone - World building/character building in an epic alternative historical that will have you rooting for your fav. character. (Little/no Sex) 

Laurell K. Hamilton - Anita Blake Vampire Hunter - Books 1-10 in this series are among my all time favs,with lots of well written sex/violence scenes. After #10 ABVH takes a sharp turn into Anti Blake Vampire Boinker. Read 1-10 and just pretend that there aren't any more books after that. 

Kim Harrison - Hollows - The first book starts off cheesy, but keep reading! Modern witch with modern problems including a demon that she owes a favour. 

J. R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood - Total Romance. Yes, the names are TOTAL CHEESE, but stop rolling your eyes and keep reading. I'm pretty certain that J.R Ward is a pseudonym as no one comes out the gates with such a well written first novel. 

JD Robb -Dallas - Nora Roberts pseudonym. Set in the gritty future, Eve Dallas is a homicide cop with an awful past. Each novel is a new murder mystery, the romance spans the series. 

Karen Traviss - Wess'har Wars - Humans set off to colonize world. Aliens are already there. A human environmental cop has to balance the species. 

Elizabeth Moon - Vatta's War - Doing business across galaxies can be deadly. (no sex)

I hope that any future readers of this blog might pick up a book in my list and maybe enjoy it :)

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Health is not valued till sickness comes.- Dr. Thomas Fuller

Many, many blog-worthy things have happened since my last post.

Unfortunately, I was too busy dealing with them to blog about them.

1) The BF ended up having to be re-admitted to the ER three days after we had left. His gallbladder has taken the blame for this. A week, Shit loads of antibiotics and my firstborn child later, we escaped the hospital.

2) I have started smoking again. See above for the reason why.

3) The BF is now on a no Oil, Milk or Dairy Diet.

We're drinking Soy Milk, people. Soy. Milk.

Bleh. 

4) The major causes of gallbladder disease are; heavy drinking and high cholesterol. The BF has low cholesterol and drinks once in a blue moon. This caused his doctor to comment that he may have a genetic enzyme deficiency.

WTF ? Whuuuuuuut???

Wouldn't this have come up before ohhh saaaay the LAST 31 FUCKING YEARS THAT HE'S BEEN ALIVE ???

Needless to say, we are seeking a second opinion.

I think I should have the option of skipping the rest of this year, don't you ?