Comments on: What I read in 2008

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:06:00 +0000

True Karen, it is all story, but I think story you have to read and use your own imagination for, is better than story presented to you in pictures. As an author you should agree.

Discovered today you are a Canadian by birth. I am a Canadian by adoption.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:43:00 +0000

Sigh. You put me to shame. I’ve struggled a lot with reading this year, mainly because of my own wordage output. I’ve needed to take time off from words, so watched a lot of dvd instead. I console myself with the idea that it’s all story … *g*

By: glenda larke

glenda larke — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:01:00 +0000

Jo, I read all Sara’s early books, yes. Haven’t read the more recent ones.

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:53:00 +0000

Do you know there is already a continuation of the Coe series. I think its a new series, but I was offered the first book in the library the other day and left it because I hadn’t finished Winds of the Forelands yet. You have given me a heck of a lot of reading to do Glenda, I have enjoyed recommendations of yours so far, so I will continue to follow them. I am reading A Feast of Souls at the moment, great story. I just read another Sara Douglass and Satima informed me that she is quite ill. Have you read her books?

By: glenda larke

glenda larke — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Hey, recommendations are always welcome! And often followed. McKillip's books have been on my "must get" list for quite a while; the others I have now added at your recommendation!

Other ways I choose what I will read: Too often nowadays,I read what I can get my hands on rather than I would choose to read if I could afford to buy or import. For example, all those M.Zimmer Bradley books were borrowed. I think I would rather have read more up-to-date stuff if I'd had more money to spend on new books...but I just can't afford to buy 1.3 new books every week. I would love to spend a lot more on books, and support the industry though. One day, when I write that bestseller.

Another limitation is what is available in bookstores here.

The Coe books I chose because I met David. The Fallon books I read because I know Jenny well. Same with Miller - in fact, I beta read for Karen. Mind you, if I didn't like what they write I wouldn't continue reading them! Same with some of the other sf/f books - I know the people who wrote them.

Many mainstream books and some of the non-fiction I read for the book group I belong to.

Other choices come from internet reading of reviews, blogs, etc.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:38:00 +0000

How do you pick which books to read? Do you already know what sort of book you want to read before you go hunting for one, or do you just get whatever catches your eye when browsing?

If you haven't already, you might want to look into the Chronicles of Chaos trilogy by John C. Wright... it's a wild, funny, and amazingly erudite read. I was surprised at how well all the elements came together. Science Fantasy, but leans more towards the Fantasy side.

Sharon Shinn's The Twelve Houses series is also great (especially with characterization). Patricia McKillip has some beautiful, lyrical works, while Robin McKinley's books are graceful and absorbing... her book The Blue Sword reminds me of your Mirage Maker series.

Although, why I am giving you recommendations when I have only been reading for several years now, while you have had a whole lifetime to do it, I don't know...