I dare not recommend "The Wasp Factory" to people who don't already love me… No chance afterward! 😉 And it's funny, but I'm a bit scared to read more of Banks's stuff because it's just too damn good. Now that's weird.

I can understand the urban fantasy deal. Maybe the sameness comes from the fact that it is just vampires and werewolves, etc. Very small chance for something like the 'pedes, for example. I'm sort of over it. I have my regulars I read but I'm not activily looking to find new ones. So what does it say about me that I'm shopping around an urban fantasy all about vampires at the moment?

Cheers, Lisa.

You're an inspiration.

I also loved The Risen Empire. Yes, I did try Jim Butcher. Same reaction: not for me. Funny that; not sure what it is about me and urban fantasy that involves zombies or vampire or werewolves. There just seems an awful sameness to them, even though the plots can be vastly different…or something. Weird.

And you are another fan of the Wasp Factory?! I insisted my book group read it. No sooner had I walked in the door the day we were to discuss it, than one of the other women said, 'Glenda, I read the book, and I completely revised my opinion of you!' Lol!

I began a list of all the books I was reading this year, but hard drive crashes meant starting again one too many times, so I have no idea how many books I read.

Sadly, I can't say Abercrombie was amongst the best of them. Right up to the last half of "Last Argument of Kings" I was a devoted Abercrombite, but after that end to the trilogy I won't read anything more of his. It's sad because he is an awesome writer.

"Good Omens" is one of my all time favourites and I always get swept away by Fiona McIntosh. Not a big fan of Briggs, but I do enjoy Ilona Andrews. "The Risen Empire" was awesome, once you got past the jingo barrier.

Two big reads of this year were Iain Banks's "Use of Weapons" and "The Wasp Factory". Brilliant, brilliant reads.

Regarding urban fantasy, have you tried the boys of the genre? Jim Butcher (Dresden Files) and Mike Carey (Felix Castor) are big, big favourites.

Looking forward to "Stormlord Rising" for 2010!

Cheers, Lisa.

I agree with you Glenda, reading is one of the fabulous joys of life especially with authors like you around. Usually I find I have read a lot of the books you read, but not this year.

Of course, I read another really good one that you might like to recommend to friends – it's called The Last Stormlord:-)