…And where I first learned about them. My local independent bookstore has a sale every year, and I use it as a time to buy books by new authors, as well as some old favourites. I thought it might be fun to list them, and to try to figure out what made me buy them.
David Blixt, The Master of Verona St. Martin’s Press, 2007.
I definitely learned about this one online first, most likely here. Shakespeare and Dante? Looks yummy.
Charles de Lint, Widdershins (Tor, 2006).
The first de Lint book I read, many moons ago, was his book in the Fairy tale series, Jack of Kinrowan. I loved the Ottawa setting, and I’ve been a fan ever since.
Catherine Delors, Mistress of the Revolution Dutton, 2008.
I first learned of this book when I saw the sale posted on Publisher’s Marketplace last January. “That looks like something I’d read,” I thought, “Maybe her agent would be the right one for me.”
William Gibson, Spook Country Berkley, 2007.
I picked his Pattern Recognition up off a library shelf and loved it, and though I did not enjoy Neuromancer or Mona Lisa Overdrive quite as much, I thought I’d try this.
Conn Iggulden, Genghis: Birth of an Empire Dell, 2007.
This was a spontaneous buy. I love historical fiction about Asia and I read Cecilia Holland’s Mongol novel, Until the Sun Falls for the second time recently with great delight. And he was one of the author’s of The Dangerous Book for Boys. How can i go wrong?
Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle Harper, 2007.
My only non-fiction book in this group. When I read for pleasure, it is almost always fiction. My sister introduced me to Kingsolver through Prodigal Summer and I have become a fan.
Lisa See, Peony in Love Random House, 2008.
See about abut Asian historical fiction. I haven’t read anything by her before. I suspect I first saw her books on a front table at a bookstore.
Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale Washington Square Press, 2006.
I am sure I first heard about this one on the internet, and I think it was through some online contest the publisher was running to promote it. I didn’t participate in the contest, but I did remember the book, and I’ve been picking it up and putting it down every time I am in a bookstore for months. This time I didn’t put it down.
Rebecca Stott, Ghostwalk Spiegel & Grau, 2008.
If you’d asked me before I did this exercise how I found new books to read, I would have told you I browse the front tables and shelves of bookstores and choose books that way. This is the only book from this marathon purchasing session that I got that way. It was on the front table in the store, I picked it up, read the cover copy, and put it on my pile.
So, bought any good books lately? Let me know! I’m sure I’ll be back to the bookstore before long…
“Birth of an Empire” looks like something I would like. I too love historical/non-fiction, especially with the Chinese culture. I just picked up “Return to Middle Kingdom”, it is as engrossing as any historical novel I’ve ever read, this book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the origin of modern China. Just wonderful!
Wow! I am delighted to have made the cut. And I look forward to hearing your impressions.
I’m half way through and I’m really enjoying it, Catherine. I’ll probably post some thoughts when I’m finished.
i’m really enjoying nefertiti and i’ll
probably read princess academy by
shannon hale next, which is YA and a
newbery honor.
Nefertiti is on my mental TBR pile.
Hi, I loved your list here. It also gives me hope whenever I see someone say they consume books that voraciously. I found your page after googling an agent I am writing, and I believe it is with the same company as the one who reps you according to the message board I stumbled across.
I was running 7 miles on Siesta Key (FLA) last week and stopped and asked a woman who was lying on a beach towel: What are you reading? She answered: “Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picault.” For what that’s worth, just a random selection. I just finished “World Without End.”
Keep writing strong…
Looks like a fantastic list! My most recent buy was Ysabel, but Guy Gavriel Kay. I loved Last Light of the Sun and Sailing to Sarantium. This one looks rather different, but fascinating nonetheless.
Loved Ysabel! And I am not a Kay fan.
Mark, I’ve never read Jodi Picoult, but I have a soft spot for her because whenever I play the, “where would my book be shelved in a bookstore” game, she is always right there.
I’ve not read any of GGK’s straight fantasy. Ysabel sounds similar to Tracy Chevalier’s The Virgin Blue, which I quite enjoyed. I recommend GGK’s Last Light of the Sun – very, very lightly disguised story of King Alfred with just a touch of fantasy to it. Definitely more historical fiction than fantasy. Even more so than Sailing to Sarantium.
LOL re the Jodi Picoult. I too have never read her.
So many books, so little time 🙂
That one sounds right up my alley, Teresa, especially since I have a glimmer of an idea for a HF/fantasy set in almost the same period (but a different location).
I agree with Teresa–I don’t know how I’ll ever get through my TBR pile!
I’m currently reading an ARC of C.W. Gortner’s The Last Queen and enjoying it very much. I’ll post a review and an interview with the author on my blog near the publication date (July 29).
Otherwise, I’m reading tons of research books for my next novel. I have to stop researching and get writing…..
Recently, I picked up a book called “Bathory: Memoir of a Countess” on Amazon (ISBN 1439201749). It’s a tale of the real-life Elizabeth Bathory from Hungary in the Middle Ages. Excellent read, and includes a map, ancestral chart and pretty good reading list at the end for us history fans. Another I just finished reading is “The Other Boleyn Girl” (have you seen the movie? It’s not nearly as good as the book!).
“Bathory” sounds good. I’ll keep my eyes open for it. I am chastened to say that I have never read “The Other Boleyn Girl.” I read Philippa Gregory’s early work (Wideacre etc.) and found it impresive but too bleak for me. Maybe I should try her more recent stuff.