Please don't make me go to the vet without something to read.
Readers, I’m sick. I’m call in to work, go to bed at eight, put me out of my misery sick. So you’re not getting a real blog post today.
Instead, I’m asking you to entertain me. I’m in a book slump. I was working so much last month that I never really got into anything, and I’m so far behind on my New Yorker subscription that I keep turning over stacks of paper in my apartment and finding issues I haven’t read.
But I’m lacking for a good book to read. I was rereading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, but I’d like to try something new. I recently read The Hunger Games, which I enjoyed while I was reading but left me cold once I was finished. I have a new urban fantasy to read on my Kindle, but it’s too similar to Shaken in some ways, and I’m not quite ready to read it.
So I ask you: what should I read? I prefer fantasy, obviously (given the title of this blog), but I’m open to checking out something else. Dazzle me with your recommendations, I beg you.
Kristin McFarland 
I fun quick read: Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch. An urban, contemporary fantasy. You might like it.
Sounds fun, and it’s available at my library! I’ll pick it up this evening. 🙂
I just started Sunshine, which is awesome so far. Also, I forget if you have read the Wheel of Time, but it is awesome. And prolific. :)I
Feel better!
Thanks. I’m feeling a bit better today.
I made it about halfway through the (then-written) Wheel of Time books when I was in ninth grade. I started them against last year, but I haven’t gotten very far. I WANT to like them, especially since I love Brandon Sanderson, and he’s writing the new ones. I shall prevail…
As it happens, I’m trying to read 50 new books this year (I have about 6 left. Easy), so I went to get my nook and see if there’s anything on there I really liked this year. Since I assume you’re familiar with Rothfuss and Sanderson (you DID get the new Mistborn book, right?), and I have this strange feeling that you may or may not read Jim Butcher, I’ll try to skip those.
The Lies of Locke Lamora (Scott Lynch). A fantasy heist book.
Anything by Terry Pratchett (That’s not the name of a book, just read anything by him that’s in his Discworld series)
The Night Angel Trilogy (Brent Weeks)
Wow, I could have sworn I had more than that. Then I realized that 14 of the books I read are Dresden and most of the rest are either scifi, by authors you already read, or just terrible 😛
I haven’t actually read the new Mistborn book! Shame on me! It’s on my Christmas list, though.
LOVED Lies of Locke Lamora. Is the second one out yet?
Like Terry Pratchett. Wyrd Sisters made me laugh so hard I scared my cat.
Checking out the Night Angel trilogy now…
Yeah, the sequel “Red Seas Under Red Skies” came out in 2007, but the latest one still hasn’t seen the light of day.
Night Angel is pretty good, but definitely full of mature content. About Game of Thrones level. Might not be the best thing for sick folk, but I think they’re pretty good. Weeks definitely creates an awesome Fantasy world.
Oh, here’s an idea. Rothfuss is working on that fundraiser “Worldbuilders” right now and giving away prizes for donations. I think I found the Night Angel books because he had them as prizes last year, so I just picked them up randomly. I figured if Rothfuss liked them, they might be OK. So maybe you should see what books he’s featuring in Worldbuilder’s and check those out.
Here’s where he lists all of the signed books he’s giving away, so maybe they’re worth looking over. I’m already adding them to next year’s reading list myself, so maybe we’ll find a diamond in the rough. http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2011/12/signed-books/
‘The Host’ by Stephenie Meyer. Okay, please hear me out. It does start slow but the story is so unique, it’s still with me seven or so months afterwards. And she knows how to write relationships. Despite this book being sci-fi (I hate sci-fi), the characters feels more real than tonnes of other novels I’ve read.
I almost gave up on it (at the start) but it was one of the most rewarding books I’ve ever read! So glad I read it.
Hi Kristin, I am just now getting around to taking a tour of your blog. You are a good writer and I am impressed with the work you have done here. Stick with it and I am sure you will be successful!
I’m afraid our literary tastes are pretty far apart ( I think we already discussed how I’m not very imaginative.). The book that has influenced me most is Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. I’m not convinced you would like it, and it’s not fiction anyway. But there you go!
Anyway, Happy New Year to you and Drew! We’ll get together soon.
Hey, Jessica! Happy New Year! Have to admit I spent a good thirty seconds looking at your comment, going… “Wha…? Who…?” and then I connected the dots.
I am a pretty imaginative reader, and Drew says I like just about any book. I’ll check out the book you mentioned. And we should definitely get together soon.