Books, books, books, books, books

Lets talk books. I have no blogging chops for anything else today, but then we're all here because we're readers, right? So let me start the discussion by talking about some of the books I've read and enjoyed lately. Maybe I can turn you on to some new authors or titles. Perhaps you can do the same for me.

Because most of the stuff I've read recently has been recommended to me by other readers. I've blown through several books by my favorite authors, of course. But, man I love discovering new to me authors. And joy, joy, joy: my brainstorming partner, Caroline Cross, has turned me on to two separate series written by writers I'd never read before. She brought me Books One and Two in one of the series and Book One in the other, and I became a believer in both.

I first took note of J.R. Ward some time ago while I was checking the Bookscan sales list. This author I'd never heard of was simply shooting up the charts. I saw that she wrote a vampire series, however, and thought, "Like we need more of those." Then Caro brought me the first two and, folks, they knocked my socks off. Ward's built an interesting world of caste systems and warriors and vampires who get their sustanance from other vampires rather than humans. I'm only three books in, but what I've read so far is simply fascinating. It has romance and sex and danger and that wonderful "something" that keeps us turning those pages as fast as we can.

The other series she got me started on was Stephanie Myers teen angst/vampire/werewolf saga. Book One, Twilight, was the author's first book, period, and it was darn near perfect. (Except that we in the Pacific NW do not call our highways/ freeways "The" whatever number. We simply say I-5 or 101. But that's a nitpick) The main vamps in this book are a cobbled together family trying to exist without drinking human blood. They can also go out in the daylight but have taken up residence in Forks, Washington because it has the most rainfall of anyplace in America. Which is helpful as they become very conspicuous in sunlight. (I won't give away why)


Then my sweet baby boy brought me the uniquest book--one he picked up in a section of Barnes and Noble that I probably never even would have checked out. This one's called Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow. It's a book written in free verse about weredogs in L.A.

I know! It seems to be all paranormal all the time with me these days. What can I say; sometimes it just turns out that way. I knew I had to write an actual review for this one for WritersAreReaders.com before I even finished the thing, because I was simply stunned by the sheer level of enjoyment it gave me. Sharp Teeth is funny and hard-edged and wicked-sharp. It's sometimes grim yet often lyrical. And it just plain kept me rivited. To get a more indepth idea of its plot go to http://www.writersarereaders.com/andersenbarlowsharpteeth.html

I'm reading yet another fabulous book, but I'm going to save this one for next Friday's post as I've invited its author to be our feature blogger. Meanwhile, what have you read lately that's blown you away? If there is one thing I am always up, it's hearing about wonderful, entertaining books.