sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,574
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
|
Post by sharlag on Apr 2, 2023 17:18:12 GMT
I just really love a few good ones I've been reading for years.
Diana Gabaldon and Charlaine Harris are the 2 that come to mind . Also, Lee Child (gotta love a dude who always prevails!)
Other writers feel like 3rd graders in comparison.
I'm not that sophisticated-- not trying seem super discerning. But that's how the last few fiction books I've tried have struck me.
If you like the 2 authors that I mentioned, I'd be thrilled with suggestions.
|
|
peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,613
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
|
Post by peabay on Apr 2, 2023 17:20:40 GMT
I don't really like Diana Gabaldon's books but I do like Charlaine Harris.
I very much enjoyed "Lessons in Chemistry" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" and neither one could be described as something written by a 3rd grader.
|
|
|
|
Post by lainey on Apr 2, 2023 17:22:33 GMT
Other writers feel like 3rd graders in comparison Every other writer? I've read some really good books so far this year and none of them felt like they were written by a child. |
|
|
|
Post by lainey on Apr 2, 2023 17:23:14 GMT
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow One of my absolute favourites. |
|
|
|
Post by andreasmom on Apr 2, 2023 17:25:08 GMT
I don't really like Diana Gabaldon's books but I do like Charlaine Harris. I very much enjoyed "Lessons in Chemistry" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" and neither one could be described as something written by a 3rd grader. Two of my favorite 2022 reads. |
|
|
|
Post by MissBianca on Apr 2, 2023 17:33:38 GMT
Susan Elia MacNeal if you like historical fiction. Her books have a good cadence to them.
|
|
peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,613
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
|
Post by peabay on Apr 2, 2023 17:45:35 GMT
Just thought of someone else you might like: Maggie O'Farrell - "The Marriage Portrait" is SO good. Really well written historical fiction.
|
|
|
|
Post by SweetieBugs on Apr 2, 2023 17:51:40 GMT
I read the Maid's Diary last month (I think it was an Amazon first read either in February or March) and really enjoyed the writing, pacing and lack of overused and tired phrases/language. It was definitely one of the best First Reads I've selected. I've found many from the past 6 months to be duds.
I've looked up the author and sent a few samples of her other work to my Kindle and will see if they catch me the same way.
|
|
purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,732 
|
Post by purplebee on Apr 2, 2023 18:03:49 GMT
I don't really like Diana Gabaldon's books but I do like Charlaine Harris. I very much enjoyed "Lessons in Chemistry" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" and neither one could be described as something written by a 3rd grader. Yes! Both of these were good, especially Tomorrow, which was in my top 5 for 2022. |
|
|
|
Post by moretimeplease on Apr 2, 2023 18:30:48 GMT
If you’re hoping to find some new series to read, try some of these authors:
Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch character stories)
Kelley Armstrong (Casey Duncan/Rockton series, Women of the Otherworld/ Otherworld series))
Seanan McGuire (October Daye series)
Kim Harrison (The Hollows series)
Jim Butcher (Dresden Files series)
These are all “reread” series for me, along with Outlander and Charlaine Harris books.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Apr 2, 2023 18:39:34 GMT
Michael Connelly - most of his books tie in to one another and into the Bosch series.
I tried reading Lee Child (that's Jack Reacher, right?). I thought the writing was terrible!
|
|
|
|
Post by librarylady on Apr 2, 2023 19:34:59 GMT
If you want to read a book with the absolute longest run on sentences you have ever read, try
The Birthday Party by Laurent Mauvignier. One reviewer over at Amazon wrote: If you want to waste days of your life there are far more entertaining ways than this.
I am 60 pages in and can't take any more and shall return it to the library.
|
|
|
|
Post by elaine on Apr 2, 2023 20:04:21 GMT
The Sherry Thomas Charlotte Holmes series is very good. It is a delightful twist on the Sherlock Holmes canon. There are 5 books in the series so far.
|
|
|
|
Post by librarylady on Apr 2, 2023 20:12:21 GMT
Try The Inspector Linley series by Elizabeth George. She increased my vocabulary with her writing.
|
|
|
|
Post by chaosisapony on Apr 2, 2023 20:13:20 GMT
I'm not very picky with what I read at all. The last few years I've read almost entirely indie authors. Sometimes the books aren't great, sometimes I'm shocked with how good they are. Anyway, if you're having a hard time finding something to read maybe try to break away from the big published names and try some Indie authors on Amazon that have good reviews in the genres you like to read. You might be surprised.
|
|
sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,574
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
|
Post by sharlag on Apr 2, 2023 20:25:33 GMT
Other writers feel like 3rd graders in comparison Every other writer? I've read some really good books so far this year and none of them felt like they were written by a child. The last several I’ve tried. Except for Michelle Obama. I just had a friend recommend Lessons in Chemistry! |
|
sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,574
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
|
Post by sharlag on Apr 2, 2023 20:27:01 GMT
If you’re hoping to find some new series to read, try some of these authors: Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch character stories) Kelley Armstrong (Casey Duncan/Rockton series, Women of the Otherworld/ Otherworld series)) Seanan McGuire (October Daye series) Kim Harrison (The Hollows series) Jim Butcher (Dresden Files series) These are all “reread” series for me, along with Outlander and Charlaine Harris books. Thanks! I do like Michael Connelly. |
|
sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,574
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
|
Post by sharlag on Apr 2, 2023 20:28:23 GMT
Michael Connelly - most of his books tie in to one another and into the Bosch series. I tried reading Lee Child (that's Jack Reacher, right?). I thought the writing was terrible! Funny how our tastes are different. I sort of skim the weapon descriptions in the Reacher books, but enjoy the rest. |
|
sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,574
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
|
Post by sharlag on Apr 2, 2023 20:31:08 GMT
I'm not very picky with what I read at all. The last few years I've read almost entirely indie authors. Sometimes the books aren't great, sometimes I'm shocked with how good they are. Anyway, if you're having a hard time finding something to read maybe try to break away from the big published names and try some Indie authors on Amazon that have good reviews in the genres you like to read. You might be surprised. I love several in the shapeshifter romance genre. I think they qualify as Indie writers. TS Joyce, for one. |
|
craswell
Junior Member
Posts: 79
|
Post by craswell on Apr 2, 2023 21:14:49 GMT
If you enjoy historical fiction, every book I've read by Kate Quinn has been terrific. And a great fantasy series was the Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty; the first book is City of Brass.
|
|
|
|
Post by lainey on Apr 2, 2023 21:20:16 GMT
Every other writer? I've read some really good books so far this year and none of them felt like they were written by a child. The last several I’ve tried. Except for Michelle Obama. I just had a friend recommend Lessons in Chemistry! I hated Lessons in Chemistry, it's in the charity bag! |
|
|
|
Post by ameslou on Apr 2, 2023 21:35:23 GMT
I'm listening to the audio of Nina Totenberg's memoir "Dinners with Ruth" - it's a great listen, and much broader than her long-standing friendship with RBG.
Others I've enjoyed recently - Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson and Book Lovers by Emily Henry.
|
|
|
|
Post by cathyb on Apr 2, 2023 22:23:32 GMT
Try The Inspector Linley series by Elizabeth George. She increased my vocabulary with her writing. My MIL got me hooked on this series years ago! Highly recommend! |
|
|
|
Post by miss_lizzie on Apr 2, 2023 22:45:07 GMT
In mysteries, I love:
Sue Grafton
Jess Lourey
Rhys Bowen
|
|
|
|
Post by sawwhet on Apr 2, 2023 22:48:14 GMT
Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series.
|
|
|
|
Post by AussieMeg on Apr 2, 2023 22:55:34 GMT
I know exactly what you mean. I tend to read the same authors, which isn't a problem I guess. But then when I try to read a book from a new author, I find it difficult to get into. The authors I stick to are:
Michael Connelly
David Baldacci
Lee Childs
Jeffery Deaver
Faith Martin (the DI Hillary Greene novels)
Marian Keyes
Bryce Courtenay when he was still alive
|
|
|
|
Post by pjaye on Apr 2, 2023 23:21:12 GMT
I don't understand these recommendations - not picking on anyone specific, but Sharla asked for books similar to the authors that she listed...and recommending books that are totally different in content, genre, writing style etc makes no sense.
If I said I like mystery thrillers and someone said "try these shifter romances" I'd be like...WTF?
So on that note, even though I generally read books that are the direct opposite of your tastes...try:
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (and maybe her other books, but I haven't read any of them)
Maybe the author Simone St. James, The Other Side of Midnight or The Sun Down Motel (her books are all individual, so no need to read in any order)
Or Jodi Taylor and the Chronicles of St Mary's series (time travelling) for something a bit more lighthearted.
Paula Brackston - The Little Shop of Found Things, The Witch's Daughter, both the first in a series.
The Midnight library by Matt Haig
|
|
|
|
Post by flanz on Apr 2, 2023 23:29:01 GMT
Sharla, can you share some books you didn't enjoy?
|
|
|
|
Post by Bridget in MD on Apr 2, 2023 23:30:58 GMT
I don't really like Diana Gabaldon's books but I do like Charlaine Harris. I very much enjoyed "Lessons in Chemistry" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" and neither one could be described as something written by a 3rd grader. Two of my favorite 2022 reads. mine too! i grew bored of CH's True Blood series. I have only read the first outlander book. |
|
sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,574
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
|
Post by sharlag on Apr 2, 2023 23:52:18 GMT
In mysteries, I love: Sue Grafton Jess Lourey Rhys Bowen I do reread sue grafton every few years. Have all of her Audio books. |
|
