Reading Books For Pleasure

[FurryFury]

Well I could not read and walk. I am very clumsy and would hurt myself. I would listen to an audio book but I'd rather not. I don't like audio books that much and I like to be able to hear cars and such.

All through my life reading has been very important to me. I've always robbed myself of sleep to read. I never go to sleep without reading unless I'm very, very sick.

In addition, I always take a book with me where ever I go. You just won't find me without one. Waiting in line or in the lobby for anything I'm the one reading.

These days I'm waiting on my kids 10 or more hours a week. I read then too. Sometimes I talk with others waiting, take a walk, have a snack or work on my lap top but mostly I read. That's my serenity, my journey into other worlds and when it's a good book, my joy.

 

[closerIam]

Well I could not read and walk. I am very clumsy and would hurt myself. I would listen to an audio book but I'd rather not. I don't like audio books that much and I like to be able to hear cars and such.

All through my life reading has been very important to me. I've always robbed myself of sleep to read. I never go to sleep without reading unless I'm very, very sick.

In addition, I always take a book with me where ever I go. You just won't find me without one. Waiting in line or in the lobby for anything I'm the one reading.

These days I'm waiting on my kids 10 or more hours a week. I read then too. Sometimes I talk with others waiting, take a walk, have a snack or work on my lap top but mostly I read. That's my serenity, my journey into other worlds and when it's a good book, my joy.

I tried audio books a few times (when driving cross country), but discovered my mind would wander, and the narration was not how I liked to imagine it. I'm also one to be reading a book in line or while waiting, and have even been known to catch a peek into a magazine or book while stuck in traffic at red lights. I'm one of those can't-sit-still-and-do-nothing kind of people. Reading is a most precious gift, along with the 'power' it gives us to escape and imagine...

 

[FurryFury]

I'm just not much of an audio person period except for certain music. When I listen to "my" music I need to do nothing else so I can sink into it and really pay attention to it.

An ensemble of voice actors has been the best I've had in audio books. Even that is a "last resort" thing.

I want a book I can hold in my hand and pages to turn to be happy!

 

[closerIam]

I'm just not much of an audio person period except for certain music. When I listen to "my" music I need to do nothing else so I can sink into it and really pay attention to it.

An ensemble of voice actors has been the best I've had in audio books. Even that is a "last resort" thing.

I want a book I can hold in my hand and pages to turn to be happy!

I'm the same way when listening to "my" music and cannot read at the same time.

And, yes!!! I love the 'feel' of a book in my hands. The weight of it, the written word, the turning of the pages... I also love torching books and cutting them up for art or journals. The possibilities are endless, and often an old discarded book is given a new life. During this process, I find myself reading bits and pieces of books I might otherwise have missed.

My latest, greatest find, In the Rhone Country (pub. 1913), has a cool red cover with an embossed gold scarab, and is a treasure chest of interesting words. The first sentence: We had watched the Rhone pour its turbid and glacial flood, beneath the ever-whirling wailing cloud of white mouettes, into the Lake of Geneva, to be there engulfed and purified in those translucent waters. How could I pass this up for $1?

 

[FurryFury]

That's quite a find! It seems we feel the same way about books and music.

 

[graceanne]

I'm very auditory - I function better if their's music, somewhere. Literally, I think clearer and respond better. I always drive with music, cause I do less stupid things.

That said, their's music I can tune out and music I can't. If I can't tune it out, I don't drive to it, cause once I get involved in something I tend to ignore everything else.

 

[FurryFury]

I'm very auditory - I function better if their's music, somewhere. Literally, I think clearer and respond better. I always drive with music, cause I do less stupid things.

That said, their's music I can tune out and music I can't. If I can't tune it out, I don't drive to it, cause once I get involved in something I tend to ignore everything else.

It's funny that you mentioned driving and music because I have a totally different view of that than music just about any other time. I love driving with music. I sing to it. I dance to it. I cuss less. I stay awake. It works out well for me!

In fact, Evil_Geoff got a peak at my ATL CD's. I have to keep changing them. I don't have enough room in my car for all my favs!

 

[FurryFury]

From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harrie

I LOVED this book!

The last two have been winners!

 

[FurryFury]

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus was great! It didn't go where I wanted it to but it was an excellent fun read for me.



Dark Lover by J.R. Ward is a book I started last night. I despise "cute" names and creative spelling names such as Phury.

*barf*

Fortunately it's well enough written I can mostly ignore such utter crap.
The story looks interesting and promising so far.

 

[graceanne]

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus was great! It didn't go where I wanted it to but it was an excellent fun read for me.



Dark Lover by J.R. Ward is a book I started last night. I despise "cute" names and creative spelling names such as Phury.

*barf*

Fortunately it's well enough written I can mostly ignore such utter crap.
The story looks interesting and promising so far.

I've read all but the last of her books. They're ok. The names thing bugs me, too, but I can get past it in her books. What I hate is the way the plot rambles.

 

[FurryFury]

I've read all but the last of her books. They're ok. The names thing bugs me, too, but I can get past it in her books. What I hate is the way the plot rambles.

I'm about half way through the book at this point. We shall see if it's worth it and I'll be reading any others.

The whole basis of the different sorts of vampires and such is not explained well so far.

Still, it's okay.

 

[bridgeburner]

I felt Dark Lover was the weakest of the books --- she gets better as she goes along. The plots do ramble a bit but I don't mind that since I'm a big fan of 600 pages or more and "please don't let anything I like ever end." ;-> Although I'm with you both on the cutesy spelling shit. It drives me bugnuts.

I have read the most recent and it's solid although not my favorite, mainly because the storylines I'm most interested in aren't the focus of this book and I'm not a huge fan of Phury. I don't dislike him, I just don't find him as interesting as the other characters, ditto his fated female, Cormia. There's other fascinating stuff in the book, however, and I'm looking forward to the next one.


Oh woe is me for having taken a chance on a new author/series and discovering that I really liked it and now have no idea how long I must wait for the next book and the one after that etc. The author is Larissa Ione and the book is Pleasure Unbound which has nothing whatsoever to do with BDSM, so don't get your hopes up.

There IS a bit of focus on sex since the hero is an incubus, but the demon realm is really well developed. Who knew there were different kinds of incubi? (incubusses?)

It's a good read and I'm really looking forward to more of the series.....however long I have to wait.

 

[FurryFury]

I felt Dark Lover was the weakest of the books --- she gets better as she goes along. The plots do ramble a bit but I don't mind that since I'm a big fan of 600 pages or more and "please don't let anything I like ever end." ;-> Although I'm with you both on the cutesy spelling shit. It drives me bugnuts.

I have read the most recent and it's solid although not my favorite, mainly because the storylines I'm most interested in aren't the focus of this book and I'm not a huge fan of Phury. I don't dislike him, I just don't find him as interesting as the other characters, ditto his fated female, Cormia. There's other fascinating stuff in the book, however, and I'm looking forward to the next one.


Oh woe is me for having taken a chance on a new author/series and discovering that I really liked it and now have no idea how long I must wait for the next book and the one after that etc. The author is Larissa Ione and the book is Pleasure Unbound which has nothing whatsoever to do with BDSM, so don't get your hopes up.

There IS a bit of focus on sex since the hero is an incubus, but the demon realm is really well developed. Who knew there were different kinds of incubi? (incubusses?)

It's a good read and I'm really looking forward to more of the series.....however long I have to wait.

Sounds interesting.

I'm not a huge fan of same scenario books. Is the whole series, Vampire must find perfect mate, gives up, then finds?

 

[bridgeburner]

Sounds interesting.

I'm not a huge fan of same scenario books. Is the whole series, Vampire must find perfect mate, gives up, then finds?

To some degree, yes, but there is other interesting stuff that happens and I recall the books being sufficiently different to keep me engaged. I particularly like the strength of the bonds between the males, much of it homoerotic. There's no shortage of melodrama, certainly, but we are talking about a secret society of vampire warriors, so the presence of melodrama is as expected as sand at the beach.

The story arc for John --- the mute orphan --- is quite cool and it takes place over the course of all the books. I suspect he'll end up with his own book, but until that time he's one of the sidestories that I most enjoy. The Vampire politics of both the temporal world and the spiritual realm of the Scribe Virgin are interesting --- nothing as complicated or complex and driving as what goes on in the Anita Blake books but Ward is more focused on the romances than Laurell K. Hamilton.

I will say that when I read the first book I wasn't all that sure I wanted to read more of them unless I was just bored and desperate. It wasn't awful but I didn't think it would become a series that I anticipated the next release of. The second book changed that and I've eagerly awaited each new one down the line. The most recent is sort of a breather that I think is more of a set-up for stories to come. It is more of a tale about the whole situation and lots of people than it is specifically and primarily about Phury and Cormia -- but as I said, I was okay with that since I've never found either of them to be the most interesting characters around.

All of this is to say, finish Dark Lover and then read the next book in the series. If you're not interested after that, then give it up. By the end of the second book you'll have Ward's measure even if she gets a bit darker later on.



---On edit ---- btw, I don't think any but the first book are the exact scenario you describe. The other pairings have their challenges, but they're fairly different. The reasons behind bachelorhood for the brothers are varied.

 

[bridgeburner]

I've been reading like the addict I am for the past few months. I'm a big fan of the suspense/thriller genre, as well as paranormal and standard historical romance.

Non-paranormal --

I've read all of the Allison Brennan series and enjoyed them. Some books are stronger than others, but she's a fairly consistent bet for me. The books get sexually dark with serial killers and sex traffickers, so if that's something you steer away from then I don't recommend her stuff. They're not ALL focused on those themes, but they're prevalent enough that the squeamish should probably stay away.


I'm almost caught up in the Suzanne Brockmann Troubleshooters series. Again, these are action/adventure books with a strong romance rather than straight romances with adventures attached.

I fell off reading John Sanford's Prey novels, but I imagine I'll get back to it. I think I overdosed by reading too many in a row.


Finally read a Harlan Coben and I'm hooked on him as well. So far I've only been reading his stand-alone books and haven't started his Myron Bolivar, Detective series, but I do have the first one of those to try.


Lee Child's Jack Reacher series --- I am so addicted to this series it's not even funny. New book is out......in hardcover. Crap. I'll be getting that at the library.

Lisa Gardener --- more suspence romance with serial killers and recurring characters. She was stretching credulity a bit with a pair of her primaries --- how much bad luck and tragedy can any one life truly hold?? but I think we're past that now and she dealt with their emotions and thought processes pretty realistically ---- being in love with someone isn't always enough. Some things need dedicated and professional work to be overcome. Anyway, I like her books and we seem to be moving on to other characters that I'm happy to follow. Let's retire the others to the periphery.

Paranormal ==

Finished the Lilith Saintcrow "Working for the Devil" series. It petered out for me a bit toward the last two books so I don't know that I'll read any more of her stuff. I think she just got a little chicken, or maybe she lost focus or something. It could also be that she ended up with a plot point that was inevitable, but that she really didn't want to explore. For whatever reason, this series waned for me even though I completed it.

Don't know if Keri Arthur has finished her Riley Jensen series or not. She could conceivably leave the story where the last book ends without leaving too many unanswered questions. I wasn't thrilled with the final book, but I really enjoyed the series and I'm very intrigued by the teaser for Arthur's next book which may also end up as a series.


Almost finished with the latest Lynn Viehl Darkyn novel. For some reason I keep forgetting that I like these. I won't even be looking for the next one to come out and then I'll stumble over it and think "Oh, these were okay. I'll pick this up." Then I open the book and I'm hooked for a bit. The one I'm currently reading is starting to irritate me a bit --- there's too much going on and we're losing some development --- but it's a fair read and I'll stick with the series a bit longer.

Rachel Vincent has got two books in her series so far (Stray and Rogue) and I like 'em both. Again, if you've got a problem with truly non-consensual sex themes then you might steer clear since the first book revolves around kidnapping for breeding purposes, but the main character whose name I'm blanking on at the moment is interesting. We're also dealing with were-cats here and the world/mythos building for this one is unique in its mundanity. No aliens or supernatural secret societies or gifts from gods etc. Sure, they've got rules and they keep a low profile and they have councils of elders etc. They run their society like a feudal society in a lot of ways, but only organizationally. No thousand year old warriors or swords and armor or anything.

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs --- waaaaay excellent!!

Cathy Clamp and C.T. Adams --- two series

Still reading Kim Harrison and Kelly Armstrong's series. Don't know if Jeanine Frost has more books in her series or if she'll be writing something else now. I think she ended her second "grave" book in such a way that it could complete that tale.



Gothic Romance but not Paranormal ---


Lydia Joyce. Very cool books and interesting heroines particularly after the first book or two. I'm eagerly awaiting her next book



Okay, my brain just balked. And it's hot in my apartment and I need to go out and experience some sunshine so I'm going to curtail my listy list for now. I haven't had a chance to go back and read so a lot of these books I've listed may already have been discussed here. My apologies if I've repeated anybody.

See you soon!

-B

 

[FurryFury]

That's good to hear!

To some degree, yes, but there is other interesting stuff that happens and I recall the books being sufficiently different to keep me engaged. I particularly like the strength of the bonds between the males, much of it homoerotic. There's no shortage of melodrama, certainly, but we are talking about a secret society of vampire warriors, so the presence of melodrama is as expected as sand at the beach.

The story arc for John --- the mute orphan --- is quite cool and it takes place over the course of all the books. I suspect he'll end up with his own book, but until that time he's one of the sidestories that I most enjoy. The Vampire politics of both the temporal world and the spiritual realm of the Scribe Virgin are interesting --- nothing as complicated or complex and driving as what goes on in the Anita Blake books but Ward is more focused on the romances than Laurell K. Hamilton.

I will say that when I read the first book I wasn't all that sure I wanted to read more of them unless I was just bored and desperate. It wasn't awful but I didn't think it would become a series that I anticipated the next release of. The second book changed that and I've eagerly awaited each new one down the line. The most recent is sort of a breather that I think is more of a set-up for stories to come. It is more of a tale about the whole situation and lots of people than it is specifically and primarily about Phury and Cormia -- but as I said, I was okay with that since I've never found either of them to be the most interesting characters around.

All of this is to say, finish Dark Lover and then read the next book in the series. If you're not interested after that, then give it up. By the end of the second book you'll have Ward's measure even if she gets a bit darker later on.



---On edit ---- btw, I don't think any but the first book are the exact scenario you describe. The other pairings have their challenges, but they're fairly different. The reasons behind bachelorhood for the brothers are varied.

 

[FurryFury]

I've been reading like the addict I am for the past few months. I'm a big fan of the suspense/thriller genre, as well as paranormal and standard historical romance.

Non-paranormal --

I've read all of the Allison Brennan series and enjoyed them. Some books are stronger than others, but she's a fairly consistent bet for me. The books get sexually dark with serial killers and sex traffickers, so if that's something you steer away from then I don't recommend her stuff. They're not ALL focused on those themes, but they're prevalent enough that the squeamish should probably stay away.


I'm almost caught up in the Suzanne Brockmann Troubleshooters series. Again, these are action/adventure books with a strong romance rather than straight romances with adventures attached.

I fell off reading John Sanford's Prey novels, but I imagine I'll get back to it. I think I overdosed by reading too many in a row.


Finally read a Harlan Coben and I'm hooked on him as well. So far I've only been reading his stand-alone books and haven't started his Myron Bolivar, Detective series, but I do have the first one of those to try.


Lee Child's Jack Reacher series --- I am so addicted to this series it's not even funny. New book is out......in hardcover. Crap. I'll be getting that at the library.

Lisa Gardener --- more suspence romance with serial killers and recurring characters. She was stretching credulity a bit with a pair of her primaries --- how much bad luck and tragedy can any one life truly hold?? but I think we're past that now and she dealt with their emotions and thought processes pretty realistically ---- being in love with someone isn't always enough. Some things need dedicated and professional work to be overcome. Anyway, I like her books and we seem to be moving on to other characters that I'm happy to follow. Let's retire the others to the periphery.

Paranormal ==

Finished the Lilith Saintcrow "Working for the Devil" series. It petered out for me a bit toward the last two books so I don't know that I'll read any more of her stuff. I think she just got a little chicken, or maybe she lost focus or something. It could also be that she ended up with a plot point that was inevitable, but that she really didn't want to explore. For whatever reason, this series waned for me even though I completed it.

Don't know if Keri Arthur has finished her Riley Jensen series or not. She could conceivably leave the story where the last book ends without leaving too many unanswered questions. I wasn't thrilled with the final book, but I really enjoyed the series and I'm very intrigued by the teaser for Arthur's next book which may also end up as a series.


Almost finished with the latest Lynn Viehl Darkyn novel. For some reason I keep forgetting that I like these. I won't even be looking for the next one to come out and then I'll stumble over it and think "Oh, these were okay. I'll pick this up." Then I open the book and I'm hooked for a bit. The one I'm currently reading is starting to irritate me a bit --- there's too much going on and we're losing some development --- but it's a fair read and I'll stick with the series a bit longer.

Rachel Vincent has got two books in her series so far (Stray and Rogue) and I like 'em both. Again, if you've got a problem with truly non-consensual sex themes then you might steer clear since the first book revolves around kidnapping for breeding purposes, but the main character whose name I'm blanking on at the moment is interesting. We're also dealing with were-cats here and the world/mythos building for this one is unique in its mundanity. No aliens or supernatural secret societies or gifts from gods etc. Sure, they've got rules and they keep a low profile and they have councils of elders etc. They run their society like a feudal society in a lot of ways, but only organizationally. No thousand year old warriors or swords and armor or anything.

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs --- waaaaay excellent!!

Cathy Clamp and C.T. Adams --- two series

Still reading Kim Harrison and Kelly Armstrong's series. Don't know if Jeanine Frost has more books in her series or if she'll be writing something else now. I think she ended her second "grave" book in such a way that it could complete that tale.



Gothic Romance but not Paranormal ---


Lydia Joyce. Very cool books and interesting heroines particularly after the first book or two. I'm eagerly awaiting her next book



Okay, my brain just balked. And it's hot in my apartment and I need to go out and experience some sunshine so I'm going to curtail my listy list for now. I haven't had a chance to go back and read so a lot of these books I've listed may already have been discussed here. My apologies if I've repeated anybody.

See you soon!

-B

Wow! Great reading!

 

[FurryFury]

I enjoyed Dark Lover by J. R. Ward fairly well despite the cutesy names. I'll read another at some point.

For now it's on to Blood Drive by Jeanne C. Stein. The first one in the series was pretty good. I'm looking forward to it.

I have sooo many books waiting for me.

*squeals*

 

[bridgeburner]

I just read my first ever Gena Showalter - Darkest Night. It was so-so. Some interesting ideas, but the heroine was a little bit goody-goody for me and there was a lack of....conflict, I guess. I'm not sure how to explain it. It's not as if everything was easy all the time or that people didn't die or suffer or whatever, but it was maybe a little heavy on stereotype/cliche or something. Anyway, I might try the next book in this trilogy if I find it at the used book store, but I don't think I'll buy it new.

 

[FurryFury]

Blood Drive by Jeanne C. Stein was good. I want the next one of these!

 

[minx1]

Still not finished eat, sleep, pray. Headache = not feeling like reading

But just bought Rules for Radicals and The Ten Best Days of my Life.

 

[ShyVixen]

I enjoyed Dark Lover by J. R. Ward fairly well despite the cutesy names. I'll read another at some point.

I'm so glad you are reading this series! and for me...Dark Lover was okay, they get better after Lover Eternal. Not a bit Rhage fan, mainly because I don't like good looking men (and i mean your Hollywood looks type).

I'm reading The Other Boleyn Girl again, on such a Tudor kick right now, but it's taking me a while to get through it for some reason. also reading Terrorism and Global Disorder by Adrian Guelke.

 

[FurryFury]

I'm reading Night of Power by Spider Robinson right now.

 

[ownedsubgal]

reading "From the Corner of His Eye" by Dean Koontz. Koontz can be a little preachy and moralistic for my tastes, but so far i have to say this is still a great read. i'm absolutely loving the character Junior Cain.

 

[caela]

Just finished up reading the newest Anita Blake novel. Gotta say that while I've enjoyed all of them it was night to get back to a story that had sex but didn't revolve around it so much. Some of that probably had to do with Anita not being surrounded by her bevy of men for most of it but it looks like Hamilton is finally letting her have more control of her oddly growing and changing powers.

It being set up for her to pick up even more men near the end was kind of expected but hopefully it'll be managed without all the dire "Must have sex now or everyone's going to DIE!!!!" type drama of some of the other books. I think what'll be the most interesting angle in the next few books thought will be the whole "Mother of all Darkness" thing. This is a creature that's still asleep and scaring the shit out of everyone...I really hope she wakes up.