[Leigh131313]

Hey - I read 4 500ish paged books in like 5 days last week.......no need to apologize-you are among friends.

[Leigh131313]

*cough* booknerd *cough*

[susie_book]

You should really check out Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series--they've got romantic plot elements without getting really gross and sticky, and they're the same kind of friendly paranormal that you've mentioned enjoying.

[Saya]

I just joined Booksfree, one of those netflix for books on-line services. I pay a monthly flat fee and they just keep sending me books!! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!! AND I think it will save me money in the long run.

For fantasy or sci-fi stuff I really like Guy Gavriel Kay (especially the Fionavar Tapestry, but other stuff too) and Dan Simmons.

I'm reading a really fun mystery series right now by Colin Cotterill, which takes place in Laos in the 1970s after the communist takeover. Sounds weird, but it's interesting and funny and has engaging characters and even a fun supernatural element, which is unusual for mysteries.

[BrockBaby]

My neighbor was just telling me that I HAD to read The Shack. She works at a dentist office and said all the workers have read it and now everytime she goes into the waiting room someone is reading it. I'm going to go to the bookstore this weekend and see about it.

When I went to visit friends in Tennesse...they told me the same. Of course I had it bought before I left...and got up early the next morning and read 80 pages before we even left. It is an amazing book!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely couldn't put it down. (much to the chagrin of my friend who I was traveling with)

Yes, it deals with God..I am a Christian, and it opened MY eyes to stuff I've never even thought about....

[ProspectiveSingleMom]

I read the first three books of the vampire chronicles and liked them a lot. Not a ton of romance, but definitely some eroticism.

Since you liked Harry Potter, you might wanna try the Eragon trilogy. I haven't read the most recent book yet, but loved the first two. No romance to speak of in those, though.

[Fran27]

I like the Anne Rice vampire series. I read them all. You need to read the witches chronicles too though to get the most of the last two books. I don't know if she stopped the series, it's been a while since Blackwood Farm... Saddens me!!!

If you like science fiction/space operas, my favorite author is Peter H.Hamilton. His main series is the Reality Disfunction, which is 6 books. A shorter one is Pandora Star/Judas Enchained. He started a new series but I haven't got to read the first one yet. Those books are great, couldn't put them down.

And the good old Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan... I'm finishing the 11th at the moment.

[DancinBear63]

My recent favorites:

"Animal, Vegetable, Mineral" by Barabara Kingsolver- Great for the organic loving population
"Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides- A great story about a the main character's family history in the US, and journey to gender identity (I'm making it sound bad, just read it, it's great)
"Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 Tiny apartment kitchen" by Julie Powell- pretty self explanatory by title
"Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert- Great travel/ self-discovery story

[OakShannon]

Dancin'Bear - Those were great! I thought parts of Julie and Julia were hysterical. And Kinsolver is one of my favorite authors. I must have read Prodigal Summer 5 times.

My favorite book that I've read recently was The Known World. It takes place in the South during the period of slavery and reconstruction. A really powerful, wonderful book. Great characters.

Ahem . . . I loved Snow Falling on Cedars!

[Whirled_Peas]

Philip Pullman's series The Golden Compass. They made a movie I haven't seen, but the books are amazing.Much better than Harry Potter or Anne Rice.

[taramayrn]

Okay I will second the "Eat Pray Love" recommendation -totally reads like a novel.

Okaky girl - you want suggestions you've got them:
1. The Time Traveller's Wife - great....
2. Anything by Barbara Kingsolver - titles include, "The Piosonwood Bible", "The Prodigal Summer"
3. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - actually most of his books are great
4. Jodi Picoult books
5. I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
6. The Red Tent by Anita something or other
7. Philipa Gregory books - historical fiction

Okay my mind is dry for the moment, but I'll remember more in a few minutes.

[taramayrn]

Oh, if you like forensic mystery books - Patricia Cornwell or Kathy Reichs - awesome!!

[loveajax]

Oak, I am laughing because that is one of my favorite books as well!!!

I just read a great series of mysteries by a Scottish writer named Denise Mina (the "Paddy Burke" series). I am literally having anxiety waiting for the next one. So riveting and Paddy Burke is just such an awesome character!

I don't know if anyone mentioned Ursual Leguin (sp?). A friend keeps begging me to read her, but I haven't yet. I think it is sci fi/fantasy stuff?

[tomandcate]

I have just started reading again for the first time in almost 4 years, since DS1 came home!

I just finished...

The Glass Castle (a memoir, totally amazing)
When Crickets Cry (never read this author before - Charles Martin - but LOVE him now)
The Memory Keeper's Daughter (liked it a lot)
Middlesex (really funny, touching, great read)
A Wedding in November (Anita Shreve - just okay, not my favorite)
Nights in Rodanthe (my advice, wait and see the movie instead - Richard Gere and Diane Lane, yum yum!)

[hesabanana]

American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Loved it....so much I was talking to it! Smart sci fi.