Books? Like those paper things? (solved)

Scratchy

My lovely spouse has a Kindle and I need book recommendations to get a decent present.

She loves to read but her tastes are completely different from mine so I come to you fine folk for possible recommendations.

She very much enjoyed the Twilight series and has all of those books, she liked Anne Rice's pornographic sleeping beauty novels, and she also liked a book called A Salty Piece of Land by that guy who did the margarita song we all enjoy listening to in the bar at 1 a.m.

I know this is really reaching with the vast amount of literature out there but I haven't read anything besides a newspaper in years so I'm at a loss. We can't really afford a 10 book or so series and this is going to be for the Kindle.

(best I could figure since she liked the neked vampires was to get her the Brian Lumley series but alas it's not available. Please help)

John Matrix

Pride and Prejudice. Then maybe Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

My wife also read and enjoyed the books that true blood is based off of - Suzie Stackwell or something. She enjoyed the twilight series in some ways.

Scratchy

I didn't even consider the true blood-ish books. She loved the series. Two minutes and I already have a direction to head. Please keep the recommendations coming.

Thank you for the idea JM.

Bionic Monkey

Laurell K. Hamilton I think would be a good choice. She has two series that she works on, Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter and Merry Gentry. I haven't read her, but my wife has, and from what she tells me, they sound right up your wife's alley. Essentially, they sound sort of like True Blood crossed with the Dresden Files. In Anita Blake, vampire and werewolves are real, and are considered citizens of America, and the main character solves mysteries. In Merry Gentry, same basic premise, except it sounds like Faeries are real, and the main character is an exiled princess that is in hiding. She also has powers that heal through sex. Yeah.

Speaking of which, the Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse Chronicles by Charlaine Harris would probably be a good choice as well. They're the novels that True Blood is based on, though I understand the show diverges quite heavily from the novels.

Edit: Yeah, what John Matrix said.

The.White.Acre

If you live in Sydney, there is a bookstore near townhall station (behind the QVB) called Galaxy Bookstore. There is an entire wall of books she might like, to give you ideas. If not, here is the website (specifically the paranormal romance section):

http://www.galaxybooks.com.au/category/paran-rom-10257.do

You can use that website to look up the true blood books and stuff to get specific names, or you could go for Anne Rice ones that she hasn't read.

Some other authors I recomed are: Patricia Briggs (specifically the Mercy Thompson books) , and Richelle Mead for romance type books (the latter vampires and the other werewolves primarily).

If you want something you can both enjoy, Jim Butcher is a pretty good fantasy writer, although his books are more adventure then romance (although there are bits of romance in them). Me and my boyfriend both enjoy both the Codex Alera series (lost legion type setting fantasy) and his more popular Dresden Files series, which is modern day and has magic, vampires, werewolves, etc.

Scratchy

Went ahead a picked up the first of the Sookie Stackhouse series and the Anita Blake. Picked up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies because it looked too silly to be true and I had to read it.

If she takes a shine to the Sookie series or likes the Anita Blake stuffs I believe I'll be set for a while but I definitely wouldn't turn down more opinions about other authors.

Thank you much Bionic Monkey.

Edit: I'll look into Patricia Brigs and Richelle Mead TWA. I'm just trying to get things to justify buying the Kindle for her last Christmas at this moment though so hopefully they are on there and alas I'm in the states. Can somebody explain the Dresden Files to me? I've been living in a hole and my neighbor wasn't shy about recommending it either.

The.White.Acre

Oh, also, I would be wary of Jane Austen as a choice. It has a very slow pace, and if she likes action with her romance then its probably not the best thing for her. If she is happy just with romance and politics, then it may suit her well. I would recomed Persuasion over Emma or the others, in my opionion though (it is also shorter, so its an easier place to start).

Keep in mind, if you are getting Ebooks, Jane Austen (without the monsters) is public domain.

Dark Moon

The.White.Acre wrote: »

Oh, also, I would be wary of Jane Austen as a choice. It has a very slow pace, and if she likes action with her romance then its probably not the best thing for her. If she is happy just with romance and politics, then it may suit her well. I would recomed Persuasion over Emma or the others, in my opionion though (it is also shorter, so its an easier place to start).

Keep in mind, if you are getting Ebooks, Jane Austen (without the monsters) is public domain.

Here's a link to the free Kindle edition, if the OP is interested.

The.White.Acre

Dresden Files is about a Wizard who is kind of like a magical P.I. who also works as a consultant with the police.

here is the thread:

http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=118450

Oh, and if you like listening to audio books at all, the dresden files ones are very well done (voiced by James Masters)

Bionic Monkey

I haven't read the Dresden Files, but I did watch a few episodes of the TV show. If the show was anything like the novels, it's essentially a detective novel, except the detective is a warlock and the people committing crimes are supernatural.

Elin

The Dresden Files are indeed detective novels with supernatural characters, but set in the "real world." I prefer the Nightside books myself, written by Simon R Green. Detective novels set in an alternative "evil side" of London. I've seen some people say they dismiss the Nightside novels because the protagonist feels like a "Gary Stu," but if she liked the Twilight series she may dig that. (Not a dig, some people LIKE imagining themselves in the action.)

Just so you know, the Anita Blake novels turn into VERY thinly veiled porn novels about 6 or 7 in. The Meredith Gentry series doesn't even veil it, it starts off with the porn in book 1. If she liked the Sleeping Beauty series that shouldn't be an issue, but thought I should warn you.

John Matrix

Elin wrote: »

The Dresden Files are indeed detective novels with supernatural characters, but set in the "real world." I prefer the Nightside books myself, written by Simon R Green. Detective novels set in an alternative "evil side" of London. I've seen some people say they dismiss the Nightside novels because the protagonist feels like a "Gary Stu," but if she liked the Twilight series she may dig that. (Not a dig, some people LIKE imagining themselves in the action.)

Just so you know, the Anita Blake novels turn into VERY thinly veiled porn novels about 6 or 7 in. The Meredith Gentry series doesn't even veil it, it starts off with the porn in book 1. If she liked the Sleeping Beauty series that shouldn't be an issue, but thought I should warn you.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/06/02/

I thought I remembered that name.

Scratchy

Yall truly are an epic community. You've given me so many ideas in so short a time.

Judging by the samples on her Kindle I don't believe thinly if at all veiled pornography will be a problem and the Dresden Files sound pretty interesting to me.

Dark Moon and TWA I very much appreciate the links.

I believe at this point I've got more than enough samples from series to see if they click with her. Each of you more than met my expectations for book recommendations and I kind of hate to ask for more recommendations but I would very much like something to read as well since it's been a while.

Yall did so well with me telling you what the wifey-poo has read and liked so I'll keep the format similar. I've read: house of leaves, a huge collection of H.P. Lovecraft stories, Apaches by Lorenzo Carcaterra, Stinger by Robert McCammon.

Please don't hate me for my opinions: I enjoy reading horror. I felt house of leaves was kind of... bland and took far too long to make a point but it was a good read, many H.P. Lovecraft stories were along the lines of "build up a lot of tension, IMAGINE THIS UNDENIABLE HORROR I WON'T DESCRIBE, the end"

Honestly the horror genre may not be what I'm actually looking for but I very much enjoyed Stinger back in the day and enjoyed the lovecraft stories even if I was disappointed with a few. Apaches is probably my favorite book from from way back when though so gritty crime dramas may be more my thing now.

I know I'm asking a lot with me changing the nature of my question and I apologize for that. Any recommendations for either my wife or I will be very much appreciated.

Elin

John Matrix wrote: »

Elin wrote: »

The Dresden Files are indeed detective novels with supernatural characters, but set in the "real world." I prefer the Nightside books myself, written by Simon R Green. Detective novels set in an alternative "evil side" of London. I've seen some people say they dismiss the Nightside novels because the protagonist feels like a "Gary Stu," but if she liked the Twilight series she may dig that. (Not a dig, some people LIKE imagining themselves in the action.)

Just so you know, the Anita Blake novels turn into VERY thinly veiled porn novels about 6 or 7 in. The Meredith Gentry series doesn't even veil it, it starts off with the porn in book 1. If she liked the Sleeping Beauty series that shouldn't be an issue, but thought I should warn you.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/06/02/

I thought I remembered that name.

Yes. That, exactly. They start off as detective novels, good ones really. Then a few books in there's some sex, not too much, kinda like a good detective novel with a little Harlequin romance novel shoved in towards the end. Then OMG why is she fucking all these people instead of investigating that crime??!!?

Elin

Scratchy wrote: »

Yall truly are an epic community. You've given me so many ideas in so short a time.

Judging by the samples on her Kindle I don't believe thinly if at all veiled pornography will be a problem and the Dresden Files sound pretty interesting to me.

Dark Moon and TWA I very much appreciate the links.

I believe at this point I've got more than enough samples from series to see if they click with her. Each of you more than met my expectations for book recommendations and I kind of hate to ask for more recommendations but I would very much like something to read as well since it's been a while.

Yall did so well with me telling you what the wifey-poo has read and liked so I'll keep the format similar. I've read: house of leaves, a huge collection of H.P. Lovecraft stories, Apaches by Lorenzo Carcaterra, Stinger by Robert McCammon.

Please don't hate me for my opinions: I enjoy reading horror. I felt house of leaves was kind of... bland and took far too long to make a point but it was a good read, many H.P. Lovecraft stories were along the lines of "build up a lot of tension, IMAGINE THIS UNDENIABLE HORROR I WON'T DESCRIBE, the end"

Honestly the horror genre may not be what I'm actually looking for but I very much enjoyed Stinger back in the day and enjoyed the lovecraft stories even if I was disappointed with a few. Apaches is probably my favorite book from from way back when though so gritty crime dramas may be more my thing now.

I know I'm asking a lot with me changing the nature of my question and I apologize for that. Any recommendations for either my wife or I will be very much appreciated.

The only horror author I read is Stephen King. Have you read The Stand or IT? Those are two of the best, in my opinion. My favorite book by him is The Eyes of the Dragon. Kind of epic fantasy meets horror, in a good way. And of course there's the Dark Tower books. More fantasy than horror, but a very dark fantasy.

Scratchy

Elin wrote: »

The only horror author I read is Stephen King. Have you read The Stand or IT? Those are two of the best, in my opinion. My favorite book by him is The Eyes of the Dragon. Kind of epic fantasy meets horror, in a good way. And of course there's the Dark Tower books. More fantasy than horror, but a very dark fantasy.

I've read both and I must say the movies had nothing on them. I read the Tommyknockers, Thinner, and the like from Stephen King. I wanted to shy away from him a bit and experience a bit from other authors but I will probably end up checking out your recommendations. I grew up reading Stephen King, he was the author that got me into reading but I would like to sample other authors a bit.

Elin

Scratchy wrote: »

Elin wrote: »

The only horror author I read is Stephen King. Have you read The Stand or IT? Those are two of the best, in my opinion. My favorite book by him is The Eyes of the Dragon. Kind of epic fantasy meets horror, in a good way. And of course there's the Dark Tower books. More fantasy than horror, but a very dark fantasy.

I've read both and I must say the movies had nothing on them. I read the Tommyknockers, Thinner, and the like from Stephen King. I wanted to shy away from him a bit and experience a bit from other authors but I will probably end up checking out your recommendations. I grew up reading Stephen King, he was the author that got me into reading but I would like to sample other authors a bit.

I want to tell you to read Jurassic Park. Mostly because I hated the movie and thought the book was awesome. It's not horror ... maybe ... uh ... dark science?

Bionic Monkey

Scratchy wrote: »

Elin wrote: »

The only horror author I read is Stephen King. Have you read The Stand or IT? Those are two of the best, in my opinion. My favorite book by him is The Eyes of the Dragon. Kind of epic fantasy meets horror, in a good way. And of course there's the Dark Tower books. More fantasy than horror, but a very dark fantasy.

I've read both and I must say the movies had nothing on them. I read the Tommyknockers, Thinner, and the like from Stephen King. I wanted to shy away from him a bit and experience a bit from other authors but I will probably end up checking out your recommendations. I grew up reading Stephen King, he was the author that got me into reading but I would like to sample other authors a bit.

I don't read much in horror, aside from King myself, but if you're interested, try reading some of his Bachman books, such as Rage or The Long Walk. Basically, the Bachman novels make the rest of King's work seem rather upbeat and optimistic.

Elin

Also, I haven't gotten around to reading it yet but John Dies at the End is usually highly recommended horror. One of these days I'll actually find time to read a new book ...

Scratchy

Appreciate all of the recommendations very much! The wifey poo has read a bit of some of the books I've picked up on your recommendations and it seems like she'll like them.

I went ahead and picked up a few and couldn't put The Long Walk down. I must say that was definitely a good if not depressing read. I spose now I can't say I haven't read anything in years so thank you very much help and advice.

We've both got a bit of a backlog right now so we're all set and this thread can be closed.

Bionic Monkey

Yeah, I think The Long Walk was the first book I ever read that made me go "What the fuck?" upon finishing it.