Monday, November 30, 2009

recommend me some books!

Because I am a chronic overplanner, I’m already thinking about what books I’ll bring to Cuba with me, and I am STUMPED. So maybe you guys can recommend something for me?

I am kind of into good mysteries right now, and have recently enjoyed:

- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson
- In The Woods (and The Likeness) – Tana French
- Mystic River – Dennis Lehane

But I also like well-written ‘chick-lit’ (But I’m kinda fussy about it -- I like the Shopaholic series, and anything by Marian Keyes, but I quite dislike Emily Griffin (the ‘Something Borrowed’ series) and Lauren Weisberger (Devil Wears Prada - even though the movie was great!).)

Other books I’ve enjoyed, just off the top of my head:
- The Davinci Code
- The Twilight series
- The Timetraveller’s Wife
- Harry Potter books
- His Dark Materials trilogy – Philip Pullman
- Fionavar Tapestry trilogy – Guy Gavriel Kay
- Anything by Ian Rankin
- Mostly anything by Stephen King
- Wicked – Gregory Maguire
- Anything by Wally Lamb, esp. She’s Come Undone
- Anything by Douglas Coupland, esp. Microserfs
- Anything by Neil Gaiman, esp American Gods

It's a bit of a hodgepodge. I do like just about anything, if it has decent writing and compelling characters. In general though, I am not a fan of fantasy, science fiction, or historical fiction, although I guess there are occasional exceptions. And I’m on holiday so no health books or other non-fiction. I want good novels I can get lost in!

And I do not like Jody Picoult so please no one recommend her! :)

My other criteria right now is that I’d like something that’s available in paperback. No hardcovers, I have to think about weight and space in my suitcase! Both Dan Brown and Stephen King have new books out that I’d like to read, but sadly they are MASSIVE. (Especially the King one, jeez, have you seen that sucker?) Although, feel free to recommend hardcovers, if there’s something you think I MUST read, I’m always looking for something good!