Book Recommendations

I am an avid reader and there are some truly wonderful books out there. Here are just a few of the ones that I enjoyed personally. I read mainly in the science fiction and fantasy genre, but a few more mainstream (and some farther away) sneak in as well. Organized by author rather than genre, since I figure in the days of online bookstores, it's easy to type in the title and get a description of the book. I'm trying to branch out myself from exclusively SF/F and reading other stuff. I'm finding that I like it, though I still go back to space opera and elves when I need a pick-me-up.

Updated: 10 May 2006

* Ahern, Cecilia - Love, Rosie, also published as Rosie Dunne in Hardcover - An entire story told through letters. It reminded me so much of my favorite play, Love Letters (Contemporary Fiction)

Atwood, Margaret - The Handmaid's Tale (Futuristic utopia/dystopia, Feminism, Fiction)

Auel, Jean M. - Clan of the Cave Bear - I, however, recommend NONE of the other books in the series. (Fiction)

Baum, L. Frank - The Wizard of Oz and the rest of the Oz books. He wrote a total of 14 and I love every single one. (Children's Fantasy)

Bradley, Marion Zimmer - The Firebrand (Fantasy)

Brockmann, Suzanne - The Unsung Hero and the other books in her Troubleshooters series (Romance, Action)

Bujold, Lois McMaster -

The Vorkosigan Saga - Start with Cordelia's Honor and work your way from there. (SF)
Curse of Chalion & Paladin of Souls (Fantasy)
The Spirit Ring (Fantasy)

Bull, Emma - The War for the Oaks (Urban Fantasy)

Bunn, T. Davis - The Book of Hours (Mystery, Suspense)

Card, Orson Scott - Ender's Game and the other three books in the series. (Science Fiction)

Carey, Peter - True History of the Kelly Gang (Historical Fiction)

* Clarke, Susanna - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Don't let the size of it deter you. This is one fabulous book. It won the Hugo and the World Fantasy Award for a reason. (Fantasy)

Coelho, Paulo - The Alchemist, subtitled "A Fable About Following Your Dream." This is a really quick and easy read that pulls you in. Some very good advice hidden within the story as well. (Fable, Fantasy?)

Cutter, Leah R. - Paper Mage (Fantasy)

de Lint, Charles - Moonheart (Urban Fantasy)

Ernst, Howard R. - Chesapeake Bay Blues: Science, Politics, and the Struggle to Save the Bay (Non-fiction, Political Science)

* Fforde, Jasper - The Eyre Affair and the rest of the Thursday Next books. They're just fun. (Fiction, Fantasy? Science Fiction?)

Gabaldon, Diana - Outlander and the subsequent novels in the series (Fiction, some Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction...)

Giambastiani, Kurt R. A. - The Year the Cloud Fell and the other books in his Fallen Cloud Saga (Science Fiction, Alternate History)

Harris, Joanne

Five Quarters of the Orange (Fiction, Contemporary Literature)
* Blackberry Wine (Fiction, Contemporary Literature)

Hawthorne, Nathaniel - The Scarlet Letter (Fiction, Classic)

Huxley, Aldous - Brave New World (Futuristic utopia/dystopia, SF)

Justor, Norton  - The Phantom Tollbooth (Children's Fantasy)

Kaye, M.M. -

The Far Pavilions (Historical Fiction)
The Ordinary Princess - My favorite book as a child. (Children's Fantasy)

Kerr, Peg - The Wild Swans (Fantasy) - My favorite book. Two stories in one: a retelling of the classic fairy tale and a story about the AIDS epidemic. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Kidd, Sue Monk - The Secret Life of Bees (Fiction, Contemporary Literature)

Kingwell, Mark - Better Living: In Pursuit of Happiness from Plato to Prozac (Published in the U.S. as In Pursuit of Happiness: Better Living from Plato to Prozac) - Should be recommended reading for everyone today. (Non-fiction, Philosophy)

Lee, Harper - To Kill a Mockingbird (Fiction, Classic, Literature) - Another book that I feel should be required reading for everyone.

Letts, Billie - Where the Heart Is (Fiction, Contemporary Literature)

Levine, Gail Carson - Ella Enchanted (YA/Children's Fantasy)

Martin, George R.R. & Lisa Tuttle - Windhaven (SF) - Very reminiscent of Anne McCaffrey's Pern.

Moore, Christopher - Fluke: Or, I Know Why a Winged Whale Sings (Fiction, Humor, SF)

Murphy, Pat - Adventures in Time and Space with Max Merriwell (SF)

Orczy, Baroness - The Scarlet Pimpernel - Try and find the rest of the series as well though they're rather hard to get your hands on. (Historical Fiction, Classic)

* Picoult, Jodi - My Sister's Keeper (Contemporary Literature)

Pierce, Tamora - Alanna: The First Adventure and the rest of her Tortall books (YA Fantasy)

Reichert, Mickey Zucker - The Legend of Nightfall and its sequel The Return of Nightfall (Fantasy)

** Ryan, Brittney - The Legend of Holly Claus - This is the BEST book I've read in the longest time. It made me re-experience the feeling I got watching the claymation holiday movies in December. This book is PERFECT and I cannot recommend it enough. (Children's Fantasy, Holiday)

Schlosser, Eric - Fast Food Nation (Non-Fiction, Journalistic)

Shelley, Mary - Frankenstein (SF, Classic)

Thoreau, Henry David - Walden (Non-fiction, Nature, Classic)

Waitman, Katie - The Merro Tree (SF)

Wells, Rebecca - Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (Fiction, Contemporary Literature)

* Willig, Lauren - The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Historical Adventure/Romance)