When I'm writing a lot, I can't read romance/women's fiction. Too close to what I'm doing. I save them for a binge when I'm done.
So I read mysteries, mostly. And, to make my inner science geek happy, I really like those with a scientific bent. Forensic stuff, like Kathy Reichs, and books with a bit of science in them, Tess Gerritsen and the Lincoln/Child books.
But I'm still a historical fan, too. And THE MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH by Ariana Franklin gave me the best of both worlds.
It's firmly a historical, set deeply and believably in the 1100s. The detail is rich, and Henry II is a strong character. But it's also a procedural; the heroine is an orphan, raised by two Jewish Doctors in Sicily. She's attended medical school and is, essentially, an early pathologist, a brilliant and unique character.
I'm reading the second one right now. (The Serpent's Tale) And it's great, too. Fair warning though: there's one of the grossest scenes I've ever read, so if CSI freaks you out, steer clear. In compensation, though, there's one of the most romantic lines I've read in a long time, too.
What are you reading? Anything particularly interesting?
Best
Susie
11 comments:
I saw Cokie Roberts on "The Daily Show" pushing her new LADIES OF LIBERTY about wives of the first few presidents. Might be a good read.
But an interesting tidbit vis-a-vis Betina's recent post on infidelity:
The Congressional session debating the Missouri Compromise went a little long. When they finally adjourned, congressmen and senators went home to their wives, but they left 40 WOMEN IN DC PREGNANT! Apparently the people running the DC orphan asylum asked for funding to add a new building, and John Q Adams's wife suggest in a letter to her father-in-law that they donate the raise they'd voted themselves to the cause.
By the way, the HBO series "John Adams" is must-see TV.
Okay, Susie. You can't NOT tell us what this romantic line is.
Give.
I've just ordered THE LAST LECTURE by Randy Pausch. I've seen the lecture and have been waiting for the book to arrive. I'm thrilled he's well enough to be here for the launch.
In a move that has completely dumbfounded my writing friends, I'm reading vampire romance. And it's another friend's fault. I have a scene I wrote for a contest a few years ago and pulled it out last week to see if I could do anything with it. I thought it might work with some sort of woo-woo element added. My friend said "Why not make the bad guy a vampire?" and after doing some research and a little brainstorming, I thought why not? So I bought several vampire romances for research purposes and am immersing myself in the mythos, the lingo and just how the whole vampire thing works. I'm slowly getting over my queasy feeling every time one of them drinks blood. LOL!
Marilyn
Susan...have you ever read Karen Rose?? While her books do have romance in them, they're very much along the lines of Gerritsen or Reichs. They're excellent, and I swear she's getting better. Die For Me was so eerily good, I just am waiting for the movie. LOL, I love to scare myself.
I'm reading a Lynn Kurland book. I've never read her before and it's a time travel. Only the first 2 chapters so far but really enjoying it. Does anyone know if all her books are time travels? I get the feeling this is part of a series.
Like you, Susie, when I'm deep in the writing zone, I often turn to reading something out of my own subgenre. But I always have to have a book I'm immersed in!
Marsha Moyer's Lucy Hatch series. I loved it! I'm sad there's no more of this series...
Sarah Strohmeyer (The Cinderella Pact, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal): FUNNY
Leslie Langtry's BOMBAY Assassin Series (Guns Will Keep Us Together, 'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy): HYSTERICAL and you'll want to read them two or three times back to back.
Hester Browne's Little Lady Agency books, currently reading: The Little Lady and the Prince. I love it. Love it, love it.
Yeah, a great many of Lynn Kurland's books are time-travel. If you're reading her very latest, yes, you're reading out of series order--but generally it won't be a problem. It's just you meet characters from previous books. (Me, I forget the characters a lot, so even though I've read the whole series, it feels I'm reading out of order. "Who's this guy again?")
Hi, Susan, I'd better steer clear! While I'm fascinated by CSI and that ilk, I'm also so easily grossed out, it's pathetic!
I'm reading Elizabeth Hoyt's Prince trilogy--just finished the first two and am looking forward to The Serpent Prince. :)
Sorry I've been awol for a while, guys. Finally got the book done (yay!!) and then got bitten by a really bad bug. Finally, I'm on the mend.
I'm reading Robert Bolton's, Surrender is Not an Option. What an intriguing and intelligent man.
Yay, Marilyn's come over to the dark side! :-)
I'm currently reading Lauren Willig's THE SEDUCTION OF THE CRIMSON ROSE. It's the fourth in her Scarlet Pimpernel-esque series, and I love, love, love them all.
M
Post a Comment