Here are the books I’ve read and enjoyed lately! I sometimes feel a little self-conscious about how eclectic my reading tastes are, but that’s not going to change, so I should just get over that, right?
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss.
I saw Mr. Rothfuss talk at a nerdy convention a couple of years ago, and from the moment when he introduced himself as Joss Wheon, I really liked him.
Mr. Donovan and a couple of my friends already loved his book. It’s one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a while, with particularly realistic and convincing magic. There are hilarious and heartbreaking moments, and I particularly loved the main character’s relationship with his protege. The element of romance is a bit weak, with the couple’s most important conversation being summed up rather than fully dramatized, but it’s a terrific book.
This is “sweet” in every sense of the word — a romance with no sex, depicted or implied. Although I like explicit scenes in romance, not everybody does, which is why Amazon opened up their “Clean and Wholesome” category last year.
I don’t have to have sex scenes. I thought this small-town romance, about a woman struggling to run the family chocolate shop and a man trying to help his sort of messed-up brother, was absolutely adorable. If you love Hallmark movies, you’d love this.
The Success Principles, Jack Canfield.
No matter what you think of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books (I have not read them, myself), any author would have to be impressed at the effort Mr. Canfield made to get it published (144 rejections, friends) and all the things he did to get them onto the NYT bestseller list.
The Success Principles employs a little law of attraction thinking, but has a whole lot more about responsibility, focus, and hard work. I didn’t agree with everything, but I found it really inspiring and will return to it again.
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I know I’ve said this before, but I don’t think I’m reading enough, and I really want to change that! So hopefully I’ll have a much longer post for you in May.
What have you been reading lately? Let us know in the comments if you feel so inclined. Happy reading!
Just recently finished Cassandra Clare’s latest, Lady Midnight, which is YA. I have read all of her series and this is the first book in a new trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed it. J.R. Ward’s latest installment of her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, The Beast, was excellent as always.
Hey Yvonne! Kind of trivial, but I liked the covers of both of these books very much 🙂 I am probably going to read Lady Midnight, though I haven’t read anything by Clare before. I have friends who really like her work!
Yes! I thought both covers were just gorgeous….same with Karen Moning’s Fever series latest, Feverborn. I like paranormal, dystopian reads in case it wasn’t obvious 🙂
** writing my trilogy faster ** 😀
I’m about half-way through Andy Weir’s The Martian and it’s the best book I’ve read in a long time. It has a strong base in science and a life/death situation with realistic characters.
Hey, nice profile pic — it’s new right? 🙂
That book was so entertaining! And I think it’s fascinating that it started out as a self-published novel.
Hi Bryn!
I subscribe to OwlCrate (YA subscription box) and I am trying to be a little better keeping up with the reads I get through that. So one of my favorite reads this month came from there: The Love that Split the World by Emily Henry. It’s a terrific blend of first love, Native American folklore, and alternate realities. I also really enjoyed Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. Love how she tugs on the heartstrings!
A YA subscription box?! I’m making a note for Mr. Donovan’s birthday! He would LOVE that! Luckily he only rarely reads this blog 😀
Thank you so much for the recs, Kimberly!
I just read read Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races and loved it. I thought it was very unique and creative!
Thanks, Nicole! I just looked it up… WATER HORSES. That looks amazing.
I just recently read Harlan Coben’s new book “Fool Me Once”. I really enjoyed it, stayed up half the night to finish it, as usual with his books! He always writes the unexpected…you would think I could guess at the ending but it is always an amazing surprise! I think it was definitely worth the read, lived it!
Hi, Pat! Haha, I mentioned that one the other day in one of my posts about titles… I’ve been curious about it! This sounds like a really good book club rec 🙂
Hey, Bryn, I always love seeing your recommendations and share them with reader and writer friends.
I’m in the middle of Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. I picked it up off the new arrivals shelf at the public library, mistaking it for fiction (didn’t see the subtitle at first), but I’m enjoying it. So much of it is quotable and funny. It’s for everyone, not just writers or “artistic types.”
The Bride Wore Starlight by Lizbeth Selvig is an awesome deal at $2.99 for Kindle, and the paperback version is available now, too. It’s book three in her contemporary Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys series.
I just finished binge-reading books 1 through 5 of Katie Reus’ Darkness Series, which is the best-written contemporary shifter/supernatural beings (wolves, dragons, vampires, half-demons, demigods) world I’ve read. I’m usually not into ultra-Alpha male heroes, but I liked this series.
I was really disappointed by Nora Robert’s Stars of Fortune, book one in her Guardians Trilogy (books two and three out later this year); she didn’t make me care about the romantic couple or the fate of the world, and the most believable characters were the mermaid and the sweet dog at the rental villa.
Kathryn, oh my goodness. You are the 5th person to recommend that Elizabeth Gilbert book to me and the 2nd person today! I’m taking that as a sign.
I know that way back when, Katie Reus was in the same online writing community as me and we were both Supernatural fans! And I haven’t online-talked to her in years! But I want to read her stuff. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!!
I am currently reading “Battlefield of the Mind” by Joyce Meyer. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression for the majority of their life, it has been incredibly mind opening and is helping me through a very difficult time.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers from any short of mental health condition. It will chance the way you look at your struggles.
Erin, thanks for the recommendation! That sounds really interesting.
I have been thinking about writing a little more about my own journey from depression to mental health… it’s something I’ve been kind of shy about on this blog. But we’ll see.
Wishing you fewer shadows and more light. <3
Right now I am listening to Poison Study by Maria Smyder. It’s a fascinating story of a young woman who is taken off death row and trained as a taster to protect the commander-in-chief from assassination. Castle politics abound! (There’s magic and romance, too.)
I also read Cinder by Marissa Mayer recently, and loved it–a wonderful space-age retelling where Conderella is a cyborg who falls in love with the prince.
Hi Ann! That’s a pretty great premise with Poison Study! I didn’t know Cinder was futuristic — I’ve seen the cover but I guess it was just a thumbnail, haha. Very cool!
Hiii, my first time here and I came across your badass Latin phrases post, very cool.
Btw , I read and need to read more so ws excited at your post.
I am not reading anything new but age old, a book by Daphne Du Maurier , The King’s General.
I am enjoying it, its a strong woman themed back.
Hope to see more of your posts
Hi, Rachel! So nice to see you 🙂 I hadn’t heard of The King’s General, but I loved Rebecca. (I also began Jamaica Inn but then I lost the book, haha.)
Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by!