by Susanna Clarke
My favorite is the first story, the title story. Especially the story within the story, the one about the Raven King as a boy. See my 5/28 blog entry for more.
Last update: 4/15/09
New entries in BOLD or pictures.
Recent entries at the top of each section.
I had to split up the list because it was getting too long. So, now it's in categories. Just click the category you want.
Enjoy.
Fiction |
Religion |
Writing |
The Shack
by William P. Young
Great fiction. But a major topic is religion so it could also go there.
The Ladies of Grace Adieu
by Susanna Clarke
My favorite is the first story, the title story. Especially the story within the story, the one about the Raven King as a boy. See my 5/28 blog entry for more.
The Curse of Chalion
by Lois McMaster Bujold
Wow! Set in the same world as Paladin of Souls it's got the same fascinating religion. Plus an intricate plot and compelling characters. For a more detailed review see DKA or my blog. This book is highly recommended.
Changing Planes
by Ursula K. LeGuin
A fun book full of imaginative short stories.
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
Quite possibly the most unique romance of all time! This book is beyond wonderful. It's got a truly great concept and the stellar writing to back it up. Highly recommended.
Paladin of Souls
by Lois McMaster Bujold
This fantasy book is one of my favorites. It's got a rich world and a truly fascinating religion. Highly recommended. See blog entries 10/28/05, 10/22/05, and 10/12/05.
Oryx and Crake
by
Margaret Atwood
see related blog posts 5/9/05 and 4/20/05.
A truly great book! Margaret Atwood is brilliant and one of my favorite writers.
The Eyre Affair
by
Jasper Fforde
Think Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) meets Shakespeare and Jane Eyre). Hilarious and literary. Gotta love it. Plus there's time travel.
Grendel
by
John Gardner
Beowulf told from the monster's point of view. I love to hear a well-known story retold from the point of view of a character from the periphery. See also Wicked, The Red Tent, and The Mists of Avalon.
Wicked
by Gregory Maquire
You know the story of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, now hear it from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West. This is a biography of that "wicked witch." Not to be missed.
The Handmaid's Tale
by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is a brilliant writer and this is my favorite of her books. It is terrifying in an intellectual, "this could be your future" way. It takes existing trends and extrapolates them to a possible and horrifying conclusion. For instance, women named for what man they belong to -- Offred, Ofglen. Uggh. And that's only a slice of the horror that awaits you in Atwood's dystopia. I'm getting chills just remembering it.
The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant
The Bible stories of Jacob and his sons retold from the point of view of Dinah, one of his daughters. Again, love hearing a story retold from the sidelines. This one is a compelling account of the daily lives of women during biblical times.
The Dress Lodger
by
Sheri Holman
I don't normally like historical novels, but this one got me. (Actually maybe I just don't think of myself as someone who likes historical novels because I notice a couple on this list. Maybe it's because I don't generally like history or books on history. That's terrible, I know.) Heartbreaking poverty. Cholera before the science of infectious diseases was understood.
Slammerkin
by
Emma Donoghue
Another historical novel where the protagonist makes a living the old-fashioned way, the really old-fashioned way - i.e. as a "lady of evening."
The Mists of Avalon
by
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Again a retelling of a known story -- this time Arthurian legend -- from the point of view of the people on the fringe -- this time the women in the story. Really great stuff. Kind of goes along with the nonfiction book The Alphabet Versus the Goddess.