I enjoy fantasy books too,but never heard of Jonathan Stroud or his books...will check out.

I'm so into Renaissance literature now.Thanks to Lula Argante's recommendation,I got to read John Milton's Lost Paradise and was totally impressed with the magnificent beauty of the language. I'm Also into Jacob Bohme's works,especially after visiting his birthplace and sinking into that atmosphere

Right now I'm reading a nonfiction book about shamanism and I must admit it's very gripping!

I think it's a pretty cool idea for a thread,Gina,I wonder what everyone else is reading too!

Lula Argante wrote:

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kindle? wow I really would love one of those! but somehow prefer the original book in my hand still! hmmmm I have a number of spiritual themed books that seem to be permenantly on my bedside, but my main read at this very moment is 'A Hell Of a Woman, An Anthology of Female Noir' by Megan Abbott.

I love complete escapism too Gina, adore children's fiction sometimes too! Since studying english lit it has taken me many years to be able to just enjoy a book simply for a good read again, for a long while children's ficton, science fiction and fantasy were the only things I could still enjoy! The Bartimus Trilogy is awesome, I may need to revist them again, thank you for the cosmic nudge!

Really glad you enjoyed Paradise Lost Voodoo Child, not the easist of reads, but epic nevertheless!

Wonderful thread Gina! Perhaps it deserves a place in our chamber of arts, is that ok with you?

 

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 Thanks Voodoo and Lula!!!!

For a long time I was stuck on the James Patterson books but then, they became a bit too dark, though I did enjoy "When the Wind Blows." 

By all means Lula, please move the thread to where ever you feel fits best!!!!

I love this place!!!

Sprocket wrote:

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John Cheever's 'Collected Stories' - I'm a big fan of short stories, especially those which are as precisely crafted as Cheever's. He hints at the kind of suburban darkness that David Lynch exposes in Blue Velvet, but with a great deal of sadness and a kind of hard tenderness. A little like Raymond Carver, but while Carver tends to rely on an illuminated, sweaty moment - the lover in the middle of the night realising his relationship is a sham - Cheever tends towards a slow sinking; the curdling of emotions. Also, his own troubled life no doubt makes many of the stories seem close to the bone. Really brilliant.

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 Oh Sprocket!  John Cheever sounds intriguing!!!!

Thank you for such a compelling recommendation Mr Sprocket, this is a new writer to me. I cannot wait to be adding one of your books to my list, because the way you write anything is equally compelling!

Lula, when I hopefully manage to get something published one day there is no-one I'd want more for a introduction or cover recommendation! Thanks so much! ^^

P.S. He really is worth checking out! I'm really intrigued by the sound of his novel Falconer, which I'm yet to read!

I am reading two awesome books right now; I recommend them both. 

The first is 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern. It is so beautifully written and so intriguing, extremely different, and charmingly magical, and the author sounds so interesting too! I love her site. (I have a role for Nic all picked out if they ever make it into a movie!)

http://erinmorgenstern.com/the-night-circus/

The second is 'A Discovery of Witches', which I am really enjoying, it is also magical, with witches and sexy, broody vampires, a quest, history, everything you want in a good book, really! Maybe not as 'good lit' as 'The Night Circus' but very fascinating for all that.

http://deborahharkness.com/discovery-of-witches/

It is the first of a trilogy and already been acquired for movie rights!