Based on some of the young adult fantasy you listed, I'd recommend Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and the Bartemaeus Trilogy (Forget the author off the top of my head.)
If you want some adult fantasy recommendations, or if you like victorian or 18th C novels I could offer a ton more suggestions--let me know!
Anything Jodi Picoult...she is great!!!
Hi! I recommend the historical books by Allan Eckert. He writes them like a novel but it is actual history. They are about frontier life, and he researched records from everywhere. These are detailed but are well written and fast paced and exciting. The best one to start out with is probably "The Frontiersman". The next set I would recommend is the "Dune" series. It is science fiction and people have compared it to "The Lord of the Rings" of the science fiction world. There are thirteen in the series now and they made 2 movies of it for TV / sci fi channel. I also like anything by Bill Myers - he writes Christian novels that are adventure mysteries and are very exciting and they are clean. The last I like is most books by Clive Cussler - he writes adventure stories that involve marine science (recommended to me by my Coast Guard father-in-law). The movie "Sahara" was based on one of his books. You can get most of these at a library or through interlibrary loan, and if you like any, Amazon has good deals on used books. Have fun reading!
Based on what you've already got, I'd recommend The Belgariad and The Mallorean. Both are fantasy series by David Eddings, 5 books each, wonderful tales with great family values. Very much epics! Also try Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels, One for the Money, Two for the Dough, etc up through Fearless Fourteen. These are fun and just slightly suspenseful. Jersey Girl as incompetent bounty hunter, with some great romance. I saw that someone recommended Laurell K Hamilton's series, and I'll go along with the Anita Blake series, but only the first three or four. They started out with a smart, sassy tone, with just the right amount of erotic tension. I loved them and could hardly wait for the next installment. Unfortunately by the fourth or fifth one, they'd become gory and kind of revolting - psychopaths, finger amputations, bad guys breaking children's fingers, lots of violence and torture. Nearly broke my heart to stop reading them but I did. The other series with Merry is pretty much just S & M, like some of the Anne Rice stuff she did under a different name. Try the Sookie Stackhouse series for lighter vampire fare, by Charlaine Harris. It's the series that new HBO show True Blood is based on. Good stores with humor and creativity. Dorothy Gilman's 'The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax' series is charming as well. Elderly woman embarks on new career as spy - like Mrs. Marple if she did karate. All Agatha Christie's are a terrific addition to any library, too.
Happy reading!
-Lisa
OK I know it sounds a little teen-ish, but I recently read the Twilight series on my maternity leave. How I read 4 books with a newborn and a 2 very close to 3 year old, I am not sure.....But I found them to be very well written. And VERY addicting. And looking at the list that you have in your post, we seem to have the same taste in books. Also, if you go to amazon.com and look up books that you have already read, it will create a list of books with similar themes for you. Based on the what other members have bought. That is how I found the next series that I read. Good Luck!
I just finished reading "Multiple Blessings" about the sextuplets from Jon & Kate Plus 8 by Kate Gosselin. It's a brand new book and when I called Barnes & Noble to ask about it the girl said that they can't keep it on the shelves. Excellent and fast reading!
My favorite authors are Mary Higgins Clark and Catherine Coulter. C. Coulter writes historical fiction novels which I don't read. She has an FBI Thriller Series that I've been reading for years. www.catherinecoulter.com
Nicholas Sparks is great for romance. Sue Grafton for mystery.
I've heard Eat, Pray, & Love is excellent. My co-workers are avid readers and have been discussing what they've been reading so I've been making a list of recommendations.
You can also read reviews on amazon or barnes and noble web sites.
I LOVE the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I read this series 10 years ago - the books are about a time traveling woman named Claire and a lot of Scottish history since books #1-#5, I think takes place in Scotland & England, #6 & #7 take place in the US during the 1800's, I loved these books so much I actually planned my honeymoon around the interesting locations in the book and went to scotland. I am presently reading them all again!!!
The books are as follows in order
1. Outlander
2. Dragonfly in Amber
3. Voyager
4. Drums of Autumn
5. The Fiery Cross
6. A Breath of Snow & Ashes.
7. Hopefully coming in Fall of 09.
Happy Reading!!!
I also like the Stephenie Plum 1 2 3 novels by Evanovich. Another one along the same lines (woman in a typical male role) is sue grafton's A B C type series. Another one with a strong, intelligent female is the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. Amelia and her family are archiologists in Egypyt in the late 1800's. Peters also has a vicky bliss series...the latest one has some remote references to the peabody series. Diane Mott Davidson has a series about caterer Goldy Schultz ..she also lists the recipes Goldy prepares...I saw you like to cook. Another one that lists recipes is the Faith Fairchild series by Katherine Hall Page. Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma series is about a nun in mid 600's Ireland. Aimee and David Thurlo write the Ella Clah series ..another nun, in Navaho country, who solves crimes riding on her motorcycle with her dog in the side car. Margaret Coel does a series in Arapaho region of the southwest. Tony Hillerman is another author with Native American mysteries. I like the insight into different cultures. Ellis Peters has the Brother Cadfael series, very well written, you can smell the freshly turned dirt on the farms. Archer Mayor does Joe Gunther series, a Vermont cop. All of these books are murder/mystery with the emphasis on great characters solving crimes.
Deb
I noticed that a lot of the suggestions you've received involve series that have certain themes, like marine biology or Native American detectives or grandmas that join the CIA so I thought I'd suggest a theme author I've enjoyed. Dick Francis is a real-life British ex-jockey who writes great murder mysteries and they always involve horses or horse-racing. They are really good and you don't have to know any thing about horses or racing to follow them. Also, on the Science Fiction side there's a series written by Piers Anthony called the Incarnations of Immortality. They can get a little dark but aren't too gory or anything. The first one deals with the incarnation of Death (the Grim Reaper; sounds much creepier than it is), the second is the Incarnation of Time, the third is the Incarnation of War, the fourth is the Incarnation of Fate and the fifth is the Incarnation of Nature. I also just found out that there's a sixth one, but I haven't read it yet. I didn't think I'd like them but they were quite addicting. Also, if you like animals and for something lighter, I'd recommend "Marley and Me" (the one that's out in theaters now) and "Dewey" about a library cat. Very touching.
I love anything by Jodi Picoult or Sophie Kinsella!
Lucky for you getting a library! As for book recommendations, I love Sophie Kinsella (Shopaholic series), Karen Kingsbury (usually tearjerkers), Mary Higgins Clark, Wanda Brunstetter (Amish) and Cindy Woodsmall (also Amish). I hope I gave you a few good suggestions, good luck.
I love Karen Kingsbury. She is a Christian fiction author that is not preachy, but very emotional.
"Karen's books are regularly bestsellers and include the Firstborn Series, Redemption Series, Red Glove Series, Sunrise Series, and the series dear to her heart, 911 Series."
Another set to look at is the House of Winslow series by Gilbert Morris. which has over 40 books. To quote:
" House of Winslow Series: Gilbert Morris
Epic in scope, Gilbert Morris' HOUSE OF WINSLOW series is nothing less than the compelling story of the forces and people that shaped American history. Following the Winslow family line from Gilbert Winslow's voyage across the ocean on the Mayflower, the series views the most important moments of history through the eyes of characters living the experience first hand. As well, the series is rich with spiritual journeys as the many characters each must struggle with their own individual faiths. "
Have fun reading!
Wow! I can’t believe how many responses I’ve recieved so far! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I can’t wait to get started on the library (will be done before march!!!) and now people will know what to get me for b-day & christmas gifts! lol Again, I can’t express how helpful you’ve all been to get me back ‘in the game’ with my reading material. Both my boys are reading on their own now & although I’ll always read at bed time to them - now I get my time in too - and a comfy/cozy place to relax while reading. Any other titles/authors you can think of - please keep 'em coming!!! Thanks again!!!