Witches, Weres, and Vamps, Oh MY! discussion

I've thought a lot about the theme for our 3/1 group read and I think I've come up with a good one! So... I'm excited to announce our 3/1 theme - Tried & True

So many great books were published a while ago that I have wanted to read. I thought a theme where the book had to be first published 15+ years ago would be fun. Anything with a paranormal element published IN or BEFORE 1995 is game for this theme.

Timeline:
*Nominate your book through the 24th
*Voting in the polls through the 31st
*We'll know on the 2/1 what our 3/1 book will be so everyone should have a month to get a hold of it and we'll read it together in March.

Rules for submissions:
1. One recommendation per member
2. The book needs to still be in print & readily available.
3. Needs to fit the theme of Tried & True - published 15+ years ago

1. The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith (#1 & 2 in Vampire Diaries series)
2. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton (#1 in Anita Blake series)
3. Burning Water by Mercedes Lackey (#1 in (#1 in Diana Tregarde series)
4. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
5. Memory and Dream by Charles de Lint
6. War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
7.

Just in case people have a hard time finding this - it took me a while! - you want to scroll all the way to the bottom of your library and you'll see a drop down menu next to the drop down menu for how many books you want displayed at a time. In that one to the right you can sort by date published.

I want to nominate The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith because I've been meaning to reread it since the tv show started! Both books in the omnibus were published in 1991.

My pick is Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton, first published 1993. It's the only book I could think of that wouldn't be too boring. All the others I could think of were horror classics like Dracula, Carmilla and The Vampyre; a Tale - all over 100 years old.

How about Burning Water by Mercedes Lackey? It's a fun story about a witch, first published in 1989. It's the first book of a trilogy series, actually.

War for the Oaks

I'm going to suggest Fevre Dream (since it didn't win for our Member's Choice) :) It was first published in 1982.

We've actually got a pretty good list of older books already! I'm excited to see other nominations and see how the voting turns out!

Memory and Dream by Charles de Lint from 1994, it was his first Newford novel, he'd already written a collection of short stories set there.



It's hard not to feel encouraged to be a better person after reading a book by Ottawa's Charles de Lint.
—The Halifax Chronicle Herald

De Lint's greatest skill is his human focus—the mythic elements never overshadow his intimate study of character. To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire

I've been meaning to try a book of Lint's. Have you read his Newford books before Julia??

All of them. This was the first of his I read. It's about a painter (portraitist) who's able to do something painters should not be able to do...

Of the ones nominated so far I've read Memory and Dream, War for the Oaks, Burning Water and Guilty Pleasures. The first three I'd love to reread.

I vote for the Vampire Diaries book - my daughter has them already so I wouldn't have to go out and purchase them.

I vote for
Question: is it ok if i read it again, but gives me a chance to reread it?

You can always reread a book if you want or not. Totally up to you. We'll start the voting on the 25th so be sure to cast your vote. I'll post a link here when I get the poll put together.

I'm voting Memory and Dream. I've been wanting to read more Charles De Lint!

The poll is up and running! Be sure to cast your vote.

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/29...

Well, I have a couple ideas. The old stuff huh. My favorite author ever--Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote a series that starts with "Darkover Landfall" 1972. It is fantasy/science fiction but really she was a forerunner of all the female fantasy/urban fantasy writers. Those books do not need to be read in order so some of the better acclaimed books in that series are "Hawk mistress" 1982" and a Hugo award nominee: Heritige of Hastur 1975" is another good one. She also wrote some horror and other stuff, but if your gunna visit MZB start with Darkover books I think.

My other favorite author of all time from the old days is Andre Norton. She wrote a series that is also super classic called the Witchworld series. It starts with "Witchworld 1963" That is a good place to start with Andre Norton. She published lots more and is still publishing I believe, usually co writes with someone now adays.

If you wanna go with strict Urban Fantasy, I sugguest Tanya Huff's "Blood Price" The first book in the series that inspired Blood Ties (tv series). The books are much better, and i liked the series.

If i were to choose from the ones that are already reccemended, I would choose the De Lint one. I havent read it and love other things I have read by him. I have aready read a few others nominated so dont wanna go back to them.

Oops, I see I need to only reccemend one book. Oh witch one.....

For this group, I sopose I will go with Blood Price by Tanya Huff I believe it was published in 91.

I'm so sorry Lily - we've already put the list together and are voting right now. You can cast your vote for the De Lint one though :)

Here's the poll: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/29...

I did. I really do wanna read that.

Blood Price is sooo good, though. Can it be the first on our list for our April poll?

I've been meaning to do a theme around P.I.s (detective, private eye, sleuth, etc) so maybe April should be the month, huh.

Blood Price does look good.

oh yeah, just a couple more days to vote on our book. We've got a tie as of right now so be sure to get your vote in!

Holy Cow Batman! Where are all the votes coming from??? I hope this means we'll have a killer book of the month with LOTS of participation. 74 votes and counting and I didn't even send out an invite.

I'm excited to announce the winner for our Tried & True theme....

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Guilty Pleasures - #1 in the Anita Blake series

If I can remember all the books in the series correctly I believe this one was one of my favorites.

We'll also create a thread for the entire series for those who are caught up, especially since there's another one coming out... umm.. TODAY!

I own the entire series. I will look forward to re-reading this one.

Blood Price was one of the first "urban fantasy" series I read --reccemended by Mercedes Lackey on her site for those of us looking for more in the Burning Water series.

She was the author who moved me from a stright fantasy reader to "urban fantasy"

(speaking of Mercedes Lackey).

TODAY!! OH MY GOSH! (NEW ANITA BLAKE BOOK) WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Lily wrote: "TODAY!! OH MY GOSH! (NEW ANITA BLAKE BOOK) WHERE HAVE I BEEN?"

I've just read it. It's not so great :(

I was really disappointed when I saw Flirt wasn't even 200 pages.

Yes but there are two books this year. Bullet comes out in June and it's 320 pages. That's 520 in total - not bad. Last year it was 486 with just Skin Trade.

Okay... I guess I won't be frustrated about the length then. I assumed she was going to keep it at one a year like she's been doing in the past.

What didn't you like about Flirt?

1) It was predictable.

2) Most of the book was made up of cut and paste scenes from previous novels, only the beginning felt fresh and new. Actual book names kept popping into my head as I read each scene.

3) Anita has another reason as to why she is attractive to men, other than the ardeur.

4) I was disgusted by the ending. I explain why in my review.

5) Jean-Claude doesn't even make an appearance. That's what, three books now he's been absent? I miss him so much!

I figured it was going to be another "Micha". I am not going to waste money on it until after I read it for free from the library. "Micha" had no influence on the series. I think they may be holding place books to pacify the publisher. I just finished the newest Merry Gentry book and I thought it was pretty good.

Amy or "Ames" wrote: "1) It was predictable.

2) Most of the book was made up of cut and paste scenes from previous novels, only the beginning felt fresh and new. Actual book names kept popping into my head as I read ea..."

I agree with all of those points!! I was well and truly bummed when I finished this book. It just didn't seem to have any originality. It was too formulaic - which is NOT a characteristic of an Anita book. I'm hoping that bullet will renew my faith in the series!!

Flirt was meant to be a "filler" book for lack of a better word (it's too early). Bullet is the next complete installment

I loved this series, I read all the up through Skin Trade. I have Flirt, but haven't picked it up yet. I had read the first book years ago and didn't get into it, so I decided to give them another try and once I started I couldn't put them down. I blazed through the series and loved them. They keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more!

Angel wrote: "Flirt was meant to be a "filler" book for lack of a better word (it's too early). Bullet is the next complete installment"

While I get that...I just felt like it could have been so much better. I would have rather just waited for Bullet. It was just missing something...

I read Flirt yesterday and I must say that I agree with the assesments of the group, although I do belive that unlike Micha, there is a continuity hang-over here with Nicky.

Kim wrote: "I read Flirt yesterday and I must say that I agree with the assesments of the group, although I do belive that unlike Micha, there is a continuity hang-over here with Nicky. "

I'm curious to see how that will be addressed in the next book... will we get a summary of events or will we jump right into Anita's life? So many men, so little time!

Well I just received and finished Flirt and I liked it. It's not just the Anita Blakes series that is "formulamatic" (or whatever) all genres (especially Paranormal) books are like that so I don't really get hung up too much on that stuff anymore. I can draw parallels between every series I've read from different many authors.
I don't know I thought it was just a fun quick read. Tide me over to Bullet and I especially liked the quote from Jacob at the end
"I'd put a sign above St Louis for all the hired thugs if I could"
"What would it say"
"Here is a bigger motherf--- than you are"
hahahahaa

Angel wrote: "...I especially liked the quote from Jacob at the end
"I'd put a sign above St Louis for all the hired thugs if I could"
"What would it say"
"Here is a bigger motherf--- than you are"
hahahahaa "

I loved that bit too!

I've read some LJ smith books when i was yonger and i always liked her books. But guilty pleasure is a good one too. hard choice.