This picture (left) is why I bought a particular, unknown book from a bargain bin years ago. And because of it I discovered urban fantasy which has become my favourite type of book to read. Maybe it's because I want to believe there is a little bit of mystery in our world. The best of the genre is beautiful and strange and I hope you enjoy whatever you choose to read in November, so lets start with who's reading what...
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Myths and Fairytales
Posted by Nic at 9:58 PM
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12 comments:
Hello
I am reading the 3rd book in a YA series by Melissa Marr - Fraguile Eternity.
It's about the Faery Courts (Summer, Winter, Dark, Light)and, if the first 2 are anything to go by, it should be a fabulous, dark read
Ooh, I own Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr but haven't started that yet. My goal is to finish Ironside by Holly Black and get stuck into Wicked Lovely.
This is definitely my favourite genre to read :D
I still have a list of these books that was originally compiled by Nicole some time back, but I have also added recommendations from other friends (if anyone is interested I can email them the list?).
By the way, I like the blog background :)
I've been reading Walking Dead by C. E. Murphy, Kristen lent it to me. It's started as a semi-paranormal, heroine-is-a-shaman-AND-a cop thing and very good it was too. But then half way through the Wild Hunt and Cernunnos turned up - AWESOME! I am so going to go back and read every De Lint I own after this. Also maybe the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay, if you haven't read that trilogy, you should give it a go, it's incredible but it will definitely break your heart. I love celtic myth-inspired fiction.
I'm looking at David Gemmell's Troy series. He wrote his own take on the Troy legend which was quite interesting. He has taken the guts of the Troy story and and filled in the blanks with his own flourish. Its a similar style to his earlier Lion of Macedon/Dark Prince series that looked at Alexander the Great.
I'll be interested to hear what you think of the Troy series, I just couldn't get into - but I only tried once. I loved the Alexander books, so if you give a good report, I'll give them another go.
They don't quite have the flair of his earlier novels, and admittedly he died before finishing the third one (not that you'd really notice, his wife did and exceptional job writing it from David's notes).
It takes a bit of getting used to but the second and third books start to introduce other famous characters more so like Achilles and Hector, while having some twists and turns that I did not expect.
I read "Tender Morsels" by Margo Lanagan, Nicole recommended it to me and I'm glad she did! It is unlike anything I have ever read before. It is kind of dark, but beautifully written. It is the kind of book that stays with you for a long time. I am not sure what fairy-tale it might be based on (Nicole, do you know?).
According to the Interweb it's based on Snow White, Rose Red, I'd be interested to see if you agree. It's definitely a novel that divides people - it was the Winner Best Novel at the Ditmar Awards 2009,
Shortlisted for the 2008 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel, Winner (joint) Best Novel The World Fantasy Convention, 2009 and yet also garners vitriolic press like this: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/leave-our-kids-alone/story-e6frfifo-1225762482740
Lanagan herself never meant it to be a YA novel and I am VERY careful to whom I recommend it - so far that list contains Philippa and no-one else, however, this is my book of 2009. Beautiful, challenging, distressing - this book left the biggest impact on me of anything I've read this year.
I see Snow White, Rose Red fits quite well, if you discount Liga being the central character of Tender Morsels. http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/lang/andrew/l26bf/chapter25.html
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