Member: bookmonkey00k

I think your wife will like the Elizabeth George books. They are kind of a poor man's Ruth Rendell, but they always have enough plot twists to keep me entertained.

That sounds like a really interesting degree. I didn't get into anything modern with mine, other than a contemporary lit course, where I learned that Steven Millhauser is highly entertaining, and postmodernism is awful. Most of my other courses were on Medieval and Renaissance literature, and Irish literature (from about 1850 to 1930). And then I did a fellowship dissertation on trends in the Gothic horror novel, from its inception to today (well, 2001). I did end up getting a degree in English Literature, from Pitt, with a minor in Religious Studies and a certificate in Children's Lit. What can I say? I had a job at the University of Pittsburgh Press at the time, and so the career-oriented future seemed relatively certain, and I pursued whatever seemed most interesting. Then a few years ago, I got a job doing copyediting for the Perry County Tribune, and a position in graphics opened up. Then the lead position opened up, and now, here I am, with no background in graphic design at all, but head of my own department, and webmaster on the side. It's a small paper!

What kind of a library do you work at now? I worked at the college library for a little while, and have few friends who work for local public libraries.

posted by annie1378 at 2:28 pm (EST) on Oct 5, 2009

Well, the story that got me hooked on Lovecraft was "The Picture in the House," which I think still holds up. Other favorites are "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," "The Color Out of Space, and "At the Mountains of Madness." As far as Lovecraft-inspired authors, there's T.E.D. Klein (The Ceremonies) and Thomas Ligotti (just about anything). BTW: You've got some good reviews. Hope to see more in the future.

posted by CarlosMcRey at 8:17 pm (EST) on Oct 4, 2009

The Roman murder mysteries sound interesting. I'll have to look them up sometime. As to whether Elizabeth George is good - well, I like her a lot, but that's not quite the same thing. She kind of reminds me of Ruth Rendell, only with more of a chick lit bent, in that all of her detectives have semi-soapy backstories with a lot of who's in a relationship, and how it's going and why. I wish she would do that somewhat less, but after reading many of them, I do feel like it's keeping up with a lot of people I almost know. But mainly I've always liked her because her mysteries play out in a kind of Rendell/Minette Walters psychological profiling way. She is a British murder mystery writer, but she's actually from California, which I've always felt explained how all of her characters seem Really British (if something goes wrong, they always have a cup of tea, for example). So, a little silly maybe, but fun. So how goes the Steven Saylor? Do you recommend him? I minored in religious studies at school, and the classes on early Christianity were so interesting. Are you getting a degree in that, or just curious about it?

posted by annie1378 at 9:18 am (EST) on Sep 28, 2009

I read Dana Stabenow's "Blindfold Game" (her first 'thriller')
this summer...very enjoyable and informative (it's set on a Coast Guard
cutter). The sequel: "Prepared for Rage" in on my TBR shelf.
I have read a few other mysteries set in Alaska, I will have to search my "Read/NotOwned" collection for the titles/authors. One of the more recent titles in J.A. Jance's 'J.P.Beaumont' series is set on an Alaskan Cruise(Seattle to Alaska & back).
She might enjoy Nevada Barr's 'Anna Pidgeon' series. Each mystery is set in a different US National Park ('Anna' is a Park Ranger).

BTW, another of my favorite mystery authors is John Dunning. His relatively short 'Cliff Janeway' series is set in the world of booksellers/collectors etc. His stand-alone "Two O'Clock Eastern Wartime" provides insight into
early radio along with the mystery.

posted by Catgwinn at 5:49 pm (EST) on Sep 25, 2009

Thank you for adding me too. It has been kind of a lot of work adding everything I've ever read. There are still many, many things left, I'm sure, but I find that now I'm down to the forgettable and the really cheesy, 'well, I HAVE, but should I admit it?' books. I should probably make an effort to separate current reads from the pile somehow. What do you think of Outlander? I didn't love it, but tons of people I know do. It seems like it's definitely one of those books you either really like or really don't.

posted by annie1378 at 2:26 pm (EST) on Sep 25, 2009

Kirk,
Among my longtime favorite mystery authors/series: J.A. Jance (both her J.P. Beaumont and Joanna Brady series),Earlene Fowler,Dana Stabenow (Kate Shugak series), Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes (Richard Jury series),Deborah Crombie, Anne Perry (both of her Victorian-set mystery series and her 5-book WWI mystery series), Peter Robinson (Insp Banks), Carol O'Connell (Mallory series), Nevada Barr, Sarah Andrews, Michael McGarrity, Thomas Perry (Jane Whitefield series). My favorite is often whichever series I'm currently reading.

posted by Catgwinn at 4:38 pm (EST) on Sep 24, 2009

That is rare. I stopped with horror in my 20s and yeah, none of it ever scared me. It was just fun. Then it stopped being fun. Sometimes I still go there though, I like Brian Lumley's vampire series. It's hardcore. No one sparkles.

Keep up the intelligent commentary...we need it around these parts!

Kris

posted by Bookmarque at 1:06 pm (EST) on Sep 11, 2009

I haven't read either of those authors but I am always looking for new ones to add to my library list :) I keep hearing the Stackhouse books are really good & I love the TV Series so I can only guess the books would be better.
Have a great day & talk to you soon.
Dawn

posted by scrpo1027 at 3:47 pm (EST) on Sep 9, 2009

Hi and welcome to LibraryThing. You may notice that spending time here cuts down on your reading time! I like your blog and will be keeping an eye on it. It looks like you read a lot of good SF and fantasy. Happy reading!

posted by shinyone at 7:01 pm (EST) on Sep 7, 2009

No problem! There's nothing wrong with putting a review in book talk (although if everyone did it all the time, there would be a lot of review threads!), but this way it contributes more to the site. You'll find that most members here are usually pretty helpful, although everyone has their bad days from time to time. By the way, I just finished listening to the audio of The Strain - crazy book!

Hope you enjoy LibraryThing!

posted by DevourerOfBooks at 2:54 pm (EST) on Sep 3, 2009