What are you reading right now? Anything lately that knocked your socks off or made you laugh out loud? Better yet, anything that made you cry? Send those titles my way.
It’s amazing how little time authors have for reading — for me, it used to be between deadlines and whenever I sprained or broke something. I didn’t like carrying books in my purse, so I rarely read much away from the house. Since I got the Kindle, all that’s changed. I read while Bob’s pumping gas, in the post office or the pharmacy. I read through physical therapy and while I wait in doctors’ offices. In fact, I read any time I have a chance to grab the Kindle out of my bag and open it to a page. (I had it out in a restaurant a few weeks ago, the waitress started asking questions, and by the time I’d shown her some of the features, she was sold on it for a Christmas gift for her niece. And my therapist is interested, too.)
Right now I’m reading Enchanting the Lady by Kathryne Kennedy, a British historical where magic is an accepted part of everyday life. The hero’s a shapeshifter — a magnificent lion — while the heroine, the daughter of two powerful magickers, has no power. I love a familiar setting that’s been turned upside down.
I’m also reading I Quit: Stop Pretending Everything is Fine and Change Your Life by Geri Scazzero. Geri’s a pastor’s wife who one day quit his church in search of a better fit for her. Quitting is not something that comes easily to me, but Geri points out that quitting is just really a way of choosing something else. If you quit lying, you’re choosing to tell the truth. If you quit saying yes to everyone, you’re choosing to spend time on the things that matter to you.
And I just finished Native Star by M.K. Hobson. It has an American West setting, but again, magic is a more-or-less accepted part of life. I liked the book a lot, though it’s written entirely from the heroine’s point of view. The hero, Dreadnought Stanton, was an interesting character, and I would have liked to been in his head a bit.
So y’all tell me what you’re reading now.
Smart Women 
Marilyn,
I love that you’re reading a lot because of the Kindle. I heard one author say that she never read at all while she was writing, and it almost put me off trying to get published. I couldn’t think of a worse punishment!
I just finished (moments ago) “Me, Myself and Why” by MaryJanice Davidson which is told in three distinct points of view… the heroine has multiple personality disorder and changes ‘sisters’ when she’s stressed. It was the most unique thing I’ve read in a long, long time.
Of course, I also just finished “The Gathering Storm” which is the first of three or four books being written by Brandon Sanderson to complete Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. It was wonderful and it really ‘felt’ like Robert Jordan’s work, which is, I think, the best thing you can say for Brandon Sanderson’s worship of this author. He wanted to bring the final book(s) to the market in a way that the fans are expecting. Such a tribute. We should all leave such a legacy.
And, in my attempt to keep reading kick ass heroines, I’ve read another Honor Harrington book by David Weber. I went back and re-read the entire series of Miles Vorkosigan’s adventures by Lois McMasters Bujold.
I don’t expect you to love the sci fi/fantasy like I do, but I do want you to know what holds my attention. spw
Science fiction was my first love way back when. I’ll have to check out the Jordan/Sanderson books — have heard lots of good about the series. I’ve also read some early Bujold stuff that I liked. I looked at some of her titles for the Kindle, but didn’t have time to figure out where they came in the series line-up. I like to read series from the start.
I’ll also check out the Davidson book. I’ve always admired her dialogue, though her characters sometimes were too flat for me. But the multiple personality thing sounds really interesting.
I don’t usually read a lot when I’m writing, but I have to have something going on the side. 😉 Though I am one of those whose reading fell way off after getting published, just because of time constraints. The Kindle makes it really easy to read a few pages whenever I get a chance, and it’s been great for traveling and for physical therapy. I do love it.
I’m in the middle of HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost, the first book in her Cat/Bones series. She’s the author whose short story impressed me so much in Charlene Harris’ last anthology. And the promise has held up. I love these characters! Cat is a half-vampire (and, trust me, the explanation of how that happened is soooo credible.) and Bones is a Master vampire, joining forces to hunt down “bad” vampires.
How serious is the series, Jackie? Dark, grim, or is there some humor to it? I’ve found I need some lightness to vampire stories or I don’t enjoy them.
I’ll see if there’s a sample to download for Kindle and give it a shot.
Yes, there’s some lightness in it. And they’re all in Kindle. That’s how I got them.
Wonderful! I’ll check ’em out!
I love Teresa’s books! I’m not a huge fan of Scottish books, but I am a huge fan of hers, no matter when/where they’re set.
I can’t wait to get my hands on Holly’s book, too. Next week!!