DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST LIBRARY CARD? OH, I FELT SO IMPORTANT! I WAS A SOMEBODY NOW!
FIRST THING I ASKED, "HOW MANY CAN I TAKE AT ONCE?"
IT'S A GOOD THING WE ONLY LIVED A BLOCK AWAY 'CAUSE I NEVER LEFT THAT PLACE WITH LESS THAN 6, AND NO PAPERBACKS EITHER.EVEN AT HOME, MY DAD HAD ONE ROOM IN OUR HOUSE WITH A 15 FOOT LONG, 5 SHELF HIGH, 2 BOOKS DEEP BOOKSHELF. THERE WAS ZANE GREY, IAN FLEMING, ISAAC ASIMOV, ROBERT HEINLEIN, FRANK HEBERT, LOUIS L'AMOUR, ED MCBAIN, TO NAME ONLY A FEW, IF HE READ A BOOK AND LIKED IT, HE BOUGHT EVERY OTHER BOOK THAT PERSON EVER WROTE. HOW COULD YOU GROW UP WITH THAT AND NOT BE A READER? MY BROTHER, SISTER AND I ARE ALL THE SAME, VORACIOUS READERS WITH STACKS OF BOOKS HERE AND THERE ALL OVER THE HOUSE.
ANYWAY, ON TO THE LIBRARY, AND SOME OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
J.R.R. TOLKEIN - THE HOBBIT & LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY I've read these so many times, I had to replace them a few years ago. I actually try to re-read them every two years or so. I think I was in Grade 5 the first time I read them so now that I'm 36 that's a lot of times!! Gandalf was my hero. To me this is the standard by which every other fantasy book can be measured. He laid out the groundwork for every race of creature, naming them good or evil, that very few authors have dared cross. A MUST READ!!!!
ROBERT A. HEINLEIN Reigned supreme in my early Sci-Fi library. Although you might find his early works a bit dated now, his ideas and characters withstand the test of time. My Fav - "A Stranger in a Strange Land" - one of his all time best, and in the height of the Jim and Tammy Fay Baker scandal, I drew some parallels to the story, written almost 30 years earlier, proof that Mr. Heinlein's study of the human race remains accurate to this day.
TERRY BROOKS For me it all started with "The Wishstones of Shannara", those magical elven jewels. I've read all his other books (I am my father's daughter after all) and recommend them heartily. I am reading "Wishstones" over again with my 10 year old son and we are both enjoying ourselves thoroughly.
STEPHEN KING/RICHARD BACHMAN I remember right after reading "Carrie" I said to my best friend (she loaned it to me) "They should make that into a movie" Well Lookout, then they did. This guy could turn everyday ordinary things into the scariest monsters. He could make you afraid to go into the kitchen for a late night snack! My favorite to this day remains "The Dead Zone" when the disease started killing the world's population, my throat would get dry and I'd start to feel sick. It always made me want to wash my hands after even handling the book. To me THAT's vivid imagery. Stephen King is a master creator, finding horror where none existed before, in our world, our time, maybe even our own houses.
SPECIAL MENTIONS TO ROBERT JORDON FOR THE "WHEEL OF TIME" SERIES AND TERRY GOODKIND FOR THE "SWORD OF TRUTH SERIES" AND ANNE RICE FOR ALL HER SERIES.
While i love Sci-Fi and Fantasy, that's definately NOT all I like, so read on for more of my favorites, refill your coffee and let's move on 
ED McBAIN - "THE 87TH PRECINCT SERIES" I grew up reading these stories. Set in a large city, these crime stories focused on the 87th precinct detectives. Cotton Hawes, a ladies man with a white streak in his otherwise dark hair, from an old knife wound, and Meyer Meyer, the typical old methodical flatfoot are only two of the colorful characters at the station. Ed's still cranking them out, they are a must read for any crime story fans.
TAMI HOAG If you're like me and always intrigued by the exotic culture and mystery of New Orleans you will like these. "Cry Wolf" is a favorite, complete with a full glossary of cajun terms, this modern thriller will transport you to Louisianna "Laisses les bon temps rouler" as Nick Fourcade and Laurel Chandler tangle with evil in the bayou.
ROBERT LUDLUM If you're into spy thrillers, his are some of the best, if not THE best. Travel the world on the edge of your seat escaping capture or death at every turn. You'd better strap yourself in for this series and make sure you don't have to get up early the next day!! Jason Bourne will lead you to hell and back as the plot twists fold and unfold around you.
TOM CLANCY - "The Hunt for Red October" is still a must read, no matter how many times you've seen the movie. The Jack Ryan character Tom has created translates well to movies, but the books have SO much more depth and I recommend everyone try this author.
HONORABLE MENTION TO IAN FLEMING (OF COURSE), JOSEPH WAMBAUGH AND ROBERT PATTERSON.
ROSAMUND PILCHER - "The Shell Seekers" wowed the world over 10 years ago as it followed it's British characters through their lives, loves and losses. It's about everything and nothing, a slice of life that pulls you in and enthralls you. Rosamund also has collections of short stories that I enjoy for a quick satisfying read at lunchtime or whenever.
DIANA GABALDON Starting with "Outlander", Diana weaves an amazing story of characters caught between two eras, 200 years apart, their coming together in 18th century Scotland, and their painful separation. Continued in "Dragonfly in Amber", "Voyager" and "The Drums of Autumn" this saga will have you speaking with a scottish lilt for month's afterwards and touch your heart as well.
LARRY McMURTRY - "Lonesome Dove" is more than a mini-series, more than a TV show, it is a spellbinding story of the Old West that makes you laugh out loud and cry too. Follow Captain Call and Gus to Montana for the last great adventure of two Texas Rangers that will move you beyond anything you've ever read before.
PAT CONROY I can't decide between "The Prince of Tides" or "Beach Music" they are both so wonderfully written. Pat's wry sense of humor and his wonderfully male main characters (Both of whom are marvelous cooks) along with his masterful story telling lead you down twists and turns of family life. You will celebrate the coming together of family and the tearing down of old secrets and lies to get to the true meaning of "Family" and the love (and hate) found within.
HONORABLE MENTIONS TO DANIELLE STEEL, HAROLD ROBBINS, MARGARET MITCHELL, MAEVE BINCHEY
Here's my newest discovery, and one I'm proud to be taking an active part in.
E-Publishing is the wave of the future. Instead of the Large Print Publishers domination of the fiction world, independent publishers are coming out of the woodwork.These are not "Vanity Publishers" as the press would have you believe, but quality works by new authors available via downloads and CD's to your own computer.
Besides the environmental advantage they have over print publishing, you will be seeing a whole new range of incredible talent.
Books Unbound E-Publishing Co. prides itself on quality works, edited by staff editors and with incredible cover art designs as well. I urge you to check out the site and read some of the introductions available there. You won't be disappointed! Click on the title above or go here www.booksunbound.com.
YOUR LIBRARY CARD WILL ALWAYS BE GOOD HERE, SO COME BACK OFTEN. IF YOU SIGN MY GUESTBOOK, YOU'LL GET THE CHANCE TO TELL ME YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR AND WHY. I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK UP AT LEAST ONE OF THESE AUTHORS AND BOOKS AND
TRY THEM OUT. ~!~ THEN COME BACK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT ~!~
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