Library Love

On Friday I did all my usual errands but also treated myself to a nice long browse at the library.  Our library is brilliant and spending time there is one of my favorite things to do.  I came home with a stack of novels and have just started reading Quiet as a Nun, by Antonia Fraser.  If I like it, I'll be very happy because there's a series of novels featuring the main character, and getting drawn into a good series is such a joy.  (And if the books are small enough to carry in my bag without wrecking my back, so much the better.  The back pain was the only downside of becoming a Harry Potter fan.)

The last series I committed myself to was Anne Perry's William Monk novels.  I love mysteries and I especially enjoyed the historical detail, the Victorian London setting, and the characters (especially the wonderful female characters).  Before that, I read and enjoyed Perry's Thomas Pitt series--more detective fiction with interesting female characters set in Victorian London.

As a child, my favorite series was The Happy Hollisters--I was already addicted to mysteries, I guess.  My grandmother was at an estate sale and, because I always needed something else to read, she bought a box full of Happy Hollisters novels.  I read them all over and over again.  They're on the bookshelf in J's room now, but he has no interest in them.  They're too old-fashioned for him, and he's not interested in mysteries anyway.  He prefers Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest books and the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan.

So, we are bookworms at my house, and we are always looking for new books to love.  Any and all suggestions are welcome.  Any excuse to go back to the library . . .

Comments

[persephone]

If J liked Harry Potter (or was that just you?) try him on Diana Wynne Jones. Her Chrestomanci series is a lot like HP, but funnier. And smarter. And more original. In my humble opinion. :D

If you're open to grownup fantasy & scifi, you might try Connie Willis' books, too. She's deadpan/snarky in a way I suspect you would like.