Everything Paranormal discussion

I joined a book club full of people I'm sure don't read very often in general, let alone, any of the stuff that I read. I get to choose a book in the next few weeks and want to introduce them to this genre.
My question is, what book would you use to SLOWLY introduce someone to this genre? I don't want to scare them off with too much sex/demons/etc.
Help!

Try the first Sookie book. Even if they don't read alot they've heard of True Blood.

I take it they're not romance readers?

You might try Storm Front. My husband HATES to read, but this one got his attention. Just a thought. Hope it goes well. :)

You might also consider Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. While it does have paranormal features, it is also a mystery.

Kelli wrote: "You might try Storm Front. My husband HATES to read, but this one got his attention. Just a thought. Hope it goes well. :)"

I second this one. It was the book that introduced me to this genre.

Thanks! Storm Front did it for me as well but I was already a big paranormal/vamp geek with Buffy, Angel and Charmed. And they all thought I was a geek too! lol

New_User, I'm not sure if they're romance readers or not. I will know more after the next club meeting on the 3rd, when the next person chooses their book. She's 25 or so years old and hasn't even started the book that was chosen for this turn. lol I don't think she's much of a reader at all.

I'll find out if they've ever watched True Blood. I might get a better perspective on what they MIGHT like that way.

I've never seen any of them even carrying a book around (like me) let alone heard of them reading anything that wasn't school related (for some of them). I'm worried I'm going to be stuck reading books that aren't thought provoking or even interesting. We read What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day and if you read my review of this book you'll know I am not a fan. lol

Well, that's what WE are for Elvia. :o) You know this bunch likes the same kinds of books as you. So, if you get to the point where it feels like they are pulling your nails out, just log on here and we will help soothe the savage beast.

LOL Ann...thank you. I will be here complaining about the stupid Oprah Book club books they are all likely to pick, or something else just as fickle and pointless. I really hope they surprise me with their choices but somehow I doubt it. :)

When Oz was in Ohio, the reading group she belonged to wanted to do all of Oprah's books. The problem is--Oprah doesn't seem to like a book unless its one of the worst downers ever published. Child abuse, spousal abuse, child AND spousal abuse. . . I mean come on Oprah, there ARE happy books out there.

That is why I stay away from Oprah's bookclub recommends. My friend is an Oprah fanatic I just turned her onto BDB to wash away the Oprah brainwashing LOL

I know--if I'm looking at a book and it says "An Oprah Pick" I drop it like it was radioactive and head for the other end of the store. Nothing personal Oprah, but I don't read to be depressed. I read for ENJOYMENT--which means, give me--a vamp, were, shape-shifter in any form, a romance, a mystery, an amusing story. Anything that is NOT totally depressing. That's something you should keep in mind with your Picks. Get some attention for writers who think that their job is to ENTERTAIN--you remember that word, right? Its your job description, so you should remember it when picking books.

(Ok, off my "Oprah get some taste" soapbox now)

Ann, that's exactly it. I'd never heard of any of Oprahs list until that guy was found out to be a fraud. There is a list on Listopia of all of her book picks and they are all depressing it seems. I couldn't imagine reading those kinds of books one right after the other. On the upside, you might think your life was FREAKIN FANTASTIC after all that gut-wrenching drama. lol

LOL:) you guys are funny, but right. her picks are sad ones. I have read a few that were on her list but not b/c of her, just b/c i thought they would be good reads. and let me say they were some crazy books, especially she's come undone by wally lamb.

um, my feelings about the books was that if you were already feeling depressed when you started reading them--you'd be suicidal by the time you FINISHED her list. I have read 1 or 2 of the books on her list--but I refuse to read more than 1 or maybe 2 at the most a year, simply because they ARE so depressing. To quote the Pirate King from Pirates of Penzance "Give me a HAPPY ending." :o) Even with mysteries I want the bad guy caught by the end of the book.

Now I'm thinking that if all these ladies pick is Oprah books for this book club I may have to quit. I'm going to broaden their horizons with my choice! My goodness, I don't even think I would need a SF/Paranormal pick to do that. Just something that isn't sad/girly would do the trick.
I want to pick a book I haven't read yet but most of what's on my TBR list are parts of series. I am not sure I want my choice to be a series book or not. I'm thinking stand-alone.
Also, there are a couple church goers in this group so I don't want to freak them out hahaha!

um, actually Elvia--THEY might freak YOU out. :o) My daughter and I used to go to one from church--it finally broke up because things were getting to hectic when all the kids started school. And you would not BELIEVE what some of thse women picked.

LOL You might be right Ann. I will have to see what comes out of this on the 3rd (next meeting day). We'll discuss this last book (meh) and someone will pick a new book.

And by the way, the girl who is picking the next book hasn't even bought/checked out this last one! Wtf?! It's like school all over again! She said she was going to "cram read"...what?!

Maybe she's like me Elvia. Unless the book is one that I totally can't get into (which I'm honest about) I can read a 400 page book in 1 day. So, maybe she's a speed reader. Otherwise???? Is she not too long out of high school/college? But why the HECK would you join a reading group if you don't like to read?

That's my point Ann! I think some of them are trying to be more literate to make them feel "smarter"...I know that sounds terrible but that's how it seems.

I'm the same way as you. But I don't know if she reads fast or not.
I have a feeling this book club is going to turn into another "project" my family tried and quit. lol Which is sad because there aren't any book clubs around me that aren't filled with really old ladies reading nothing but romance. haha

well, maybe you should expand those little old ladies horizions. :oP Especially if you get them to read The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands. One of the "life mates" to a vamp in that turns out to be like 82 or something. Give the ladies something to dream about, since when she accepted her lifemate and was transformed, she went back to looking like she was 25 or so. Only she KEPT all her knowledge and life experiences. Gotta admit, if you are going to be an age again, 25 isn't too bad--especially if you "know then what you know now". Of course, I do like Sands vamps, because they aren't the "cursed" soul destroyed creatures that they are in most vamp books. They are the product of science (ok, its ATLANTIAN science, but still . . .)

Ooh that sounds good...I haven't read that book yet so I'll have to see if I can get it for my pick!!
Thanks!!

That's like, um, book 7? 8? In her series. They are stand alones to a certain point, but I do enjoy the series. They tend to be fairly humourous too. Sands has a quick, light breezy writing style.

oh Ann great sggestion. I think one of the Argeneau books would be great. They are funny light reads and th Argeneau men are to die for. You also gotta love the fact that the woman faint during sex. Accidental Vamp is th funniest of the series but I also thought it was the weakest until i read A Quick Bite.

Well, it is weak, but for an intro to PNR it would be a nice read, especially if the person being introduced is a romance reader almost exclusively.

Very good ideas ladies! I'll find out what types of books they all enjoy most (if they have a preference at all). Once I get a better idea I'll let u all know... :-)

So I had my first book club meeting. Went well. Thankfully I wasn't the only one who didn't like the book that was chosen first.
I asked what type of books everyone liked. I was told different things: urban lit, urban smut (lol), biographies (blah). I was then asked what I read...of course I said paranormal/PR. One of my cousins thought that sounded good (YAY). They asked what I meant by romance...I told them not to think of heaving bossums and more Penthouse letters to the editor (LMAO).
SO all in all, they are now looking forward to reading my pick. And I've decided to go for the gusto in my pick. I'm not going to hold back. haha

LOL. Good news, Elvia. :)

woot, woot, way to go Elvia. Maybe you'll corrup--er I mean convert a few to some better reading materials. :oP

Here's hoping everyone enjoys what I pick! I'm not sure I want to give them a series so I'll need help with a stand alone book. (I don't read those very often at all lol)

hum, Elvia--you could go with the first book in a series, then if they LIKE it, they have a built in "recommend" in the next in the series.

Stand alones are hard to think of tho. We'll work on coming up with an idea or two for you. :o)

Thank you! My husband thinks I should go with Harry Dresden. But I'm wondering, since some of them are into a little "kink", I should just go for it with Merry Gentry or the first in the Dark Hunter series! lol

I'd think carefully about the Merry books. If some of them are a little--um--prudeish, yeah, lets go with that (as opposed to old fashioned) they might get insulted--or upset--and never give the rest of the genre a chance. Go with something kind of middle of the road first. THEN they can get on with the kink. But I think I'd take a list with me when you talk about the book you pick out, with some of the other titles listed on it--maybe broken down by dark, erotica, humour, etc. And have a copy for all the other ladies in the group--that way they can pick out what they want to read, if they are interested, by their own level of comfort.

Lol good idea, Ann. I think I'd chicken out with that one anyway. My aunt actually read book four of the Merry books and liked it but was confused..I told her it was because it was there were 3 before it. She said, "now that makes sense!" lmao

I'm glad the bookclub is coming along. If I can suggest maybe reading a series that can be read as stand alones if yoÙr having problems finding standalones.

Good idea...books that HAVE series but don't need the series to read. Got it. I have a few weeks before it's my turn...at least six. So I have time to choose.