Study Buddies discussion

We're all here because we love the Study Series--whether that is because you like fantasy, romance, or just a plain good book. I'm curious about what other types of books you like. Favorite book, genre or childhood favorites?

I'm all over the board with books. Mainly fiction though. I'd really have a hard time just conforming to one genre.

Lately I like YA. Why I don't know. Probably because it brings back a little of my teen-hood. :)

Suzann, this may be lame to ask, but I see that you're a Buffy fan. Have you read any of those mass market YA Buffy books? I've always wondered how they were like, but can't seem to bring myself to pick one up. I heard stories about the Buffy comic book and didn't like where it was going, so I never bothered with it.

I love YA books! It's about 75% of the stuff I read for leisure. Sometimes I find regular fiction boring and so full of "meaning of life" that it's annoying. The last adult fiction book that I remember really liking was Atonement: A Novel. I also just finished one called The Book of Dahlia: A Novel last week, and that was good too. Right now I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel, and that's okay. And of course, the all famous The Lord of the Rings is a new favorite.

Boy, I'm really not liking some of the changes they're putting on GoodReads today! Those book tags just look awkward...

I think I'm just so glad to have YA books outside the realm of Sweet Valley High/Fear Street etc. which, aside from The Classics and murder mysteries, is about all I had to read in my school libraries until I was about 13... then I figured it was time to branch out into adult literature.

I think teens today have a much more diverse selection of books. I also grew up in a Catholic school so most of the books included in the library were super-old tales from the early 20th century, each usually with an improving, moralistic bent. I loved them, though--I wish I could remember what they were!

Guys, I found another book I can't shut up about. Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind. So ridiculously good, I am considering reading the rest of his books in the original Spanish because they haven't been translated into English yet, and I can't wait! I have to read them *now*!

Alethea - I love Shadow of the Wind. I couldn't put it down. I'd even love to read it again, but I've loaned my copy out! If you hear anything more about English translations please let me know.

So far I've heard that the hardcover release of Angel's Game (prequel to Shadow) in English is set for June 2009. Here's hoping it doesn't get delayed.

I'm * this close * to just getting his YA stuff in Spanish, and resign myself to reading with my little electronic translator thingy and a book of verbs nearby.

I did find out that you can download the theme music (piano) from the audio book off his website, at http://www.carlosruizzafon.com/musica... . It's pretty cool! They're full length songs, about 3 to 4 minutes. They remind me a bit of the Pan's Labyrinth soundtrack.

Thanks Alethea! I'll be looking forward to Angel's Game.

Pan's Labyrinth was... well... distrubing. Very cool, but distrubing nonetheless.

BTW I have a degree in Spanish and spent semesters abroad studing Spanish lang/lit! It's sheer laziness that I won't buy the Spanish versions to read! It would be perfect practice since I hardly get to use it now. I'm such a bumb! :|

PS - you're an awesome group manager with your links, research, and advice. Thanks!

I'll read from just about any genre, but I lean toward fantasy and Young Reader or Young Adult books. I'm a big Patricia McKillip fan. My favs were Tower at Stony Wood and The Book of Atrix Wolfe. Shannon Hale is another good one. All of her Bayern books, like The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets, are excellent.

Hey- I thought of another book that study-series/ fantasy/ people might like- 'Till we have faces' by C.S.Lewis. It's really good! The fantasy aspect of it is brilliant, in that it's set in our world ( kind of) but there are fantasy things...anyways, I promise you will like it!

These are great ideas. I really enjoy Shannon Hale's stuff too. She has a graphic novel that just came out. I haven't seen it yet but I am looking forward to it.

I haven't seen the graphic novel yet, either. I'm hoping that she continues the Bayern books. There are so many good characters that could have their own installment.

This list can get very long very fast for me.

I mostly prefer fantasy (Joyce Ballou Gregorian's Tredana trilogy or Pamela Dean's Secret Country trilogy), urban fantasy (Jennifer Rardin's Jaz Parks books or Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros books), action-y paranormal (Alex Archer's Rogue Angel books), Paranormal romance (Liz Maverick anything), quasi-scifi (Linnea Sinclair's books), Regency romance (Georgette Heyer, Cindy Holbrook, Sandra Heath), historical romance (Celeste Bradley, Julia Quinn), Mystery (Haunted Bookshop series), YA (Tamora Pierce, Libba Bray, Cameron Dokey), inspirational historical romance (Tracie Peterson, Janette Oke) and...silly kid's books like the ones by Mo Williems or Doreen Cronin. XD

I am reading the Buffy Season 8 and Angel Season 6 comics--I'm very glad Joss is writing them otherwise I would be murdering me some comic writers right now. I really wanted an Angel Musical episode though ::sigh::

Shannon Hale is good! and so nice! I haven't read her new graphic novel though.

Personally, I've been on a historical fiction kick lately in the YA realm. I'm dying to read Savoy, I really loved Hush by Donna Jo Napoli, Aurelia (don't remember author), and The Princess and the Hound. I am also a graphic novel fanatic and am loving Y: The Last Man series and Fables is another big favorite of mine.

I have The Princess and the Hound on my wishlist, as well as Hush. Just bought Aurelia. Are you also into redone fairy tales?

I love Fables, it is possibly one of the best comics I've read since the original Sandman (by Neil Gaiman).

I do love redone fairy tales. I read a Curse as Dark as Gold recently and keep my eyes peeled for anything fairytale-ish. I'm dying to find Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale and am just so close to just buying it instead of library searching it. I also bought a graphic novel called Kin (Good Neighbors series) which I love and want the next one already.

Ahh remind me to relate to you my list of faiy tale redone books I own (right now they are packed away 'cause of the movie) because that is one of my favorite sub-genres. dont let me forget now!

Off the top of my head have you read the 'Once Upon a Time...'Books by Cameron Dokey and Suzanne Weyn (and a few others of course)? There's...12 out currently with at least another 3 due out sometime soon. There's also the adult fantasies from a number of years ago by the likes of Jane Yolen and Ellen Daltrow. Plus the anthologies by Ellen Daltrow and Terri Windling...

I know I've read a few of the Once Upon a Time books.. not many yet. I love Jane Yolen and I'll have to look for some anthologies. I currently own The Faery Reel but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.

I'm looking forward to the 'mulan' based one coming out in Feb 2009. I haven't read The Faery Reel (its somewhere in my stacks however). Oh! Juliet Marillier has a good book series, the Sevenwaters Trilogy (though a 4th is coming out in November) based around Celtic lore and myth. If you like Greek mythology Patrice Kindl has oneLost in the Labyrinth and Clemence McLaren has a number of books based around various Greek myths and epic stories.

I love Jane Yolen's take on Briar Rose. It's a good combination of a fairy tale and the Holocaust that I would probably include in some sort of reading project when I'm an history teacher (graduation in seven and a half months!)

Jane Yolen continually surprises me. Her Alta books are so enjoyable and Sister Emily's Lightship is a fascinating collection of her short stories. All so different yet with her flair...i especially love 'Lost Girls'

I've been meaning to read Juliet Marillier for a long time now and I'll have to look up Patrice Kindl.

Tina, I LOVED Jane Yolen's Briar Rose and the take on it. That is a fabulous book and a great take on the original fairy tale. I really have not read enough of her books, which I need to get around to.

My fave Juliet Marillier book is Wildwood Dancing. Absolutely a 5 star book. Cybele's Secret is the sequel/companion; also, a 5 star book. I'd like to start her Sevenwaters series too.

I can't pass up a cool cover.



I don't know who Kelly Link is, but I want to know now!

It's YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy, 9 short stories. Perfect for Halloween, though I am never in a Halloween mood on Halloween. I associate Halloween with runny noses, cold with fever, and post-traumatic candy overdose. Several times over I have been the sniffly old crone handing out candy wearing yellow rubber gloves on my hands, and a scarf to cover my face in case I get sneezy. The last couple of Halloweens no one came to our door (we live in an apartment building) so we ate all the candy and gained 5 pounds apiece over a week and a half.

Lately, I've been on a graphic novel kick and here's some graphic novels series I'm way digging.. all with fantasy themes:

The Queen's Knight 1

Fables Legends in Exile - Volume 1

Jack of Fables, Volume 1 The (Nearly) Great Escape

Y The Last Man Vol. 1 Unmanned

and my ultimate, gothy-fairy tale favorite series is:

GloomCookie

oooo the Queen's knight looks good Ill have to check that one out.

I also have to say If you haven't read Kenyon yet her Romance books are great, I think the best one is Acheron but I am in love with him so it could just be me. LOL

also I like the fire within series by Chris D'Lacey it more a YA book but its still really good, I have also read the Charlie Bone Series by Nimmo, have anyone else?

I bought a bunch of Kenyon's books, but I only finished the first one and got half way through the second one. If you like Sherrilyn Kenyon you will love Kresley Cole's Immortals after dark series or Angela Knight's series about her vampires/werewolves. Have you ever tried these or J.R. Ward's series? The Black Brotherhood I think is her series. I'm caught up on all but Kenyon and J.R. Ward. Those I fell off the band wagon but kept on buying them for some reason.

No but I have been wanting to get Kresley Cole's immortals series that will be the next from the library that I get. I have read some of Angela knights books but only one or two. I will look into J.R Wards books also.

Yay! I gave you more suggestions already! Those are really good and I think, as a Kenyon fan you'll fall in love with them.

oh yes more books to buy you really are my freind LOL you know I cant seem to stay away from them, have you read the Kim Harrison?

Alethea wrote: "So far I've heard that the hardcover release of Angel's Game (prequel to Shadow) in English..."

Well, I may not find some of the English books here, but the Spanish ones? YES!!! While waiting for River Secrets to arrive, I'm reading The Shadow of the Wind and I won't have to wait for the other books because the bookstore has them all! YAY!!!

I LOVE Kim Harrison.. she's not as romance-y though, more action and hilarity. Her new book comes out this month! *squeaks with excitement*

OMG!!! How could I have forgot about that, I even have a count down on myspace for her books and still forgot, I am so ready for them to.

Did you hear about the new YA series she's going to start writing? I'm superexcited about that as well!

????? What YA series I have hear nothing!!!!!! Please Please do tell!!!

The first one is called Once Dead, Twice Shy and it is going to come out June 17th, this year. Gah! I'm so excited. It has a new character, Madison Avery. There was a short story about her in Prom Nights from Hell, which means I'll have to re-read that one in May! Her website says May, but Amazon has it slotted as June 17th. I'll be happy to get it this year either way!

oh yes thank you very much I didn't have a clue of any YA books coming out by here will have to put them on my to buy list, I mean to read list hahahah

I just pay attention to specific authors and then browse around on Amazon to find YA reads.

I usually dont know that they are coming out until I see a new one in the store lol

I do that too.. I'll go to the bookstore and I'll text myself a bunch of titles I want to look up and see if they have at a local library.

see now that is smart why havent I thought of that? oh wait maybe I did but just didnt listen to myself hahaha

If it gets you more books, then you should listen!

NO the problem is I get more than the books I need, I read them at the library then I go to book store and buy then I go to ebook and buy more sometimes the same ones that I bought at store hahahaha

I'm guilty of buying the same book twice too!

yeah I have finally met my equal hahahahah I'm not alone!!!!

Haha... I never do that. You guys are crazy, or I'm too stingy... it's probably both at once.

umm yes I would agree with the crazy part but hey thats just part of why we are great HEHE

Gisela wrote: "Alethea wrote: "So far I've heard that the hardcover release of Angel's Game (pr..."

Don't you just love him? He is one author my husband and I totally agree on. We had a book exchange for my birthday, someone brought this book. It was a bit like a white elephant exchange and people were fighting over it!

Meme wrote: "NO the problem is I get more than the books I need, I read them at the library then I go to book store and buy then I go to ebook and buy more sometimes the same ones that I bought at store hahahaha"

I've done that too! It's so funny because that is the main reason I joined Goodreads. I thought, it's probably a good idea to keep track of the books I want to read so I don't go buying them more than once! Before I go to the bookstore, I look at my good reads and write a couple titles down that I think I want to read. When I'm there, of course I find more than that. But it helps keep me organized. That and how nearly all phones have internet (and Portland, OR has free wireless city-wide) I can just check my goodreads to make sure I haven't already bought that book. Or see what the buzz about the title is. I heart goodreads.