
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
My name is Sandy and I'm a book addict.
A couple of weeks ago, Beth asked about summer reading recommendations. I have two, that will keep a person busy all summer, Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Series (7 books) and JD (Nora Roberts) Robb's In Death series (23 books). Since January I've glommed both series and devoured them.
Both series have similiarities. One takes place in a small Louisiana town where vampires have come out of the closet, but there are still an ever expanding world of supernatural beings out there swirling around the heroine, Sookie Stackhouse; the other is a marvelous meld of science fiction/crime procedural mystery/romance that revolves around a NYC policewoman in 2058 and her absolutely marvelous (I LOVE ROARKE) husband. But both series have such sharply defined characters, not just the main characters but the secondary characters. You know these people, you feel pain when something happens because YOU KNOW how it's going to affect the characters.
Also while both series have elements of sci fi/fantasy, the worlds are so sharply drawn you believe. When you're in Bon Temp, Louisiana, you believe in vampires, werewolves, wereleopards, werepanthers and even werecollies. Heck, you'll even believe Elvis is still alive--sort of. And when you're in the gritty New York City of mid century, you're right there with Eve Dallas, Roarke, Peabody, McNab and so on.
The Southern Vampire Series deals with fear, racism, fantastism all with a laugh out loud humor. Sorry, it's the fiirst book I've ever found with the line "Bubba drained a drugged cat." (don't tell Liam I laughed).
The In Death Series has the grittiness of a futuristic Law and Order with the homelife of a police officer married to the wealthiest man in the solar system. And an on going candy thief who steals Eve's office supply of candy bars.
So I recommend these two series for your summer reads. Try the first ones, make up your own mind. But I warn you, they are addictive.