new thread about books/authors

On 3/16/09 7:58 AM, "Harry & Anita" wrote:


"ellice" wrote in message
...
On 3/13/09 3:49 PM, "lucille" wrote:


"Susan Hartman" wrote in message
...
I read with interest the comments about Grafton's latest books.

question: What authors of series started out really good, but after
awhile
kind of petered out for you? And did you stop reading them, or do you
just
go on as if addicted?


For me, Patricia Cornwell sort of tops the list. Her early Scarpetta
books
were good, but each passing one just gets worse and worse, more and more
tired. And I don't like her non-Scarpetta books AT ALL. (But I'm still a
sucker for each new Scarpetta, hoping it'll be as good as I remember the
earlier ones being. And I've been continually disappointed. But it's
like
a habit.)

Maeve Binchy went through a period (Scarlet Feather, Quentin's) in which
I
think she got away from her earlier style and tried to be "relevant" and
address social ills - but IMHO it just weighed them down. She doesn't do
darkness well; she's better with a light touch. Fortunately, I think
she's
realized this and returned to her roots.

Others? I remember Jasper Fforde being discussed in the past, what about
some of the other fantasy and mystery writers? Diana Gabaldon? Diane
Mott
Davidson? Grafton?


sue


--
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
The Magazine of Folk and World Music
www.dirtylinen.com


I kind of agree about Sue Grafton and definitely agree about Patricia
Cornwell. I devoured the early Scarpetta books and stopped reading them
a
few years back.

Me, too. The Scarpetta books have gotten so whiny. I did read the 2 in
the
slightly related series, which were ok. I hated the Jack the Ripper book.
WRT Sue Grafton, I've hung in there, the plot is always kind of similar,
but
still. OTOH, I haven't gotten through "T" yet.

I'm still good with Joan Hess, and both her series - the Magoody & the
bookseller one - they're light, somewhat predictable, but I think the
Magoody ones are hysterical. The most recent Claire the bookseller
actually
moved forward, ant the teen daughter not so whiney.

Maeve Binchy I was always so so on, Diane Mott Davidson I haven't seen in
a
long time and the others I don't know about.

Not much for the romantic historicals so much, myself. I tend to
literature
(hah) or mystery/sf/fantasy.

Fantasy wise, I liked a lot of early Tanya Huff, her Paksenarion series,

Just wanted to pop out of lurkdom long enough to point out that Elizabeth
Moon wrote the Paksenarrion series. She has a new set of books due to come
out early next spring set in the Paksenarrion universe. The snippets she
has released on her website and newsgroup are definitely whetting my
interest. Can't wait to battle my husband for first reading rights.

Thanks for the correction. I knew that. And have the books - my bad.

You may also want to try out the Winning Colors series with Herris Sarano
and company and the Vatta trading series by Elizabeth Moon. They are set in
space, completely different from the military fantasy that is Paks, but
quite good.

I read the Winning colors series, but not the Vatta trading series.

and
the Bard, Singing the Quarters. Not so much others. Love Katherine Kurtz
Deryni - but, again - is she now in the big retread. Loved a lot of Anne
McCaffrey & Pern, plus some others - but as the series continues it just
got
retread, redundant. One who I think has stayed fresh - Stephen Brust. I
love his stuff.

I haven't been doing so much reading for a while now. I'll get back to
it,
but for the time being I only occasionally find something I'm really
happy
with.

Lucille

Well, I've gone back into a reading phase, but haven't time to think of
more. Got to go to...the bookstore to pick up some recent Wine mags. Long
story - will relate if things work out - or not.

ellice

Now back to lurkdom. Must go search the bookstores and bookshelves for
titles seen in this thread.

Anita

Something for all of us ... Thanks again for the correction.

Ellice