book chatter

I finally finished my reread of all the L.A. Banks books, and read the latest one, The Forsaken. Not really impressed. See, I picked these books up out of the sci-fi/fantasy section. I look for them either there or in the African-American Lit section. Not once have I seen them shelved in romance or chick-lit, so I'm not looking for a "girl gets mad at boyfriend for screwing around, makes a rash wish, suddenly gets a too-good-to-be-true prospect, and hijinks ensue" plot from these - but, that's what I got. Yeah, yeah, they weren't romantic comedy hijinks - not when you involve Homeland Security, biblical figures, and a looming Armageddon - but, still. These characters have far too much serious shit to be doing to waste an entire book dancing around romantic misunderstandings. Less sexual angst, more saving the world, please.

Anyway, now I'm rereading Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy. Which indeed promotes every fantasy cliche that people are currently posting about, vowing to never do again, but you know what? Any author who wants to can adopt every single cliche they want if they can make me believe it, and Bishop does. I'm rereading these because it's been several years, and there are new books out there that I haven't read! I want to remember everything before picking up the new stuff.

I'm rereading everything right now because, at the moment, I find myself feeling bored when I look at the new books on the bookshelf. Nothing's striking me - except maybe the new Nora Roberts, but I don't have the cash to buy a hardcover. I'm going to need reading material for next week's trip, though, so I'm gonna have to go searching things out. Any recommendations from the peanut gallery? You know what I like. Tell me what I should be reading!