quick question

[breadandroses]

I need a book or books. They must be relatively small and available in paperback, and they need to be literary candy. Nothing I need to work at, nothing that takes time to get into. Readers: which are the books that you read brushing your teeth, and under the covers late at night?

Comments

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

Terry Pratchett, of course.

Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons novels, very sweet and carefully observed children's books about lakes and sailing and the North Country of England.

The early Anita Blake books by Laurel K. Hamilton; everything before Obsidian Butterfly (inclusive) is enjoyably readable brain candy, while everything after sucks.

Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire before, just like the Hamilton but with every single stupid bit taken out and/or made intelligent and interesting.

Georgette Heyer.

Lois McMaster Bujold.

Cynthia Voigt's Tillerman Cycle if you like lovely melancholy YA set in the real world.

Meredith Anne Pierce's book Birth of the Firebringer (avoid rest of trilogy) and the first two Darkangel books.

Diana Wynne Jones' Fire and Hemlock and Howl's Moving Castle; the latter has the honor of being my favorite comfort read ever, and it never fails to make me happy.

Hopefully there's something on this list you haven't read. ^_^

[jain]

and the first two Darkangel books.

Yes! Someone else who understands! I hated the third book with the passion of a thousand burning suns; it should be held up as an object lesson to aspiring writers: "This is what happens when you let psychological theory run away with your storyline and pervert your characterizations."