Books and Reading
Everybody needs a vice. Some people's vices get them in big trouble. Some people's vices cause them to lose their spouse or their house. Some people's vices cost a lot of time and money. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. I am a bookaholic. I read books. Lots of books. I have to decide which books to put on my bookshelves, because I have far more books than bookshelf space. I really wanted to buy our house because there is a little "library" in it. Pure heaven for a bookaholic. There are so many shelves that I still have extra space! I guess my "vice" is both expensive and time-consuming, but I love books. Here are a bunch of book suggestions for you to check out.
Buying Books on the Internet
As you can imagine, a true biblioholic will find lots of place to buy books on the Internet. Here are a few sites that I like and/or visit regularly. I prefer to support small, independent bookstores, but they are unfortunately becoming harder and harder to find. I have managed to find some small independents on the Web.
The Reader's Chair offers the most awesome audiobooks -- and they're unabridged!! Every one that I have listened to was wonderful.
MysteryBooks
is a great bookstore in the Philadelphia area. Norma and Bob have a zillion new and used
mysteries and are always willing to suggest books that you might like (or at least books that
they like). I found a whole host of new mystery authors this way. I haven't lived in Philly for more than three years, but I check out their website frequently and order via e-mail.
Christine Kovach is a bookseller in Texas who specializes in mystery, science fiction and horror. I initial found her via ABEbooks, but now I visit her own website frequently.
bibliofind.com --
is one of the easiest ways to find just about any used book.
Advanced Book
Exchange -- is another wonderful way to find almost any used book. I have found some really weird and difficult-to-find books on this site.
Bookfinder -- is the gold-standard. It searches many of the used book websites and gives you lots of options.
amazon.com -- I have
spent an embarrassing (to any non-bibliophile) amount of money at amazon.com. They really do have the hugest selection of books. They have been surprisingly responsive to my complaints and suggestions. :-)
Borders Book &
Music has a reasonable selection of books, but it is not a particularly friendly or pretty
site.
Barnes &
Noble is the local bookstore which I frequent most often, but I really don't love their
website. They have a huge selection of books and other stuff, but their book suggestions and subjects to browse are not very exciting or well-done.
General
The Library of Alexandria was a huge library in ancient times which was burned, causing the
permanent loss of many important work of literature. Alexlit.com has a large database of book suggestions and can suggest books you might like to read. You have to answer a million questions, but it is worth the trouble.
Mary Renault is the
author of many historical novels set in the world of ancient Greece. If you are fascinated by that world and the people who lived at that time, you will enjoy these lovely, well-written books.
Bookaholism -- this site speaks for itself. I laughed so hard I cried at some of these defintions of bookaholism.
I couldn't decide whether
The Archaeology in Fiction
Bibliography belonged on my books page or in archaeology, so I put it in both places. Great list of works of fiction with archaeologists as characters or archaeology involved in the
story.
Science Fiction
I think that Lois McMaster Bujold is the best SF writer out there. Years ago, I picked up one of her books on a whim, then read the rest within two weeks. Each time a new one comes out, I wait eagerly for it. She is one of the few authors whom I will buy in hardcover first-edition without a qualm. Her newest book CURSE OF CHALION was just released in August, 2001, and it was fabulous. It is a fantasy set in a new universe. The Bujold Mailing List has been an almost constant companion the past 5+ years... Click here to hear an an interview with Lois.
Hmmm. How can I define the evil overlord site? This is a mostly hilarious collection of do's and don't's for incipient evil overlords. If you plan to be a "bad guy", then you must check out this site in order to survive.
My newest "favorite books" are the Liaden series. I have read the first three and ordered the next ones from amazon.com. Check out the Liaden Universe for more info on these fabulous books.
S-F Lovers
Archive has all sorts of science fiction info and links.
Check out Baen books
on-line and read sample chapters.
Barry
Hughart has written three fantasy novels set in a China-that-might-have-been. Read 'em.
Mystery
I also love historical mysteries. I have always been interested in history, and I love mystery novels and short stories. One of the most wonderful series to come along in a great while is one written by Sharan Newman. These are
well-written novels set in medieval times.
I was an classics/archaeology major in college, and I have a soft spot for the ancient world. Lynda Robinson's Meren series tells the story of the Pharaoh's Eyes and Ears in the tim of Tutankhamun. I have to say that I liked the first three better than the second three.
I find that I am more likely to reread books if they have
strong and memorable characters. One of the most entertaining characters that I have
encountered in the past few years has been Julian Kestrel, featured in four Regency mysteries
written by Kate Ross. Sadly, Ms. Ross passed away in 1998.
Cluelass is a
site with a huge amount of mystery information and links.
Last updated: 03/25/00