Binge reading… It's much the same as binge eating, but you don’t put on any pounds. Also, the books that are the biggest treat have no calories, yet they nourish you. I’m a binge reader. My excuse is, that when I’m writing, I don’t read. So I jam as much reading into the time I take off as possible. Series fiction is ideal for bingers like me and the Bliss Cottage crew. So we all brought together our favorites with links provided to take you to amazon.
Alexie Aaron
Wintertime, when the days are short, are ideal for a binge. I prepare for this by finding my blankey. Yes, I have one. I drape it on my lap for warmth and to catch cookie crumbs. I sit in a comfortable chair and have a drink handy. I open the first book and transport myself, in this case, to Egypt. My binge read suggestion is Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody mysteries. Start with Crocodile on a Sandbank.
Ms. Peters’ brash and bold heroine not only makes me laugh, but makes me brave too. With Amelia, I wander – sometimes blunder – into exotic places where the dangers are varied but very real. Emerson, the gruff hero and love interest of Amelia’s, reminds me of Tom Selleck, sigh. I think it’s the personal relationships and humor that keeps me reading until the wee hours of the morning. I drag myself to bed or camp out on the sofa only to start reading again the next day.
Click the book covers to link you to Amazon.
The Beta Reader
To quote my Beta Reader when I asked him why he reads, he said, “Book good, read book. Book okay, read book two.” And he’s my beta reader, oy. His recommendation for a fulfilling binge session is Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series. “Harry is a resident wizard and supernatural crime fighter. He’s tough with a heart of gold. I like the fantasy aspect of the books – Fairies! What’s not to like?”
Click the book covers to link you to Amazon.
The Web Guy
Hello all, "The Web Guy" here, and I have one of my favorite series of all time to recommend to everyone today. Funny enough, it was by way of the author's note of Jim Butcher's Dresden series where he made mention of one of his favorite authors, Glen Cook, that I made this discovery. I am normally wary of author recommendations, but all it took was the editorial review on the back of the first book to sell me.
"With the Black Company series Glen Cook single-handedly changed the face of fantasy--something a lot of people didn't notice and maybe still don't. He brought the story down to a human level, dispensing with the cliché archetypes of princes, kings, and evil sorcerers. Reading his stuff was like reading Vietnam War fiction on peyote." --Steven Erikson, author of Gardens of the Moon
Pretty sweet way to sell a book, isn't it? If you are like me and grow tired of all fantasy being inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's concepts of elves, dwarfs, and wizards, you will certainly find The Black Company to be a breath of fresh air. I couldn't stop myself from devouring these tomes of epic fantasy, and I am envious of anyone getting a chance to read these for the first time.
*The Web Guy's Note* I included links to all the anthologies because that is how I read them and think it's the best way to go.
The Red Pen
I have read and reread the Zamonia Series by Walter Moers many times. I picked up the third novel first, The City of Dreaming Books, drawn to it by its cover and the illustrations inside. I began to read this book without any real idea about what exactly it was that I was reading. The reader follows Optimus Yarnspinner, a lindworm, on his quest to find the mysterious author of a manuscript that has entranced and profoundly moved him. This book explores a great many aspects of the craft of writing, publishing, and, even, advertising. Any summary of its contents that I could offer would be an oversimplification of this truly complex and wonderful book. During the course of reading, I somehow changed my reader’s perspective from, “Well, this is weird and interesting,” to, “I never want this book to end.” Luckily, Moers has written several more of these fascinating novels based in the land of Zamonia. I love all of them. When I recommend Walter Moers to others, I tend to suggest The City of Dreaming Books first. It doesn’t disrupt or diminish the other stories by reading them out of order.
I hope you enjoy this list that we’ve put together. We are all eager to be introduced to all of your favorites. And don’t forget, if you have any questions you’d like to ask our resident axeman Murphy, send those questions in before the 15th. Send questions to: alexieaaronbiz@gmail.com