Yesterday I posted a review of a book by Anne Rice. A lot of you surprised me by saying that you haven't read her books or had only read one or two. The reason I was surprised is that she is what introduced me into reading the genre. I was a huge fan of paranormals in the movies and tv (as long as it wasn't too scary), but rarely read them if at all. Of course I knew many people out there hadn't read her books. I mean now the market is filled with paranormals of all kinds to try. However, at one time that was not true. I knew there were good paranormal books out there, but they were hard to find. Most were labeled under horror and I didn't go near horror. So, I relied on my friends to tell me what was out there. They knew what a chicken I was at that time. :) So often when an Anne Rice paranormal wasn't out there and there was no other suggestions, I read fantasy.
Now really what is this all about? Well, I got to thinking about all the big authors I have yet to read... especially in the genre most of us paranormal book bloggers talk about. One for me is Stephen King. Yes, I know. Don't faint. ;) I can handle horror books much better than I was younger, but still don't actually like to be scared. Everyone I talked to that has tried to get me to read his books has said that he is a visual writer. Usually that is enough to get me to try a book, but in this case with me being such a chicken... it made me not really want to try him. Like I said... it's my imagination that usually gets to me. What I think about after I read or watch a scary movie. Add more visuals to that, and I'm still a chicken when it comes to this genre. :D
So here is my question to you... are their any authors that you have yet to try? Why haven't you taken that extra step to read something by that author (other than having a huge review tbr)? I'm curious as to what (or who) everyone out there hasn't tried yet. Any author you'd hope people have read at least one book of?
PS... those who aren't interested in her paranormals, but would still like to try Anne Rice, can I suggest The Feast of All Saints? It is my fave non-paranormal book of hers. It is more of a historical fiction type of book.
I LOVE Anne Rice! When I was six I sneaked down stairs in the middle of the night to watch Interview with the Vampire. Ever since, I was hooked on vampires, and when I was about 11, started reading the vampire chronicles. What amazes me most when people say that they haven't read her is that, without her, there are lots of books that wouldn't exist! People don't realize it, but she really opened the door with her paranormal books. /worship.
ReplyDeleteI do think you are right. If it wasn't for the popularity of her books, many other authors would have been looked over. YaY! for Anne Rice! :D
DeleteI have been reading Anne Rice since my late teens (I'm in my 40s now) and she still remains one of my top five authors...probably my favorite author, to be perfectly honest. My most favorite book of hers is Queen of the Damned. It was the first of hers I read and since then, I've read it three more times. My other favorites are The Witching Hour and, of course, the one you mentioned, The Mummy. I'm always amazed as well when someone mentions that they haven't read her.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy all her paranormals. I don't even recall exactly which one was my fave of the vamp chronicles. I think I need to reread at some point! :D You have given me a want to reread her! :)
DeleteI can't believe you haven't read Stephen King!! He doesn't do all horror book - the story of The Shawshank Redemption is fabulous - if you like the film you'll love the book. IT is my favourite but it does have a strong horror element to it - especially if you don't like clowns! I'd recommed starting one of his collection of short stories like Everything's Eventual - good mix of stories to give you a flavour!
ReplyDeleteFor myself I'm not very well read on the classics - I've never read an Austin books or Bronte - but I've never really felt a major urge too...not sure how else I'm missing...but sure there are plenty!
Yes... I know. ;) I do think I could read Shawshank. I loved the film. I refuse to read the Green Mile though. No way. That film tore me up and I know the book would be worse! Oh and I haven't seen IT no matter how much I like Tim Curry. I don't like clowns. *shiver* LOL I do know that at some point I will devour him, just haven't yet. :D I may try the short story one... someday. :D
DeleteAvid, long-term fan of Anne Rice, here:)
ReplyDeleteAgreed, loved The Mummy ... and another epic stand alone (darn it lol)
is Servant of the Bones! I guarantee you will LOVE it~
I read Servant. Good book. I want to know why she hasn't written another Mummy tale. She was supposed to! Let's *sob* together! :D
DeleteThe Feast of All Saints is such a moving book! I cried, I laughed, I cringed, and just died! Seriously it is just so good. I was surprised how many people hadn't read her. I have read almost everything by her including those naughty ones that people hardly ever mention LOL :)
ReplyDeleteI even liked the TV movie they did. Wasn't as epic as the book, but did a good job sticking to the main storyline. I haven't read many of her naughty ones. Okay, I've read one. Hm... perhaps I should read more of those? LOL
DeleteThe Feast of All Saints is one of my favs, I think I mentioned that in my post yesterday :o] We have great taste, Melissa! I've read all of her books except the new one that is out, I started reading them when I was 10! My mom kept them out and my reading level was way beyond my age (I also started reading Joanna Lindsey books at that age, LOL)Yes, there were things I didn't understand completely but I got most of it. I was smart little chit! When my mom found me with one of her books we sat down and talked about it and I told her I knew it wasn't real and she let me read the Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz but she took away the Joanna Lindseys, LOL!
ReplyDeleteI avoid Autobiography's! I've never read one and have no desire to! I don't know why but the thought of wasting my time reading about someone's non-fictional life seems boring! I'd rather just catch it on TV at some point...LOL.
As far as authors go... I haven't avoided anyone that I can think of---Okay, not true... I avoid the ones that do the gay/lesbian books and the weird sex stuff-does that count? No offense to those that read it, it's just not my cuppa :o]
Great post, Melissa!
I quit reading Stephen King after Cell, I think?I don't know why? The Stand is my absolute fav and I have the uncut addition that I've read at least 5 times.
Oh Feast... such a good book. Epic really. I love that your mom did that. Now I know where you got your brains!
DeleteI have read a couple of autobios and were quite good, but usually have to be recommended to me. I think I otherwise feel as you do about them. :)
I LOVE Anne Rice. IMO, she's the mother of urban fantasy. My favorite Rice book is definitely SERVANT OF THE BONES. So good!
ReplyDeleteEven if I don't love the book, I usually find something to love in her writing. Oh thanks for putting down your fave of hers!
DeleteI had to write a high school paper on The Shining, so that's the only reason I've read Stephen King. It was a fabulous book so I thought I'd give another of his books a try. I went to Dreamcatcher. And then never picked another Stephen King book up:) Don't read that one! Too weird for me. I'm hoping to get to Anne Rice at some point, I feel like she's one I definitely need to try being the supernatural fan I am:)
ReplyDeleteWhat is funny is that I do want to go to the hotel where the shining was written. LOL Real ghosts, no prob... fictional ones? *scream* What can I say, I'm strange.
DeleteYou so do need to read Anne Rice. At least her paranormals (although I know you'd love Feast of All Saints). I think you may be surprised at her writing!
Yes yes it was I ;)
ReplyDeleteTruth be told, I doubt I will ever try Rice. I watched that movie, it was..meh. Her vamps are not for me
Now there are a few movies that I think surpass the book, but the ones done on her vamp series wasn't one of them. :) The books aren't like the movie. Much better. Promise. :)
DeleteOh you didn't read a Stephen King book? I'm so surprised! well I only read three or four books but I think some are very interesting. And I totally agree with you I love Ramses the Damned. It was the first Anne Rice book I read. After that I watched her movies and so was curious for the books... But I only read Lestat and the sequel (is it the same name in English?). So finally I've read 3 of her books.
ReplyDeleteI know! *hangs head in shame* I am so surprised that I'm not the only one who started with Ramses! YaY! Are you planning on reading more?
DeleteMaybe, I don't know yet, my sister told me the others were less interesting so finally I only tried these ones. Now I wonder if it's only for her. Perhaps I need to continue the series and also read an other one. But there are still so many books to read lol.
Delete*faints* No King? *whispers* You're not alone. I've only read 2 King novels out of his trillion.
ReplyDeleteOkay, you want me to admit to being a completely failure? I don't think so. I'll go along happily pretending to have read all those authors I should have read by now, thankyouverymuch!
So I have to be a failure by myself. Wait... I didn't call myself a failure. *sob*
Delete;)
Jinx, you owe me a cookie! We both posted about Anne Rice at the same time! I first encountered Interview with a Vampire when I was a teen. Her writing and the world she created simply mesmerized me. I then read The Vampire Lestat and devoured the Mayfair Witches series which I think I loved even more than the Vampire Chronicles.
ReplyDeleteGimmie my cookie! ;)
DeleteLoved your post!! Have you read Feast of All Saints? If you haven't I do think you'd love it.
I admit that I've never read her books. I always wanted to pick them up but never did.
ReplyDeleteOh Savvy! I think you'd enjoy her books. You might like the Mayfair Witches more since the romance take a bit more presence in it if I'm remembering correctly.
DeleteI adore The Feast of All Saints as well as Cry to Heaven.
ReplyDeleteI so agree!!
DeleteI fall into the category of having only read a few of her books and must confess that I find her writing somewhat a hit and miss thing. Thanks for mentioning The Feast of All Saints, now this really does appeal to me. I'm hoping the library has a copy.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get it and enjoy it. It is a bit different than the vamp books but has the same visual quality to it.
DeleteI'm hit or miss with Anne Rice. I love Feast of All Saints, Servant of the Bones, Cry to Heaven, and her early vampire books but I couldn't get into the Mayfair witches or any of her newer vampire chronicles. I don't know why but for me they're just missing something.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time with the first Witches book because of the beginning but it was better after that. I think I know what you mean though about some of her later work.
DeleteI'm a HUGE Anne Rice fan!! I've read everything of hers up until she had her religious epiphany . (Including her erotic works under her penname, Anne Rampling) The only book I had trouble pushing through was The Witching Hour. But once I got past the loooonnngg opening the story took off! As far as authors I haven't tried, Steven King is one. Like you, I've always been a chicken when it comes to horror...and I still am. Another big author is J.K. Rowlings. *blush* I think I'm the only one left in the free world who hasn't read her.
ReplyDeleteYea, I felt the same way about the Witching Hour. I also know you can't be the only one who hasn't read JK Rowlings. :) Glad to know I'm not the only one with SK though! :D
DeleteI love Anne Rice. I read her before I ever read any YA. I like the Mayfair Witches. And some of the later Vampire books. I couldn't read about the bloody parts in Lestat, I'm a wimp. But my imagination runs away from me too and I could never read Stephen King again. I read him in college and would have nightmares. Prepare yourself, Melissa. And don't read them at night!
ReplyDeleteHeather
I think I may stick to SK's other books like Shawshank (as Mel suggested). I think I could read those at night. :D
DeleteI haven't read Anne Rice or Stephen King - seen movies of course but that hardly counts. and I think the TV show Haven is based on one of his books. I think I haven't read SK because I always think of him as horror and I'm not a big horror gal.
ReplyDeleteI do think Haven is based on his books. I forgot about that. Hey! You wrote about demons! LOL But I do know what you mean. :)
DeleteGlad to hear we can still surprise you some. ;D LOL! I have to say I'm one of the guilty ones with Anne Rice, and really should read them. But...I don't know why I haven't. I just haven't. And I know there are other big names out there too, and in fantasy books, well there are several big names, Tokien... ;D Oh well. :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, my eyes do widen from time to time. 8)
DeleteYou know I know there are quite a few others that I need to read yet. Just glad to know I'm not alone on that front within the book bloggers community. :D
I haven't read Anne Rice. In fact, I don't think I've really heard of her. I'm terrible. I haven't read a single Stephen King and I don't think I ever will. I don't really like thrillers all that much and Horror is definitely not my jam. His are definitely more Horror than paranormal, I think. I've never read Grisham and I've yet to read a J.R. Ward book. I think J.R. Ward is because I just haven't made it that way and sometimes too much attention and I get nervous. Sherilyn Kenyon is another. I started her Infinity YA book and I got like 10% into it and couldn't finish it and it turned me off of her Adult series. Although I hear it's fabulous.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I swear, it was a taxidermied squirrel. Last time it was a taxidermied tiny gator in a costume. That chick cracks me up!
I can't believe you haven't heard of her. I will probably venture into SK's books but most likely not the horror part. I think it is funny when people are surprised that many of us who love paranormal (even zombie books) don't like horror. To me, it's not the same.
DeleteOh and I know what you mean about JR Ward. I hated the covers of the BDB books but had the first one in my hand somehow. I was happy the book didn't reflect the cover. I know... don't judge... ;)
So, we keep you away from all taxidermied stuff? LOL
There are SOOO many authors I am DYING to read that I haven't had time to yet... *sigh* I'll have to make a list and get back to you! Lol
ReplyDeleteIt's strange, when I was 15 or 16 I used to read a heck of a lot more adult books than I do now in my 20s. None too sure why? However, during my "adult" phase I never did get around to reading any Stephen King or Anne Rice. I think that I would like to read them, but at this point in time I have no idea when I would get around to doing so (like you, I have to get my TBR pile under control).
ReplyDelete