Favorites

Favorite Books
In no particular order, here are my 10 favorite books at the moment.

The Moor by Laurie R. King – A wonderfully atmospheric mystery starring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. I adore the whole Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King, but this one is by far my favorite as it takes us back to the setting of “Hound of the Baskervilles”

Perfume by Patrick Süskind – A creepy thriller about a serial killer who sets out to make the perfect perfume by killing people to harvest their scents. What makes this story so disturbing is that it’s completely from the murderer’s perspective.

Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson – The funniest memoir I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Lawson’s recounting of her childhood and early adult life were bizarre and hilarious. This book will make you look at giant metal chickens and taxidermy animals in clothing with fondness.

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter – Feminist re-tellings of classic fairy-tales in the traditional gruesome style. This little collection of stories has been a staple on my favorite book list for years. I loved every second of this twisted little book.

Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse – A classic in the Jeeves series by PG Wodehouse and by far my favorite. Jeeves quits as Bertie’s valet over an argument involving a banjolele, which leaves Bertie to fend for himself. This starts a string of various hijinks.

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong – All of Kelley Armstrong’s work holds a special place in my heart. I adore her urban fantasy novels and even her lesser popular Nadia Stafford series. Bitten was the first book I picked-up by her and still one of my favorites urban fantasy books to date. If you enjoy werewolf stories then I highly recommend this one.

Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews – Another of my favorite urban fantasy writers. Wonderful world building and complicated characters populate this novel. The setting reminded me of the swamps down in Louisiana and I loved every second of it.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones – I don’t read a whole lot of Young Adult books, but this one was delightful. It addresses questions around identity, aging, and self-appearance in an intelligent and fun manner. If you’ve only seen the Hayao Miyazaki film adaptation I would suggest you pick this up as the theme concentration and characters’ mannerisms are completely different.

Here I Stay by Barbara Michaels – I have a deep affection for Gothic mysteries and no one does them better than Barbara Michaels. The isolation, creepiness, and subtle paranormal tones of this one hit all the right spots for me.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for the Day by Winifred Watson – This one is all about the 1920’s glitz and glamor setting for me. You’re invited to join Miss Pettigrew, an average working woman in the era, as she’s pulled into the whirlwind lifestyle of her new nightclub singer employer. A wonderfully fast-paced novel with some really touching quiet moments sprinkled throughout.