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Sophie Kinsella in general
by jade22green
I am a big fan of chic lit and through this discovered Sophie Kinsella. I had of course heard of her, but had never bothered to read any of her books. Then I brought a job lot of chic lit books online and some of her books were included.
I have been reading her books for a few years now and have read everything she has ... published. I don't usually buy new books as you can almost always find them second hand at a portion of the price, but I do make an exception for her books and usully buy them when they are first released.
Sophie Kinsella first started to write under the name Madeleine Wickham at just 24. As Madeleine Wickham she wrote 7 novels, The tennis party, A desirable residence, Swimming pool sunday, The gatecrasher, Sleeping arrangements, Cocktails for three and The wedding girl.
She then sent her first book under her real name to her publishers with the title, can you keep a secret?, and they didn't even realise that it was the same author. Since then Sophie has used her real name.
As Sophie Kinsella she has had 9 books published and is currently working on her tenth.
Sophie is most famous as the author of the Shopaholic series of books. This is a story following the life of serial shopaholic, Becky Bloomwood, who just can't help shopping and doesn't apolgise for it. The series follow her through marriage, new jobs and even having a child. They are very popular and in 2009 a film was made covering the first two books titled Confessions of a shopaholic.
I have read every book she has published. Most of them I have loved, although I do have to say that I prefer her more recent writing style and am not a huge fan of the Medeliene Wickham titles, they're not aweful, just not as good, in my opinion.
I am a great fan of the shopaholic books, but I also loved The Domestic Goddess and remember me?. I really would find it hard to choose a favourite.
Sophie has a very good view of people when she writes. She seems to be able to capture something in all of her books that everyone, on some level can relate to and I feel that may be why she has become so popular. Sometimes I have laughed out loud, other times I have felt a tear in my eye, whatever the emotion you feel when you read her books, one thing is for sure, you feel as though you are right there with the characters as you are reading.
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Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling in General
by rolo_15
There is simply no bad words that can ever be said about the whole series apart from the fact that there maybe should be more of them!! As a 22 year old woman I decided a while back that those books weren't for me, id watched the first film and assumed as great as the film was visually, it was for children. One day I must of had a bit of ... time on my hands and decided to have a gander at the first chapter, still convinced that i would get extremely bored and have to put it down. I was very very wrong and also very very gripped J.K Rowling made me feel like one of the gang. I felt just like a child again and as though I was drawn in to the book, and had me wishing such a place as Hogwarts really existed so that I could join in with the spells and all of the great adventures, alongside Harry, Hermione and Ron. The books keep you guessing all the way through to the end and then have you wishing for more. I couldn't put them down until id finished the series and found out all the twists and turns harry and the gang have to deal with.
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Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett in general
by donkers2000
Terry Pratchett's Discworld is based on the back of a giant turtle, on which stands four elephants, and on the back of them is a disc of land known as discworld.
On this land there are many different races which you would expect to find in a fantasy novel such as dwarfs, gnomes, and trolls. The difference on the discworld is that ... they all have a more human edge to them, you can relate to the characters in a very real way. They each have there own traits and it's hard not to see your friends, family, work collegues when engaged in these fantastic book.
The discworld has magic and there for wizards. The main characters in the wizards series after the book Sorcery are the Librarian who is an ape due to a magical accident in the book colour of magic, the burser, Arch chancellor Ridcully, Ponder, and of course the useless 'wizzard' Rincewind.
They are a mix bag of lazy yet finally attuned men, who are unwittingly get themselves into some of the funniest situations, but somehow always come through through. but they'll probably argue about who actually solved it.
Rincewind is a fantastic series because he is such a coward. It make a nice twist on the usual 'hero saves world' senario. And I love Luggage, a box with legs and homocidel tendencies. Between them they have some of the craziest and bizzar adventures, all over and under the disc.
The other series on the discworld are Witches set in a rural setting of the Ramtops, three witches two of which could easily be your grandma. The wacky and crude Nanny Ogg, and the strict straight laced but very clever Granny Weatherwax form the basis of the treo with Margret a soppy young women who likes occult symbols too much making up the third. They are basically like the old biddies you see talking on the bus but with broomsticks and a lot of balls.
Tiffany Aching also comes into this series later on. She is a strong female character which Pratchett isn't afraid to shy away from. It's nice to have females who aren't just damsels in destress and she is anything but. Teamed up with a bunch of nac Mac Feegles (there not Scottish because there would be backlash... but they are!) which are small rude blue pickies headed by Rob Anybody. Primeraly a young adults book, but I think anyone could read and enjoy it.
City Watch the night watch of ankh morpork. This is mainly a detective series focused on solving a specific crime. The main character is Samuel Vimes, I feel it was a brave choice to make him an alcholic at the start of the series but it is delt with in a subtle and thoughtful way so tha it doesn't become the focus. This is easily my favourite series Sam Vimes is clever with alot of common sence, and is surrounded by a wounderful cast of misfits. Pratchett could have easily been a crime writter I never see the twist coming. Brilliant.
Death is a dry character who is funny because he so often misses the point. Each of his books as a strong second character to carry the plot as he can't convey emotions and it would sson get stale. The plot of his books are varied but always have a dark edge, and he loves cats!
Moist von Lipwig is a recient edition to the discworld and is a cheeky enterpenreal crook who finds clever ways to make money. not one of my favourites but still a good read.
There are also one off books such as the criically aclaimed Maurice and his educated rodents which I thought was a bit scary for younger readers but brilliant in all other respects.
All the books can be read indvidually but do contain spoilers for books earlier in the series. But this brilliant blend of satire, suspence and fantasy that everyone will love. There is a bit of cross over in the books which is nice so although you may have read all of one series the charatcers will still be developed in others.
I feel that there is a Pratchett book for everyone so get reading!!!
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