Route 66 booklist – Strong sense of place

Route 66 is all mixed up in my mind with memories of a television series called “Route 66″, starring Martin Milner and George Maharis, a pop song by Nelson Riddle, and most recently, a roadtrip with friends through New Mexico and Arizona that touched on the route along the way.

I’m always attracted to books with a strong sense of place, so it was fun to discover the following booklist on Fiction-L about the route.  It was compiled several years ago, and I have a couple of additions to it.

Carol O’Connel’s ‘Find Me’ places a serial killer on Route 66; it was published in 2006 and is the 9th book in the Kathy Mallory series.

Under non-fiction, I’d like to add ‘The Complete Route 66 Lost & Found’ by Russell A. Olsen

The following was copied from a Fiction-L booklist:

Some had suggested authors & no specific titles; I included the areas in parenthesis for these.

FICTION

Anaya, Rudolfo (Southwest)
Bernhardt, William Criminal Intent, Silent Justice.
Bland, Eleanor T. (Chicago)
Booth, Pat Marry Me.
Brewer, Steve (Southwest)
Brown, Carrie The Hatbox Baby.
Churchill, Jill (Chicago)
Cisneros, Sandra (Chicago)
Connelly, Michael (Los Angeles)
Cobb, James West on 66.
Craven, Jerry Snake Mountain.
D’Amato, Barbara (Chicago)
Fiffer, Sharon S. Killer Stuff.
Foster, Sharon Passing by Samaria.
Garlock, Dorothy Hope’s Highway, Mother Road, Song of the Road.
Greeley, Andrew (Chicago)
Hellmann, Libby F. (Chicago)
Hillerman, Tony (Southwest)
Holton, Hugh (Chicago)
Hunter, Fred (Chicago)
Jones, Annie Cupid’s Corner, The Double Heart Diner, Last Romance Ranch.
Kahn, Michael (St. Louis)
Kaminsky, Stuart (Chicago)
Kerouac, Jack On the Road.
Ledbetter, Suzanne In Hot Pursuit.
McGarrity, Michael (Southwest)
Meredith, D. R. (Southwest)
Miles, Keith Saint’s Rest.
Mitchell, Kirk (Southwest)
Wheat Carolyn Murder on Route 66.
Paretsky, Sara (Chicago)
Phillips, Susan E. This Heart of Mine.
Sanders, William A Death on 66.
Shelton, Connie (Southwest)
Steinbeck, John The Grapes of Wrath.
Thompson, Jean Wide Blue Yonder.
Thurlo, Aimee (Southwest)
Van Gieson, Judith (Southwest)
Zubro, Mark Richard (Chicago)

NONFICTION

Clark, Marian Main Street America Cookbook, The Route 66 Cookbook.
Repp, Thomas A. Route 66.
Snyder, Tom Route 66 Traveler’s Guide & Roadside Companiion.
Wallis, Michael Route 66: The Mother Road. Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation.

Love in the Old West

Well, if you’re including paranormal romance, Laura Drewry
http://www.lauradrewry.com/ released both The Devil’s Daughter and
Dancing with the Devil, set in Texas in the 1880s, in 2008.

Kate Bridges http://www.katebridges.com/ writes mostly Canadian-Rockies
set Western romance and has a new series set in Alaska. Her stories
generally have a medical-romance component as well; I really like her
work. (She does not have paranormal elements)

Tracie Peterson is starting a new series set in Kitka, Alaska, and a
number of other Christian-fiction authors are writing Western
historicals set in places like the mining camps of Colorado (Tamera
Alexander comes to mind).

Lynne

Reluctant Bride by Leigh Greenwood (2005)

Fraser Brothers series by Ana Leigh
The Frasers: Clay (2004)
The Lawman Said “I Do” (2006)
His Boots under her Bed (2007)
One Night with a Sweet Talking Man (2008)

How to Lasso a Cowboy by Patricia Potter, Jodi Thomas, Emily Carmichael and Maureen McKade (2004)

Whippoorwill by Sharon Sala (2003)

Bayneeta

Very sensual…the first 4 books of Diane  Whiteside’s “Devil” Series, all
published by Brava

The  Irish Devil
The River Devil
The  Southern Devil
The Northern Devil

Maggie

all from Fiction-L posts

“Hot” book suggestions for a book club

One of my book clubs is looking for a recommendation for a sexy/erotic book.
Something  graphic but with issues to talk about (fun for the mind and the
body!).  (This was from Fiction-L)

Juska, Jane.  A round-heeled woman : my late-life adventures in sex and romance
Juska, Jane.  Unaccompanied women : late-life adventures in love, sex, and real estate

The Crimson Petal and the White, Michael Faber (fiction)
Real Live Nude Girl, Carol Queen (nonfiction)

Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

I’ve always thought “to Have and To Hold” by Patricia Gaffney would be
fascinating for the right book club–the power dynamics between the hero
and heroine are really interesting.

Broken by Megan Hart is both erotic and has lots of issues.

Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels.
Emma Holly and her Black Lace books like Menage or Cooking Up a Storm
Robin Schone’s the Lady’s Tutor.

BUTTERFLY TATTOO by Deidre Knight.

“A reliable wife” by  Goolrick, Robert

Paul Di Filippo’s A MOUTHFUL OF TONGUES

80’s Vampire books

From Fiction-L:

80s Suggestions:

Les Daniels – Don Sebastian series (1978-1980s)
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro – Saint-Germain Series (1978-present)
Suzy McKee Charnas – The Vampire Tapestry (1980)
Stuart Kaminsky – Never Cross a Vampire (1980)
Tanith Lee – Kill the Dead (1980); Sabella: or the Bloodstone; The
Beautiful Biting Machine (1984)
F. Paul Wilson – The Keep (1981)
George R.R. Martin – Fevre Dream (1982)
Michael Talbot – The Delicate Dependency (1982)
Whitley Strieber – The Hunger Series (1980-2002)
Robert McCammon – They Thirst (1981)
Meredith Ann Pierce – Darkangel series (1982-1989)
S.P. Somtow – Vampire Junction series (1984-1995)
Brian Lumley – Necroscope series (1986-)
Lee Killough – Blood Hunt (1987); Blood Links (1988)
Fred Saberhagen – Dracula Series (1987-1996)
Barbara Hambley – Those Who Hunt the Night (1988)
Jacquelin Lichtenberg – Those of My Blood (1988)
Brian Stableford – The Empire of Fear (1988)
Nancy A. Collins – Sonja Blue series (1989-2002)
Dan Simmons – Carrion Comfort (1989)
John Steakley – Vampire$ (1989)

Non-80s suggestions:

William Tenn – She only goes out at  night (1956, short story)
P.N. Elrod – Vampire Files (1990-)
Tanith Lee – The Blood of Roses (1990); “Blood Opera” series (1992-1994)

Karen Marie Christa Minns – Virago (1990)
Jewelle Gomez – Gilda stories (1991)
Annie Billson – Suckers (1993)
Poppy Z. Brite – Lost Souls (1993)
Laurell K. Hamilton – Anita Blake series (1993-)
Karen Harbough – The Vampire Viscount (1995)
Margaret St. George – Love Bites (1995)
John Ajvide Lindqvist – Let the Right One In (2004)
Octavia Butler – Fledgling (2005)

Laura

Paranormal and sexy … or not

From various Fiction-L posts:

Pat says these paranormals have humor with a high degree of sensuality:
Bangs, Nina: Castle of Dark Dreams Series
Cassidy, Dakota: Accidental Friends Series
Castle, Kendra Leigh: Highland Series
Child, Maureen: Fiend Series
Davidson, MaryJanice: Fred the Mermaid Series
Fox, Angela: Demon Slayers Series
Haddock, Nancy: Oldest City Vampire Series
Harper, Nina: Succubus Series
Henry, Mark: Amanda Feral Series
Kenner, Julia: Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom Series
Kessler, Jackie: Hell on Earth Series
Laurenston, Shelly:  Pride Series
MacAlister, Katie: Aisling Grey Series
MacAlister, Katie: Dark Ones Series
MacAlister, Katie: Silver Dragon Series
Thompson, Vicki Lewis: Hex Series
Wisdom, Linda: Hex Series

Lucy writes:

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this author or series yet, but what
about the ‘Felix Castor’ series by Mike Carey.  Felix is similar to
the Jim Butcher’s ‘Harry Dresden’.  He’s a freelance exorcist (in
London) who investigates crimes which have paranormal connections.
Carey’s world is a bit darker than Butcher’s.

The titles in the series are: “The Devil You Know”  (2007 in US, c2006
in UK); “Vicious Circle” (2008 in US; 2006 in UK); and “Dead Men’s
Boots” (2009).  Carey apparently has two more titles in the series
coming (they have been released in the UK but are not available from a
US publisher yet).

Lisa:

If Jim Butcher is suggested, then I think it safe to suggest Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire mysteries – very popular here and they are fast enjoyable reads with a mystery or situation to resolve, romance, sex and humor.

Lexi:

Shadows in the Darkness by Elaine Cunningham -
From Publishers Weekly
“An elf packing heat who enjoys looking like jail bait when necessary
is the latest twist on the New Weird—fantasy fused with contemporary
mystery tropes laced with erotic undertones—a genre Laurell K.
Hamilton’s Anita Blake series helped establish almost 10 years ago.

In the first of the Changeling trilogy, Cunningham (Windwalker) delivers
urban fantasy with a straight face (C.S.I. via Tolkien?), employing
the quicksilver pacing typical of such suspense authors as Vachs,
Gardner and Koontz. Gwen “GiGi” Gellman, however, is not a vampire
slayer; she’s a freelance PI based in Providence on the brink of
discovering her DNA is not human.

Tish:

This series features sexy vampires and “biting” humor (ok, I’ll slap myself for that one!)

Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands

1  Single white vampire
2  Love bites
3  Tall, dark & hungry
4  A Quick bite
5  A Bite to remember
6  Bite me if you can
7  The Accidental vampire

Mysteries set in New Orleans

Mysteries set in New Orleans
August 2009

Abel, Kenneth          Down in the Flood
Allison, Glenn          Miscue (1995)
Ames, John               Asylum (1994),  Death Crystal (1990), Spellcaster (1989)
Bailey, Frankie Y.   You Should Have Died on Monday    (2007)
Bain, Donald              Murder in a Minor Key   (2001)
Biggs, Cheryl             Hearts Deceived   (1994), Yesterday’s Passion (1991), Tricks       of the Trade (1997)

Boland, John C.        Rich Man’s Blood (1993)
Bonansinga, Jay R.  Twisted (2006)
Born, James O.          Burn Zone (2008)
Brite, Poppy Z.          Liquor and Soul Kitchen series
Cameron Stella Grave     Mistake (2005),  Now You See Him (2004)
Castillo, Linda           Whisper in the Dark (2006)
Chaber, M. E.              Hearse of Another Color (1958)
Conway, James          Big Easy (1970)
Conwell, Kent             Death in the French Quarter (2008)
Coulson, Juanita       Fear Stalks the Bayou (1976)
Coxe, George Harmon    One Way Out (1960)
Daniels, Dorothy       Dark Stage (1970)
Dillman, John             Blood Warning (1989)
Dillman, John             French Quarter Killer (1988)
Dillman, John             Unholy Matrimony (1986)
Dodd, Christina          Thigh Hight (2008)
Donachie, David         Scent of Betrayal (2003)
Downs, Tim                   First the Dead (2007)
Dunbar, Tony               Tubby Dubonnet series: (1994 – 2006)
Dryer, Eileen                 Saints and Sinners (2005)
Edwards, Louis            N (1997)
Evans, Marry Anna    Floodgates (2009)
Fusilli, Jim                     Tribeca Blues (2003)
Garwood, Julie             Mercy (2001)
Gauthier, Ronald M.     Crescent City Countdown (2007)
Gayle, Wilson                Victim (2008)
Graham, C. S.                 Archangel Project (2008),
Graham, Heather         Deadly Gilft  (2008), Deadly Harvest (2008), Deadly
Night (2008), Kiss of Darkness (2007)
Haines, Carolyn            Hallowed Bones (2004), Heat of the Moment (2004)
Hall, Jessica                   Into the Fire (2004)
Hambly, Barbara          Benjamin January series is set in New Orleans.
Harris, Charlaine          Definitely Dead (2006)  (Sookie Stackhouse/Southern
Vampire mysteries #6)
Hingle, Metsy                 Black Silk 2006
Holden, Genevieve      Deadlier Than the Male 1961
Hughart, Sarah              Girl from Yesterday 1970
Hjortsberg, William     Falling Angel
Jackson, Lisa                  New Orleans series (2001-2009)

Jordon, R. T.                  Final Curtain (2008)
Kains, Josephine          Whispering Cat Mystery (1979)

Kastl, Dian Evans          Ice Key (1997),Legal Incubus 1997

Keyes, Frances Parkinson      Dinner at Antoine’s (1948)

King, Peter                       Roux the Day (2002)
Knoblock, K. T.              There’s Been Murder Done (1931)

New teen werewolf book

Following is a blog post about a new teen book called “Shiver” by Maggie Stiefvater.  This is described as a riveting werewolf tale.  Sounds like something to watch for.

Lisa Von D.’s YA Sunday

Posted using ShareThis

“I’ll Never Be French”

I just finished I’ll Never Be French by Mark Greenside.  It’s about living in Brittany, and I can recommend the book as a gentle, amusing, charming and fast read.

Mark Greenside likes France and the French and their way of life, which is somewhat of a relief with all the French-bashing that one hears these days.  He writes about the differences in culture and thinking in a way that is accepting and self-deprecating.  While they are different, he also is different to them, plus he can’t speak their language.

It’s filled with wonderful characters and details of daily life.  I enjoyed it.

Dynamic Duos in books and movies

This comes from contributions on the Fiction-L listserv:

Asimov, Isaac      Elijah Baley and R. Daneel Olivaw
Burke, James Lee      Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell
Cervantes, Miguel      Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
Christie, Agatha      Hercule Poirot and Capt. Hastings
Christie, Agatha      Tommy and Tuppence Beresford
Churchill, Jill      Jane Jeffries and Shelley Nowack
Coben, Harlan      Myron Bolitar and Win Lockwood
Cooper, James Fenimore      Natty Bumpo and Chingachgook
Cornwell, Patricia      Kay Scarpetta and Detective Pete Marino
Coulter, Catherine      Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich
Crais, Robert      Elvis Cole and Joe Pike
Daheim, Mary      Judith McMonigle Flynn and Renie Jones
Daheim, Mary      Emma Lord and Vida Runkel
Deaver, Jeffery      Lincoln Rimes and Amelia Sachs
Dexter, Colin      Insp. Morse and Sgt. Lewis
Dickens, Charles      The Brothers Cheeryble
Dorsey, Tim      Serge Storms and Coleman
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan      Sherlock Holmes and Watson
Evanovich, Janet      Stephanie Plum and Lula
Foster, Alan Dean      Jon-Tom and Mudge
Foster, Alan Dean      Pip and Flinx
Gabaldon, Diana      Jamie and Claire Fraser
George, Elizabeth      Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers
Grabenstein, Chris      John Ceepak and Danny Boyle
Graham, Caroline      Insp. Barnaby and Sgt. Troy
Greenwood, Kerry      Phryne Fisher and Dot Williams
Grimes, Martha      Richard Jury and Melrose Plant
Hammett, Dashiell      Nick and Nora Charles
Hill, Reginald      Andy Dalziel and Peter Pascoe
Hillerman, TonyJ      oe Leaphorn and Jim Chee
Himes, Chester      Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones
Hoag, Tami      Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska
Johnson, Craig      Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear
Kellerman, Faye      Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Decker
Kellerman, Jonathan      Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis
Larsson, Stieg      Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander
Lehane, Dennis      Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro
Leiber, Fritz      Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser

Non-fiction that reads like fiction

From suggestions made on Fiction-L listserv:

Nonfiction in which the pacing, character development, writing style,
etc. will please even someone who normally reads just fiction.

2003 and newer Titles

The Language of Baklava – Diana Abu-Jaber (2005)
The Zookeeper’s Wife; a War Story – Diane Ackerman  (2007)
Bounty: the True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty – Caroline
Alexander (2003)
Babylon’s Ark – Lawrence Anthony (2007)
Something for the Pain – Paul Austin (2008)
Death by Leisure – Chris Ayres (2009)
A Long Way Gone: memoirs of a Boy Soldier – Ishmael Beah (2007)
Leisureville: Adventures in America’s Retirement Utopias  – Andrew D.
Blechman (2008)
The Gardner Heist – Ulrich Boser (2009)
American Thighs – Jill Conner Browne (2009)
The Sweet Potato Queens’ Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit
- Jill Conner Browne (2008)
Candy Girl: a Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper – Diablo Cody
(2006)
The Art of the Heist – Myles J. Connnor & Jenny Siler (2009)
I Was Told There’d Be Cake: essays – Sloane Crossley (2008)
Defending the Damned – Kevin Davis (2007)
The Forger’s Spell – Edward Dolnick (2008)
The Rescue Artist – Edward Dolnik (2005)
102 Minutes: the Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin
Towers – Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn (2004)
The Worst Hard Time – Timothy Egan (2006)
Superstud: Or How I Became a 24-Year-Old Virgin – Paul Feig (2005)
Split: a memoir of Divorce – Suzanne Finnamore (2008)
Washington’s Crossing – David Hackett Fischer  (2004)
Thin is the New Happy – Valerie Frankel (2008)
Lost City of Z: a Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon – by David
Grann  (2008)
Hurry Down Sunshine – Michael Greenberg (2008)
I’ll Never Be French (no matter what I do) – Mark Greenside (2008)
Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town – John Grisham (2006)
Pictures at a Revolution – Mark Harris (2008)
The Lost Painting – Jonathan Harr (2005)
Armageddon: the Battle for Germany, 1944-45 – Max Hastings (2004)
Seabiscuit: an American legend – Laura Hillenbrand (2003)
Dishwasher – Pete Jordan (2007)
Rock On: An Office Power Ballad – Dan Kennedy (2008)
Merle’s Door: Lessons from a Free Thinking Dog – Ted Kerasote (2007)
Animal Vegetable Miracle: a Year of Food Life – Barbara Kingsolver
(2007)
From Baghdad With Love – Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman (2006)
Jewish Pirates Of the Caribbean – Edward Kritzler (2008)
The Shadow Divers – by Robert Kurson (2004)
Bitter is the New Black – Jen Lancaster (2006)
Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping – Judith Levine (2006)
Helping Me Help Myself – Beth Lisick (2008)
The Soloist – Steve Lopez (2008)
The Anglo files: a Field Guide to the British – Sarah Lyall (2008)
Born Standing Up: a Comic’s Life  – Steve Martin (2007)
I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti – Giulia Melucci (2009)
River of Doubt – Candace Millard  (2005)
After the Ice – Steven Mithen (2006)
The Good, Good Pig – Sy Montgomery (2006)