|
Post by 4amWriter on Nov 19, 2012 22:05:47 GMT
Know any bestsellers in the supernatural genre good for a writer new to the genre to read? Please tell me about them! (I'd like to avoid horror if possible.)
Thanks muchly!
|
|
|
Post by yrdeni on Nov 20, 2012 7:56:14 GMT
A friend of mine writes supernatural stories, I'll ask her and let you know.
|
|
|
Post by limebirdwriters on Nov 20, 2012 10:19:35 GMT
OK, this is my type of genre! I really like supernatural books, especially with romance. Well, I LOVE the Sookie Stackhouse books, there's a bit of sex in them though so not sure if that's your thing. They're what 'True Blood' is based on (the TV show) They're so addictive though, I plowed right through them. That's vampires, werewolves and faeries.
Also, one of my faves but it's actually a children's book, but I guess it would be classified as supernatural is Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief. It's so well written, but this is more greek gods type supernatural. Definitely not horror! Depends what kind of thing you're after.
|
|
|
Post by yrdeni on Nov 20, 2012 13:05:11 GMT
When you said supernatural, for some reason I was thinking ghosts. However, Beth's quite right that it covers anything and everything that's not natural (silly me). In which case, I'd definitely recommend reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman. It's quite long, so if you're in a hurry you could try his short story collection "Smoke and Mirrors". He's a master when it comes to immersing you in a world you didn't even know existed, and most of his stories are based on "Earth" (as in, it has a certain realism to it - not elves and stuff). I've seen the film of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, but haven't read it. I do love stories with gods and mythology embedded in them. Another film I've seen that I'd really love to read the books for one day is The Spiderwick Chronicles ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spiderwick_Chronicles). The film reminded me of the Psammead series by Edith Nesbit, which really are great children's books.
|
|
|
Post by yrdeni on Nov 20, 2012 22:01:36 GMT
I've had a chat with my friend and told her to get her ass over to the LimeBird forums at some point She's more into spooky supernatural, but recommends the author Susan Hill (Woman in Black; Dolly). She also said James Herbert's "The Secret of Crickley Hall" is a good read. It's on the BBC as a three-part series at the moment as well. Having put some of my own thought into it, I can't believe I didn't think of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel by Susanna Clarke first time around. It's a brilliant and very well written story of two magicians thrown together in sort-of 19th Century England. I would quite happily read it again: www.amazon.co.uk/Jonathan-Strange-Norrell-Susanna-Clarke/dp/0747579881
|
|
|
Post by 4amWriter on Nov 20, 2012 22:07:12 GMT
Ooh, awesome help. Yes, LordScree, I was referring to ghosts when I said supernatural. I should have been more specific. Although, I'm not adverse to reading anything well-written that has to do with any kind of supernatural beings. I typically write mainstream family drama, so this NaNo story is waaayyy out of my box.
Spooky supernatural is good, so I will look up Susan Hill. I have been intrigued by Neil Gaiman's interviews, so knowing that he's written something that can help me in my research is a bonus. Thanks for the great tips!
|
|
|
Post by 4amWriter on Nov 20, 2012 22:10:17 GMT
OK, this is my type of genre! I really like supernatural books, especially with romance. Well, I LOVE the Sookie Stackhouse books, there's a bit of sex in them though so not sure if that's your thing. They're what 'True Blood' is based on (the TV show) They're so addictive though, I plowed right through them. That's vampires, werewolves and faeries. Also, one of my faves but it's actually a children's book, but I guess it would be classified as supernatural is Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief. It's so well written, but this is more greek gods type supernatural. Definitely not horror! Depends what kind of thing you're after. Hey Beth, thanks for responding! I remember that you've recommended Sookie Stackhouse before, and I'm sure I can find those books in the library. Even though I was mainly referring to ghosts, I think that the genre itself is what I mostly need to learn in terms of how things are done differently, if at all, from mainstream fiction. Good to know Percy Jackson is well-written -- that could be something I could use as research but also read out loud to my kids, so I'd be killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Perfect!
|
|
|
Post by limebirdwriters on Nov 21, 2012 9:58:36 GMT
OK, this is my type of genre! I really like supernatural books, especially with romance. Well, I LOVE the Sookie Stackhouse books, there's a bit of sex in them though so not sure if that's your thing. They're what 'True Blood' is based on (the TV show) They're so addictive though, I plowed right through them. That's vampires, werewolves and faeries. Also, one of my faves but it's actually a children's book, but I guess it would be classified as supernatural is Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief. It's so well written, but this is more greek gods type supernatural. Definitely not horror! Depends what kind of thing you're after. Hey Beth, thanks for responding! I remember that you've recommended Sookie Stackhouse before, and I'm sure I can find those books in the library. Even though I was mainly referring to ghosts, I think that the genre itself is what I mostly need to learn in terms of how things are done differently, if at all, from mainstream fiction. Good to know Percy Jackson is well-written -- that could be something I could use as research but also read out loud to my kids, so I'd be killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Perfect! OK, ghosts.. Actually I did read a book recently that had a ghost in.. OHH I REMEMBER! Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger who wrote the Time Traveller's Wife. It's really good, there's a ghost in it who can't leave her apartment and her two nieces come to live there. I don't want to give too much away, but it's really well written and it's definitely ghostly! Yes, Percy Jackson is AWESOME and your kids would definitely enjoy it too.
|
|
|
Post by 4amWriter on Nov 21, 2012 18:46:01 GMT
Oh wow, thanks Beth. I loved Time Traveller's Wife, so I'll be happy to read another one of her books.
|
|
|
Post by limebirdwriters on Nov 22, 2012 9:26:18 GMT
Yeah it's really good! It's set in London too and has some cool twists and turns, so is definitely a good one for mixing supernatural into reality! Also, she's a fabulous writer, really evocative!
|
|
|
Post by limebirdwriters on Jan 17, 2013 12:24:08 GMT
Have you read any of these/similar books Kate?
|
|