I always recommend Jennifer Crusie and Connie Willis, except that Willis' Passages is not really a good choice for a cruise.
Also, it's terrible. (YMMV of course. I love Willis generally, but that book....ugh...)
Hands! Hands in new places!
Willow ,'Storyteller'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Jessica - Dec 18, 2008 9:30:47 am PST #8181 of 28431
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Vonnie K - Dec 18, 2008 9:38:59 am PST #8182 of 28431
Kiss me, my girl, before I'm sick.
Yeah. Passage is easily my least favourite Connie Willis. To Say Nothing of the Dog, on the other hand, is marvellous. I also love Doomsday Book, but that's probably too depressing for a cruise.
Toddson - Dec 18, 2008 9:46:43 am PST #8183 of 28431
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"
My favorite Connie Willis is Bellwether.
Ginger - Dec 18, 2008 9:48:23 am PST #8184 of 28431
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
I'm not a Passage fan myself. It's way past time for new Connie Willis.
I think Bellwether is one of the funnier books ever, at least if you've ever worked in a dysfunctional organization -- and who hasn't?
flea - Dec 18, 2008 10:20:42 am PST #8185 of 28431
information libertarian
Another "tragically died too soon" mystery writer I enjoyed is Kate Ross, who has a Regency dandy as her detective. The books are Cut to the Quick, A Broken Vessel, Whom The Gods Love, and A Devil in Music (which is a whole new level of depth and sophistication from the first three, and makes her death even more tragic to think where she might have gone next.)
Passage needed an editor, big time. There was a good book in there, under all those words.
Amy - Dec 18, 2008 11:48:34 am PST #8186 of 28431
Because books.
Another "tragically died too soon" mystery writer I enjoyed is Kate Ross, who has a Regency dandy as her detective.
Oh, I adored them. So, so good.
Vortex - Dec 18, 2008 12:21:25 pm PST #8187 of 28431
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman
Robert B. Parker: The early Spenser novels (1979-1989) are excellent. They go downhill after that, plus there's the Susan Silberman factor.
LOVE. You know I have a bunch of those back at my mom's house I have to go over there tonight, maybe I'll grab a few.
Toddson - Dec 18, 2008 12:23:06 pm PST #8188 of 28431
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"
There's a writer named C.T. Harris (C.J. Harris? something like that) who's written some Regency-era mysteries. Nowhere near the depth of A Devil in Music, but readable.
Sheryl - Dec 18, 2008 12:39:28 pm PST #8189 of 28431
Fandom means never having to say "But where would I wear that?"
C.S Harris, perhaps Toddson? (One of the titles is Why Mermaids Sing)
Toddson - Dec 18, 2008 12:46:50 pm PST #8190 of 28431
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"
yes, that's it! thanks!