Barbara Metzger does good, often light and comedic, Regency romances with little to no sex. But I remember them being awfully good fun none the less.
Matt, K&C was a really enjoyable book, much like a nice, fictional companion to Comic Book Nation.
Doesn't winter seem more like archiving season?
Willow ,'Lessons'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
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."
P.M. Marc - Jul 18, 2004 5:10:49 pm PDT #5188 of 10002
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear
Amy - Jul 18, 2004 6:09:38 pm PDT #5189 of 10002
Because books.
Ginger, the early Julia Quinn books aren't as sexy as her latest ones, and they might be perfect, too -- she does the period well, but not with a heavy hand, and she's funny with a lot of heart. There are definitely some sex scenes, though.
Shannon Doherty's Regencies are lovely, too -- she also has a great sense of humor, but a light touch. I would also recommend Mary Blayney.
Avon has a new line of YA historical romances out specifically without explicit sense (Meg Cabot wrote one -- I believe it's called Nicola and the Viscount -- as well as a few other well-known historical authors) but the characters are teens, too, not adults, so I don't know if that would turn a 17-year-old off.
Tam - Jul 18, 2004 6:31:39 pm PDT #5190 of 10002
"...Singing their heads off, protected by the holy ghosts, flying in from the ocean, driving with their eyes closed." - Patty Griffin "Florida"
Emily Hendrickson is one of my favs in Signet regency. I'm a big regency fan. I read them alot between "heavier" stuff, or when I'm depressed and just want a diversion. But anyway, I agree, great for all ages.
Oooh! Marion Chesney! She's great too, she wrote bunches of sextets. I don't know which may still be in print, but I'd recomend any of hers for a teen.
Ginger - Jul 18, 2004 7:52:59 pm PDT #5191 of 10002
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
Thanks for all the recommendations. These are for a girl who's been having a lot of problems, and her aunt, like me, is from the "when the going gets tough, the tough read books" school.
Consuela - Jul 18, 2004 8:06:45 pm PDT #5192 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix
Second the rec for Marion Chesney. Those are fun.
Jessica - Jul 19, 2004 4:52:44 am PDT #5193 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
I'm reading a fantastic book right now -- The Rift, by Walter J. Williams. It's not quite sci-fi (takes place in the present day, no fictional science in it at all), but it's shelved there because that's where his other books go. It's about a fictional major (8.9) earthquake along the New Madrid fault that essentially takes out the entire Mississippi valley, and follows what happens to various groups of refugees. I'm only about halfway through -- it's over 900 pages -- but it's one of the most satisfying reads I've had in a while.
JohnSweden - Jul 19, 2004 5:05:56 am PDT #5194 of 10002
I can't even.
I haven't read The Rift yet, but I can highly recommend pretty much any of Walter Jon Williams' stuff. In fact, I've started in on the first book club book and it strongly reminds me of WJW's Metropolitan and the follow-up, City On Fire. I've liked many of WJW's books, especially Aristoi. He is so deft, he writes in many different styles. I've been enjoying his recent hard-boiled Space Opera books, Dread Empire's Fall, as well.
Betsy HP - Jul 19, 2004 5:09:27 am PDT #5195 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
Oh, thanks for the heads-up! I love WJW.
Jessica - Jul 19, 2004 5:10:40 am PDT #5196 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
I've been enjoying his recent hard-boiled Space Opera books, Dread Empire's Fall, as well.
I haven't read those yet, but I really enjoyed both Hardwired and Voice of the Whirlwind.
In fact, I've started in on the first book club book and it strongly reminds me of WJW's Metropolitan and the follow-up, City On Fire.
Huh. Maybe I'll check it out, then.
Jess M. - Jul 19, 2004 6:00:27 am PDT #5197 of 10002
Let me just say that popularity with people on public transportation does not equal literary respect. --Jesse
Ginger, maybe Amanda Quick? I loved those romances at that age. I admit I can't remember how explicit her sex stuff is. Jude Deveraux has some period ones too that are really good, but again, same caveat regarding the sex.
I loved Kavalier and Clay for it's use of language. I think Chabon has a wonderful knack for picking the right evocative words, that other writers might not choose in the same circumstance.