Listmania!
My Keeper Shelf
By an Amazon.com customer
Cordelia's Honor (Vorkosigan Saga Omnibus: Shards of Honor / Barrayar)Cordelia's Honor (Vorkosigan Saga Omnibus: Shards of Honor / Barrayar) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $1.49
Start here and read straight through - all of these books have been re-issued in various arrangements, so the ones I have here may not be available in these editions. There is a timeline in the back of most of the books that tells you the chronilogical order. (language, violence, and adult scenes in all books, but rarely gratuitous.)
The Warrior's Apprentice (Vorkosigan)The Warrior's Apprentice (Vorkosigan) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy used from: $19.03
Cetaganda (Bujold, Lois Mcmaster. Vorkosigan Adventure.)Cetaganda (Bujold, Lois Mcmaster. Vorkosigan Adventure.) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01
The Vor GameThe Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy used from: $0.01
Borders of InfinityBorders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy used from: $1.50
Three short stories that fit into various places in the timeline.
Brothers in ArmsBrothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy used from: $0.01
Mirror Dance (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures)Mirror Dance (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.97
This one is much darker than the others, but Lord Mark is just as interesting a protagonist as Miles - just more flawed. This one haunted me for days after reading it.
Memory (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures)Memory (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $1.50
Possibly my favorite Miles book thus far in the series - but they get even better!
Komarr (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures)Komarr (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01
A Civil CampaignA Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.75
Hysterical. Laugh-out-loud funny!
Diplomatic Immunity (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures)Diplomatic Immunity (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $1.04
I can't believe this might be the end of the Miles series! But it ends quite nicely, if it is indeed the end.
The Curse of ChalionThe Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01
This is fantasy - as good as the (sci-fi) Vorkosigan books. The sequel is Paladin of Souls, also good.
To Say Nothing of the DogTo Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01
Connis Willis is another great sci-fi writer. This is probably her best book - very funny, with literary references that are fun to catch. Got me started on Dorothy Sayers mysteries and Three Men in a Boat (Jerome K. Jerome)
Doomsday BookDoomsday Book by Connie Willis
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.27
Probably her other best book - just much darker than The Dog. Still a book I read over and over.
What a Girl Wants (Ashley Stockingdale Series #3)What a Girl Wants (Ashley Stockingdale Series #3) by Kristin Billerbeck
Buy used from: $0.01
Christian Chick-lit - as good as the Sophie Kinsella books, without the language. The other books in the series are She's Out Of Control, and With This Ring, I'm Confused
Confessions of a ShopaholicConfessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01
The entire Shopaholic series is witty and funny. (Some language, FYI.)
Ender's Game (Ender, Book 1)Ender's Game (Ender, Book 1) by Orson Scott Card
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $0.66
A classic! (Some language and violence)
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible VoyageEndurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Buy new: $10.76 / Used from: $0.81
Get past the first two chapters - once they're out to sea, it's hard to put down.
A Talent For WarA Talent For War by Jack McDevitt
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.87
This series (with Seeker and Polaris) is sci-fi mystery. I like these better than the "Hutch" books.
PersuasionPersuasion by Jane Austen
My favorite out of all of Austin's books. Capt Wentworth's letter at the end - <sigh>
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and LifeBird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Buy new: $10.20 / Used from: $2.56
A classic book on writing. (some language and adult scenes)
The Blue CastleThe Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Buy used from: $5.50
Lovely, lovely, old-fashioned romance with a spunky heroine.
A Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy: Three Essential Books in One VolumeA Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy: Three Essential Books in One Volume by Francis A. Schaeffer
Buy new: $18.00 / Used from: $8.82
Really interesting theological stuff - not an easy read, but worth every minute.
Genesis in Space and Time; The Flow of Biblical History (Bible Commentary for Layman)Genesis in Space and Time; The Flow of Biblical History (Bible Commentary for Layman) by Francis A. Schaeffer
Buy new: $10.20 / Used from: $1.93
Stardust of Yesterday (Haunting Hearts Series)Stardust of Yesterday (Haunting Hearts Series) by Lynn Kurland
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $3.10
Lynn Kurland's books are always good (although I did not like the first in the Nine Kingdoms series)
Trading in Danger (Vatta's War)Trading in Danger (Vatta's War) by Elizabeth Moon
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.36
Also, Engaging the Enemy, and Command Decision. They're a little slow in parts, but still worth your time.
DragonsbaneDragonsbane by Barbara Hambly
Buy used from: $0.01
The others in the series are good, but darker than this one.
The Mirror of Her Dreams (Mordant's Need, Book 1)The Mirror of Her Dreams (Mordant's Need, Book 1) by Stephen R. Donaldson
Buy new: $12.71 / Used from: $1.44
Also the sequel, A Man Rides Through. I didn't like the Thomas Covenant books, but these are great! (Some adult scenes and graphic violence)
Danger in the Shadows (Prequel to The O'Malley Series)Danger in the Shadows (Prequel to The O'Malley Series) by Dee Henderson
Buy new: $10.07 / Used from: $5.09
Dee Henderson is quite good - I like the O'Malley series the best.
Life ExpectancyLife Expectancy by Dean Koontz
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01
Some Koontz novels I don't get into at all - some of my favorites include The Taking, Watchers, Fear Nothing, and The Face.
Watership Down: A NovelWatership Down: A Novel by Richard Adams
Buy new: $11.52 / Used from: $2.24
An excellent adventure story!
The Boyfriend School (Ballantine Reader's Circle)The Boyfriend School (Ballantine Reader's Circle) by Sarah Bird
Buy new: $11.86 / Used from: $0.01
If you're a writer, or love romances, you'll love this one. (some language and adult scenes)
Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries)Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries) by Dorothy L. Sayers
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01
I recommend ALL the Dorothy Sayers "Lord Peter" mysteries.
The Right StuffThe Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
Buy used from: $0.67
If you're interested in the military at all, you must read this one!
To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World WarTo the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War by Jeff Shaara
Buy new: $10.85 / Used from: $3.30
All of these books by Jeff or Michael Shaara are excellent!
Redeeming LoveRedeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Buy new: $10.19 / Used from: $3.43
I can only read this once every ten years or so...stays with you that long.
All Creatures Great and SmallAll Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01
All Creatures Great and Small is the first book in the series, followed by All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, and The Lord God Made Them All.
J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings) by J.R.R. Tolkien
Buy new: $19.77 / Used from: $7.98
Anyone who hasn't read these is missing something important.
The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 2nd EditionThe Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 2nd Edition by Christopher Vogler
Buy used from: $4.67
Excellent book on writing!