What has been your 2008 author/book discovery?

[Leontine]

I would really like to know which book or author has made your year of 2008. For me my greatest surprise was the discovery of Anne Bishop's Black Jewel Trilogy. Though I love to read Fantasy and many have recommended this trilogy and though the Trade Paperbacks have been sitting on my shelf for months...when I reached for book one and met Daemon - Lucivar and Saetan with the resilient Jaenelle I was sold after a few chapters. By the end of Daughter Of Blood I knew I had myself a keeper and could add my raving voice to the other Bishop lovers. I still have to read Queen Of Darkness and other related novels to this series but I tend to savor these books slowly LOL

So what has been your discovery of 2008? Or perhaps what book was an incredible let-down? Talk book lovers!

Hugs,
Leontine

[Midge]

Mine, was the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, and Marley and Me by John Grogan. I also discovered Richard Matheson's I am Legend. I loved them.

[Amy]

Probably Julie Lessman whose debut novel came out in January of 08. We did promotion for that and her second novel on my blog...she writes heart pounding inspirational romance and is just a gem of a person. Can't wait for her next book!

[Mervi Hämäläinen]

I read only a few new (for me) authors this year even though I wanted to read more of them. Two of them stand out: Brandon Sanderson and Elizabeth Bear.

Sanderson's epic Mistborn trilogy is very good with a lot of plot twists. It also turns some reader expectations on their ear. Bear's Promethean Age books are (so far) two connected duologies which are just full of Good Stuff. Mythologies, fairies, songs, werewolves, kelpies, a modern world waking up to the fact that magic is real...

[Nicola O.]

I read so many good new paranormal authors last year. I think my favorite find is Meljean Brook, closely followed by Nalini Singh and Kresley Cole.

For traditional romance, Joanna Bourne blows me away.

But I could seriously name about 3 dozen.

[Blodeuedd]

Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson, the language was so beautiful and how it flowed :) Another great book was A long long way by Sebastian Barry. It was the way of his word that made it sound like a poem.
Third great book discovery of the year was Pomegranate Soup by Mesha Mehran.

[Mihai, Dark Wolf]

I will say Carlos Ruiz Zafon and his "The Shadow of the Wind". Not that is the best book I read in 2008, but it is the best in years. And Carlos Ruiz Zafon proves to be a very talented author.
I eagerly wait this year to read his upcoming novel, "Angel's Game".

[G Saunders]

Interesting forum, especially as a writer looking for an audience. I also do book reviews for readingnewmexico.com and read many last year. My most fulfilling discovery was, Northfield by Johnny Boggs. This is a story about the James and Younger gangs raid on a Minnesota bank told from the first person perspective of all the participants on both sides. A real pleasure to read so you may want to check him out. As a disappointment I would say, Footsteps To Forever by R. Samuel Baty. A WWII story with grand potential that went nowhere.

Anyway,

Thanks for the discussion.

Greg
www.gregoryjsaunders.com

[Florinda]

My author discovery of 2008 was Michelle Richmond. Both of her novels last year - The Year of Fog in paperback, and No One You Know in hardcover, made my "Books of the Year" list.

[Hava Lyon]

I second the Marley and Me recommendation. I had heard it was good, but I had to force myself to read it because I knew it would have a sad ending, and I wasn't sure I wanted to cry. But boy am I glad I did (read it, that is.) I have not watched the movie yet - I'll probably wait until it's come out on DVD. Movies are never as good as the books.

Three Cups of Tea was also an amazing book. I put that book down, feeling like I could change the world. If Greg Mortenson could go from being an almost homeless mountain climber to dotting the Middle East with schools, then I could do anything too, right? Great, great book.

I read pretty much only nonfiction (hence my website: Nonfiction Lover) so it's hard for me to find a new author - nonfiction authors often only write one or two books total. Instead, I've found that I am enjoying new kinds of books, specifically books about science. I have found that I love to learn, and I especially love it when a fantastic author makes it easy to learn! :-) Some of my favs have been about Earth and/or space. Some very cool stuff in our universe.

Hava