Originally Posted by JustJess

Oh, I will be stopping by this thread frequently for ideas! Thanks for the Rachel Ray cookbook tip, Mal, I'm all over that.

Currently, I'm reading the latest from Diana Gabaldon. If you are a history buff AND don't mind a little supernatural element, then jump on these. The first book is "Outlander" and most places have it mis-marked as a romance. It has romantic elements, certainly, but it's a whole lot more than that. The first couple books start in 1740's Scotland, and move to England, France, the Caribbean, and then the Colonies. Right now, in the (I *think*) 5th book, we're in the Colonies right before the War for Independence.

Why I love these books: they bring the past alive in a real, visceral sense; it's not just what they're wearing, but how things smell, the textures, the sights and sounds, the beauty and the gross in life. I am not a fan of books that spend too much time describing every last detail either - this feels like a natural progression, as if you were sitting in the person's head noticing what they notice.
The characters are strong, with each of them growing throughout the books they live in. They're engaging and funny and human, all at once. This is FICTION, but I find myself often wondering what the various characters might think of our world now. That's how real they become. Because the main characters, like Claire (and later, others, but I won't spoil it for you), are not from the 1700's either, seeing things from their eyes gives an interesting perspective on the past.

LOVE THESE BOOKS. I do.