Reading:

Science Fiction & Fantasy:
...	The  Honor Harrington series by David Weber --  On Basilisk Station, The Honor of the Queen, The Short Victorious War, Field of Dishonor, Flag in Exile, Honor Among Enemies, In Enemy Hands.  Also worthy of note from Weber is  Path of the Fury. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
...	The Discworld Novels of Terry Pratchett.  Whether you're a fan of Monty Python or Camelot, these books are for you!  Taking place on a fictional world (the Discworld, supported on the backs of four giant elephants, which in turn stand upon the back of a turtle of astronomical proportions -- and direction), this series of books is into the double digits now, and well worth every penny for every one.  Pratchett combines a fantasy setting with sharp and sometimes downright hysterical humor that serves to "mask" incredibly accurate social commentary and satire.  A must read!!! Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
...	Pretty much any series by Mercedes Lackey.  ::grin::  This includes: the Valdemar series (way too many to name); the "Bardic Voices" series  (The Lark & the Wren, The Robin & The Kestrel, The Eagle & the Nightingales, The Free Bards, Bardic Choices: A Cast of Corbies, and  Four & Twenty Blackbirds); the Diana Tregarde series  (Children of the Night, Jinx High, Burning Water); and the "SERRAted Edge" series  (Born to Run, Wheels of Fire, When the Bough Breaks, and  Chrome Circle).  Her stand-alone novels are equally lovely. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
...	The  Enchanted Forest series by Patricia C. Wrede.  Technically, you'll find these wonderful books  (Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and  Talking to Dragons) in the "Young Readers" section of a store, but  believe me, they are enjoyable no matter what age you are!  They can be categorized as humorous, and are definitely inspirational for teens and preteens.   Highly recommended!  Also by Patricia C. Wrede:  The Book of Enchantments, a collection of original short-stories. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
	The  Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton.  Set in an alternate reality where monsters are real, this series definitely qualifies as horror -- not for the faint of heart (or stomach!) -- but it is a spectacular read.  Anita Blake is a necromancer (one whose natural magickal talent works with the dead), reanimator, vampire hunter, and occasional police consultant.  She's also tough, strong, smart, and has a dry wit that is a pleasure to read, especially since all of the novels are in 1st Person. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
	The "Chicks" anthology series, edited by Esther Friesner.  A wonderful little twist on the  Sword & Sorceress style anthologies out there, this series is all about humor.  The first book,  Chicks in Chainmail, really focused on the downright hysterical, fall outta your chair, kind of humor -- the sequels (entitled, in order:  Did You Say CHICKS?!, Chicks & Chained Males [which Friesner hastened to assure gutter-minded reader like meself was  not a reference to B&M, but rather to the theme of  women rescuing  men], and  The Chick is in the Mail) have eased off on that kind of humor, but are still wonderfully funny.  A  great read -- especially if you don't mind those fallen-off-chair bumps and bruises.  ;-) Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.

Mystery:
...	The  Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich -  One for the Money, Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly, and  Four to Score.  Extraordinarily funny, and yet still capable of weaving scenarios that sometimes leave you on the edge of your seat. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
...	The  VI Warshawski series by Sarah Paretsky.  One of my all-time favorites, and what really got me into the mystery genre.  This is a long-running series with about 8 or 9 novels, and a new one just out.  Paretsky also has edited an anthology of mystery stories by and about women. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.
	The  Kat Colorado series by Karen Kijewski.  Don't ask me why all the great mystery series by women that I've read seem to have "ski" at the end of the author's name, but there ya go.  The title character is another wonderfully complex woman, and so veru human that it can sometimes break your heart. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
	The exception to the "ski" rule: SJ Rozan and her  Bill Smith & Lydia Chin mysteries.  All I can say about this author and her series is that I LOVE THEM!  Both title characters are absolutely wonderful, their dialogue simply snaps and sparkles, and the stories are intriguing and well-told.  And that's not even going into the continuing subplot of the frustrated romance between the two.  What really makes these novels different is that the POV switches from Bill to Lydia every other book (eg: 1st book = Lydia, 2nd book = Bill).  I wouldn't have expected it to work, but it does -- and it gives such a wonderful view of the inner life of each character that you feel as if they're your best friends, and you want to run to each and tell the truth of what the other's been thinking. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
	All right, so there's another exception: the  Catherine LeVendeur stories by Sharan Newman.  Also well-told, but what I truly love about these books is the fact that they're set in 12th Century France.  A font of information about thestate of things back then, and woven so well into the story that you almost can't separate fact from fiction. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.

Classics:
...	Try  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Amazon.com, B&N, Half.com),  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Amazon.com, B&N, Half.com), and virtually any novel by Jane Austen (Amazon.com, B&N, Half.com).  Most of the latter have been adapted for film (eg:  Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Emma), and JE and WH have been as well.
...	The  Magazine Novels of Pauline Hopkins are highly recommended for anyone interested not only in late 19th century society and literature, but more specifically the roles and troubles of African-Americans of that time-period.  Check out my review for this book at Amazon.com for more details. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Half.com.
	A recently discovered jewel is  The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins.  Published in 1867, this novel is not only praised as Collins' masterpiece, but also noted to be the  start of the mystery genre.  All I can say about it is that it is one of the BEST books, modern or classic, that I have ever read.  Collins puts the story together in the form of several eye-witness accounts covering a span of time, each told in the 1st Person, and each with the incredibly distinct voice of each character (especially Mr. Betteredge and Ms. Clack, who are both hysterically funny -- the latter without meaning to be).  Collins' wit and humor is wonderfully sharp and dry, the story is engaging, and the mystery is not easily solved.  Highly Recommended! Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.

Modern Fiction:
...	An absolute  must-read is Italo Calvino's  If on a winter's night a traveler, translation by William Weaver, available from Harcourt Brace & Company (classified as "International Fiction").  I got this book from Amazon.com to use up credit on a gift certificate -- and boy!, was I amazed when I found that the "well, it should be interesting" book floored me with both its humor and its amazing narrative style.  If you speak Italian, you may wish to try and find the original, but considering the subject matter, it is almost appropriate to read it in translation.  Calvino switches from one style to another as he emulates separate chapters in completely different books, every one of them distinct and engaging.  This is, in my opinion, Calvino's best work -- but he also has several other worthy, and equally fantastical, novels. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
...	The Whispering Wall, by Patricia Carlon pulls together the fear and stubborn hope of a woman paralyzed by a stroke, and the suspense of a mystery when she discovers she's the only one who knows about a murder plot. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
...	Power by Linda Hogan is a vividly painted story of a 'rite of passage', and the struggle between Native American and 'plain' American identities for a youth.  The writing style is just fabulous; Hogan's descriptions reminded me of Zora Neale Hurston's  Their Eyes Were Watching God (Amazon.com, B&N, Half.com), which is another book I  highly recommend! Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
	An excellent book I just finished reading is  Black Girl in Paris, by Shay Youngblood.  Told in 1st Person narrative, the story is strong, poignant, sometimes dark, but always exquisite.  This book carries an "R" rating in my view, for mature themes and language -- not for kids! -- but definitely worth the read. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.

Poetry:
...	Audre Lorde -- My two favorte volumes are "Coal" and "The Black Unicorn".  She is one of my absolute all-time favorite poets; Lorde's works are linguistically beautiful, vivid, complex, and always haunting in one way or another. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
...	Tess Gallagher -- My personal favorite of her collected works is "Moon Crossing Bridge". Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com
...	Emily Dickinson -- Another major favorite of mine.  Her work always seems to me to capture ... well, everything.  Any volume of her collected works is a worthwhile investment. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com
	"The Ink Dark Moon" -- A collection of ancient Japanese court poetry, edited by Jane Hirschfeld & Mariko Aratani (translator).  My first experience with this form of poetry, and every one of the pieces is stunningly beautiful! Check out the listings at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.
	Annie Finch -- "Eve".  I haven't yet had a chance to peruse the other volumes of poetry by this poet, but I very much enjoyed this one. Check out the listings for this author at:  Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Half.com.