Books to read

[FreeC8675]

I've had a good month or so without a good book to read :mad:

I was curious if anyone had a suggestion for a good read because I could use one. I like most any book, as long as it is interesting. I've read a lot of fiction but definitely enjoy a good non-fiction book as long as the story is good or has profound thinking in it.

Just to give a range I've read Tolkien -> Huckleberry Finn, Terry Brooks -> Kevin Mitnick, Bible -> Harry Potter.

So if you guys have read anything good recently let me know and I'll check it out.

Good book I've read recently: Blink (http://www.gladwell.com/blink/) by Malcolm Gladwell

[Cyclonite]

I just recently read Asimov's Robot series. If you like Science Fiction, those were a good read.

I also just finished Velocity by Dean Koontz. That was a fun read. I didn't want to put the book down. I just picked up Intensity, and I'm about halfway through that.

[Keebler]

I just read Odd Thomas by Koontz and it was outstanding. I plan to follow up with the other 2 in the series. I also recently finished the Bourne trilogy, which are radically different and way more intelligent than the movies (which are entertaining in their own right, just "not as good as the book" as usual).

[DogDragon]

Cradle by Arthur C. Clarke = Good reading :)

[Cyclonite]

Odd Thomas is my next stop with Koontz. Glad to hear it was good. I may have to pick up the Bourne Trilogy as well.

[Kwitko]

Right now I'm reading A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy, Fever Pitch). Before that I read Shampoo Planet by Douglas Coupland (Generation X and Microserfs).

[FreeC8675]

I definitely want to read some Asimov, so I'll try to pick that up sometime, and Koontz sounds pretty good too.

I started the bourne Trilogy but always got distracted so I never finished the first book, maybe I'll try to go back to it. I've been trying out some classic literature, i.e. (Leatherstocking tales, Tale of Two Cities) but I just don't have the attention to devote to those books because i'm usually interrupted by stuff every hour or so.

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

[jokke]

You americans should read Bill Bryson, if you havent already. I am currently reading "The Swarm" by Frans Shätsing (or something). It's quite exciting.

[Guyute]

FreeC8675- The first adventure book I ever read was The Bourne Identity, and I couldn't put it down. Still the best book ever! Just make sure you have an original, not one adapted from the movie.

Sci-Fi- The Mote In God's Eye

regular fiction- Any Stephen Hunter book

[primesuspect]

George RR Martin - The Song of Ice and Fire books..

Unbelievable storytelling. These are epic tales.

[StainMeNow]

George RR Martin - The Song of Ice and Fire books..

Unbelievable storytelling. These are epic tales.

I am currently reading these (over 1/2 done with Storm of Swords) and they ARE epic. And they're making me cry like a little girl :-/

Seriously...I had to really try not to cry while reading at lunch today. *stifles some more tears*

[primesuspect]

Yup. :(

[Kwitko]

Geeks... I swear...

It's okay to read something not sci-fi or hobbit-related. It won't kill you, I promise.

[Thrax]

So far, having trudged through book 1 of song and ice and fire, it's probably the most irritatingly dry and boring "Fantasy" book I've ever read.

[DogDragon]

Geeks... I swear...

It's okay to read something not sci-fi or hobbit-related. It won't kill you, I promise.

What if it does :scratch:

[primesuspect]

It's not really "high fantasy"... There's not really magic, etc. It's more like a reimagining of the middle ages with just enough of a fantasy element to make it interesting.

Okay, since you've baited me, I'll expound on why I am really enjoying the books:

"High fantasy" in the vein of Tolkein and his clones are all, at the core, the same story - good vs. evil, with some underdog nobody coming along and getting help and finding some ultimate power - the only power than can undo the ultimate evil bad guy, boom.

The ice and fire books have just plain none of that. there is no good, there is no evil - they are about blood, family, war, revenge, love, and loss. It's basically impossible to pick someone to "root" for, because they are all doing whatever they can do get ahead. These books have such believable characters because the characters could be any of us - they act like real people. The "enemy", if one can be found in this saga, is the coming Winter. Everyone is trying to make their place in the world before the years-long winter sets in. You can't fight it, so instead they fight each other. As soon as you start to think that a character or a family is "good", they go and do something twisted to some other character or family. The characters are FAR more complex than those in "high fantasy" novels. There are no "taciturn dwarves" and "flighty elves". There's just gritty men, psychopaths, twisted women, corrupt officials, lost children, and the ever present war, hunger, and strife. I love it :D

[FreeC8675]

Geeks... I swear...

It's okay to read something not sci-fi or hobbit-related. It won't kill you, I promise.

example of something not sci-fi or hobbit-related plz! (I Know we've had lots of other suggestions from other genre's already;)) But maybe Kwitco has a better example.

Just to let you know in 4th grade I read a semi-cyclopedia reference book on WWII, so I'm no stranger to historical non-fiction.:bigggrin:

[kryyst]

Just about anything by David Gemmell. In particular the Rigante trilogy, the swords of Night and Day Trilogy and his first book Legend, which is quite possibly one of the best fantasy fiction books ever written.

I'd also suggest anything by Robert Newcomb excellent mid level fantasy.

[jokke]

This "Ice and Fire" thing sounds exciting. Maybe I'll look it up and try it. I like the DragonLance series by Margareth Weis & Tracy Hickman when it comes to fantasy. I can also warmly recommend Clive Cussler in the action genre.

[DogDragon]

How Alfred Hitchcock scare the bejesus out of yourself :eek3::hair:

[Thelemech]

*H.P. Lovecraft*
Robert Heinlein
Robert E. Howard
Brian Lumley
Edgar Allan Poe
Robert R McCammon
William Gibson
Arthur Machen
Ramsey Campbell
Clive Barker
and on and on and on and on ..........................................................

[DogDragon]

Poe is a good one :nudge:

[jokke]

Poe is a good one :nudge:

I'll second that.

[Zuntar]

Sci fi series that was excellent IMHO (and many others)

Ender's game - Orson Scott Card (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game_series)

[FreeC8675]

Sci fi series that was excellent IMHO (and many others)

Ender's game - Orson Scott Card (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game_series)

Read Ender's game and I think most people should read it!

Well I think I've got some great suggestions here. Now all I got to do is get to a library and check em out:tongue:

thanks a lot everyone.

[drasnor]

A couple of my cyberpunk favorites:
Snow Crash and Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson.

The Unshelved (http://www.unshelved.com) book of the week is usually pretty good. It's a webcomic written by librarians about a library. The sunday strip (http://www.unshelved.com/archive.aspx?strip=20070923) each week is always a book review.

-drasnor :fold:

[Kwitko]

example of something not sci-fi or hobbit-related plz!

Check out post #6 for some suggestions.

[CB]

Check the NYT Best-Sellers list.

Start at the top.

[bothered]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Terry Pratchett. I've read a couple of dozen of his discworld books, very funny.
Douglas Adams and Arthur C Clark are winners too.

[FreeC8675]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Terry Pratchett. I've read a couple of dozen of his discworld books, very funny.
Douglas Adams and Arthur C Clark are winners too.

I've read all (i think) of the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy books which were hilarious.

gonna have to check out Clark, British humor is good stuff, ima big fan of Monty Python and other great comedies.

[Thelemech]

Poe is a good one :nudge:

Lovecraft is even Better!:cool2:

[Thelemech]

Sci fi series that was excellent IMHO (and many others)

Ender's game - Orson Scott Card (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game_series)

That was such an excellent book!! I have only read it and none of the others in the series .. mostly from a fear that they will undermine the greatness and poignancy of the original.

[primesuspect]

Salman Rushdie is good stuff. The Satanic Verses is a very good book, and I plan on reading Shalimar the Clown at some point.

Also "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi is excellent nonfiction. Entertaining, sad, poignant, and helps bridge some cultural gaps.

Another fantastic book is "The Glass Bead Game" by Herman Hesse, as well as "Siddhartha" by the same. Glass Bead Game is a little tough to get through the first time, but it's a fascinating book about life in Hesse's imagined 24th century - a world where all the cultural and intellectual elite sort of form their own nation called Castalia and aim for the very highest of intellectual and artistic enlightenment by playing a sort of game called, well you know what it's called. I highly recommend it.

[Nomad]

Also "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi is excellent nonfiction. Entertaining, sad, poignant, and helps bridge some cultural gaps.

Worst book I've read in the last four years. I'd suggest The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells which does all the same things in 200 less pages with a size larger font.

[primesuspect]

did somebody poop in nomad's oatmeal? :(

[LawnMM]

On Killing - Dave Grossman, fascinating read with data from the civil war up through the world wars into the modern day

[FreeC8675]

did somebody poop in nomad's oatmeal? :(

aw you mean they weren't raisins?

[Kwitko]

I love Siddhartha. I've read it three times. I have The Glass Bead Game, haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. Hesse is a fantastic writer.

[Bud]

I just finished hardcore zen (http://www.amazon.com/Hardcore-Zen-Monster-Movies-Reality/dp/086171380X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9847275-5964840?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190984556&sr=8-1)

and last night got Sit Down and Shut Up (http://www.amazon.com/Sit-Down-Shut-Up-Commentaries/dp/1577315596/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-9847275-5964840?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190984556&sr=8-2) its by the same author. Never something I thought I would read but really got my attention. Made me think about some thinks in life. I would def recommend it.

[FreeC8675]

I just got back from the Daniel Boone Library in Columbia to return I, Robot which I finished yesterday. It was a pretty good book with some interesting commentary. It's ending definitely leaves you thinking. Not sure how they got the movie out of it though?

I picked up Terry Brook's new book The Elves of Cintra which is a part of his trilogy that links two of his series; the Word and the Void series with his Shannara series. Not sure but that might be a first time that two seemingly different fantasy universe's got linked together. The book is pretty good so far. If you guys haven't read any of Terry's stuff I would recommend it. The Word and the Void is shorter for those of you who don't want to read 6-700 pages a book which is the Shannara series' norm.

[primesuspect]

I've been really interested to see how he links the two worlds.. Besides the obvious (Shannara is really just post-apocalyptic modern day North America, etc.), I'm curious to see how the Forbidding comes into play, etc.

I won't buy into a trilogy anymore until all three books are released. I've learned the hard way, waiting 15,200 years for George RR Martin to ****ing write Dance with Dragons already :grumble:

[GHoosdum]

I, Robot the movie is not actually based on I, Robot the book. The only similarity to any Asimov story was "Robot Dreams" which I guess part of the movie is loosely based upon. There is also a scene which echoes "Little Lost Robot" but that seems to be about all the movie has in parallel with Asimov's stories.

[Buddy J]

Both Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Boiled-Wonderland-End-World-International/dp/0679743464) and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Up-Bird-Chronicle-Novel/dp/0679775439/ref=pd_sim_b_shvl_title_2/104-1421870-8903955) by Haruki Murakami are excellent reads.

[Thrax]

Murakami, argh. He's so deliberately, frustratingly obtuse. It was as if he tried to cram every post-modern/Derridean reference in ~500 pages as humanly possible. Add a liberal helping of Foucaultian post-modernism and Lacanian archetypes, and you've Wind-Up Bird Chronicles!

[Buddy J]

You forgot that it all has to parallel the war atrocities of WW2 in Manchukuo. When you do that, Kenzaburo Oe gives you an award.

[Thelemech]

Murakami, argh. He's so deliberately, frustratingly obtuse. It was as if he tried to cram every post-modern/Derridean reference in ~. Add a liberal helping of Foucaultian post-modernism and Lacanian archetypes

AH the linguistic appeal of Icrontic and it's diverse intellects shining .... what a great mental stimulator this site can be at times!:bigggrin:


kudos

[FreeC8675]

Foucault is one crazy mofo.

[FreeC8675]

I finished Elves of Cintra and am trying to think what to start next. I was thinking Bill Bryson, so I'll check to see if its available at the library some time today.

Elves of Cintra was pretty good and if anyone had read the Shannara books I would highly recommend reading this series and the Word and the Void series because they are really good reads and show some reason why/how the Shannara world was created. The book itself was good, but suffers from being the middle book because now I am waiting for the last one to come out ;/

[Thelemech]

Just started ; Alan Dean Foster - The Man Who Used The Universe

[tcith]

Just started ; Alan Dean Foster - The Man Who Used The Universe

Must read that

I have just started on Stephen Donaldson "The Last Chronicals of Thomas Covenant"

The thing is I started reading this series in 1977 when it was 1st rleased, and waited for each of the 6 books to their conculsion in 1983

now the original writter is reviving his series in anothe novel and I am intrigued as I was very entralled in my youth by the original series ...

Time will tell if this lives up to the original or if the time in between has changed my tastes in his writing

[SPIKE09]

Must read that

I have just started on Stephen Donaldson "The Last Chronicals of Thomas Covenant"

The thing is I started reading this series in 1977 when it was 1st rleased, and waited for each of the 6 books to their conculsion in 1983

now the original writter is reviving his series in anothe novel and I am intrigued as I was very entralled in my youth by the original series ...

Time will tell if this lives up to the original or if the time in between has changed my tastes in his writing I pray he does I loved the original series :bigggrin:

[FreeC8675]

I just picked up Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything"

Hope it turns out as good as I think it is. And I think it will ;)

[CB]

I just picked up Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything"

Hope it turns out as good as I think it is. And I think it will ;)

It was better than I thought it would be.

[Gate28]

Yar, Ender's Ga,e and the whole series was amazing, but i just read Empire by Orson Scott Card and it was equally hawt..I just started The Two Towers now and I hope to finish that :rockon:

[Thelemech]

Burning Chrome - William Gibson

[Nomad]

Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima

[Thelemech]

Heavy Time - C.J. Cherryh

[jokke]

Anyone with children should read The Hobbit by Tolkien for them..

[FreeC8675]

Anyone with children should read The Hobbit by Tolkien for them..

The Hobbit was an excellent standalone fantasy novel. I read it in second grade.

I just finished "A Short History of Nearly Everything" and I would have to say it was a very good read. Since I just got my MP3 player I have been listening to different music whilst reading this one. Some matched up quite well. The first part I listened to the "Galaxy Song" by Monty Python which was very similar to the dialog in the book. The middle reminded me of High School. The last part reminded me of teaching 10, 11, 12 year olds Environmental Science at Scout Camp.

I plan on reading "A Walk in the Woods" next and see what his views/struggles in hiking were. I myself am an avid hiker and plan to add some mileage this Summer.

[GHoosdum]

I plan on reading "A Walk in the Woods" next and see what his views/struggles in hiking were. I myself am an avid hiker and plan to add some mileage this Summer.

Great book - but not just for people who like to hike. It's really about planning for and gearing up to take on just about any challenge, with some real life thrown in for good measure.

[jokke]

I plan on reading "A Walk in the Woods" next and see what his views/struggles in hiking were. I myself am an avid hiker and plan to add some mileage this Summer.

Great book - but not just for people who like to hike. It's really about planning for and gearing up to take on just about any challenge, with some real life thrown in for good measure.

I'm not much of a hiker myself, but I really enjoyed this book. I had a great many laughs, but it also made me think a little. Enjoy!

[Thelemech]

The Heart Of the Antarctic: The Farthest South Expedition- Ernest Shackleton

[FreeC8675]

The Heart Of the Antarctic: The Farthest South Expedition- Ernest Shackleton

That trip was frickin epic!

If you want to check out the other hemisphere "Ninety Degrees North" by Fergus Fleming is really good too.

[Thelemech]

That trip was frickin epic!

If you want to check out the other hemisphere "Ninety Degrees North" by Fergus Fleming is really good too.

Definitely will be seeking out "Ninety Degrees North" ... I love books on exploration especially in extreme environments. Thanks for the share FreeC8675:wink:

[Nomad]

If you're interested in cold weather and pushing oneself to the limits, I'd suggest Extreme Alpinism by Mark Twight.

[Bud]

finished Arnold (Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder) and working on The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding (http://www.amazon.com/New-Encyclopedia-Modern-Bodybuilding-Updated/dp/0684857219/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196264132&sr=8-1) its a big book might take a little while.

[Thelemech]

If you're interested in cold weather and pushing oneself to the limits, I'd suggest Extreme Alpinism by Mark Twight.


Surfed through it via Google Books... very interesting; and incredible photographs. A new book to hunt down :bigggrin: thanx Nomad

[maxclark]

Ive been a hardcore fan of the Wheel Of Time series by Robert Jordan, ive read all of them so far, waiting for the next one! :)

I found that they were much more exciting then LOTR for example...plus i have always been a lover of fantasy!

Anyone else read these books?

[FreeC8675]

I read one of them, I think it was the first one. I never went into them because I was kinda intimidated by the enormity of the series. Its like what 14 books?

[Nomad]

finished Arnold (Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder) and working on The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding (http://www.amazon.com/New-Encyclopedia-Modern-Bodybuilding-Updated/dp/0684857219/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196264132&sr=8-1) its a big book might take a little while.

Fairly good read, I've heard. I'm in the midst of Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe because I'm interested in training my clean and jerk a lot more.

[GHoosdum]

First or second edition? From what I've read as far as reviews, that's an excellent choice.

[Bud]

Fairly good read, I've heard. I'm in the midst of Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe because I'm interested in training my clean and jerk a lot more.

Another good one is burn the fat feed the muscle (http://budc1.burnthefat.hop.clickbank.net/) I swear buy it. Best book on planning your diet and eating healthy for lifting.

[Thelemech]

Everest, The Hard Way - Chris Bonnington

[Nomad]

Another good one is burn the fat feed the muscle (http://budc1.burnthefat.hop.clickbank.net/) I swear buy it. Best book on planning your diet and eating healthy for lifting.

I'll have to check it out. With my bodyfat in the 10-12% range I could use a bit of help in the fine-tuning process once I gain some more weight. I don't want my bodyfat to drop too low right now, otherwise I sacrifice t-levels.

[Thelemech]

A Kierkegaard Anthology - Bretall

[Thelemech]

The Number Of The Beast - Robert Heinlein

[Thelemech]

Reading/Studying
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Command Line Administration - Deborah Haralson.

[Thelemech]

Reading/Studying
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Command Line Administration - Deborah Haralson.





:grumble::scratch::shakehead



.... ...... ......blah-blah ...blah blah blaaahhh blah....

[FreeC8675]

I just finished a couple of books over the break. The first was "The Salmon of Doubt" by Douglas Adams and was the last book he was working on before he died unexpectedly. Most of the book is random letters and newspaper columns that Adams wrote but the last fifty pages or so is the beginnings of his story, which was another Dirk Gently novel but he commented on turning most of the ideas into a hitchhikers guide book. Pretty good read, and lots of amusing stories about a very interesting dude.

The second book was Dean Koontz's "Fear Nothing" which was a little spine tingling to say the least. It was the first of any of Koontz's books that I have read and they remind me a little of Crichton. I think Crichton maybe has better scientific ideas to write about but, at least from my impressions from this book, Koontz does a great job making the reader find empathy for his characters and really feel the emotion of whats happening in the book. I mean I honestly felt scared, pissed off, and laughed whenever the main character had the same emotions. Pretty good book, I probably will read more of him.

Still haven't picked up "A Walk in the Woods" yet from the library but I should have it soon enough.

[keto]

I don't read much science fiction, but I do read plenty.

WWII themed: Winds of War/War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk - read em in order, epic storytelling. I read a lot of mid-20th century American 'literature', I really like everything of Wouk's I've read.

The Naked And The Dead - Norman Mailer - clear to see how he established his reputation, excellent gritty first hand account of the taking of an island in the South Pacific.

The Road - Cormac McCarthy. I know there's a lotta buzz about this book (zomg! Oprah's book club!) but it really is an outstanding read. I'm now reading his 3-book series 'The Border Trilogy' (All The Pretty Horses/The Crossing/Cities Of The Plain) which are, at times, challenging to grind thru but do have strong characters.

Recently reread The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald, some great stuff and some not so great in there.

[Nomad]

I don't read much science fiction, but I do read plenty.

WWII themed: Winds of War/War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk - read em in order, epic storytelling. I read a lot of mid-20th century American 'literature', I really like everything of Wouk's I've read.

The Naked And The Dead - Norman Mailer - clear to see how he established his reputation, excellent gritty first hand account of the taking of an island in the South Pacific.

The Road - Cormac McCarthy. I know there's a lotta buzz about this book (zomg! Oprah's book club!) but it really is an outstanding read. I'm now reading his 3-book series 'The Border Trilogy' (All The Pretty Horses/The Crossing/Cities Of The Plain) which are, at times, challenging to grind thru but do have strong characters.

If you like The Road, you'll probably like Blood Meridian more. For some reason or another I also think you'd enjoy the short stories of Franz Kafka, particularly The Academy.

[Thelemech]

The Illuminatus Trilogy - Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson

[RWB]

I wanna get started on the Warhammer universe... any suggestions on books to begin with? I like the futuristic stuff, done the ancient fantasy thing too much lately.

[Guyute]

The 4-hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss

[Thelemech]

The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward - H.P. Lovecraft


..for the fourth or fifth time..

[Thrax]

So far, having trudged through book 1 of song and ice and fire, it's probably the most irritatingly dry and boring "Fantasy" book I've ever read.

I would like to rescind my analysis of SoIaF.

Book one became entertaining at page <i>750</i> in my edition, and the second book has been gripping all the way through. I'm glad I trudged as I did, but the first book was astonishingly boring for the first 7/8ths.

[Thelemech]

Chthon - Piers Anthony

[Thelemech]

The Fate Of The Earth - Jonathan Schell

[FreeC8675]

I recently finished a couple of books, Velocity by Dean Koontz which was a good thriller and I agree with cyclonite on his sentiments on it.

I also finished A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson which was very funny and probably even more so to a fellow hiker. Especially when his hiking buddy started pitching stuff:

"Where are the coffee filters we brought?"
"Flung 'em, they were beautiful floating through the air! At least you still got the twinkies right?"
"Actually I left them at the motel"
"aw..."
*forgive me for inexact quotes going by memory

Just about to finish The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver which was a Christmas give with an I.O.U. on the front for the board game "Attack!" which hadn't got shipped yet. So far the book is outperforming the game (haven't got to play it yet).

[primesuspect]

Did you finish "GET BACK TO TF2 IN 1 EASY STEP!" yet?

[FreeC8675]

Did you finish "GET BACK TO TF2 IN 1 EASY STEP!" yet?

Maybe when I gets the internets back. :(

I was on last Friday night, and wasn't showing much rust either:wink:.
I will probably be restricted to those times too. I'll send you a pm to explain.

[Thelemech]

I just picked up Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything"

Hope it turns out as good as I think it is. And I think it will ;)

Just picked up In A Sunburned Country - Bill Bryson

About his adventures in Australia; very good so far.

[jokke]

I can recommend "Neither Here Nor There", by Bill Bryson..

[Thelemech]

I can recommend "Neither Here Nor There", by Bill Bryson..

Thanks jokke... I will definitely pick that one up, if the one I'm reading now maintains it's quality.

[Gnome Queen]

Sigh, I'm trying to make my poor brain cells remember a time before my theory class started making me read "Literary Theory: An Anthology," by Rivkin and Ryan- I love me some Neil Gaiman, and Jacqueline Carey (Her Godslayer series is pretty good, and I LOVE her Kushiel series, though I think it's a book girls would enjoy more than boys, but then again I might just be stereotyping, haha) You guys have already said some of the other people I was going to suggest. I keep hearing about this Fire and Ice / Wheel of time stuff, mehbeh I should pick those up.

[FreeC8675]

I've only read one WoT book and haven't got into any of the Fire and Ice stuff (always seems to be checked out). But if you're into fantasy, Terry Brooks' books I would recommend.

Or if you like something more a'feminite (spelling?) then Barbara Kingsolver's books are extremely well written and have good stories.

If you come across anything else that was a great read be sure to let us know ;)

[StainMeNow]

Book one became entertaining at page <i>750</i> in my edition, and the second book has been gripping all the way through. I'm glad I trudged as I did, but the first book was astonishingly boring for the first 7/8ths.

I agree with you, but I only thought GoT was boring for the first 300 pages or so. Once you get over that hump, you're screwed. You're going to become a raving George RR Martin fan and want to create you own house sigil.

/one of us! one of us!

[primesuspect]

Winter is coming.

[CB]

Sure, but it seems like it's taking FOREVER to get here.

[GHoosdum]

I agree. Hopefully winter arrives before George kicks the bucket.

[primesuspect]

Jesus Christ, George. The Ten Year Winter Came And Went While You Were Writing The Next Book.

[StainMeNow]

Jesus Christ, George. The Ten Year Winter Came And Went While You Were Writing The Next Book.

Oh, please. Don't get your panties in a bunch, guys. It's only been 2 years since the last book. Sheesh.

[CB]

Yes, but it was only half of the book!

[Guyute]

Everyone MUST read this book:

THE ISLAND of SEVEN CITIES by Paul Chiasson

here is a quote from the jacket of the book:
“If it is true, the find would rank among the greatest archeological discoveries of all time, [and] turn much of modern history upside down.” National Post

This guy has a pretty compelling argument and list of evidence that the Chinese built several cities on Cape Breton island. MUCH before Columbus. I couldn't put it down! Oh, and I fell I should believe him. I live fairly close by, and that would be pretty cool if it were admitted as fact.

http://www.islandofsevencities.com/

[Thelemech]

The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe - Douglas Adam

[Gnome Queen]

Lamb: The bible according to Biff, Jesus's childhood friend

[FreeC8675]

The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe - Douglas Adam

Great book :bigggrin:

[RWB]

Currently reading On Basilisk Station (http://www.webscription.net/p-304-on-basilisk-station.aspx) By David Weber, it's part of a series called "Honor Harrington" and I love series. So farit's great but there is a large info dump I suppose in this first book to catch you up on the universe and technology which is much different than most Sc Fi except maybe "Dune". It is like a futuristic version of the Napoleonic wars with Monarchies and such to boot.

It's a free eBook that I am reading on my phone at the moment, very enjoyable except for a couple occasions where it's just information overload.

[RWB]

Just finished that book and man it is good stuff, having to contemplate rereading it so as to catch a lot of things I might have missed. Highly recomended free eBook.

[wseem]

honey
go and read kuran the book of wonders
it was like some thing new experience
c if u find some thing new and tell all

[Thelemech]

Great book :bigggrin:


No kidding, I'm Loving it! Will definitely be seeking out his other books. So much high brow symbolism and comedy.....I am very pleased.
:thumbup:thumbup

[Thelemech]

honey
go and read kuran the book of wonders
it was like some thing new experience
c if u find some thing new and tell all

Since when I actually attended University; we had to study various different religions. I have 2 copies of the Koran- one for students, and one for worship.
Although I am not Islamic, all I can say is that there is a lot of wisdom in that book.

[JayBirdSlim]

Thelemuch: Great book and since you seem to be enjoying Mr Adams so much I would recommend, "So long and thanks for all the fish". "Life, the universe and everything", and of course (if you haven't read this one then you started sort of in the middle0 Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

however I am here to recommend Stiff: The Curious Live of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach... it is about exactly what it sounds like it is about, is completely factual and scientifically researched and possibly one of the funniest most twisted books I've ever read...

as always.. human beings are sick, twisted, and (looking back over time) thoroughly hilarious

[FreeC8675]

I recently picked up a book out of the Redwall series. Not sure exactly what to call them since they aren't explicitly a series but share a common theme/place.

Not exactly what you would call invigorating reading but fun nonetheless. I would recommend Redwall by Brian Jacques to anyone who likes fantasy and animals and the rest of the books to middle schoolers. Their almost worth reading just because of the dialects he makes to fit each animal. But if you read any of 'em then definitely do Redwall first.

[FreeC8675]

Boom! -by Tom Brokaw

Interesting read. He examines the 60's and 70's from a lot of perspectives and draws a lot of correlation to events then and events now. Stating often how similar things are in 2008 as things were in 1968.

[Gnome Queen]

Could someone hold George RR Martin hostage till he finishes the next book?

Plzkthx

[primesuspect]

Does he have a son or daughter? Cause they're gonna be finishing the book from "his notes" a la Tolkien, Herbert, Jordan..... at this rate.

[aarathi]

Now i am reading Othello written by William Shakespeare. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, his wife Desdemona, his lieutenant Cassio, and his ensign Iago. Because of its varied themes — racism, love, jealousy and betrayal - the play remains relevant to the present day, and is still quite popular. I like this very much.

[Thelemech]

The Soul Of A New Machine - Tracy Kidder

[FreeC8675]

Player Piano - Kurt Vonnegut

A good read. I found this one different from his other books. Reminded me a little of "1984". Great humor and story.

[FreeC8675]

Timequake - Kurt Vonnegut

Timequake was Vonnegut's last "book", book. I found it extremely entertaining and fun to read. He had some interesting points, especially his "amendments" that should be added to the constitution. Reading his stuff makes me sad he is dead and up in heaven.

[Thelemech]

That's Not In My American History Book - Thomas Ayres

....very interesting

[Harudath]

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a really nice read, I finished it in an hour but it's still a really nice story (No it's not a picture book -_-). I smiled almost the whole way through it, it's not very beneficial but you do feel really happy after finishing it :tongue:

[CB]

it's not very beneficial

what.

This is one of the most simplistically meaningful books ever written. 'Seagull's allegory is still relevant today, and serves as a benchmark for measuring postmodern interpretive novels.

not very beneficial, my foot...

[Harudath]

I knew what I meant to say, but that was as close as I could come to it- I couldn't place the right word :S It's meaningful yes, interpreting a book as you go along is fantastic, but it didn't make me want to go out and learn to teleport by practicing :tongue:

[Harudath]

No, you're right. It was a pretty stupid thing to say :tongue: I was thinking about how revolutionary ideas are usually shunned by the ignorant masses while reading it, hell, it reminded me of school :rolleyes: I also liked the theme of self improvement, although I didn't get the teleporting bit :tongue: However I'm sure no matter what I say you could come out with a far more educated response with deeper meanings, I am the grasshopper :ninja:

[Guyute]

Deeper- Jeff Long Sequel to "The Descent", the most CREEPY book I have ever written. Deeper was pretty eerie, too.

[csimon]

I want to read "Paradise Lost" - John Milton this summer sometime. I think we learned it in our very early years at my school because all of the details are so familiar.

[Gate28]

Deeper- Jeff Long Sequel to "The Descent", the most CREEPY book I have ever written. Deeper was pretty eerie, too.

congrats on your writing career based on plagerism.

I really liked digital fortress by dan brown, but i bet im the last person here to read it, =(

[Harudath]

All of Dan Brown's books are awesome, although I didn't like the DaVinci Code so much.

[Gate28]

didnt read it, but the movie was so-so

[_k_]

Anything by Chuck Palahniuk, he wrote the book fight club the movie was based off of. He is a modern dark writer. There are fiction and non-fiction books, I would suggest sticking to the fiction until you have read a few of them.

[WagsFTW]

Books that popular movies have been based on are always interesting, too, in order to compare them. I recently read the book "No Country for Old Men," and it was pretty much exactly like the movie. "The Shining" is a good one, too. Just some ideas, since so many movies out there are based on books, now. Sometimes they are exactly the same, but sometimes they can be quiet different.

Go to your local library and ask your librarian for some ideas, too! I work at a public library, and we have tons of those little lists of books that are in similar genres if you'd like to read more books like a recent one you just read. Also, if you look up a book you liked on Amazon, they will have books that are similar, and sometimes have little lists of recommended books like those as well.

[FreeC8675]

Go to your local library and ask your librarian for some ideas, too! I work at a public library, and we have tons of those little lists of books that are in similar genres if you'd like to read more books like a recent one you just read. Also, if you look up a book you liked on Amazon, they will have books that are similar, and sometimes have little lists of recommended books like those as well.

I am always surprised by the number of people who forget that there are books at the library. Very good suggestions, librarians should know more about books than most people.

[primesuspect]

I wish there were more sexy librarians..... ;)

[WagsFTW]

I think the number of sexy librarians is growing, because the program at Wayne State is growing, and many of the librarians are retiring, and younger people are stepping up to the plate. :) I can't wait until I'm done with school, and I can be a sexy librarian!

[Kwitko]

Are you sexy?

[Guyute]

Gate, good catch. I wish I wrote it, but have to settle for READ.

[fatcat]

thinking about reading the Watchmen before the movie...

[primesuspect]

I think the number of sexy librarians is growing, because the program at Wayne State is growing, and many of the librarians are retiring, and younger people are stepping up to the plate. :) I can't wait until I'm done with school, and I can be a sexy librarian!

GOOD! We need more sexy librarians. As an American, I'd like to thank you for doing your civic duty and stepping up to the plate to meet the demand for sexy librarians. How patriotic! :thumbsup:

[GHoosdum]

thinking about reading the Watchmen before the movie...

I highly recommend it.

[FreeC8675]

GOOD! We need more sexy librarians. As an American, I'd like to thank you for doing your civic duty and stepping up to the plate to meet the demand for sexy librarians. How patriotic! :thumbsup:

agreed, the sexy librarian is the very definition of civil sacrifice.

[WagsFTW]

Are you sexy?

Ask Magic.

[Gnome Queen]

I used to be a librarian....I miss my libarry. :(

[WagsFTW]

I used to be a librarian....I miss my libarry. :(

What do you do now? Did you find a job that pays better than librarianship?

[PurplezArctic]

I just read some good history. Good luck finding The Mennonites of Western Canada. It's only 50 pages, but it changed the way I think about my heritage.

Mennonites are ftw.

[FreeC8675]

I finished "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin of the "Song of Ice and Fire" series yesterday and it was pretty badass. Truly an epic novel. After about the first fifty pages or so I was hooked. The characters were all interesting, and the twists and turns of the plot was expertly done. I am pretty stoked for the next one in the series.

[Preacher]

I've read and enjoyed the Song of Ice and Fire series, but I thought they got more burdensome, confusing, and less interesting as the serious has progressed...

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield...one of the best books written about the 300 Spartans and what it truly means to lead men in battle, leave your family behind, and the costs of duty.
http://www.amazon.com/Gates-Fire-Novel-Battle-Thermopylae/dp/0553580531

Dying To Win by Robert Pape...amazingly thought-provoking book on why suicide bombers decide to kill themselves and others. It takes out the emotion and basis it's theories on facts and statistics over the last 3 decades. Really made me sit back and examine our foreign policy in the Middle East.
http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Win-Strategic-Suicide-Terrorism/dp/0812973380/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220199440&sr=1-1

[DogDragon]

I guess if I didn't put this book in first, I need to stop posting in the LOLcat thread
http://icrontic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65669&page=4 :D

But here's the book and this title will be released on October 7, 2008

I Can Has Cheezburger?: A LOLcat Colleckshun (Paperback)


Get it here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159240409X/104-0438709-2420749?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwlulzftwcom-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=159240409X

:D:p(LMAO)

[FreeC8675]

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield...one of the best books written about the 300 Spartans and what it truly means to lead men in battle, leave your family behind, and the costs of duty.
http://www.amazon.com/Gates-Fire-Novel-Battle-Thermopylae/dp/0553580531

Dying To Win by Robert Pape...amazingly thought-provoking book on why suicide bombers decide to kill themselves and others. It takes out the emotion and basis it's theories on facts and statistics over the last 3 decades. Really made me sit back and examine our foreign policy in the Middle East.
http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Win-Strategic-Suicide-Terrorism/dp/0812973380/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220199440&sr=1-1

Thermopylae-Paul Cartledge

Interesting that both of the subjects you read about,Preacher, are taken into account in this book. Cartledge has a wit to his historical commentary on the battle of Thermopylae and the Graeco-Persian conflict. He doesn't focus on the actual battle as much as the events before and after and the effect they have on modern culture. I learned at least as much about the Persians as about the Spartans in this book. He also does a really good job of telling why he thinks this or that happened from the records available from that time (mostly Herodotus). Probably has more educational than entertainment value, but interesting to the interested nonetheless.

[kryyst]

Just finished reading Whitechapel Gods by Steven Peters. Really good Steam Punk novel. Plus it's a stand alone story with no hope for any sequels to pick up after it. Refreshing to be able to read a book and not commit co a career in reading a series to find out what happens.

[FreeC8675]

Refreshing to be able to read a book and not commit co a career in reading a series to find out what happens.

Speaking of which I just got a hold of Terry Brooks' latest book, The Gypsy Morph. I opened the front cover and realized that I have read all of his books except the Magic Kingdom of Landover series. Anyways I'll probably steamroll through this book and give my impression of it by next week. I am super stoked!:rockon:

[FreeC8675]

Well I finished the book earlier tonight and it was standard fare for Brook's books. I'm not going to say anything else as far as my opinion goes to prevent spoiling the story, as most of my opinions fall on what happens towards the end of the story. I would recommend it to any who have read and like his other books and would also recommend to anyone his books for those that need an excellent fantasy series to read.

[_k_]

Choke, and then see the movie.

[FreeC8675]

I finished both Clash of Kings and Storm of Swords. Now is the long and awkward wait for the next book. I now understand why so many hear were complaining about George R.R. Martin not having it done yet. I want it NAOW!

[FreeC8675]

Well with the cold days of winter arriving I have been devoting more time on late nights to some good books.

I read a couple of quickies:

Once Upon a Time in the North by Phillip Pullman
Which is a short hundred page read about the first time Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison meet. Pretty fun with a boardgame to try also.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I went back to classics with this one and was left with a good mystery book. It is easy to see why Sherlock Holmes was such a popular literary character.

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
I wanted to go back to Crichton's earlier work after reading mostly his later stuff. If you like Crichton, Andromeda won't disappoint, and it went especially well with my biology class;)

Right now I am licking my chops at A Feast for Crows, should be good!

[kryyst]

Just finished Dresden Files 6: Blood Rites. It's a typical Dresden book, which is to say it's good.

Next I started in on a Warhammer 40k novel Scourge of the Heretic. Figure I better at least read some 40k fiction if I'm going to be starting up a Dark Heresy campaign.

[Preacher]

Thermopylae-Paul Cartledge

Interesting that both of the subjects you read about,Preacher, are taken into account in this book. Cartledge has a wit to his historical commentary on the battle of Thermopylae and the Graeco-Persian conflict. He doesn't focus on the actual battle as much as the events before and after and the effect they have on modern culture. I learned at least as much about the Persians as about the Spartans in this book. He also does a really good job of telling why he thinks this or that happened from the records available from that time (mostly Herodotus). Probably has more educational than entertainment value, but interesting to the interested nonetheless.

I'm going to have to try that one out. One of the many places I plan to visit when I retire is "The Gates of Fire."

Just reread, "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. Convinced me again of how great a book it is.

Now, I'm finishing the 8th book in the Drizzt Series by R. A. Salvatore, "Starless Night."

[Khaos]

Some great SF suggestions early in the thread.

To shed a little perspective, I am a big fan of the GRRM vein of storytelling. The Song of Ice and Fire series is awesome; can't wait for a Dance of Dragons which hopefully will be coming out soon.

One author that I haven't seen get much mention here is Ursla K. LeGuin. She is best known for her Earthsea series, which is a phenomenal fantasy series with a world every bit as rich as the Five Kingdoms or Middle Earth. The Wizard of Earthsea is the first book and I think that her work is almost required reading for those who enjoy the somewhat grittier side of fantasy writing. She approaches sensitive social topics with a brutal sense of open-eyed realism that is refreshing in the age of politically-correct authors who pay too much mind to being 'safe' and too little to exploring the confines of human morality.

In addition to her Earthsea novels and stories, LeGuin has also written a number of excellent science fiction novels. Right now I am reading The Dispossessed, which is a story about an emissary of an anarchical, isolationist colony who is the first traveler back to the utopian mother-world since the founding of the colony hundreds of years in the past. So far, it is a fascinating take on politics and sociology that reaches far beyond the traditional realm of utopian-dystopian contrasting science fiction. I'm only a few chapters in, but I would still wholeheartedly recommend it. It's one of her first novels, written in 1974 I believe.

Her writing is of the timeless nature; always relevant. For example, as we debate the building of a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, we would be well-served to consider the opening paragraphs of this novel:


There was a wall. It did not look important. It was built of uncut rocks roughly mortared. An adult could look right over it, and even a child could climb it. Where it crossed the roadway, instead of having a gate it degenerated into mere geometry, a line, an idea of boundary. But the idea was real. It was important. For seven generations there had been nothing in the world more important than that wall.

Like all walls it was ambiguous, two-faced. What was inside it and what was outside it depended upon which side of it you were on.

Looked at from one side, the wall enclosed a barren sixty-acre field called the Port of Anarres. On the field there were a couple of large gantry cranes, a rocket pad, three warehouses, a truck garage and a dormitory. The dormtory looked durable, grimy, and mournful; it had no gardens, no children; plainly nobody lived there or was even meant to stay there long. It was in fact a quarantine. The wall shut in not only the landing field but also the ships that came down out of space, and the men that came on the ships, and the worlds they came from, and the rest of the universe. It enclosed the universe, leaving Anarres outside, free.

Looked at from the other side, the wall enclosed Anarres: the whole planet was inside it, a great prison camp, cut off from other worlds and other men, in quarantine.

[CB]

LeGuin might be best known to Fantasy readers for her earthsea novels, but her masterpiece is the Hainish Cycle series (especially recognized is "The Left hand of Darkness") for it's poignant social commentary. Earthsea is great Sci-fi, yes, but Hainish Cycle is literature.

You're right however, LeGuin is a great recomendation for anyone who has not yet picked her up. ;)

[Khaos]

CB, I agree absolutely.

Her social commentary is masterful in the Hainish Cycle, and as I am finding, almost equally so in The Dispossessed.