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Any good books?

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  • JuliusGulius
    625 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    Ooh, I thought of another author. Dan Brown may be known for The Davinci Code trilogy, but he also has a couple of non-religious-themed thrillers that I actually enjoyed way more. I'd go with Digital Fortress if you read him. ;)
  • Smurfercom
    158 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    I can't seem to access my Springfield at all still. Does anyone have a good book to recommend? I've already read all of Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, 50 shades of Grey, Twighlight series, the Bible, and all of Dostoyesvski.
    Thanks in advance

    Try Eaters of the Dead based on a true story and then made into a movie the 13th warrior. Read the book and then rent the video and watch it like five times. If you haven't already seen it, it's pretty old but still a great watch.
  • JuliusGulius
    625 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    I didn't like Eaters of the Dead, niether the book or the movie, but hey, to each is own. I do, however, have a solid appreciation for Antonio Banderas. XD
  • heavy liquid
    167 posts
    edited December 2012
    11/22/63 by Stephen King is fantastic.

    I'm about 3/4 of the way through right now. It was listed in the NYT as one of the best books of the year. In a nutshell, it's about a high school teacher who finds a doorway that leads to 1958 and decides to live in the past to try and stop the Kennedy assassination. Well, there's a LOT more to it than that... but that pretty much sums it up.
  • vaicilajean
    102 posts
    edited December 2012
    I recommend World War Z and The Walking Dead graphic novels, if you're caught up in Zombie Fever.

    Jo Nesbo's books are great reads as well (mystery thriller type stuff), though I've only read the first three.

    Middlesex is amazing, but I didn't find The Marriage Plot as engaging.

    I'm currently reading Cloud Atlas, and so far I really like it. Heard mixed things about the movie (okay, mostly bad) but the plot intrigued me, so I figured I'd read the book first.

    I'm ashamed I haven't read any Tolkein, though I loved the movies. I'll probably put that on my gift wish list for the holidays... in which case, I have a question: what order should I read the books in? I mean, do you start with The Hobbit and then read the trilogy? Or vice versa?

    Oh, and even though you said you don't actually like Russian literature, I highly recommend Crime and Punishment. Such a great book.
    Post edited by Unknown User on
  • lrc1
    122 posts
    edited December 2012
    A few I would recommend have been mentioned already. Anything by Stephen King/Richard Bachman gets my vote, although I am slightly addicted to his stuff. 11/22/63 is one of the best books I have read in a long time - highly recommended.

    I Am Legend by Richard Matheson is another classic that I read time and time again. Much better than the film.

    I also re-read 1984 by George Orwell quite frequently (keep reminding yourself that it was wrote in the late 40s for extra spookiness) as well as Joseph Heller's Catch-22, which is a laugh a minute.

    Papillon by Henri Charriere is, imo, one of the best books ever. An incredible true story.

    I also agree with others, anything by Terry Pratchet is worth a look if you haven't read his books already. Aimed at young adults, they are fantastically funny and easy to read.

    The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein would be a good start in the series. Although not directly linked to the LotR series, it is like a condensed version of the series.

  • Simpsons00001
    729 posts New member
    edited December 2012
    People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn.....you'll wonder why they completely wasted your time during History class in high school
  • spiffshine
    1978 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    My favorite book of all time is Life of Pi - I've been recommending it for years and have gifted it on Kindle at least a dozen times. It is so different, so beautifully and captivatingly written, so imaginative, and fantastic in the truest sense of the word. It should be on mandatory reading lists for anyone in creative occupations.

    Of course, the movie is in theaters now, and it does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the story with equally unexpected imagery, but movie adaptations can never match the depth of a good read. See the movie first, if you must... but don't skip the book!
  • spiffshine
    1978 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    sonny1618 wrote:
    I always recommend Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman to everyone.

    +1 for one of my favorite quotes:

    "God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of his own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of the players, (i.e. everybody), to being involved in an obscure and complex version of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time."
  • mike_bornste
    941 posts
    edited December 2012
    I can't seem to access my Springfield at all still. Does anyone have a good book to recommend? I've already read all of Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, 50 shades of Grey, Twighlight series, the Bible, and all of Dostoyesvski.
    Thanks in advance

    Wow, that is some eclectic mix of books there. I'm kind of amazed that your brain can process going from Dostoyesvski to Twilight.

    The most engaging book I've read in a little while is Robocalypse by Daniel Wilson. Its similar to World War Z (also good) in style, but with AI instead of zombies.

    Also, since I see that you seem to be no prude, I'd suggest Good Intentions by Eliot Kay. Might be considered erotica by some, but its no smuttier than 50 Shades and much better written. Long story short, a guy rescues an angel and a succubus and gets brought into a grand adventure. Absolutely worth the $3-4 I spent on it in Kobo,
  • Toj427
    438 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Swartzwelder

    I figured this would be a good group of people to introduce to his books. They are definitely strange but you can see the Simpsons humor in them. I've got Double Wonderful , The Time Machine Did It, and The Exploding Detective.
  • JuliusGulius
    625 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    Thanks, heavy liquid, for reminding me that I bought King's 11/22/63 last year, but never read it (I was wrapped up in another book at the time, and completely forgot). It's sitting, untouched, on my shelf right now. To the top of my "to read" list it goes!

    I read Life of Pi a while back too, spiffshine, and thought it to be a bit dull, but I'm so looking forward to seeing the movie; it looks phenomenal! Have you seen it yet?
  • spiffshine
    1978 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    I read Life of Pi a while back too, spiffshine, and thought it to be a bit dull, but I'm so looking forward to seeing the movie; it looks phenomenal! Have you seen it yet?

    Dull? WOW! I couldn't put it down... for me, it painted a more vivid picture in my mind than any other book, ever. I am an artist by trade, so perhaps that is why I was so captivated.

    Of course I've seen the movie - twice! :) It is fantastic! Though, as most movies do, it glosses over many of the great bits like the island. The first time I saw it, I left the theater speechless and somewhat emotionally drained. The second time I focused more on the visual wonder that Ang Lee brought to the story - I found it very fitting.
  • nedwards87
    13 posts
    edited December 2012
    Robin Hobb is another good fantasy writer, though it does take 50-100 pages to get into any of her lengthy trilogies. Anything but the Soldier Son trilogy is good. I recommend The Tawny Man trilogy, Liveship Traders Trilogy, and The Farseer trilogy.

    Im currently in the middle of the Liveship Traders trilogy which i am enjoying, I also read The Farseer trilogy which is one of my favorites.

    Enders game is a good book although you will probably be able to finish it in a night if you get hooked.

    Also thank you for starting this topic :) i may not always enjoy every book people recommend but it always makes it easier when i'm standing in a book store trying to decide which book to buy
  • JuliusGulius
    625 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    Lol, well, I certainly didn't hate it; I just found it to be very, very slow-moving. It's all in perspective. For example, I really enjoy reading Shakespeare's plays, and Mark Twain works, but I hear others refer to them as dull all of the time. On the flip-side, I don't like Hemmingway, and I hated Melville's Moby *, lmao. *ducks*

    The Life of Pi movie does sound fantastic! Can't wait to see it! :)))

    EDIT: I like the how the forum edited out part of the title to a classic novel, hahaha.
  • JuliusGulius
    625 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    Sweet, nedwards87! If you haven't yet read the other two trilogies of hers that I mentioned, prepare to find a really cool tie-in to your current trilogy in those. ;)

    EDIT: Oops, I missed your mentioning that you'd read the Farseer trilogy. I think it's in the Tawny Man trilogy that the cool connection is dropped anyway. :))
  • kgirl32
    462 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    Dean Koontz Watchers is an excellent book. Starts out a little slow but once it got going I could not put it down. The movie? Totally teh suck.
  • nedwards87
    13 posts
    edited December 2012
    Sweet, nedwards87! If you haven't yet read the other two trilogies of hers that I mentioned, prepare to find a really cool tie-in to your current trilogy in those. ;)

    EDIT: Oops, I missed your mentioning that you'd read the Farseer trilogy. I think it's in the Tawny Man trilogy that the cool connection is dropped anyway. :))

    No stress :) I Hope i have read them in the right order i did Farseer first then Liveship, afterwards i will give Tawny Man a go.

    Haven't seen the connection yet in the Liveship Traders they mention the people up north but not much more is said, I'm excited now because i thought they were the same world but not really intertwined.
  • JuliusGulius
    625 posts Member
    edited December 2012
    You've read them in the right order. I actually read Liveship first, but I found that to not be important, as long as both Liveship and Farseer are read before Tawny. Tawny will continue Fitz's story. ;)

    I hope we're both still around here when you finish Tawny, as I'd love to hear your reaction!
  • Chibihalo
    376 posts
    edited December 2012
    If you're looking for a good series with characters that grow and change over time and don't mind mystery novels, I'm going to recommend a series my mother loved reading. She recommends to anyone looking to stick with an author and a series of books the Inspector Morse series from British author Colin Dexter. The series starts with the novel Last Bus to Woodstock published back in '75 and ends twelve books later with The Remorseful Day. It was turned into a successful television series that ran from 1987-2000 that now has a sequel series currently going called Inspector Lewis. It's quite a good read from what she tells people.

    Me, I've recommended the book Battle Royale to people looking for something slightly political and bordering on the alternate reality. It centers around a Japanese middle school class but it's anything but teen angst. This one is gradeA for the drama and the killing. Just be forewarned you can get sucked into the back story of the characters to the point where seeing some of them die like they do requires you to be reading some lighter fare to get your mind onto other things or you might not sleep right at night.

    I'm also reading the Sword Art Online series by Reki Kawahara. As of right now, there are no print translations of the series over in the states so most English versions are online translations. If you plug Sword Art Online into a Google search the site I've been reading off of is the first one to show up. It works well with the iPad and the "reader" button. If you're into slight science fiction, stories about MMOs, and near future tales this series works well. You'd think for the way volume one is written that it's just a tale about a group of people trapped inside a Virtual MMO but goes beyond that as the series progresses.
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