ATOT Book club, enjoy a good read?

[Sho'Nuff]

I recommend:

1. Pillars of the Earth
2. 1776
3. Catch 22

Sorry if these were already recommended. I did not read the entire thread.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Originally posted by: datalink7

If you liked Ray Bradbury, check out "The Illustrated Man" by him. Collection of short stories. Some good ones in there.

One of my favorites! An excellent choice for anyone who is a fan of older Sci Fi.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Onita
Wheel of Time series.

the first 6 of the WOT series were great. then it seemed like he decided to milk the franchise to make as much as he could. The books got insane.


"she smoothed her skirt and looked annoyed at the men" can only be said so many damn times before you get bored.

I don't know if it was milking the franchise so much as he created too many story lines to follow, which seemed to create an overall stagnation in the series.

Actually, after book 6 the author (Robert Jordan) came down with a horrible (and ultimately fatal) disease (amyloidosis). The lack of movement in the later books is probably more attribtuable to Jordan;s inability to concentrate than anything else.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: WildHorse

Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy
Desolation Angels by Jack Kerouac. I have kind of a love/hate thing going with the stream-of-consciousness style, which was kept mostly to a minimum in On the Road.

The Dharma Bums was probably my intro to Kerouac a l o n g time ago.
Found Kerouac after reading Alan Watts (Arthur Whane in the book, who stood there in a full suit while all the chick & guys danced naked around a fire) & Gary Snyder (Japhy Ryder in the book) & Allen Ginsberg (Alvah Goldbook in the book). In my more immature, long-past, high school/college freshman era I wanted to be Gary Snyder.

Explored some of Kerouac's other writings, but On the Road didn't hit me like The Dharma Bums, which always defined him to me, but that's a foggy memory now. At the stage I was in at that past time, Kerouac spoke exactly to me, although now I'd maybe see him as just nuts. I'd forgotten all that until seeing your post! That all seems so very very long ago! I've sure grown since!

I enjoyed Dharma Bums very much. Kerouac's own admiration of Japhy / Gary translated plainly to the page, and I think it's easy for the reader to get caught up in it. I don't think it's immature to feel that, or just to find inspiration in the free-spirited nature of the beat generation. Even if it would be foolish or impossible to emulate Kerouac's characters or history, there's a certain soul-searching adventurousness in them that is nice to keep with us.

 

[ixelion]

The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster, specifically City of Glass - amazing book.

 

[zoiks]

The mystery books by Stieg Larsson are really good. There are 2 out and the third and last one will be released may 2010. I highly recommend reading "The girl with the dragon tattoo" and "The girl who played with fire".

 

[Pheran]

I recently finished the Prince of Nothing trilogy by Bakker (damn him for writing a great trilogy without a proper ending! - yet). Now I am reading Wheelers by Stewart & Cohen.

 

[d4mo]

I have now moved on to Isaac Asimov - Foundation. First one if his books I've read and so far it's pretty good.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Originally posted by: d4mo
I have now moved on to Isaac Asimov - Foundation. First one if his books I've read and so far it's pretty good.

If you like Asimov, check out Orson Scott Card. "Ender's Game" is one of my favorite books of all time. Probably read it 100+ times.

 

[effee]

just read Dan Brown's the lost symbol...i felt it wasnt as compelling as the davinci code or angels and demons..

 

[Leros]

I'm almost finished with the last Hitchhikers Guide book. I don't read much so its taken me over a year to read through all 5 of them.

 

[Cutterhead]

Originally posted by: jonks
Night of Knives by I.C. Esslemont, prequel to the Malazan novels (good so far)
Drood, by Dan Simmons (meh)

I'm currently reading Deadhouse Gates; 2nd novel in the Malazan Book of the Fallen. I already picked up the third a couple days ago.

 

[d4mo]

Originally posted by: soxfan

Originally posted by: d4mo
I have now moved on to Isaac Asimov - Foundation. First one if his books I've read and so far it's pretty good.

If you like Asimov, check out Orson Scott Card. "Ender's Game" is one of my favorite books of all time. Probably read it 100+ times.

I've always heard that book is really good. But I've always stayed away from it just because I am sick of books about kids. Seems to be a trend, and I don't really care for it.

 

[d4mo]

Just finished Foundation. VERY good book. Definately reccommend.

Next I think I may try out Old Man's War by John Scalzi. I've heard good things.

 

[Away]

A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz
http://www.deankoontz.com/books/a-big-little-life/

 

[queenrobot]

I am currently reading the Sookie Stackhouse series, mainly because I started watching True Blood and wanted to know how it compared.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: effee
just read Dan Brown's the lost symbol...i felt it wasnt as compelling as the davinci code or angels and demons..

I've read the Da Vinci Code, A+D, Digital Fortress, and Deception Point.. his books are so formulaic it's absurd; but they're just so easy and quick to read that it's fun. I love them for the odd hour that I have to read and I want absolutely nothing of substance out of a fun read. Maybe I'll pick up the new one for giggles.

Currently I'm reading Stephen King's The Stand. I've never actually read any King, I've seen the movies. Enjoy it so far. Don't have much time to read for pleasure anymore, though.

 

[pontifex]

Continuing to slug through the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Read the 1st 4 or 5, took a break and read Rogue Warrior by Richard Marcinko, and started up the next Dark Tower book (2nd to last). I like the books, but they just seem to keep dragging on. So far I'd have to say this one is the weakest one.

Got the new Discworld book, Unseen Academicals, so I'll most likely read that next and then go on to the last Dark Tower book.

 

[WildHorse]

``

 

[MAKENITO]

Originally posted by: queenrobot
I am currently reading the Sookie Stackhouse series, mainly because I started watching True Blood and wanted to know how it compared.

How do you like it? It really different huh? when I heard they were making it into a TV series, I expected it to be more chickflicky.. I dont think its all that chick flicky! Love the book series 🙂

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: WildHorse
Geekbabe, I appreciate this thread you started So Very Much!

Although I haven't read most of what's cited in your thread, I at least appreciate that you had the excellent thought of starting this. Great idea of yours, Geekbabe! Maybe your thread should be stickied. I vote "yes" for stickey!

I was raised with NO television, except 1 hour a week for Disney, so as a youngster & teen I read like the ultimate bookworm. In the adult years it's become rare to find time to read current fiction.

Like you say in your OP, "Nothing beats the pleasure of settling in on the sofa and cracking the covers of a fresh new book." Yes! I second your thought! I totally grok what you mean. It's such a pleasure to curl up on the couch against a totally naked beautiful radiant young loving girl and cracking a new book while she rubs me, back & head, fireplace crackling.

One thing is that, after practically (no joke!) filling the walls with books, I've come to appreciate the public library, and occasionally on AT have suggested that others also use their local libraries too.

I haven't read most of the things suggested by others in your thread.

The Dan Brown novel, Digital Fortress, was mentioned here.
I took that one as mostly a writing exercise for Brown rather than fiction to seriously appreciate. I found it to be not very good. As for Dan Brown's Angels & Demons, that was a real misfire, totally non-plausible. The hero falls out of a helicopter exactly into a narrow little water way? Not remotely believable, which spoils the whole thing for me. Interesting details about the Vatican though, which we'd probably never have learned about from other sources.

So tonight I finished (I usually finish at least 1 book each 2 days as a goal, sometimes 2 books per 2 days, mostly because as a kid I escaped getting infected with the habit of watching television) this book:

The Next 100 Years, a forecast for the 21st century, George Friedman

Is anybody else here on that book? Then let's talk! 🙂

My (humble layman) review: author didn't take into account the currently very active Chinese efforts at forging affiliations with South American countries, which have vast "natural resources" and which may hire Chinese "security forces" (Chinese soldiers dwelling in big numbers in S. America). China is gung ho on building this up up up!

Upshot: once Chinamen dig into South America (say by now maybe already 70% achieved), China will enjoy multiple bases from which to attack my home country (USA), like the Houston Ship Channel where a humongous % of USA's basic gas & chemical production originates. If the Houston Ship Channel goes down, our whole USA economy is fucked, and a measly "one" (solitary 1 only) Chinese nuke would accomplish that, THE END!!!!. So keep hostiles outta frickin launch range!!!! Please!!!

edit: trying to fix most of my typos, sorry I can't type worth $0.01, no offense intended to readers!

um...there have been multiple book threads before this one...

 

[Modular]

Originally posted by: pontifex
Continuing to slug through the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Read the 1st 4 or 5, took a break and read Rogue Warrior by Richard Marcinko, and started up the next Dark Tower book (2nd to last). I like the books, but they just seem to keep dragging on. So far I'd have to say this one is the weakest one.

Got the new Discworld book, Unseen Academicals, so I'll most likely read that next and then go on to the last Dark Tower book.

The Dark Tower series had a little bit of that effect on me as well. Once you get through Wolves of the Calla it gets much better. That book is really tough, but the last 150 or so pages are great. After that, the action picks back up and it's much more enjoyable again.

The Dark Tower series is an epic read for people who like King as well as those who may not have any experience with him. I had never read anything by him until I picked up that series a year ago and I really enjoyed it.

 

[wwswimming]

Michael Connelly (author), can't remember the names (of the books).

he writes crime mysteries that are set in LA and he actually makes LA
sound nice, and homey (not homeboy homey, homey homey.)

that in itself is quite an achievement.

would like to find un-abridged Books on Tape version with a GOOD READER,
but that's asking too much.

anyway, good books.