Haven't seen a general book thread in a while...

Printable View

Show 100 post(s) from this thread on one page

May 16th, 2005, 12:57 PM
ShaardEQWizard

Haven't seen a general book thread in a while...

OK...
1. What are you reading now?
2. What is next on your list, and why?
3. What do you recommend for the other Graffies to read soon?

1. "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin. Wow, this is a great book so far, pick it up.
2. Not sure, probably "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin (book 2). I also picked up the Warcraft Novels, I may try one of those first before starting A Clash of Kings as I hear they are very good too. Also looking forward to Terry Brooks' next book, but AFAIK it doesn't come out til September. Oh yeah, Robert Jordans next Wheel of Time Book is coming soon too :rolleyes: I figure I've read the first 10, may as well finish the set. I thought book 10 was OK, better than the 3 before it at least...
3. I read a book about Earnest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition. It was a great read. Here is an Amazon link to it. I also just read the Da Vinci code by Dan Brown. What a great book, especially if you like religious/art/secret society history.
May 16th, 2005, 01:21 PM
Beli

Nothing right now. I picked up a few trashy romance novels because I thought I'd have a lot of time to kill while a loved one was in the operating room, but family showed up and helped to pass the time. I'm probably going to drop them off at the library unread. I only got them because every romance book has the same ending and I wanted something that I didn't have to pay attention to in case my mind was elsewhere.

My next book will be Harry Potter (that's coming out in July).

No recommended books for right now. I have too much going on right now to curl up with a book. (I've been working on other projects so reading is something I'll come back to when I get tired of my activities.)
May 16th, 2005, 01:57 PM
Danenel

Re-reading Belgariad for the umpteenth time currently. Usually read about 1 book a day or so.
May 16th, 2005, 02:16 PM
luxum

Got on a Gabriel Garcia Marquez kick and i'm currently reading The Autumn of the Patriarch which i almost wish i hadn't started and don't recommend at all lol. This book not only has no paragraph breaks, it has 3 page run on sentences, i shit you not. It's very difficult to read at lunch in short bursts, there is no good stopping point and it's hard to find where i was to pick up the train of thought when i'm interrupted by waitresses. Today one asked me what i was reading, so i showed her the cover, and she gets stumpted by the word "patriarch." :wtf:

Quote:

1. "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin. Wow, this is a great book so far, pick it up.
2. Not sure, probably "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin (book 2)

Wow, you are so not going to want to stop. That's an amazing series - you might as well pick up the 3rd one now. :grinyes:

Next i'm planning on picking up that fantasy series that Dmitry mentioned here http://www.graffe.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31573.

Also at the top my list is Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. I really enjoyed Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and have been meaning to read some more of Gregory Maguire's books.
May 16th, 2005, 02:22 PM
silverblaze

1) Just finished up Terry Brook's High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus. Going to be reading tanequil but I can't find it non hard cover. Also trying to finish Guns germs and steel.
2) Harry potter, next GRRM book, whenever that is, and The last book in the high druid of shannara trilogy.
3) Nothing atm.
May 16th, 2005, 02:24 PM
Ninetoes

1) David Gemmell's Drenai Saga ( Legend, King Beyond The Gate and The Quest for Lost Heroes

2) Not sure, maybe his Rigante series or maybe Lion of Macedon. Also thinking about George RR Martin's series or mayne George Alec Effeningers Middle East focused cyberpunk ( When Gravity Fails, A Fire in the Sun and Exile's kiss )

3) Well I Can't reccomend Gemmell enough. He is by far my favorite fantasy author.
May 16th, 2005, 02:36 PM
Murel

Rereading/reading the complete Hitchhiker's series. Taking an easy pace though.
May 16th, 2005, 03:38 PM
DmitrytheWizzy

I recommended this on a different thread but will do so again:

Tales of the Otori by Hearn

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...410809-1111134

This is the best written, most original fantasy since Martin.

Quote:

Amazon.com
The debut novel of Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori series, Across the Nightingale Floor, is set in a feudal Japan on the edge of the imagination. The tale begins with young Takeo, a member of a subversive and persecuted religious group, who returns home to find his village in flames. He is saved, not by coincidence, by the swords of Lord Otori Shigeru and thrust into a world of warlords, feuding clans, and political scheming. As Lord Otori's ward, he discovers he is a member by birth of the shadowy "Tribe," a mysterious group of assassins with supernatural abilities.

Hearn sets his tale in an imaginary realm that is and isn't feudal Japan. This device serves the author well as he is able to play with familiar archetypes--samurai, Shogun, and ninja--without falling prey to the pitfalls of history. The novel fills a unique niche that is at once period piece and fantasy novel. Hearn unfolds the tale of Takeo and the conflicting forces around him in a deliberate manner that leads to a satisfying conclusion and sets the stage for the rest of the series.
May 16th, 2005, 03:42 PM
Ringo

Dmitry smells like feet

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaardEQWizard

1. What are you reading now?

"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" at a leisurely pace, because it's so damn awesome, I'll be sad when it ends. As it is, I'm past the 650+ page mark, and the level of magic and weirdness has gotten very high, and I may not be able to restrain myself much longer and may blast through the rest of it sooner than later.

Quote:

2. What is next on your list, and why?

"Monstrous Regiment" by Terry Pratchett because Pratchett makes me laugh my ass off.

Quote:

3. What do you recommend for the other Graffies to read soon?

JS&MN or anything Pratchett.
May 16th, 2005, 03:45 PM
Ringo

Quote:

Originally Posted by luxum

Also at the top my list is Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. I really enjoyed Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and have been meaning to read some more of Gregory Maguire's books.

Really? I read "Wicked" and while I found the ideas to be great -- his fleshing out of Oz was wonderful, and I say that as someone who owns all the Baum Oz books -- I found the execution to be really clumsy, to the point that it interfered with my enjoyment of the book quite a bit. I felt like, unless I was the book critic for the "New Yorker," he didn't give a shit whether or not I actually enjoyed the novel.
May 16th, 2005, 03:47 PM
Zaes

I haven't read a book since 7th grade and I'm almost ending junior year.

Last book I ever touched that wasn't a strategy guide was Roll of thunder hear my cry and that was crap.

I'm a terrible example of a good student but oh well. Reading takes time from WoW and my nonexistent social life. :p
May 16th, 2005, 03:51 PM
Ringo

Read a book. At some point, you're going to want to talk to a girl and they tend to have no interest in WoW or strategy guides.
May 16th, 2005, 04:01 PM
Zaes

Quote:

Read a book. At some point, you're going to want to talk to a girl and they tend to have no interest in WoW or strategy guides.

I have plenty to talk about, just that people in my school don't speak to me outside of school anyways so I don't have all that much to worry about.
May 16th, 2005, 04:01 PM
Mudsquirti

im reading eddings belgariad right now. ive read george martins series.. im driving myself crazy in anticipation of the next novel.. this series is going to be a very long time in the making and unfortunately at the rate he is writing them it will be completed in about another optimistic 10-15 years.. this may sound selfish but i sincerely hope he lives long enough to complete his series. on the other hand if he just spits books out like the prolific stephen king or others there would be some sacrifices in quality, which i dont want to see happen for probably the best fiction/fasntasy story ever told. after i wrap up the belgariad i think i may try orson card's enders series or possibly alvinmaker. im also interested in terry pratchett, ive never touched one of his books but they coe very recommended.

muds.
May 16th, 2005, 04:18 PM
DmitrytheWizzy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo Flinthammer

"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" at a leisurely pace, because it's so damn awesome, I'll be sad when it ends. As it is, I'm past the 650+ page mark, and the level of magic and weirdness has gotten very high, and I may not be able to restrain myself much longer and may blast through the rest of it sooner than later.

heheh still not a great book IMHO.
May 16th, 2005, 04:28 PM
Ringo

Dmitry chews his toenails when he's nervous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BananaPeel

I have plenty to talk about, just that people in my school don't speak to me outside of school anyways so I don't have all that much to worry about.

It makes me weep to see a young man wasting his prime skirt-chasing years. Videogames are for when you're married and your wife discourages you from dating.
May 16th, 2005, 04:54 PM
DmitrytheWizzy

Quote:

Originally Posted by BananaPeel

I haven't read a book since 7th grade and I'm almost ending junior year.

Last book I ever touched that wasn't a strategy guide was Roll of thunder hear my cry and that was crap.

I'm a terrible example of a good student but oh well. Reading takes time from WoW and my nonexistent social life. :p

That's good 'cause reading won't really help you in life. This is a sensitive subject with me. I credit my success in almost all i have ever done to a pushy mother and a love of reading.

I hope you got a real pushy mother otherwise get in line to flip burgers.
May 16th, 2005, 04:56 PM
Khieran

Just finished re-reading the first and second chronicles of Thomas Covenant, then read the new book Runes of the Earth.

I'm looking for what to start on next...
May 16th, 2005, 06:36 PM
Ofia

Currently reading: Breaking Open the Head; A Psychedelic Journey into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism, by Daniel Pinchbeck

Part of me thinks this guy is a total nutcase, the other part of me finds the book damn interesting. (I picked up in the Social Science section of borders.)

Next:? No fucking clue.

I'm in the middle of/started:
1. The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
2. Shadow Puppets
3. The Onion Girl
4. The Count of Monte Cristo
5. The Gates of Dawn (or something, it's book 1 in a series that's pissing me off cause the hero has to go thru all kinds of SHIT)

Depending on whether I finish this book before I move I'll work on finishing one of the books listed above...Maybe Count or Onion Girl....

And then again, I might pick up another book
May 16th, 2005, 06:39 PM
Lysandor

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo Flinthammer

It makes me weep to see a young man wasting his prime skirt-chasing years. Videogames are for when you're married and your wife discourages you from dating.

Amen. That's why I call them the LOST generation.

EDIT: Reading David Weber at the moment. I have a new thing for military Sci-fi.

Show 100 post(s) from this thread on one page