ok so I'm slow. I just recently started to enjoy the wonderful world of reading! Yes, you read that right. I've been a TVaholic my whole life. I was the guy who would always wait for the great story come to the big screen before I would waste my day reading! Well in the last 3 weeks I've read 2 and a half books, and I can't wait to finish the one I'm in the middle of now! So how about you guys spout off some really great books that you consider a "must read", or just give me some hints as to some really good books. I've found that I really enjoy reading action packed books, along the lines of Bourne Identity genre. This is the last book that I read: which lead me to pick this one up. I'm in the middle of this one now:
Lately I've been reading Tim Dorsey. He is a Florida mystery writer in the vein of Carl Hiaasen (who I love). So far, I've gotten through "Florida Roadkill", "Hammerhead Ranch Motel", and last night I finished "Orange Crush". Next up: "Triggerfish Twist".
Don't forgo the classics. My favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo. I couldn't put it down. Another interesting book is Black Rain which is completely unrelated to the movie of the same name although both take place in Japan.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series had a profound influence on my writing style and is just a helluva fun read. I'm currently working on two series simultaneously: Koontz's Odd Thomas series and Jim Archer's Dresden Files.
I have heard that King's Dark Tower series is really good. Havent been able to pick it up yet, but my friend wont stop talking about it.
Picked up Ian Rankin(Scottish crime novelist) on a whim...so far so good. Another good read lately was Andrew Carnegie's bio by David Nasaw. Even if if was the size of a small dictionary...
Rarely have I laughed so hard anything as I did for those books, absolutely great stuff. Some other personal favorites: Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton and the great Issac Asimov. Arthur C Clark has some good stuff out there, but can get kinda heavy and crazy at the same time, still, lots of good stuff. Everyone knows Space Oddessey but also try the Rama series, fascinating. And also in the SciFi vein, Orson Scott Card is pretty good work as well, gotta love the Ender series. For lighter fare and entertainment purposes, Ive recently started World War Z after finishing the Zombie Survival Guide, both by Max Brooks. Very well written.
the "Sword of Truth" series first three books are some of the best Fantasy I have ever read and John steakleys "Armor" is the best piece of Sci Fi I have ever read.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy is well worth catching. You could make a pretty valid case for it being the greatest love story ever told. If you're after some tough murder, the Factory series by Derek Raymond is excellent. Newton Thornburg is one of the greatest writers who ever lived; Cutter and Bone and To Die in California are particularly brilliant. David Peace is a genius. For those of you who have travelled, his Red Riding Quartet is something akin to genius. Can't beat a bit of James Ellroy. Revolutionary Road is well worth catching, as is a lot of Philip Roth. Dennis Lehane is a great writer; there is a reason why series 4 of The Wire is so amazing, especially considering the incredibly high standards of the three series that preceeded it. Continuing the Baltimore tip, Dan Fesperman's A Small Boat of Great Sorrow is a cracking book about the war in the Balkans. For those of you that know and love London, Patrick Hamilton can't come recommended highly enough. Chris Paling is a very good writer, as is Michael Chabon whose Yiddish Policemans Union is a mighty tome. I could talk books for hours, nee years.
And whilst I started on The Road, McCarthy's work generally is supreme. No Country was a great movie but it's rare to find a book that conveys the creepiness of the film equally. His prose is stunning. Blood Meridian is his masterpiece, but is a very uncomfortable read. Sutree is a good start for newcomers to his work.
Those are the ones I started in on...got Hanging Gardens and A Good Hanging from the library. Yes, I know they're not in order, but that's the best I could do; I'll probably go back to the beginning once I'm done w/ these. Funny thing is, I was introduced to him through the television program No Reservations on the Travel Channel...I figure any writer hanging out w/ Tony Bourdain is worth a look. Also, being Scottish and having visited the UK twice now, I feel ever more drawn to the people, the land, lifestyle and culture. Don't know that I would consider becoming a permanent resident (as the political leanings are a bit too leftist for me), but a part-time residence and regular visits are def. in my future plans. A part of me envies you Simon. Thanks for the recommendations.
Then I won't stop either. It really is a trippy, fun, eclectic read. Part spaghetti western, part sci-fi, part horror, it is the story King is most proud of.
Yeah he wrote "Mystic River" and "Shutter Island" which I just finished. It is Scorcese's next movie. And a short story collection called "Coronado" which was fun. And god bless The Wire and everyone involved. And if you want to laugh you *** off, at least I did, pick up "I Love You, Beth Cooper" by former Simpsons writer Larry Doyle. It goes down like ice cream it is so easy and fun to read.
The last three books I read were all amazing. Ring (Ringu) translated version: The book that inspired The Ring, but it's 200000 times better than the American or Japanese movies. Spiral (Second Ringu Book): Better than the first, such a great read. Battle Royale: One of the best books ever written. I loved it. Just my opinion. Also working on a Dean Koontz book called 'The Good Guy' it's decent.
The Road was very enjoyable, I've been meaning to pick up some of Cormac's other works since I finished The Road but havent had the funds to spend recently. I'll have to check out some of your other recommendations out as well.
I'm not a big reader at all to be honest but I am reading about "Pistol" Pete Maravich. The first one titled Maravich is interesting because it talks about how he got to the NBA and his whole life. The second one is just about his basketball career. After that, I plan on reading this:
I made the weird decision of going with classic irish writers lately so I just finished "Portrait of an Artist..." by Joyce and I am currently reading "Watt" by Beckett... I love the second one, kinda got lost in the first one. It does read like a minor work preparing for Ulisses (which I havent read, but really want to) Of recent writers though, I can't say enough about Ian McEwan's "On Chesil Beach", I also read Anne Enright's "The Gathering" which is such a bitter book it kinda crawls (though it is really well written, which is probably why it won the Man-Booker)
Personally I thought The Road was terrible. The conversations were extremely fake sounding and that is pretty much over half the book. I didn't get the feeling of love between father and son at all. Almost every conversation went. 'We have to' 'okay' 'Are you sure?' 'Yes.' I guess it wasn't horrible, I've read way worse, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. To each his own though.
When it comes to books, I tend to stick to the classics. At least when it comes to fiction. I just don't like taking the risk with newer books. It takes me awhile to read them so if I don't like them I feel like I wasted too much time. Not like a movie where you only have to invest a couple hours. The classics have stood the test of time, so I think there's less risk. And unless I missed it, I can't believe a thread about books has gotten this far without mention of Ernest Hemingway. I also love all Fitzgerald's books. Especially this one - As far as some great informational books I recommend - Rich Dad, Poor Dad The Millionare Next Door Automatic Millionaire Getting Things Done
Im glad you mentioned For Whom the Bell Tolls; it's on the top of my Amazon wish list. I finally realized how many classics I'd missed out on over the years and rectifying that has become a semi-goal of mine.
MonstBlitz I am with you, I tend to read classics. I also go for a lot of biographies. My favorite book of all time is We the living by Ayn Rand. Very stark but truthful telling of the life of Kira from just after the Russian reveloution thru Lenin's death in 1924. I recently just read most of the Dune books, the 1st three were good, but it really got weird when it came to God Emperor of Dune. I couldn't stomach that one. The story got way off track. I also read historical non-fiction books, mostly about Royalty or Nobility, as that is where my expertise in genealogy lay. The most recent "royal" biography I read was Mary of Cleves by Lady Antonia Fraser. I also finished The History of the Byzantine State and Edward VI : The Threshold of Power, a study of the tug of war for power in England under the child king Edward VI, son of Henry VIII. Next on the list will be The Making of an Empire : The Habsburgs 1540-1918. Another I read last year that I whole heartedly recommend is And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts which documents the start and spread of the AIDS epidemic. Its the story from the CDC's efforts to pinpoint the start and 1st carriers of the virus, to the American government's refusal to do much to stem the spread or fund research under the Reagan administration. As for classics, right now I am reading War & Peace (for the 3rd time) and will probably pick up Gone With the Wind again in the near future.
The only bad thing about reading the classics is that it's a little depressing when you finish all of an author's books that you really like and know that there aren't any more coming. I still have a couple more Hemingway and Fitgerald to go, but I'm taking my time getting to them. Also, for those of you who like short stories, Hemingway's are the absolute best, IMHO.
So I'm halfway through the book Dune, and it is easily the best book I've ever read. I can't wait to read all the books in the series. Also on topic of classics, I've been trying to make my way through A Tale Of Two Cities and I just can't.
A friend just lent me Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion. I'm a little less than half way through it atm and it's rather enjoyable, and thought provoking. I wasnt sure what I wanted to get out of the book when I picked it up (to convince me of atheism or for me to be offended and realize I didnt want to become like him) but I think I know which way it's making me lean, and I look forward to reading some of his other stuff.
A friend of mine is really deep into his stuff. She told me I HAVE to read his books, but I've put it off in favor of others. Give us an end report so I know if I want to spend my money on it afterall.
I like Terry Goodkind's series: http://www.terrygoodkind.com/his_works/ And then there's the "Wheel of Time" series by Robert Jordan. I like that one as well. However, I find it depressing that as I write this I found out that he died last year and the series is now left unfinished... http://tor.com/jordan/ http://www.cinemablend.com/celebrity/Wheel-Of-Time-Author-Robert-Jordan-Dies-6375.html I also like the various Shannara series that Terry Brooks has out. I just picked up "The Elves of Cintra" and started reading it today. http://www.terrybrooks.net/ The last book I read before this one was "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin. I'm hoping to find/order the follow-on books to that one soon. http://www.georgerrmartin.com/
to the original post; if the Bourne books are to your liking, check out Vince Flynn's series (10 books, the 11th is due in October). i discovered him last November by chance, and flew through all ten of his titles in about 3 months. and i have re-read two of them as well already. almost all his books are focused on a CIA Counter Terrorist Operative/all around bad dude named Mitch Rapp.
also, i suggest everyone read the first hand account of a Navy Seals Op. gone bad in Afganistan entitled; "Lone Survivor" it is absolutely gripping. it is the story of 4 Navy Seals sent to either capture or kill a "high value target" in the tribal lands of Afganistan. i won't ruin the whole story, but only one of those three came back alive, and his story is incredible. what he endured is beyond description really. as is the story of his brothers in arms and their heroism, against overwhelming odds. sadly, when word got out those SEALS were in trouble on the mountainside, the rescue helicopter, and several more SEALS and aviators attempting to rescue the first team were also killed when their chopper was hit by a Taliban RPG.
Home Buying for Dummies. Not that interesting but certainly not bad if you want to figure out what youre looking for and if you can save some money doing so.
