BOOK THREAD! PART DEUX

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: zebano

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
The Tyranny of the Night by Glen Cook.

I'm running out of fantasy books to read (seems I have read them all).

One of the best series I have read recently would be by Steven Erickson (Malazan Book of the Fallen series). A rather heavy read, but well worth it.

That was one of the worst books I have read recently (The Tyranny of the Night). I recently read Casual Rex by Eric Garcia which is truly unbelievable, but good for light reading.

Merecedes Lackey's 'The Obsidian Trilogy' is ok, but hardly spectacular reading. Ever since I started reading a Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, I have found very few novels that are truly must-reads (Malazan Book of the Fallen series is an exception).

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman is as excellent as all of Gaiman's other works. I highly recommend both this book and American Gods by Gaiman and Pratchett.

American Gods was a solo work by Gaiman, Good Omens was the collaboration between Gaiman and Pratchett.

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven

Originally posted by: zebano
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman is as excellent as all of Gaiman's other works. I highly recommend both this book and American Gods by Gaiman and Pratchett.

American Gods was a solo work by Gaiman, Good Omens was the collaboration between Gaiman and Pratchett.

Good catch, they're both worth reading though.
Someone mentioned pre 1960 books, and these aren't that old but I can recommend Ursula K. Leguin's Earthsea series(published in the 1960s I believe) and all of her other books which I have read: The Left Hand of Darkness and Gifts. The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny (1970s?).

 

[WildHorse]

What is Gnosticism?, Karen L. King, C 2003, ISBN 0-674-01071-X

and

Transformations of Myths Through Time, Joseph Campbell, C 1990, ISBN 0-06-055189-5

 

[Chronoshock]

Still reading Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson, damn it's a long book

 

[Azraele]

Right now, the extended edition of The Stand.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Title: Storm Front: Book One Of The Dresden Files
Author: Jim Butcher
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Comments: This is the book series that the SciFi television series The Dresden Files is based upon.

Harry Dresden is many things. Private investigator. Consultant for the Chicago Police Department. Wizard. Yes, wizard. He's in the phone book, look for yourself.

HARRY DRESDEN--WIZARD
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties
or Other Entertainment.

Running behind on his rent, Harry goes from too little work to too much, finding himself mixed up with both a missing person case, magic-powered murder, and a mob boss who doesn't want him investigating that murder. Unfortunately, if he doesn't find out who is behind the murder, it could leave him as a suspect.

It doesn't help that whomever did it apparently wields more power than a wizard should be able to without frying themself, and then discovers who Harry is and that he is looking for them. Which is just wonderful for him, since the White Council, the overseers of magic use, think HE is the murderer and are gathering to hear evidence against him.

A decent book, especially for a debut novel, though the writing skills of the author leave a little something to be desired. The story kept me interested though, which is more than some "skilled" writers have managed with their books.

 

[tm37]

Recently Finished the WalMart Effect and Jeffery Gitomer's Little Red Book of Selling.

Currently Listening to Freakonomics and when that is done we will move on to GO!

 

[athithi]

Blink - Malcolm Gladwell

I felt the basic premise (that your subconscious can spontaneously make rational decisions based on subtle inputs it has been receiving without you even being aware of it) was very interesting and the book was put together very well. It definitely holds some value for anybody that reads it, but doesn't come quite close to igniting the reader's imagination, IMO.

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

I have started respecting contemporary fiction a lot recently. This is one of the good ones. It is a 1930s tale of a vet student who runs away and joins a circus. The narrative alternates between the present and the past. The narrator/protagonist is a 93 year old in a nursing home. The author has done an excellent job of giving the reader a perspective of the mind of a 93 year old. It is very convincing and makes it surprisingly easy to relate to the narrator's predicament. Similarly, the circus descriptions and prohibition/great depression ambience are also strongly constructed and there are very few moments where you have to voluntarily suspend your incredulity. The period photos of circus atmosphere were a great touch and perfectly fit in with the tone of the book.

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: zebano

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven

Originally posted by: zebano
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman is as excellent as all of Gaiman's other works. I highly recommend both this book and American Gods by Gaiman and Pratchett.

American Gods was a solo work by Gaiman, Good Omens was the collaboration between Gaiman and Pratchett.

Good catch, they're both worth reading though.
Someone mentioned pre 1960 books, and these aren't that old but I can recommend Ursula K. Leguin's Earthsea series(published in the 1960s I believe) and all of her other books which I have read: The Left Hand of Darkness and Gifts. The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny (1970s?).

American Gods and Anansi Boys are both fantastic books! I recommend very strongly them for anybody that is looking for originality in contemporary fiction.

 

[pontifex]

just finished Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

I'm about to start Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph by T. E. Lawrence

 

[Kerouactivist]

Botany of Desire

Revolutionary Road

Both are fantastic

 

[jman19]

Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis

Pretty interesting book IMO, and funny as well.

 

[Lola]

I thought i would share since there are like 12 females on here
I am switching between two...
Taking Control of Your Fertility and The Secret.

Both are rather interesting and are holding my attention!

 

[eplebnista]

The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel(anxiously awaiting the last book in the series)

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Title: The Monitors
Author: Keith Laumer
Genre: Science Fiction

Comments: This book put me in mind of both 1984 and Brave New World, though the domination of mankind is not by mankind itself, but by an outside invading force. Armies of blonde haired, blue eyed, yellow suited men have descended upon the U.S. and the rest of the world en masse, and they wish only to educate the ignorant, cure the sick, bring sanity to the insane, build homes to the homeless, et cetera.

Obviously, it was an invasion by the Commies.

OK, actually it wasn't, but some in the book thought so. Ace Blondel wasn't sure who the invaders were, but he decided he didn't like them poking their noses into mankind's business and so decided to join the resistance. There was never any question in the book that there WOULD be a resistance, he simply stated that there must be, and of course, there was.

What do you do when facing an enemy with apparently limitless numbers, amazing weapon systems, and the power to make your body carry out actions you don't wish it to?

Why, you hire them, of course!

The book is somewhat reflective of the Sixties, which is the era it was published in. It was entertaining though, and honestly not that far of a stretch on how many would react when having something inflicted upon them for their own good.

It is out of print, but if you like science fiction with a humorous bent and can find a cheap used copy, give it a look. Just don't expect deep characters and politically correct dogma.

 

[DaWhim]

The Restless Sleep - Inside NYC's Cold Case Squad
http://www.therestlesssleep.com/

 

[Bryophyte]

Steven Erikson's "Gardens of the Moon' and 'Deadhouse Gates'. Got a bit into the latter book, then realized it was second in a series, so I put it on hold while I read the first book.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

World War Z.

I'm on my third Read through. I'm loving every single second of it.

 

[eplebnista]

Sole Survivor-Dean Koontz

 

[FoBoT]

null

 

[Jesus the Porkyeti]

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey

 

[cjmtfd102401]

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

 

[NTB]

Currently reading The Elegant Universe. Also have The Fabric of the Universe and Warped Passages to read. Got all three as a 3-for-2 deal @ B&N. Anybody that doesn't believe the old cliché that truth is stranger than fiction ought to pick one of these up

Nathan

 

[GeeFizzleDizzle]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Z

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: NTB
Currently reading The Elegant Universe. Also have The Fabric of the Universe and Warped Passages to read. Got all three as a 3-for-2 deal @ B&N. Anybody that doesn't believe the old cliché that truth is stranger than fiction ought to pick one of these up

Nathan

I picked up those exact same titles during that exact same sale a few weeks ago.