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Reading recomendations?
h3ndu
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, for the past two and a half years I haven't read anything besides technical manuals or religious texts.
For two years in southern germany I basicly lived as a monk, practicing and teaching christian religion, and researching other religions - I literally read nothing but various religious texts (it's pretty amazing how many translations of the bible there are in german, and how slight wording changes the most minute of things) and sign posts every day for two years straight. No tv, no newspaper, no movies, no other books.
When I got done with that I came home to the U.S. and did a semester of college, saw some movies and listened to some music, but all the reading I did didn't fall into the category of 'leisure' books.
I was reading through Hebrews this morning when I realised that I think I'd like to get some other reading in my life.
So.
I've read a fair few clasics growing up and was indifferent to most of them - things like a tale of two cities, catcher in the rye, a farewell to arms, the great gatsby, etc. I hated War and peace. The last book series I read and really enjoyed before leaving the country was Robert Jordans Wheel of time series. I thought it was great, I'll probably pick it back up when it gets finished. I really liked LOTR and the hobbit, I remember that as a kid I really liked Firebird by Mercedes Lackey. I also enjoyed the Belgariad and the Chronicles of Amber as a kid.
I suppose my tastes lean toward action/adventure with a hint of romance.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me, anything to liven up my liesure reading time?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
For two years in southern germany I basicly lived as a monk, practicing and teaching christian religion, and researching other religions - I literally read nothing but various religious texts (it's pretty amazing how many translations of the bible there are in german, and how slight wording changes the most minute of things) and sign posts every day for two years straight. No tv, no newspaper, no movies, no other books.
When I got done with that I came home to the U.S. and did a semester of college, saw some movies and listened to some music, but all the reading I did didn't fall into the category of 'leisure' books.
I was reading through Hebrews this morning when I realised that I think I'd like to get some other reading in my life.
So.
I've read a fair few clasics growing up and was indifferent to most of them - things like a tale of two cities, catcher in the rye, a farewell to arms, the great gatsby, etc. I hated War and peace. The last book series I read and really enjoyed before leaving the country was Robert Jordans Wheel of time series. I thought it was great, I'll probably pick it back up when it gets finished. I really liked LOTR and the hobbit, I remember that as a kid I really liked Firebird by Mercedes Lackey. I also enjoyed the Belgariad and the Chronicles of Amber as a kid.
I suppose my tastes lean toward action/adventure with a hint of romance.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me, anything to liven up my liesure reading time?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Lo Que Sea, Cuando Sea, Donde Sea.
h3ndu on
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On The Road is a, perhaps The, Great American Adventure. Its short, too, and a great quick read.
Also, if you've been reading for knowledge lately, consider The Know-it-All by AJ Jacobs. True story of a guy reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, mixing in personal stories with factoids. Think Julie and Julia, but for OCD nerds.
Going an entirely different direction, Nelson DeMille is a fantastic writer in his early work. The Gold Coast is an amazing book with action and romance, and some really interesting class vs. money aspects. How much do I love it? Enough to link it: http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Coast-Nelson-DeMille/dp/0446673218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280729335&sr=8-1
Catch-22, Moby-Dick, Snow Crash, All the King's Men, Invisible Man, Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive, The Sun Also Rises, Sometimes a Great Notion, Closing Time, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, A Confederacy of Dunces, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Brave New World, The Yiddish Policeman's Union, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Spook Country, Treasure Island, Consider Phlebas, The Diamond Age, Love in the Time of Cholera, Pattern Recognition, American Gods, Anansi Boys, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Gun, with Occasional Music, Motherless Brooklyn, The Fortress of Solitude, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Cryptonomicon, Gardens of the Moon, Cat's Cradle, The Demon-Haunted World, Virtual Light, Idoru, All Tomorrow's Parties, Lolita, Everything Is Illuminated, On the Road, The Brothers Karamazov, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, Absurdistan, Going Postal.
Bolding the ones I've read and loved to second them. Unbolded just means I haven't read it, or don't remember it very well. :P
They did not have name of the wind and I didn't see on the road (not the biggest book store out there), but the clerk convinced me to buy a book called Mistborn - by Brandon Sanderson. I also bought Catch 22. I think they should keep me occupied for about a week. I think my next two buys will be Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and The Brothers karamazov. Thanks for the list TychoCelchuuu - I'll likely be picking away at it for a while.
And yes, I think re-reading some of the classics I read as a younger man would be a good idea, but in reference to A Farewell to Arms, if I remember correctly it's not that I thought the book was bad, I just didn't like his style of writing - it seemed really oversimplified to me. But it has been a few years now, and what I remember could be just gibberish. It being on your list I also remember reading Brave new world, and disliking it - but having liked Orwell's 1984.
Is Farenheit 451 worth reading?
Th Hitchhikers series was great in the beginning, but I think I never got completely through Mostly Harmless. Should I pick it back up again?
Brandon Sanderson is taking over/finishing the Wheel of Time books now that Robert Jordan has passed away, and he did a spectacular job in the most recent WoT book (I'm eagerly awaiting the next one later this year). Due to his great work, I went ahead and checked out Mistborn and loved it. I just finished the final book (3/3) today and recommend reading them all, though the second is my least favorite of the series.
Mistborn is a fun book, not great, but I enjoyed it. I have the sequel but haven't quite cared enough to read it yet.
You should check out Raymond Feist books, starting with Magician: Apprentice.
Also, obligatory Song of Ice and Fire series recomendation.