timschochet
Footballguy
What did I miss?
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The FBG Top 300 Books of All Time (fiction edition) | #22 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain | Running list in posts #3 and #4 (15 Viewers)
- Thread starter kupcho1
- Start date
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
The inability to see kupchos posts has been discussed extensively.
timschochet
Footballguy
I see. And here I figured it was just me. I have a bit of color blindness.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Socialism for Dummies
I still find it hilarious that the Harry Potter book (and film) is Philosopher’s Stone in practically every other country.Phase 4: Counting down from 100
Five more including a #1 ranked book as well as a repeat performace by Collected Fictions aka Ficciones.
85 My Antonia Willa Cather Oliver Humanzee, Mrs.Marco Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J.K. Rowling scoobus, Mrs.Marco, Psychopav 83 Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky Oliver Humanzee, Psychopav, Long Ball Larry The Unbearable Lightness of Being Milan Kundera ilov80s, Eephus, krista4 82 Collected Fictions Jorge Luis Borges Oliver Humanzee, Long Ball Larry
85. My Antonia by Willa Cather
Oliver Humanzee: #3
Mrs.Marco: #28
Total points: 173
Average: 86.5
85. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Psychopav: #11
scoobus: #16
Mrs.Marco: #58
Total points: 173
Average: 57.7
83. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Long Ball Larry: #13
Oliver Humanzee: #19
Psychopav: #40
Total points: 174
Average: 58.0
83. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
ilov80s: #7
Eephus: #27
krista4: #51
Total points: 174
Average: 58.0
82. Collected Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges
Long Ball Larry: #70
Oliver Humanzee: #34
Total points: 177
Average: 88.5
But in the US a Philosopher is seen as a negative thing and unaccessible to children somehow.
Same with Madness of King George III changed to remove the III in case people hadnt seen the first two lol
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KarmaPolice
Footballguy
I'll be your guinea pig. I was at the used store today and started my FBG shelf. Walked in with $20, walked out with 6 books. 2 are Hamlet and the No Fear version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I haven't read or seen any version of Hamlet to my knowledge, so that was the main target. I've done many of your other suggestions, but Hamlet and MacBeth are still 2 huge ones I haven't gotten to. I normally wouldn't bother with the No Fear version, but you asked and it was $1, so WTF. I've read/seen Midsummer's Night so I thought that would be a quick run through.
I also got The Caine Mutiny, My Antonia, and Hyperion from the participant top 5s that I have seen and wrote down. The last book was a $2 version of the personal favorite Chrichton I've hinted at. Not a bad haul. I've read a couple short but heavy books lately, so I will start on something from this pile after reading the new Grady Hendrix book.
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KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Philosophizing is for those hoity toity Europeans. Sorcerer sounds way more bad ***.I still find it hilarious that the Harry Potter book (and film) is Philosopher’s Stone in practically every other country.Phase 4: Counting down from 100
Five more including a #1 ranked book as well as a repeat performace by Collected Fictions aka Ficciones.
85 My Antonia Willa Cather Oliver Humanzee, Mrs.Marco Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J.K. Rowling scoobus, Mrs.Marco, Psychopav 83 Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky Oliver Humanzee, Psychopav, Long Ball Larry The Unbearable Lightness of Being Milan Kundera ilov80s, Eephus, krista4 82 Collected Fictions Jorge Luis Borges Oliver Humanzee, Long Ball Larry
85. My Antonia by Willa Cather
Oliver Humanzee: #3
Mrs.Marco: #28
Total points: 173
Average: 86.5
85. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Psychopav: #11
scoobus: #16
Mrs.Marco: #58
Total points: 173
Average: 57.7
83. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Long Ball Larry: #13
Oliver Humanzee: #19
Psychopav: #40
Total points: 174
Average: 58.0
83. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
ilov80s: #7
Eephus: #27
krista4: #51
Total points: 174
Average: 58.0
82. Collected Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges
Long Ball Larry: #70
Oliver Humanzee: #34
Total points: 177
Average: 88.5
But in the US a Philosopher is seen as a negative thing and unaccessible to children somehow.
Same with Madness of King George III changed to remove the III in case people hadnt seen the first two lol
rockaction
Footballguy
Hey folks! Sorry I haven't been around. I've been nervously solving the country's problems for the past week or so. I'll catch up soon. I have to write up "The Paradise of Bachelors and the Tartarus of Maids," and I'm looking forward to what you've all written.
Peace.
Peace.
Eephus
Footballguy
One of my cardinal rules is that if I make it through the first 100 pages, I'll finish the book . Gravity's Rainbow is one of the few exceptions. I got further than that when I started it during my 20s. I don't remember what stopped me at the time but I put it down and never returned. I've read other Pynchon and ranked V in my top 25 but I don't know if my mind is elastic enough nowadays to handle the intricacies of Gravity's Rainbow.
There's one other big novel that I went back and read 35 years after I had bailed on it prematurely but I'm hoping it shows up in the countdown.
Eephus
Footballguy
I don't think I've read the text of a play since HS English Lit.
There are lots of good movie versions of Hamlet. The 1935 Max Reinhardt version of Midsummer isn't faithful to Shakespeare but it's pure magic.
kupcho1
Footballguy
Phase 4: Counting down from 100
Let's do 4 today including a #1 choice. I was hoping that the split between days would be different, as these 4 books are so similar that it might inhibit discussion. Oh well...
81. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
kupcho1: #5
krista4: #29
Don Quixote: #55
Total points: 178
Average: 59.3
80. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
scoobus: #1
Frostillicus: #31
Total points: 180
Average: 90.0
78. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
rockaction: #12
Mrs.Marco: #14
turnjose7: #54
Total points: 181
Average: 45.3
78. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
ilov80s: #6
Eephus: #29
Don Quixote: #57
chaos34: #61
Total points: 181
Average: 45.3
Harry Potter a second day in a row, this time as the #1 from @scoobus .
I'll be back later to talk about that other Japanese author, Kazuo Ishiguro, and my #5 pick Never Let Me Go
Let's do 4 today including a #1 choice. I was hoping that the split between days would be different, as these 4 books are so similar that it might inhibit discussion. Oh well...
| 81 | Never Let Me Go | Kazuo Ishiguro | kupcho1, Don Quixote, krista4 |
| 80 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | J.K. Rowling | scoobus, Frostillicus |
| 78 | Wuthering Heights | Emily Brontë | turnjose7, Mrs.Marco, rockaction |
| The Big Sleep | Raymond Chandler | ilov80s, chaos34, Don Quixote, Eephus |
81. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
kupcho1: #5
krista4: #29
Don Quixote: #55
Total points: 178
Average: 59.3
80. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
scoobus: #1
Frostillicus: #31
Total points: 180
Average: 90.0
78. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
rockaction: #12
Mrs.Marco: #14
turnjose7: #54
Total points: 181
Average: 45.3
78. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
ilov80s: #6
Eephus: #29
Don Quixote: #57
chaos34: #61
Total points: 181
Average: 45.3
Harry Potter a second day in a row, this time as the #1 from @scoobus .
I'll be back later to talk about that other Japanese author, Kazuo Ishiguro, and my #5 pick Never Let Me Go
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Looks like the final Chandler and my favorite. Is it because it’s the best or the first one I read? I don’t know but I’ll let someone else write up The Big Sleep because I’ve already written about Chandler a few times on the countdown.
It seemed like a nice neighborhood to have bad habits in.
It seemed like a nice neighborhood to have bad habits in.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Love it- Never Let Me Go would be in my top 10.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
was the movie based on that book or just same name?
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Based on book. With Michelle Williams and K.Knighly
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I love the movie so will check out the book.
Keith R
The Don
I've seen the movie but never read the book. Always thought the title gave one no idea about what the story was really about
Don Quixote
Footballguy
Love the book (which is why ranked), but have not seen the movie. Will need to check out.
Need to work on some write-ups. Out on spring break this week, slowing down posting. At least at the portion of this where books have had multiple people rank.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Lol. I was just talking to 80s that i have been wondering how a book/movie group would go.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
I didn't see that Deathly Hallow's was somebody's #1. Love it. I have been wondering how people will handle bigger series like that. When I was thinking about what I was going rank, I think I landed on something like: if there was a series where I thought all of them were good/great, I went with book 1 (The Expanse, for example) . If there was one that stood out as a big fave of mine, I wrote that down specifically (Harry Potter and GoT, for example).
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Ok I should check out both
Dr_Zaius
Footballguy
I ranked one book from both HP and GoT. I opted to go with my favorite book of each series as I didn't want a bunch of entries from the same series on my list. I also figured I'd probably have trouble deciding a precise order for some of them, whereas usually the one you liked the most at least stands out a bit.
kupcho1
Footballguy
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, my #5 is a great book, and if you intend to read it, don't investigate beforehand, and certainly don't see the movie. Hell, don't even try to find out what the genre is. My advice: go in cold. But do go in.
Never Let Me Go was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize in 2005, and I haven't read the winner, but even so, I've got to believe they screwed the pooch on this one. Is extraordinary. He did win it in 1989 for Remains of the Day, so maybe they were looking to spread the love.
Anyway, I'm not going to go into much detail on the book. It follows the lives of some students at Hailsham, a boarding school focused primarily on art and a healthy lifestyle (e.g., no smoking). And that's all I'm going to say about the plot. I will say, however, that it is fantastically done and that it was without question, the saddest book I've ever read in my life.
But I loved it.
Never Let Me Go was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize in 2005, and I haven't read the winner, but even so, I've got to believe they screwed the pooch on this one. Is extraordinary. He did win it in 1989 for Remains of the Day, so maybe they were looking to spread the love.
Anyway, I'm not going to go into much detail on the book. It follows the lives of some students at Hailsham, a boarding school focused primarily on art and a healthy lifestyle (e.g., no smoking). And that's all I'm going to say about the plot. I will say, however, that it is fantastically done and that it was without question, the saddest book I've ever read in my life.
But I loved it.
kupcho1
Footballguy
Same.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I am hoping that one comes up later
Maybe I'll let someone who ranked it higher do a commentary about Wuthering Heights. But I'll bring the TV countdown and this thread together with one of my favorite moments from a series that got a lot of discussion in the other thread: https://youtu.be/5pfl5ztgJlU?t=145
krista4
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
Phase 4: Counting down from 100
Let's do 4 today including a #1 choice. I was hoping that the split between days would be different, as these 4 books are so similar that it might inhibit discussion. Oh well...
81 Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro kupcho1, Don Quixote, krista4 80 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J.K. Rowling scoobus, Frostillicus 78 Wuthering Heights Emily Brontë turnjose7, Mrs.Marco, rockaction The Big Sleep Raymond Chandler ilov80s, chaos34, Don Quixote, Eephus
81. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
kupcho1: #5
krista4: #29
Don Quixote: #55
Total points: 178
Average: 59.3
80. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
scoobus: #1
Frostillicus: #31
Total points: 180
Average: 90.0
78. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
rockaction: #12
Mrs.Marco: #14
turnjose7: #54
Total points: 181
Average: 45.3
78. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
ilov80s: #6
Eephus: #29
Don Quixote: #57
chaos34: #61
Total points: 181
Average: 45.3
Harry Potter a second day in a row, this time as the #1 from @scoobus .
I'll be back later to talk about that other Japanese author, Kazuo Ishiguro, and my #5 pick Never Let Me Go
krista4
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
I never thought I'd be a person constantly eating "greens" - kale, collards, chard, whatever - but damn, I love them. It helps to have a fantastic cook around. I found out one of the secrets last time he made collards - using at least two different kinds of vinegar. Anyway, I'm watching kale being prepared. So are the cats, two of whom have stolen the stems and run off with them.
This book was #3 on OH's list, but...
My Antonia by Willa Cather
"I nearly ranked this #1. It’s probably the most pleasurable and satisfying novel on my list, and I’ve read it more times than most other novels. While I generally don’t rate “readability” as the greatest quality of an author, Willa Cather’s prose is...well, she performs something like a magic trick, where I’m instantly unaware of words on a page, but instead there’s a story unfolding in my mind as if I were watching a movie. Despite the fact that there are a lot internal monologues with a lot of characters' thoughts being narrated, I must have read it 10 times or more and couldn’t tell you one good line. I don’t know how she does it, how it works. It’s transparent; it simply disappears. There’s nothing, no artifice, between the reader and the story. Hemingway is given a lot of credit for that Midwestern minimalist style, but as a stylist I don’t think he’s fit to buckle Willa Cather’s boots. Her writing is so generous and so absent of ego. There’s not a single thing that you credit as "oh, how smart, how wise"...it’s all a thing that she’s given us. It’s that same generosity of spirit and no nonsense, workmanlike, let’s get down to it that’s what the novel is about as well. How these immigrants survived on the prairie, far from the city, relying only on themselves. It’s literally how America was made and by whom. ****, this should have been #1."
This book was #3 on OH's list, but...
My Antonia by Willa Cather
"I nearly ranked this #1. It’s probably the most pleasurable and satisfying novel on my list, and I’ve read it more times than most other novels. While I generally don’t rate “readability” as the greatest quality of an author, Willa Cather’s prose is...well, she performs something like a magic trick, where I’m instantly unaware of words on a page, but instead there’s a story unfolding in my mind as if I were watching a movie. Despite the fact that there are a lot internal monologues with a lot of characters' thoughts being narrated, I must have read it 10 times or more and couldn’t tell you one good line. I don’t know how she does it, how it works. It’s transparent; it simply disappears. There’s nothing, no artifice, between the reader and the story. Hemingway is given a lot of credit for that Midwestern minimalist style, but as a stylist I don’t think he’s fit to buckle Willa Cather’s boots. Her writing is so generous and so absent of ego. There’s not a single thing that you credit as "oh, how smart, how wise"...it’s all a thing that she’s given us. It’s that same generosity of spirit and no nonsense, workmanlike, let’s get down to it that’s what the novel is about as well. How these immigrants survived on the prairie, far from the city, relying only on themselves. It’s literally how America was made and by whom. ****, this should have been #1."
scoobus
Footballguy
I guess I'll write a little blurb since it was my #1 ranked book.
As someone consumed with sports/tv/video games growing up, Harry Potter is what really got me into reading, the only book I ever read outside of school before becoming an adult, and likely the only reason I've continued reading since then (and I know there's a ton of great books I still need to get to). It's hard to delineate between all 7, but I went with the final chapter of the series, which has a bunch of great scenes that I really enjoy. Now is HP7 actually my favorite book of all time? I dunno, maybe, maybe not, but for what the series has done with regards to the impact on my reading life, it felt apropos.
As far as the actual book itself, I dunno, it had a small cult following, I think they might've made a movie out of it or something.
As someone consumed with sports/tv/video games growing up, Harry Potter is what really got me into reading, the only book I ever read outside of school before becoming an adult, and likely the only reason I've continued reading since then (and I know there's a ton of great books I still need to get to). It's hard to delineate between all 7, but I went with the final chapter of the series, which has a bunch of great scenes that I really enjoy. Now is HP7 actually my favorite book of all time? I dunno, maybe, maybe not, but for what the series has done with regards to the impact on my reading life, it felt apropos.
As far as the actual book itself, I dunno, it had a small cult following, I think they might've made a movie out of it or something.
Eephus
Footballguy
This was assigned reading in my 10th grade American Lit class. It made zero impression on my adolescent mind.
ETA and +1 on the greens
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Glad I grabbed this one yesterday!
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Can I at least get a hint at the genre?
krista4
Footballguy
I'll give it to you as a Scrabble score.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Ok nobody jumped in on it soooo...
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Forget the plot. People are getting blackmailed and killed and there is underground porn and there are loose threads everywhere. This isn't hard boiled writing, this is the birth of it. If you like detective books, this is the alpha and omega.
Such a lot of guns around town and so few brains.
If I had a razor, I'd cut your throat - just to see what ran out of it.
"I’m a copper,” he said. “Just a plain ordinary copper. Reasonably honest. As honest as you could expect a man to be in a world where it’s out of style."
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Forget the plot. People are getting blackmailed and killed and there is underground porn and there are loose threads everywhere. This isn't hard boiled writing, this is the birth of it. If you like detective books, this is the alpha and omega.
Such a lot of guns around town and so few brains.
If I had a razor, I'd cut your throat - just to see what ran out of it.
"I’m a copper,” he said. “Just a plain ordinary copper. Reasonably honest. As honest as you could expect a man to be in a world where it’s out of style."
Don Quixote
Footballguy
I went into it without knowing the genre (I just trusted Ishiguro based on some others of his that have read), and I would second kupcho that better to go in cold. I feel like even the genre could be a bit of a spoiler.
kupcho1
Footballguy
Ok, one hint: it's not a Western
Seriously though, I'm glad Don Quixote backed me up on this one. Go in cold.
kupcho1
Footballguy
Phase 4: Counting down from 100
Let's make it a light day today.
77. A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin
scoobus: #8
shuke: #12
Total points: 181
Average: 90.5
76. The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) by Patrick Rothfuss
scoobus: #6
TheBaylorKid: #15
Total points: 189
Average: 94.5
A classic from the early 60s sandwiched by the second volumes of two fantasy series.
Let's make it a light day today.
| 77 | A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) | George R.R. Martin | scoobus, shuke |
| 76 | The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) | Patrick Rothfuss | scoobus, TheBaylorKid |
77. A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin
scoobus: #8
shuke: #12
Total points: 181
Average: 90.5
76. The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) by Patrick Rothfuss
scoobus: #6
TheBaylorKid: #15
Total points: 189
Average: 94.5
A classic from the early 60s sandwiched by the second volumes of two fantasy series.
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krista4
Footballguy
Phase 4: Counting down from 100
Let's make it a light day today.
77 A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) George R.R. Martin scoobus, shuke 76 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Ken Kesey kupcho1, guru_007, Long Ball Larry 75 The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) Patrick Rothfuss scoobus, TheBaylorKid
81. A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin
scoobus: #8
shuke: #12
Total points: 181
Average: 90.5
80. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Long Ball Larry: #9
kupcho1: #15
guru_007: #63
Total points: 182
Average: 60.7
78. The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) by Patrick Rothfuss
scoobus: #6
TheBaylorKid: #15
Total points: 189
Average: 94.5
A classic from the early 60s sandwiched by the second volumes of two fantasy series.
krista4
Footballguy
I was torn between this and The Long Goodbye. Figured OH would take this one, so I threw The Long Goodbye on. I was wrong; he chose The Long Goodbye, too! Can't go wrong either way.
Speaking of OH, he was waiting to see if anyone else would write up Crime and Punishment, because he didn't feel like he had anything compelling to say (not that that's stopped him before). If no one has written anything by tomorrow, I'll see if he will do it. He's not going to cover Ficciones since Long Ball Larry already did an excellent post on that one.
kupcho1
Footballguy
It was a good run.
It's been a while since I've said this, but I am missing from a book listed above. I also had One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, at #59.
I guess I'll be doing a writeup of The Pillars of the Earth. Hoped someone else would, it's a long book and I read it years ago.
This historical fiction starts with the King of England's heir drowning. The death results in a period of anarchy
as the family fight over power. The succession is a backdrop to the story. A woman dies during birth leaving behind her
husband Tom, two kids and newborn. Tom later meets a prior and gets work to rebuild a cathedral. The prior doesn't know
that the baby he adopted is actually Tom's. Tom gave up the baby because he was too poor to care for it. The book is over
a 1000 pages and has a whole cast of characters. I don't remember why I read this, the building of a cathedral in 12th
century England sounds boring. But I do remember it put me in a trance from the start and it was smooth sailing throughout.
This historical fiction starts with the King of England's heir drowning. The death results in a period of anarchy
as the family fight over power. The succession is a backdrop to the story. A woman dies during birth leaving behind her
husband Tom, two kids and newborn. Tom later meets a prior and gets work to rebuild a cathedral. The prior doesn't know
that the baby he adopted is actually Tom's. Tom gave up the baby because he was too poor to care for it. The book is over
a 1000 pages and has a whole cast of characters. I don't remember why I read this, the building of a cathedral in 12th
century England sounds boring. But I do remember it put me in a trance from the start and it was smooth sailing throughout.
TheBaylorKid
Footballguy
Hilarious. These two books side by side.Phase 4: Counting down from 100
Let's make it a light day today.
77 A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) George R.R. Martin scoobus, shuke 76 The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) Patrick Rothfuss scoobus, TheBaylorKid
77. A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin
scoobus: #8
shuke: #12
Total points: 181
Average: 90.5
76. The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) by Patrick Rothfuss
scoobus: #6
TheBaylorKid: #15
Total points: 189
Average: 94.5
A classic from the early 60s sandwiched by the second volumes of two fantasy series.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Two great books and series that might never get finished!!Hilarious. These two books side by side.Phase 4: Counting down from 100
Let's make it a light day today.
77 A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) George R.R. Martin scoobus, shuke 76 The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) Patrick Rothfuss scoobus, TheBaylorKid
77. A Clash of Kings (Vol. 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin
scoobus: #8
shuke: #12
Total points: 181
Average: 90.5
76. The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two) by Patrick Rothfuss
scoobus: #6
TheBaylorKid: #15
Total points: 189
Average: 94.5
A classic from the early 60s sandwiched by the second volumes of two fantasy series.
Just give them both to Sanderson and let him knock them out for Rothfuss and Martin.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
A Song of Ice and Fire was rare time where I started and completed a book after seeing the movie/show. I get a bit bored knowing the plot, especially if it is very similar to what I watched. Being fantasy-hesitant, I think it helped a bit hearing the names and getting a feel for the locations. Also it helped knowing that at least to start the fantasy was a bit in the background of the plotting and warring families. Maybe most important it helped that in the show the kids were aged up and I had that in my mind instead of the creepy aged down version in the books.
I got hooked on the first season so much that I had to find out what happened next, and knowing the books were out there I dove in. I remember having #5 in hardcover, so I think I ripped through the books to at least catch up before Season 3, maybe Season 2. By then I was fully one of those annoying book readers in the tv show thread mouthing off. A Clash of Kings was one on my list because it was really the first for me since season 1 was so close to book 1. I loved it and couldn't put the series. I hadn't read that much since the last Harry Potter book came out. I did read and really like the first book of The Kingkiller Chronicle, but I won't bother with 2 knowing that 3 might not come out. That has really made me gun shy about trying other series in the genre. I did read a few books in the Wheel of Time and thought they were good enough, but I could already tell I wasn't getting through 9 more. Only knowing Sanderson's reputation for output and seeing that at least the first part of the series is out did I take a chance on The Stormlight Archive.
I got hooked on the first season so much that I had to find out what happened next, and knowing the books were out there I dove in. I remember having #5 in hardcover, so I think I ripped through the books to at least catch up before Season 3, maybe Season 2. By then I was fully one of those annoying book readers in the tv show thread mouthing off. A Clash of Kings was one on my list because it was really the first for me since season 1 was so close to book 1. I loved it and couldn't put the series. I hadn't read that much since the last Harry Potter book came out. I did read and really like the first book of The Kingkiller Chronicle, but I won't bother with 2 knowing that 3 might not come out. That has really made me gun shy about trying other series in the genre. I did read a few books in the Wheel of Time and thought they were good enough, but I could already tell I wasn't getting through 9 more. Only knowing Sanderson's reputation for output and seeing that at least the first part of the series is out did I take a chance on The Stormlight Archive.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
I'm not much into the fantasy genre. A couple of good friends had to convince me to read these. Game of Thrones absolutely blew my socks off. I had to keep reading the series. I ranked the first three books in my top 70, I'd probably give them all a 10 out of 10 rating. I'm really glad I read these before I switched to an e-readers, since I was constantly flipping to the back to look at the map or the names of characters from each house. Ironically enough, having to haul these large books while traveling is one of the reasons I switched to an e-reader.
Obviously, I'm very disappointed that I this series hasn't been finished yet. But I'm not sure if I'll read any more if they come out. It's been so long, and for whatever reason I didn't get into books 4 and 5 that much.
I'm not much into the fantasy genre. A couple of good friends had to convince me to read these. Game of Thrones absolutely blew my socks off. I had to keep reading the series. I ranked the first three books in my top 70, I'd probably give them all a 10 out of 10 rating. I'm really glad I read these before I switched to an e-readers, since I was constantly flipping to the back to look at the map or the names of characters from each house. Ironically enough, having to haul these large books while traveling is one of the reasons I switched to an e-reader.
Obviously, I'm very disappointed that I this series hasn't been finished yet. But I'm not sure if I'll read any more if they come out. It's been so long, and for whatever reason I didn't get into books 4 and 5 that much.
Psychopav
Help us, Joebi-Wan Brynobi, you're our only ho
Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoevsky
I first read this when I was a senior in high school and it put me on a philosophical path of Christian existentialism from which I have never veered far afield. I picked up the book because my AP English teacher told us that The Brothers K is considered by many to be the greatest novel ever written, but the length was too daunting. Although Crime and Punishment is not my highest (or second third or even fourth highest) rated novel by Dostoevsky, it did easily make my list of top 70 and whenever I have returned to it, it has never failed to disappoint. At its most obvious level this work is an answer to Nietzsche's (in)famous theory of the Ubermensch, Dostoevsky masterfully dissects, vivisects, and crushes the concept underfoot in a riveting and ultimately uplifting story of, well, crime and punishment. But like all of his works, there are layers here beneath the surface that richly reward the reader.
This is probably Dostoevsky's most read and most accessible work, and is a great way to get acquainted with this master author. Highly recommend for first timers.
Per Gemini:
Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished and intellectually arrogant former student in St. Petersburg, believes himself to be an extraordinary man above conventional morality. He murders an elderly pawnbroker and her sister, Lizaveta, to test his theory and alleviate his poverty. [Pav: no spoilers...let's just say hilarity ensues*]
Crime and Punishment remains a profoundly significant and perennially popular work due to its masterful exploration of complex psychological states, its grappling with timeless moral and philosophical questions about guilt, redemption, and the nature of good and evil, and its vivid portrayal of the human condition amidst social and intellectual upheaval.
*I jest. There's no hilarity in this novel. Well, beyond Dostoevsky's characteristic wit, which is often overlooked given the often tragic and sobering depths he plumbs.
I first read this when I was a senior in high school and it put me on a philosophical path of Christian existentialism from which I have never veered far afield. I picked up the book because my AP English teacher told us that The Brothers K is considered by many to be the greatest novel ever written, but the length was too daunting. Although Crime and Punishment is not my highest (or second third or even fourth highest) rated novel by Dostoevsky, it did easily make my list of top 70 and whenever I have returned to it, it has never failed to disappoint. At its most obvious level this work is an answer to Nietzsche's (in)famous theory of the Ubermensch, Dostoevsky masterfully dissects, vivisects, and crushes the concept underfoot in a riveting and ultimately uplifting story of, well, crime and punishment. But like all of his works, there are layers here beneath the surface that richly reward the reader.
This is probably Dostoevsky's most read and most accessible work, and is a great way to get acquainted with this master author. Highly recommend for first timers.
Per Gemini:
Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished and intellectually arrogant former student in St. Petersburg, believes himself to be an extraordinary man above conventional morality. He murders an elderly pawnbroker and her sister, Lizaveta, to test his theory and alleviate his poverty. [Pav: no spoilers...let's just say hilarity ensues*]
Crime and Punishment remains a profoundly significant and perennially popular work due to its masterful exploration of complex psychological states, its grappling with timeless moral and philosophical questions about guilt, redemption, and the nature of good and evil, and its vivid portrayal of the human condition amidst social and intellectual upheaval.
*I jest. There's no hilarity in this novel. Well, beyond Dostoevsky's characteristic wit, which is often overlooked given the often tragic and sobering depths he plumbs.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
In hindsight, I think this one is my favorite volume of the series. I know book one gets a lot of love, and book three would win in a vote. Both are really good. But A Clash Of Kings is where Martin really put the pedal to the metal.
I thought volumes 4 and 5 had his most evocative writing, but they are completely different in tone than the first three.
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