Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (5 Viewers)

[Finless]

The Zombie Survival Guide

I had no idea these things actually existed. This is a book everyone really needs to read.

 

[Drifter]

I've been plugging through Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. The first four books were fantastic and I had a hard time putting them down. The fifth book, Midnight Tides is a different story. I find the writing to be pretentious and self-indulgent, unlike any of the preceding installments. I'm having a hard time getting through it.

 

[coldchill]

Currently reading Blood of Angels by Michael Marshall...the follow up and conclusion to The Straw Men and The Upright Man.

I really enjoyed the above trilogy so now I'm reading Marshall's latest The Intruders pretty good so far.Dean Koontz The Darkest Evening of the Year is on deck

 

[Fiddles]

Am normally a classics/bestsellers/'whatever is recommended that is well-written' kind of gal. But recently a book was given to me as an "interesting read". Interesting is an understatement - I think this book will be for some, and certainly not for others.

Reading Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind.

The blurb on the jacket:

Just before the turn of the Millenium, nearly 100 churches have been torched and desecrated by adherants of Black Metal, the most extreme form of underground music on the planet.

In an escalating unholy war, Black Metal bands and their obsessive fans have left a grim legacy of suicide, murder, and terrorism spreading from Norway to Germany, Russia, America and beyond...

Written by two journalists with unique access to the hellish demimonde, Lords of Chaos features hundreds of rare photos and exclusive interrogations with priests, police officers, Satanists, and leaders of demonic bands who believe the greater evil spawns the greatest glory.

(Really fascinating read, and for those FFAers who care, I am not a Satanist nor am I into extreme/death metal - HTH)

added to amazon wish listthanks!

 

[denveredge]

Finished The Ice Limit by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Next: The second two books of the His Dark Materials trilogy.

The ice limit is what got me started on their books, loved it. I have read everything by them. The newest one was not great.My favorite was Thunderhead.

 

[Fiddles]

Finished Foundation and am now on the second book in the series, Foundation and Empire. Have been going through some of the classics of sci-fi and this series definitely should be considered a classic. Excellent series as they've been tough to put down.

Love this series. The Mule is just an unforgettable character.

 

[Fiddles]

I've been plugging through Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. The first four books were fantastic and I had a hard time putting them down. The fifth book, Midnight Tides is a different story. I find the writing to be pretentious and self-indulgent, unlike any of the preceding installments. I'm having a hard time getting through it.

I hard time getting into Midnight Tides but it wound up being one of the best of the series if not the best. Trull is a major player from there on out in the series.

 

[Drifter]

I've been plugging through Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. The first four books were fantastic and I had a hard time putting them down. The fifth book, Midnight Tides is a different story. I find the writing to be pretentious and self-indulgent, unlike any of the preceding installments. I'm having a hard time getting through it.

I hard time getting into Midnight Tides but it wound up being one of the best of the series if not the best. Trull is a major player from there on out in the series.

I can appreciate that Midnight Tides is Trull telling his story in the cave of the throne at the end of House of Chains and that the story is important. I just find the writing in this one to be incredibly self-indulgent. Like this is where Erikson realized he was becoming big time and thought he could get away with dimestore philosophy and cheesy comedy that he thought was clever.

 

[igbomb]

Finished The Ice Limit by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Next: The second two books of the His Dark Materials trilogy.

The ice limit is what got me started on their books, loved it. I have read everything by them. The newest one was not great.My favorite was Thunderhead.

I've read six of their books now and loved every one of them. Pendergast is my favorite recurring character in fiction.

 

[Fiddles]

I've been plugging through Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. The first four books were fantastic and I had a hard time putting them down. The fifth book, Midnight Tides is a different story. I find the writing to be pretentious and self-indulgent, unlike any of the preceding installments. I'm having a hard time getting through it.

I hard time getting into Midnight Tides but it wound up being one of the best of the series if not the best. Trull is a major player from there on out in the series.

I can appreciate that Midnight Tides is Trull telling his story in the cave of the throne at the end of House of Chains and that the story is important. I just find the writing in this one to be incredibly self-indulgent. Like this is where Erikson realized he was becoming big time and thought he could get away with dimestore philosophy and cheesy comedy that he thought was clever.

Which characters offer the cheesey comedy? The books blend together for me.

 

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

The Zombie Survival Guide

I had no idea these things actually existed. This is a book everyone really needs to read.

If you liked this then pick up World War Z. It is a quick read and very entertaining. It is similar to the survival guide but with a good story to go along with it. After reading it I honestly think that if Zombies did start appearing it is actually pretty close to how I think it would go.

 

[Drifter]

I've been plugging through Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. The first four books were fantastic and I had a hard time putting them down. The fifth book, Midnight Tides is a different story. I find the writing to be pretentious and self-indulgent, unlike any of the preceding installments. I'm having a hard time getting through it.

I hard time getting into Midnight Tides but it wound up being one of the best of the series if not the best. Trull is a major player from there on out in the series.

I can appreciate that Midnight Tides is Trull telling his story in the cave of the throne at the end of House of Chains and that the story is important. I just find the writing in this one to be incredibly self-indulgent. Like this is where Erikson realized he was becoming big time and thought he could get away with dimestore philosophy and cheesy comedy that he thought was clever.

Which characters offer the cheesey comedy? The books blend together for me.

Tehol Beddict and his whole crew - Bugg, the dead thief, the rat catcher's guild...

 

[denveredge]

Finished The Ice Limit by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Next: The second two books of the His Dark Materials trilogy.

The ice limit is what got me started on their books, loved it. I have read everything by them. The newest one was not great.My favorite was Thunderhead.

I've read six of their books now and loved every one of them. Pendergast is my favorite recurring character in fiction.

Mine as well, but the last book I read with him was The Wheel of Darkness and was just ok.

 

[igbomb]

Finished the His Dark Materials trilogy last night. I have pretty mixed feelings on it. At times, I couldn't put it down because it was so completely enthralling. And other times I had a hard time not skipping ahead.

But there's no doubt that the story is incredibly original, and extremely well thought out.

 

[piratemike]

Reading Nausea by Sartre and As I Lay Dying by Faulkner

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

Finished Foundation and am now on the second book in the series, Foundation and Empire. Have been going through some of the classics of sci-fi and this series definitely should be considered a classic. Excellent series as they've been tough to put down.

Love this series. The Mule is just an unforgettable character.

Definitely a unique character, although I predicted pretty early on that the clown was actually the mule. Despite that being pretty predictable he is a fascinating character and the storyline just keeps getting better and better. I'm now midway into Second Foundation just past the interaction between the Mule and the Second Foundation. Great stuff thus far.

 

[aardball44]

Just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

Just finished The Android's Dream, a fun sci-fi novel that uses Philip K's book title as a springboard for futuristic hijinx.The Android's Dream of the title is (of course) a rare breed of genetically-modified electric-blue sheep.

 

[Slingblade]

The Zombie Survival Guide

I had no idea these things actually existed. This is a book everyone really needs to read.

Great book. "World War Z" rocks too.

 

[mr. furley]

"The Second World War" by John Keegan

 

[Maelstrom]

Finished the His Dark Materials trilogy last night. I have pretty mixed feelings on it. At times, I couldn't put it down because it was so completely enthralling. And other times I had a hard time not skipping ahead. But there's no doubt that the story is incredibly original, and extremely well thought out.

I'm about halfway through this series. I'm liking it so far, but I do know what you mean about mixed feelings - some parts are great, and others, meh.

 

[prosopis]

An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears.

i'm about halfway through this, and highly recommend it. I think the FFA readers would really like it. It's a murder mystery set in England (Oxford, mostly) in the 1660s. The tale is told from 4 viewpoints, in their distinct voices. But who is telling the truth?

This is historical fiction at its finest.

I'll make it a third for this book. Honestly one of the most enjoyable reads I have had that I can remember, that's saying a lot. I am pretty amazed at the character development in this - it's really unlike anything I've read before. It's an interesting situation when you read a narrator's words and you are reading into them, as if you were listening to a friend. Highly recommended.

Ordering this from the library.I hope this thread is NEVER EVER EVER gets purged. I love this thread. I come here for book rec all the time.

I also want to say that the library may be the greatest institution in America foolowed closely by the National parks.

 

[JMJ]

Hey guys,

Just got a new Ipod and I want to download an audio book for the train rides to and from work. I have never read a book outside of school in my life.

What are some really interesting new books, or some classics you would recommend? It could be horror, suspense, current events, etc., whatever.

I'm more interested in it being really entertaining/informative more so then I am the genre of the book. I'm a guy who loves sports and spends countless hours on internet message boards just like all of you so chances are what you like .... I'll like.

TIA.

 

[Jiggyonthehut]

 

[Chaka]

Just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

I am now reading A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore for the second time this year. Moore is phenomenal, he is the most entertaining author I have read in a long time.

Just finished this. Laughed out loud so many times. Prompted me to buy Lamb. First I'm going to read Vive La Revolution: A Stand Up History of the French Revolution, by Mark Steel. Steel is a socialist, a Brit, and a stand up comedian who explains the Revolution in a surprisingly accurate and thorough way. But he keeps it personal and approachable, sometimes pretty funny.

Lamb is pretty darn hysterical too. I am currently reading, and enjoying, Moore's first novel Practical Demonkeeping. No doubt I will read his entire collection before long.But I don't want to sell Moore as some kind of one trick pony comedy writer, in A Dirty Job he touches upon some interesting ideas as to the nature of the soul, and if you can get over the notion of Joshua bar Joseph's best friend being an oversexed, foul mouthed, rabble rouser he does an excellent job of presenting Christ as a complex individual coming to terms with his overwhelming destiny.

 

[Chaka]

Just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

Just finished The Android's Dream, a fun sci-fi novel that uses Philip K's book title as a springboard for futuristic hijinx.The Android's Dream of the title is (of course) a rare breed of genetically-modified electric-blue sheep.

Okay you got the hook in but is the book itself worth reading?

 

[Jutz]

Hey guys,Just got a new Ipod and I want to download an audio book for the train rides to and from work. I have never read a book outside of school in my life.What are some really interesting new books, or some classics you would recommend? It could be horror, suspense, current events, etc., whatever.I'm more interested in it being really entertaining/informative more so then I am the genre of the book. I'm a guy who loves sports and spends countless hours on internet message boards just like all of you so chances are what you like .... I'll like.TIA.

I would recommend The Average American Male by Chad Kultgan... it is pretty hilarous...

 

[Habeeby]

Hey guys,Just got a new Ipod and I want to download an audio book for the train rides to and from work. I have never read a book outside of school in my life.What are some really interesting new books, or some classics you would recommend? It could be horror, suspense, current events, etc., whatever.I'm more interested in it being really entertaining/informative more so then I am the genre of the book. I'm a guy who loves sports and spends countless hours on internet message boards just like all of you so chances are what you like .... I'll like.TIA.

I would recommend The Average American Male by Chad Kultgan... it is pretty hilarous...

definately a funny book......not sure how the audio one would be though?

 

[bialczabub]

For any electrical/computer engineers or people who work with them, I just read The Soul of a New Machine, and I must say it was fantastic. It's nonfiction about how a few industry veterans at a minicomputer company try to outdo DEC by hiring a bunch of guys straight out of college, and the challenges encountered, the work atmosphere, and the motivations of all the employees.

 

[Finless]

The Zombie Survival Guide

I had no idea these things actually existed. This is a book everyone really needs to read.

If you liked this then pick up World War Z. It is a quick read and very entertaining. It is similar to the survival guide but with a good story to go along with it. After reading it I honestly think that if Zombies did start appearing it is actually pretty close to how I think it would go.

IF

 

[prosopis]

Hey guys,Just got a new Ipod and I want to download an audio book for the train rides to and from work. I have never read a book outside of school in my life.What are some really interesting new books, or some classics you would recommend? It could be horror, suspense, current events, etc., whatever.I'm more interested in it being really entertaining/informative more so then I am the genre of the book. I'm a guy who loves sports and spends countless hours on internet message boards just like all of you so chances are what you like .... I'll like.TIA.

I have read the dark tower series in the past.I am now finishing up book 7 of dark tower audio. Even if you have read the series it is good stuff to listen to. It has taken me about 2 months to get through the whole series. I have aprox 1-2 hr drive each day. I couldnrt reccomend this enough. Seems like I am able to connect more of the dots when listening to it.Dark Tower by Stephen King- 7 book series and you have to start with the first one.On a side note. As I was listening to it the reader was awesome. I got to book 4 and it was a different reader which bothered me. I am now used to the new reader.At the end of book 4 S King explains that the reader from 1-3 was in a bad motorcycle accident and was unable to continue. S King donated all profits from the audio books to this guys foundation.

 

[JMJ]

Alright, thus far I've got two suggestions:

The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King

and

The Average American Male, by Chad Kultgan

I guess what I'm looking for is your suggestion on if you have never read a great book before, but know what you know about the books you have read, what are the absolute classics you wish you could go back and read for the first time?

Like if someone said to me, "I've never seen a movie before." I would say, "Really? You have to see ...."

Jaws

Rocky

The Star Wars trilogy

The Godfather

Goodfellas

Forrest Gump

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Silence of the Lambs

The 6th Sense

The Wizard of Oz

Etc.

Got anything like that? And of course, thanks in advance.

 

[DanFouts]

Curveball by Drogin

http://www.amazon.com/Curveball-Spies-Lies...5184&sr=8-1

This was one of the best non-fiction books I read in the last 5 years. Nice pace, reads like a spy novel, but gives fascinating insight into intelligence gathering, the CIA, and policy. Wow!

Next up.....Charlie Wilson's War.....

 

[NoCheese]

Jesus freak here:

Reading George MacDonald's "Unspoken Sermons" from the late 1800's. Pretty deep, but good so far.

 

[E-Z Glider]

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Best book Ive read in years and probably a top 5 all time for me. True story about a 12yo boy swept up into Sierra Leone's civil war and forced to be a soldier. First half the book describes how an average 12yo boy can become a savage murderer, high on drugs with no regard for human life. Second half of the book describes how you take this now 16yo boy and put him back in society. Amazing story. I finished it in two sittings. Of course, non-fiction survival stories are my thing.

 

[shuke]

Alright, thus far I've got two suggestions:

The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King

and

The Average American Male, by Chad Kultgan

I guess what I'm looking for is your suggestion on if you have never read a great book before, but know what you know about the books you have read, what are the absolute classics you wish you could go back and read for the first time?

Like if someone said to me, "I've never seen a movie before." I would say, "Really? You have to see ...."

Jaws

Rocky

The Star Wars trilogy

The Godfather

Goodfellas

Forrest Gump

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Silence of the Lambs

The 6th Sense

The Wizard of Oz

Etc.

Got anything like that? And of course, thanks in advance.

If you are looking for must reads, try here.

 

[Fiddles]

I've been plugging through Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. The first four books were fantastic and I had a hard time putting them down. The fifth book, Midnight Tides is a different story. I find the writing to be pretentious and self-indulgent, unlike any of the preceding installments. I'm having a hard time getting through it.

I hard time getting into Midnight Tides but it wound up being one of the best of the series if not the best. Trull is a major player from there on out in the series.

I can appreciate that Midnight Tides is Trull telling his story in the cave of the throne at the end of House of Chains and that the story is important. I just find the writing in this one to be incredibly self-indulgent. Like this is where Erikson realized he was becoming big time and thought he could get away with dimestore philosophy and cheesy comedy that he thought was clever.

Which characters offer the cheesey comedy? The books blend together for me.

Tehol Beddict and his whole crew - Bugg, the dead thief, the rat catcher's guild...

to each his own. they are some of my favorite characters in his books

 

[Fiddles]

I just finished The Skystone by Jack Whyte. Historical fiction as a prequel to the Arthurian legend. This first book in the series deals with the Roman occupation of Britain. Was decent.

Just started MT Anderson's The Astonishing Life Of Octavian Nothing. Only about 60 pages in but I love it so far. Pretty twisted retelling of a young slaves life in Boston during the Revolution.

 

[Drifter]

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Best book Ive read in years and probably a top 5 all time for me. True story about a 12yo boy swept up into Sierra Leone's civil war and forced to be a soldier. First half the book describes how an average 12yo boy can become a savage murderer, high on drugs with no regard for human life. Second half of the book describes how you take this now 16yo boy and put him back in society. Amazing story. I finished it in two sittings. Of course, non-fiction survival stories are my thing.

I thought this was good for what was being told, but the writing left a lot to be desired. I think he could have benefited from a ghost writer.

 

[Drifter]

I've been plugging through Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. The first four books were fantastic and I had a hard time putting them down. The fifth book, Midnight Tides is a different story. I find the writing to be pretentious and self-indulgent, unlike any of the preceding installments. I'm having a hard time getting through it.

I hard time getting into Midnight Tides but it wound up being one of the best of the series if not the best. Trull is a major player from there on out in the series.

I can appreciate that Midnight Tides is Trull telling his story in the cave of the throne at the end of House of Chains and that the story is important. I just find the writing in this one to be incredibly self-indulgent. Like this is where Erikson realized he was becoming big time and thought he could get away with dimestore philosophy and cheesy comedy that he thought was clever.

Which characters offer the cheesey comedy? The books blend together for me.

Tehol Beddict and his whole crew - Bugg, the dead thief, the rat catcher's guild...

to each his own. they are some of my favorite characters in his books

I like the manipulation and the characters themselves, I just don't particularly like the interaction between them. It's like the guy who is always trying too be hard to be funny. It just doesn't match up with his dialogue in the rest of his books.

 

[shuke]

Just started MT Anderson's The Astonishing Life Of Octavian Nothing. Only about 60 pages in but I love it so far. Pretty twisted retelling of a young slaves life in Boston during the Revolution.

Looks interesting. How is the writing style?

 

[E-Z Glider]

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Best book Ive read in years and probably a top 5 all time for me. True story about a 12yo boy swept up into Sierra Leone's civil war and forced to be a soldier. First half the book describes how an average 12yo boy can become a savage murderer, high on drugs with no regard for human life. Second half of the book describes how you take this now 16yo boy and put him back in society. Amazing story. I finished it in two sittings. Of course, non-fiction survival stories are my thing.

I thought this was good for what was being told, but the writing left a lot to be desired. I think he could have benefited from a ghost writer.

Perhaps, but it may have also made it less believable. I dont like my non-fiction to read like a polished novel.

 

[The_Hunchback]

Audio books count?

 

[roadkill1292]

Just finished In At The Death, Harry Turtledove's finale to the "Settling Accounts" series. I've been hooked on the story line because it sparks the imagination in a fun and fanciful way but, as usual, poor Harry once again failed to reach a conclusion of any kind. It's like he can't figure out how to end a novel.

 

[loser]

Just finished:

London by Edward Rutherfurd

I like the style and he writes well, but by the end of his massive books I can't wait to finish them so I can read something else. After reading three of his books I think I'm done with him. I'll probably check out some Michener in a year or two but unless Rutherfurd starts writing books that take place outside the UK I don't think I'll pick another one up.

Of course, I think I said the exact same thing after finishing Russka.

Next up:

Financial Accounting final and then some Douglas Preston / Lincoln Child or Stephen King

I'm thinking about tackling those Rutherford books.

I really like them, but can't handle more than one every year or two. My ranking of the three I've read, best to worst: Sarum, Russka, London.

Just finished Princes of Ireland. The historical detail is pretty interesting but dude is one uninspired storyteller. Booooring.

 

[Socrates11]

I just finished The Skystone by Jack Whyte. Historical fiction as a prequel to the Arthurian legend. This first book in the series deals with the Roman occupation of Britain. Was decent.

Read all the Camulod books by Whyte. I found them very entertaining. He made the Arthur legend seem very plausible and real without all the magic and nonsense.Also read his first Templar Knights book, Knights of the Black and White and thought it was excellent. Looking forward to reading the next one.

 

[aardball44]

Just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

Just finished The Android's Dream, a fun sci-fi novel that uses Philip K's book title as a springboard for futuristic hijinx.The Android's Dream of the title is (of course) a rare breed of genetically-modified electric-blue sheep.

Okay you got the hook in but is the book itself worth reading?

It is. The author (John Scalzi) balances action with exposition well, and there are enough quirky moments in it to make it a fun and engaging read.Tell you what: PM me your address and I'll toss my paperback copy into an envelope for you. I've got a pile of stuff to mail already this week; this will just be one more.

 

[DanFouts]

Just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

Just finished The Android's Dream, a fun sci-fi novel that uses Philip K's book title as a springboard for futuristic hijinx.The Android's Dream of the title is (of course) a rare breed of genetically-modified electric-blue sheep.

Okay you got the hook in but is the book itself worth reading?

It is. The author (John Scalzi) balances action with exposition well, and there are enough quirky moments in it to make it a fun and engaging read.Tell you what: PM me your address and I'll toss my paperback copy into an envelope for you. I've got a pile of stuff to mail already this week; this will just be one more.

It's a very enjoyable read....

 

[Fiddles]

Audio books count?

definately

 

[Fiddles]

Just started MT Anderson's The Astonishing Life Of Octavian Nothing. Only about 60 pages in but I love it so far. Pretty twisted retelling of a young slaves life in Boston during the Revolution.

Looks interesting. How is the writing style?

The style is the high point. It uses the old english of that period. Here's a bit from an amazon review:

Anderson tells this story with a remarkably sure hand, using spot-on eighteenth century diction and grammar as much as he could without losing his intended audience, young adults. The majority of the story is told through the backward-looking eyes of Octavian himself, but Anderson also employs newspaper clippings and a variety of letters to further authenticate the tale and ground it.

 

[Chaka]

Just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

Just finished The Android's Dream, a fun sci-fi novel that uses Philip K's book title as a springboard for futuristic hijinx.The Android's Dream of the title is (of course) a rare breed of genetically-modified electric-blue sheep.

Okay you got the hook in but is the book itself worth reading?

It is. The author (John Scalzi) balances action with exposition well, and there are enough quirky moments in it to make it a fun and engaging read.Tell you what: PM me your address and I'll toss my paperback copy into an envelope for you. I've got a pile of stuff to mail already this week; this will just be one more.

PM Sent.Thanks.

I promise to pay it forward.