kupcho1
Footballguy
If you haven't read any of his work, I would not recommend starting with GR. Pick up The Crying of Lot 49. Much easier introduction.
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Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter shuke
- Start date
roadkill1292
Footballguy
Seconded.Novels to do not get any better than that masterpiece.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Just started The Shadow at the Bottom of the World by Thomas Ligotti.
This is a small collection of short stories pulled from his other other collections which aren't as accessible.
From Amazon:
This is a small collection of short stories pulled from his other other collections which aren't as accessible.
From Amazon:
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
ThirdedSeconded.Novels to do not get any better than that masterpiece.
He also wrote one sequel ("Streets Of Laredo") & two prequels ("Dead Man's Walk" & "Commacnhe Moon"), taking Gus & Call from young men through middle age to old age. None of the three are as good as "Lonesome Dove" but all are well worth reading.
pantagrapher
Footballguy
Apes with Guns
Footballguy
Finished Polaris by Jack McDevitt...this one was sort of a mystery, which I don't usually get into, but it was a great read. Hard to put down, and he's quickly becoming my favorite sci-fi author.
aardball44
Footballguy
Re-reading Alan Moore's V For Vendetta.
facook
Footballguy
Just finished The Book Of Lost Things by John Connolly. Pretty big departure for him...he's usually in the crime-thriller genre, but this was a fantasy story. It's pretty smart in places - there's a very unique twist on many children's tales within the story. I definitely enjoyed it, but hardcore fantasy fans will probably find it lacking, and Connolly's fans will definitely have to be open-minded.
I've got Hannibal Rising on hold at the library (yes, I am cheap). While waiting for that to arrive, I'll be starting Charlie Huston's Caught Stealing.
I've got Hannibal Rising on hold at the library (yes, I am cheap). While waiting for that to arrive, I'll be starting Charlie Huston's Caught Stealing.
igbomb
Footballguy
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Very good. It tells the story of both the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, and the story of H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer, who was murdering young women at the same time as the fair was going on. A little dry at times, but generally moves really well. The story of how the fair came together is actually more interesting and compelling than the serial killer story.
Very good. It tells the story of both the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, and the story of H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer, who was murdering young women at the same time as the fair was going on. A little dry at times, but generally moves really well. The story of how the fair came together is actually more interesting and compelling than the serial killer story.
igbomb
Footballguy
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Great book! I've been working at this one for a while, but it was definitely worth it. As most of you probably know, the book is the story of two magicians in England in the early 1800s. In the story, magic is a major part of English history, yet no practical magicians have been around in hundreds of years. Then, Mr. Norrell enters the spotlight when he performs a couple of spells, followed shortly by Jonathan Strange, who becomes his pupil. This book cleaned up with awards, all of them deserved in my opinion. Having said that, this one actually can be tough to recommend. There are several things about it that are immediately off-putting to a lot of people; it's long (nearly 800 pages), it's fantasy/historical fiction, it takes a little while to really get moving, and the language is different than we're used to reading. But these aside, this book is the most unique and compelling novel I've read in a long time. Highly recommended.
Also, I heard some of this on CD. If you're a fan of audiobooks, though long (26 disks), this has by far the best narration I've ever heard.
Great book! I've been working at this one for a while, but it was definitely worth it. As most of you probably know, the book is the story of two magicians in England in the early 1800s. In the story, magic is a major part of English history, yet no practical magicians have been around in hundreds of years. Then, Mr. Norrell enters the spotlight when he performs a couple of spells, followed shortly by Jonathan Strange, who becomes his pupil. This book cleaned up with awards, all of them deserved in my opinion. Having said that, this one actually can be tough to recommend. There are several things about it that are immediately off-putting to a lot of people; it's long (nearly 800 pages), it's fantasy/historical fiction, it takes a little while to really get moving, and the language is different than we're used to reading. But these aside, this book is the most unique and compelling novel I've read in a long time. Highly recommended.
Also, I heard some of this on CD. If you're a fan of audiobooks, though long (26 disks), this has by far the best narration I've ever heard.
igbomb
Footballguy
The Osterman Weekend by Robert Ludlum
This is the third Ludlum novel I have read. It's better than The Scarlatti Inheritance (his first novel), and nowhere near as good as The Parsifal Mosaic (his thirteenth). Not much to recommend here. Light reading that doesn't have a very solid, or believable, plot.
This is the third Ludlum novel I have read. It's better than The Scarlatti Inheritance (his first novel), and nowhere near as good as The Parsifal Mosaic (his thirteenth). Not much to recommend here. Light reading that doesn't have a very solid, or believable, plot.
Sundays Rule
Footballguy
The King Of elflands Daughter....wut a fantastic fantasy book.
Preds
Footballguy
The Dark Tower series really grows on you with each succeeding book. Despite a SLOW start with The Gunslinger, books 2-7 really pick up steam. It's a great series, with an atypical "ending".Enjoy the ride, I wish I had something as good to read at the moment, I love long series'.
Crimson Hawk
Axis of Evel
I read these in reverse order.ThirdedSeconded.Novels to do not get any better than that masterpiece.
Joe Mammy
Footballguy
I read all of Ludlum's work in the 80s and 90s. My personal favs are the Bourne Identity (nothing like the movies) and The Matarese Circle. The Bourne sequels are good too, but to this day I can still pick up Bourne Identity and open it to any page and be entertained for hours...if you liked Parsifal Mosaic you'll love BI.
I started reading "Turning Angel" by Greg Illes on the plane home at Thanksgiving and it's very good. Illes writes legalistic type thrillers, sort of like Grisham, but I think Illes is a better writer.
Turning Angel is all about the murder and rape of the hottest girl in a small town in Mississippi and the ramifications etc that occur as a result of this act.
Good book if you like those sorts of stories. It ain't Pynchon, but it's better than a lot of schlock out there.
Turning Angel is all about the murder and rape of the hottest girl in a small town in Mississippi and the ramifications etc that occur as a result of this act.
Good book if you like those sorts of stories. It ain't Pynchon, but it's better than a lot of schlock out there.
coldchill
Footballguy
What did you think? I'm about 60 pages into it and not really enjoying it.
Exfireman_62
Footballguy
I just finished 'Eragon' by CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI and now I'm almost finished with his second book, 'Eldest'. Pretty good, but this was my first time reading fantasy. I usually stick with Horror or Action books so this was a change of pace. I think I'll even read some more books from the fantasy genre.
Foosball God
Foos
I just finished The Time Machine and War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
facook
Footballguy
I'm about 75 pages into HR after two days' reading...it's not BAD, it's just not breathtaking. Harris definitely continues the theme of painting Lecter in a sympathetic/likable light, and so far the "backstory" makes some sense. That being said, I'm a bit disappointed. MY level of anticipation was not warranted. I think my biggest beef is the publishing: it's like when you have a twenty-page paper due, and you have only 10 pages worth of material...bigger font, bigger margins, bigger spacing, less content. Did Harris mail it in? Too early to tell. Did he hit it out of the park? I'll be shocked if I say yes by the final page.
ChampBailey24
Footballguy
I'm currently reading Friday Night Lights. I had seen the movie but hadn't read the book.
igbomb
Footballguy
Reliquary by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
After finishing my second Preston and Child book, I think it's safe to say that I'll probably read everything they've written. I really enjoyed this one and the character of Pendergast is really growing on me. I think he and D'Agosta offset each other really well. Looking forward to Cabinet of Curiosities.
If you're into thrillers, you need to check these guys out. But start with Relic before moving onto this one. In fact, don't even read the reviews of this book until you've finished Relic.
After finishing my second Preston and Child book, I think it's safe to say that I'll probably read everything they've written. I really enjoyed this one and the character of Pendergast is really growing on me. I think he and D'Agosta offset each other really well. Looking forward to Cabinet of Curiosities.
If you're into thrillers, you need to check these guys out. But start with Relic before moving onto this one. In fact, don't even read the reviews of this book until you've finished Relic.
Pooch
More Yang than Yin
After hearing references to "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand all my life I finally picked up a used copy awhile back. I finished it the other day and still don't realize what all the fuss was about. The characters in that book are so over the top it's ridiculous. I realize Ms. Rand was a big proponent of Capitalism and that's fine, so am I, but her stereotypes of socialistic liberals in the novel are just WAY too extreme and distracted from the message in my opinion. Maybe it's because the novel was written so long ago (the 50's). At 1084 pages it was a real chore getting through it. Maybe "The Fountainhead" is better. Haven't read it yet.
Now reading "Survivor" by Chuck Palahniuk, the same author that wrote "Fight Club" which I also recently read and enjoyed. "Survivor" is about a guy that hijacks an empty plane, allows the pilot to parachute out, and starts reciting his memoirs to the flight recorder while the plane cruises on autopilot at 40,000 feet. The pilot informed him he had about 6 or 7 hours of time left before the plane will run out of gas and crash into the Australian outback. He expects the flight recorder (black box) to survive the crash and his story to be heard by the public afterwards. This should be good. Palahniuk is a great storyteller.
Now reading "Survivor" by Chuck Palahniuk, the same author that wrote "Fight Club" which I also recently read and enjoyed. "Survivor" is about a guy that hijacks an empty plane, allows the pilot to parachute out, and starts reciting his memoirs to the flight recorder while the plane cruises on autopilot at 40,000 feet. The pilot informed him he had about 6 or 7 hours of time left before the plane will run out of gas and crash into the Australian outback. He expects the flight recorder (black box) to survive the crash and his story to be heard by the public afterwards. This should be good. Palahniuk is a great storyteller.
facook
Footballguy
Well, I finished it this morning. And my initial opinion did not change...VERY
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Well that sucks. Just so I get an idean on persepctive here, what did you think of Red Dragon, Hannibal, and Silence?Well, I finished it this morning. And my initial opinion did not change...VERY
Wyldfox
Footballguy
I couldn't get into it.Third on the reserve list for 'Hannibal Rising' at the library. Now I just started reading 'Good Girl Gone Bad' by Karin Tabke. I had to read it after reading a little excerpt in Cosmo magazine.
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facook
Footballguy
I read them in the order of Silence, then Dragon, then Hannibal. If I was giving star ratings I'd probably say:Silence: 3.5 stars (out of 4)Dragon: 3.5 starsHannibal: 2.5 starsHannibal Rising: 1.5 starsI was a BIT disappointed when I read Hannibal, but I think my excitement overrode my disappointment. With HR, that just didn't happen. In fact, the day I finished HR, my wife asked, "How's your book?" Says I, "Ehh..." Her: "What?! You we so excited!" Me: "Yeah, I was."shuke said:Well that sucks. Just so I get an idean on persepctive here, what did you think of Red Dragon, Hannibal, and Silence?Well, I finished it this morning. And my initial opinion did not change...VERY
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Worse than Hannibal? Wow.I read them in the order of Silence, then Dragon, then Hannibal. If I was giving star ratings I'd probably say:Silence: 3.5 stars (out of 4)Dragon: 3.5 starsHannibal: 2.5 starsHannibal Rising: 1.5 starsI was a BIT disappointed when I read Hannibal, but I think my excitement overrode my disappointment. With HR, that just didn't happen. In fact, the day I finished HR, my wife asked, "How's your book?" Says I, "Ehh..." Her: "What?! You we so excited!" Me: "Yeah, I was."shuke said:Well that sucks. Just so I get an idean on persepctive here, what did you think of Red Dragon, Hannibal, and Silence?Well, I finished it this morning. And my initial opinion did not change...VERY
igbomb
Footballguy
Night Over Water by Ken Follett
Pretty good. One of his better ones.
BTW, World Without End, the sequel to his biggest hit, Pillars of the Earth, is scheduled for release on 10/09/07.
Pretty good. One of his better ones.
BTW, World Without End, the sequel to his biggest hit, Pillars of the Earth, is scheduled for release on 10/09/07.
Jethro Q. Walrustitty
Footballguy
Seriously, don't waste your time. If the horrible "philosophy" doesn't bore you to tears, the equally horrible storytelling will.I'm not usually this way, but Ayn Rand has found her way into philosophy texts for one reason and one reason only.....Gary Cooper as Howard Roark was very romantic and unimpeachable.
Jethro Q. Walrustitty
Footballguy
Gary Cooper as Howard Roark was very romantic and unimpeachable.Seriously, don't waste your time. If the horrible "philosophy" doesn't bore you to tears, the equally horrible storytelling will.I'm not usually this way, but Ayn Rand has found her way into philosophy texts for one reason and one reason only.....
I'll take your word for it.
mon
(T)ool
I'd say since Steinbeck, but we agree he's the best now.
SofaKings
Footballguy
Just finished reading Into the Wild Blue by Stephen Ambrose and Rising Tide by Jeff Shaara. They were both ok, nothing great. Ambrose book covered Sen/Ambassador George McGovern while he flew B-24's for the Fifth Air Force in Itally in WWII. Some of McGovern's takes were decent.
The Shaara book is a repeat of his Civil War series but follows the main cast of US characters during the opening of WWII in North Africa. Not sure if I can recommend this.
Next up, The French and Indian War by Walter Borneman and the Iron Brigade: Michigan's Brigade in the Civil War.
The Shaara book is a repeat of his Civil War series but follows the main cast of US characters during the opening of WWII in North Africa. Not sure if I can recommend this.
Next up, The French and Indian War by Walter Borneman and the Iron Brigade: Michigan's Brigade in the Civil War.
kupcho1
Footballguy
Finished Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. Big I'd give it a 9/10.
Moving on to The Recognitions by William Gaddis. Frankly, this looks like a tougher read than JR (also by Gaddis), which is comprised entirely of unattributed dialog, but which I enjoyed immensely. But the reviews are good, so ...
I'd give it a 9/10.Moving on to The Recognitions by William Gaddis. Frankly, this looks like a tougher read than JR (also by Gaddis), which is comprised entirely of unattributed dialog, but which I enjoyed immensely. But the reviews are good, so ...
Redwes25
Footballguy
Let me know if that is good as it is a topic I am really interested in.I just started Team of Rivals: The political genuis of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kerns Goodwin.
http://www.amazon.com/Team-Rivals-Politica...TF8&s=books
SofaKings
Footballguy
Reading Team of Rivals spurred me to pick up the Iron Brigade. You'll love Rivals.
igbomb
Footballguy
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Not sure what to think of this one. Basically, it's the story of a high school senior who wanders the country with her professor father, never living in the same place for more than a semester. Then, they decide to settle in one town for her entire senior year. At her new school, she quickly starts to hang out with a group of five priveleged kids from her class and there film teacher, getting together for dinners and watching movies, etc. Anyway, without giving away too much, the book eventually turns into a murder mystery.
The first half of this 500 page book was pretty weak in my opinion. It was too pretentious, meandered all over the place, and couldn't get to the damn point. Then, inexplicably, the second half turned into a really good mystery, and I found myself rushing through it. Pessl certainly has potential, but I don't know if I could recommend the book.
Finally, she may be the hottest fiction writer I have ever seen.
Yum
Not sure what to think of this one. Basically, it's the story of a high school senior who wanders the country with her professor father, never living in the same place for more than a semester. Then, they decide to settle in one town for her entire senior year. At her new school, she quickly starts to hang out with a group of five priveleged kids from her class and there film teacher, getting together for dinners and watching movies, etc. Anyway, without giving away too much, the book eventually turns into a murder mystery.
The first half of this 500 page book was pretty weak in my opinion. It was too pretentious, meandered all over the place, and couldn't get to the damn point. Then, inexplicably, the second half turned into a really good mystery, and I found myself rushing through it. Pessl certainly has potential, but I don't know if I could recommend the book.
Finally, she may be the hottest fiction writer I have ever seen.
Yum
Gaddis
Footballguy
kupcho1
Footballguy
Let me know what you think. So far (and I'm about 100 pages in) it is a difficult read, but interesting. I absolutely loved JR, which should be a more difficult book, but Gaddis was skilled enough in crafting different "speaking" styles that attribution of the dialog was unnecessary.
Gaddis
Footballguy
"JR" is one of the best books I've ever read. It really blew me away the way Gaddis advanced the story almost exclusively with dialogue, and that the dialogue flowed w/o attribution. Hilarious book, too. I also got a kick out of "A Frolic of His Own." Gaddis is a force to be reckoned with. The guy's writing and ear for dialogue is unreal. Can't wait to get into this one.kupcho1 said:
