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Osht, I was thinking four novels at around 500+ pages. I'll check the bookstore by my work later today for them. If they're there, I'll purchase them on the fifth and the game is on.
One of the best written sci fi/fantasy books I've read lately is John M. Harrison's Light. Don't race through it, though. Read it for the sheer exuberance of the language as well as the story.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Well, you don't need to go out and buy it or anything. Get it from your local library, just in case you despise it. It's not fantasy writing and it's not an easy read so beware.
What's bred in the bone will not out of the flesh.
Samira wrote:
One of the best written sci fi/fantasy books I've read lately is John M. Harrison's Light. Don't race through it, though. Read it for the sheer exuberance of the language as well as the story.
There ya go, Chand. Fantasy writing forchoo.
Edited, Oct 4th 2007 6:34am by Tare
What's bred in the bone will not out of the flesh.
Chand wrote:
I'm always interested in new experiences and expansion.
If I've been reading low-grade literature in my history of books, how about a suggestion (Samira and/or Nexa) of a book that by your personal standards is very well written. I'll finish it in two weeks and see how cunt-tastic I've been in my meager attempt at keeping my book-ego afloat.
If I've been reading low-grade literature in my history of books, how about a suggestion (Samira and/or Nexa) of a book that by your personal standards is very well written. I'll finish it in two weeks and see how cunt-tastic I've been in my meager attempt at keeping my book-ego afloat.
Here is a decent list based on a librarian survey a few years ago. I don't agree with all the suggestions necessarily, but it has a wide variety of reading levels, from children to adult, and spans many genres of writing.
I would discourage anyone from reading a book within a specified timeframe (unless you're forced to for a class or something) as it's generally considered to detract from the enjoyment of the story if you're rushed through it. Who cares if it takes you 3 weeks or 4 weeks or however long to enjoy a book? I've taken a semester to read a single, 800 page novel because I was busy and only had a few minutes a day to read for pleasure.
As for relatively recent releases that are also relatively easy reading, I'd suggest The Kite Runner, The Secret Life of Bees, and Snowflower and the Secret Fan.
Nexa
Edited, Oct 4th 2007 9:36am by Nexa
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.â€
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
There is Sodomy in Kiterunner, Chand would like it.
Bode - 100 Holy Paladin - Lightbringer
Re: that list - am I the only person alive who thinks Gatsby was way, way overrated?
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Samira wrote:
Re: that list - am I the only person alive who thinks Gatsby was way, way overrated?
No, I wasn't really a fan. Am I the only one who always pictured Gatsby as Richard Gere?
I read that one in elementary school and sort of wondered if maybe I didn't like it because I was too young to really understand it. So I read it again when I was 18 and decided that no, it just really wasn't all that good, haha.
Different strokes for different folks though. /shrug
Hey! I bet it would make a decent film noir though, haha!
Nexa
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.â€
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
Samira wrote:
Re: that list - am I the only person alive who thinks Gatsby was way, way overrated?
It's been a while, but I recall enjoying the story. I also recall not getting what all the hooplah was about, so while I won't say I totally agree with you I do think it was at least a little over-rated.
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Samira wrote:
One of the best written sci fi/fantasy books I've read lately is John M. Harrison's Light. Don't race through it, though. Read it for the sheer exuberance of the language as well as the story.
Sounds like what I'll do, I very much enjoy sci fi/fantasy. I'll letchyoo know what I think of it and compare it to the other things I've read.
Nexa wrote:
I would discourage anyone from reading a book within a specified timeframe (unless you're forced to for a class or something) as it's generally considered to detract from the enjoyment of the story if you're rushed through it. Who cares if it takes you 3 weeks or 4 weeks or however long to enjoy a book?
I know exactly what you're saying, I was just setting down a time-frame to prove my commitment. Most novels I read though (the bigger Pratchett and whatnot) I have finished in two weeks normally. While I'm sure a lot of what I read is easy-reading, I'm very confident in my level of reading comprehension.
I like suspense/thriller novels, and while I've become very bored with his general rehashing of ideas, I'm interested to see what people on here think of Dean Koontz.
Chand wrote:
I like suspense/thriller novels, and while I've become very bored with his general rehashing of ideas, I'm interested to see what people on here think of Dean Koontz.
I liked one of his books, whichever one it was I read first. After that, like you said, it was like reading the same book over again...his writing is very formulaic. I often confuse his stuff with Mary Higgins Clark...but her stuff is somewhat more creepy, uncomfortable...like the outliers of a King novel.
Nexa
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.â€
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
Chand wrote:
Sounds like what I'll do, I very much enjoy sci fi/fantasy. I'll letchyoo know what I think of it and compare it to the other things I've read.
re: Sci-fi
Have you read Neuromancer? I keep meaning to pick it up again (in fact, I've had it on a shelf with a bookmark on page 25 or so for about 5 years, haha) since I can't remember most of it. I do remember it as being really good though. I've also had a secret love for Titan since I was a kid, though the follow up, Wizard, was just bizarre and spent far too much time explaining the mating possibilities of Centaurs (SNL anyone?).
I also adore Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? though I caution anyone who has seen Bladerunner to forget it before reading the story on which it was based.
Nexa
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.â€
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
I have a love/hate opinion of Dean Koontz. I've liked a few of his books, and others have been so bad I couldn't even finish them. I really liked Odd Thomas, one of the sequals to that one was pretty meh and the other was decent. I tried reading The Face and got so bored half way through it I wanted to rip my own spleen out. Those are the ones I can recall off-hand.
Gotta agree with Nexa on him being very predictable.
Gotta agree with Nexa on him being very predictable.
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Archfiend bodhisattva wrote:
There is Sodomy in Kiterunner, Chand would like it.
Oh snap, what a great way to initiate active camo when slinging the word "fag."
Yeah, not so warm on Koontz. King is very hit-or-miss but at least he mixes it up sometimes. Barker is effective in a gruesome way.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Samira wrote:
Yeah, not so warm on Koontz. King is very hit-or-miss but at least he mixes it up sometimes. Barker is effective in a gruesome way.
The King novels I enjoyed the most were actually those that he wrote in conjunction with Peter Straub. Actually, the first one anyway. The sequel was too much of a lame attempt to work in the Dark Tower, but I really liked the first one.
Hard for me to really comment on most horror stuff now since I haven't really read horror for a decade at least. I've no idea at all about current horror stuff.
Nexa
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.â€
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
Nexa wrote:
Chand wrote:
I like suspense/thriller novels, and while I've become very bored with his general rehashing of ideas, I'm interested to see what people on here think of Dean Koontz.
I liked one of his books, whichever one it was I read first. After that, like you said, it was like reading the same book over again...his writing is very formulaic. I often confuse his stuff with Mary Higgins Clark...but her stuff is somewhat more creepy, uncomfortable...like the outliers of a King novel.
Nexa
Best Koontz books I could ever suggest are his "Fear Nothing" and "Seize the Night." Really great concept, awesome stories, lovable characters, beer drinking dog, rampaging death monkeys, and interesting twists.
Quote:
Have you read Neuromancer? I keep meaning to pick it up again (in fact, I've had it on a shelf with a bookmark on page 25 or so for about 5 years, haha) since I can't remember most of it.
Have not. I like it's title. Wikipedia is God.
Kakar, Assassin Reject wrote:
I have a love/hate opinion of Dean Koontz. I've liked a few of his books, and others have been so bad I couldn't even finish them. I really liked Odd Thomas, one of the sequals to that one was pretty meh and the other was decent. I tried reading The Face and got so bored half way through it I wanted to rip my own spleen out. Those are the ones I can recall off-hand.
Gotta agree with Nexa on him being very predictable.
Gotta agree with Nexa on him being very predictable.
I've read Odd Thomas 1 and 3. 1 was decent as was 3, but it reminded me of a mediocre Fear Nothing.
I completed The Face as well about a year ago. Thought it was okay, but seemed like a meager attempt made because it was that time of the month again and his publisher was hounding him for another one.
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