Book Recommendations

Talk about anything and everything not related to this site or the Dreamcast, such as news stories, political discussion, or anything else. If there's not a forum for it, it belongs in here. Also, be warned that personal insults, threats, and spamming will not be tolerated.
Post Reply
User avatar
Specially Cork
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11632
https://www.artistsworkshop.eu/meble-kuchenne-na-wymiar-warszawa-gdzie-zamowic/
Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2002 10:01 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 8 times

Book Recommendations

Post by Specially Cork »

I enjoy reading, and after a period of not much of it due to living in China I'm finally rediscovering this pleasure through my iPad. While I'm not really short of books to read, I thought I may as well come on here to ask what you guys like. My favourite authors range from Jorge Luis Borges to Terry Pratchett, so I'm open to pretty much anything. Just fiction only please.

Thanks boyos.
Image
User avatar
Quzar
Dream Coder
Dream Coder
Posts: 7499
Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2002 12:14 am
Location: Miami, FL
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 10 times
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by Quzar »

I recommend anything by Twain. I have a set of his complete works and never fail to be interested by them. Heinlein is great if you're into speculative type Sci-Fi. His short stories and novels create a single coherent universe and timeline that is quite fun.
"When you post fewer lines of text than your signature, consider not posting at all." - A Wise Man
Jeeba Jabba
Jeeba Jabba
Posts: 9106
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2001 7:00 am
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by Jeeba Jabba »

The Bible, by Jesus
Image
"He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living hand-to-mouth." -Goethe
User avatar
Specially Cork
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11632
Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2002 10:01 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by Specially Cork »

Jeeba Jabba wrote:The Bible, by Jesus
Actually tried reading it once. If any Christian wants to convert me away from my atheist views the first thing they could try doing is making their holy book cohesive and readable.
Image
Jeeba Jabba
Jeeba Jabba
Posts: 9106
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2001 7:00 am
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by Jeeba Jabba »

BoneyCork wrote:
Jeeba Jabba wrote:The Bible, by Jesus
Actually tried reading it once. If any Christian wants to convert me away from my atheist views the first thing they could try doing is making their holy book cohesive and readable.

Of course the word of God would seem incohesive and unreadable to a mere mortal. Use your head.
Image
"He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living hand-to-mouth." -Goethe
User avatar
DaMadFiddler
Team Screamcast
Team Screamcast
Posts: 7953
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:17 am
Location: San Francisco, CA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by DaMadFiddler »

Let's see... here's a short list of suggestions:

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
anything by Kurt Vonnegut
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Methuselah's Children by Robert A. Heinlein
Harry Turtledove writes some interesting "alternative history" novels
...and since you like Terry Pratchett, you'll probably also enjoy Neil Gaiman. Good starting points are American Gods, Stardust, and The Graveyard Book.
Good Omens (a collaboration between Pratchett and Gaiman) is also a fun book, if you haven't read it yet; it reminds me a lot of the Dirk Gently books by Douglas Adams.

If you're looking for something more epic (and have some patience for getting started), I'd recommend the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, the Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin, or the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.
User avatar
JuddWack
DCEmu Mega Poster
DCEmu Mega Poster
Posts: 1742
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2002 6:01 pm
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by JuddWack »

I read a lot of books when I was in China. My favorite was A Fine Balance. That means you should read it too. Plus it was on Oprah's book list so it's super awesome.
User avatar
Smiley
DCEmu Ultra Fan
DCEmu Ultra Fan
Posts: 3071
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 9:31 pm
Location: For British Eyes Only...
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by Smiley »

Ive been reading the House of Night series on my nook and am reading the second one betraye right now.
Image
Jeeba Jabba
Jeeba Jabba
Posts: 9106
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2001 7:00 am
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by Jeeba Jabba »

I recently bought a hardback all-in-one edition of all of the Hitchhiker's Guide novels. I've only read the first and second, but that was nearly ten years ago. Almost through the first one right now, and loving every moment of it.
Image
"He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living hand-to-mouth." -Goethe
User avatar
DaMadFiddler
Team Screamcast
Team Screamcast
Posts: 7953
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:17 am
Location: San Francisco, CA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by DaMadFiddler »

Jeeba Jabba wrote:I recently bought a hardback all-in-one edition of all of the Hitchhiker's Guide novels. I've only read the first and second, but that was nearly ten years ago. Almost through the first one right now, and loving every moment of it.
Oh, I've got that! I've read all five at least twice each, and my favorite is still Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
User avatar
not just souLLy now
DCEmu Respected
DCEmu Respected
Posts: 4070
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2004 5:53 pm
Location: UK
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by not just souLLy now »

If you've never read 1984 give it a read, it's well worth anyone's time.
I'm not a big novel reader but could give some good advice on not shit graphic novels
User avatar
JuddWack
DCEmu Mega Poster
DCEmu Mega Poster
Posts: 1742
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2002 6:01 pm
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by JuddWack »

1984 is one of my favorites. I can second that.
User avatar
DaMadFiddler
Team Screamcast
Team Screamcast
Posts: 7953
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:17 am
Location: San Francisco, CA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by DaMadFiddler »

So what did you end up choosing?
User avatar
Specially Cork
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11632
Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2002 10:01 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by Specially Cork »

Hey-ho.

I've read HGTTG before and loved it, got into it via the terrible movie version.

I've got a copy of Twain's "Innocents Abroad" on my toilet along with Boswell's London Journal for some dip-in-and-out taking-a-shit reading.

I was going to start The Wheel of Time series because it's been recommended to me before, but there's a lot of very long books in that series so it kinda scared me off. It also seemed to be more medieval-focused, which isn't really my cup of tea.

So I picked...A Fine Balance for now. Very interesting insight into Indian culture and the associated horrors.

After that, 1984. I also have "The Last Wish" (The Witcher) and the His Dark Materials trilogy.
Image
User avatar
impetus
Team Screamcast
Team Screamcast
Posts: 4566
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 2:32 pm
Location: Overland Park, KS
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by impetus »

I'm a huge fan of late Victorian classics. From about 1860-1900 there was just an insane explosion of great adventure, mystery, science fiction, and horror novels. (Something that Alan Moore picked up on to create the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen).

Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein, Treasure Island, War Of The Worlds, 20000 Leagues Under The Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Time Machine, Sherlock Holmes, and The Lost World, are all must-read books that came from that era and movement. Dracula is my favorite novel of all time, and despite there being dozens of film adaptations none of them come remotely close to the magnificence of the book.

For something a little more contemporary, Roald Dahl is one of my favorite authors. His short story collections are amazingly deranged and hilarious.

Personally the next authors on my plate are HP Lovecraft and Robert Howard.
User avatar
DanteJay
DCEmu Cool Poster
DCEmu Cool Poster
Posts: 1187
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:36 am
Location: Brampton, Ontario
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by DanteJay »

impetus wrote:20000 Leagues Under The Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Time Machine, 20000 Leagues Under The Sea,
Is there two?
Image
User avatar
impetus
Team Screamcast
Team Screamcast
Posts: 4566
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 2:32 pm
Location: Overland Park, KS
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Book Recommendations

Post by impetus »

DanteJay wrote:
impetus wrote:20000 Leagues Under The Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Time Machine, 20000 Leagues Under The Sea,
Is there two?
I don't know, are there? 8-)

Copy/paste error - was putting all the Verne books together and forgot to delete the extra text.
Post Reply