Book recs please!
tameko2
Posts: 31,634 Member
Gimme --
A) Your top 5 of all time (if you can, I never can).
Your top 5 recent reads (can be a series) that you enjoyed a good deal even if they didn't make it into your top 5 or all time.
C) stuff you've read that other people seem to like that isn't very good.
Change these numbers however you like. Don't stick slavishly to that list. Let's just talk books because frankly, I'm out of reading material and everything I find on amazon looks potentially bad (and while I've read plenty of crap just to stay entertained I'm a little burned out on it).
A) Your top 5 of all time (if you can, I never can).
Your top 5 recent reads (can be a series) that you enjoyed a good deal even if they didn't make it into your top 5 or all time.C) stuff you've read that other people seem to like that isn't very good.
Change these numbers however you like. Don't stick slavishly to that list. Let's just talk books because frankly, I'm out of reading material and everything I find on amazon looks potentially bad (and while I've read plenty of crap just to stay entertained I'm a little burned out on it).
0
Replies
-
Here are my current favorites, but my favorites change all the time. It depends on what mood I am in at any given moment.
Perfume, The Story of a Murderer - I think everyone should read this book!
Geek Love - A slightly misleading title, but completely riveting.
The Stranger - This novel introduced me to existentialism.
1984 - I love dystopian novels. This has been my favorite since I was 12.
Persuasion - I love Austen, but this is my favorite.0 -
Gimme --
A) Your top 5 of all time (if you can, I never can). Your top 5 recent reads (can be a series) that you enjoyed a good deal even if they didn't make it into your top 5 or all time.
C) stuff you've read that other people seem to like that isn't very good.
Change these numbers however you like. Don't stick slavishly to that list. Let's just talk books because frankly, I'm out of reading material and everything I find on amazon looks potentially bad (and while I've read plenty of crap just to stay entertained I'm a little burned out on it).
I'm a huge fantasy nerd so almost all my books are related to that genera
Favs:
Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
Farseer Triology by Robin Hobb
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones show) by George RR Martin
Wold War Z (not fantasy but a really kick *kitten* zombie book)
Honorable mentions:
Night Angel triology
Let downs:
Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. So very very bad, but I couldn't get myself to NOT finish the entire freakin 13 book series *head desk*0 -
I love fantasy as well.
Favourites that I buy hardback because I can't wait are Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, anything by Terry Pratchett, the man is genius, Terry Brooks, (except the Landover series, snore) and George R R Martin.
Other gems are The Baker's Boy trilogy by J. V. Jones, The Assassins Trilogy by Robin Hobb, and Raymond Feist.0 -
I used to read all the Shannara books, but they became repetitive pretty quickly.
1. Any Forgotten Realms books by Ed Greenwood or Elaine Cunningham
2. Harry Dresden universe
3. Monster Hunter books by Larry Correia ( Monsters and gun porn!! )
4. The Black Company series ( If Cook ever writes anymore )
5. The Black Widowers books by Asimov ( Kind of like Encyclopedia Brown books for Adults )0 -
Just about anything by Heinlein
Just about anything from Asimov
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
Belgariad series - David Eddings
Stephen King books
Incarnations if immortality series - Piers Anthony
Night Angle trilogy
Mistborn trilogy
Forgotten Realms Drizzt Do'urden series
F. Paul Wilson - his series on Repairman Jack - I love the character, but it's a hit or miss sometimes. - still recommend at least the first0 -
Another vote for Harry Dresden! The Dresden Files books are absolutely fantastic. Harry Potter for adults with lots of snark
Swan Song is good by Robert McCammon, it's almost like The Stand but is (IMO) better written and much more fantasy-horror oriented with some religious overtones.0 -
I have read NEARLY all of these. Oh dear!0
-
Right now I'm reading Neil Stephenson's Reamde and just got finished finally with the dark tower series, Holy FSM King, that was epic. I can't recommend Ready Player One by Ernest Cline enough though.0
-
F. Paul Wilson - his series on Repairman Jack - I love the character, but it's a hit or miss sometimes. - still recommend at least the first
OMG I LOVE this series! They are such fun reads!
I also love pretty much anything by Neil Gaiman (especially "American Gods" and "Good Omens" [Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett]).0 -
These are not ranked in any particular order, I love all books equally.
The Dresden series - Jim Butcher
Any of the Agent Pendergast novels - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (personal favorites were Relic, the Cabinet of Curiosities, Still Life With Crows, Brimstone, and Cold Vengeance, but really any of their novels are good)
The Samantha Moon series - J.R. Rain (short, but really good reads; his Jim Knighthorse books are also a good read)
Dean Koontz novels, such as Phantoms, Darkfall, Whispers, Life Expectancy, Tick Tock....
The Outlander series - Diana Gabaldon
I also have a huge fondness for the Vampire Hunter D novels (Hikeyuki Kikuchi), Spice and Wolf novels (Isuna Hasekura), and the Sandman graphic novels (Neil Gaiman).
I am editing this to pose a question to the group...what were your feelings about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins? I just finished reading the first book, and while I liked it, I'm not sure I want to invest in the sequels. It was entertaining but the love triangle crap started to get on my nerves. So what's your vote, continue or no?0 -
My most fave books of all time is the Lord of the Rings series.
I couldn't choose after that though.
I third the Dresden Files
I second Joe Abercrombie The Blade Itself, the other two in the series are just as good. And also his spin off books.
I love the Forgotten Realms series written by R. A. Salvatore. And there are so many books. The characters have so much depth.
I read Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series and the Merry series (they both contain a lot of sex. Just a fair warning)
Kim Harrison's The Hollows series is awesome.
Patricia Briggs, Mercy Thompson series is awesome.
I love the Shannara series by Terry Brooks
I second anything by Neil Gaiman
I'm a huge Star Wars fan and there are some many books out there by varying authors. Great reads if you like the idea of an expanded universe.
I am re-reading the Robert Jordan Wheels of Time series because I missed a few over the years.
I will stop there, because I could go on and on.0 -
I'm a huge fantasy nerd so almost all my books are related to that genera
Favs:
Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
Farseer Triology by Robin Hobb
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones show) by George RR Martin
Wold War Z (not fantasy but a really kick *kitten* zombie book)
Honorable mentions:
Night Angel triology
Let downs:
Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. So very very bad, but I couldn't get myself to NOT finish the entire freakin 13 book series *head desk*
Oh my! It's not very often I find a fellow fan of the Farseer Trilogy! LOVED those books.
I'm rubbish at doing top 5 lists, because I change my mind so much. Whatever I'm reading at the time always feels like 'OMG best book ever' until I find the next one...
One of my favourites is the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. Also, a big Gaiman fan.
I'd also recommend Patrick Rothfuss' books... Name of the Wind and Wise Man's Fear (although I'm only just starting the latter).
This will make me seem like a bandwagon jumping fangirl, but I read the Hunger Games recently and adored them... very much looking forward to seeing the film on Sunday.
Almost forgot... Haruki Murakami. I have so much love for his books and I still have no idea why. They confuse me, often seem repetitive in terms of theme and characters, but I can't seem to put them down.0 -
Hunger Games anyone?0
-
Hunger Games anyone?
I actually just finished the first book yesterday. It was a really creative, or imaginative story, but I wasn't crazy about the love triangle. I decided to keep reading, so I'm about half way through the second one now. The series is definitely entertaining. I'm also going to see the movie tomorrow with friends at midnight like the huge nerd I am. 0 -
Hunger Games anyone?
YES.
Loved it. Ploughed through all 3 in the space of a week. Now I'm just waiting on my friend to finish the books too, so I can bore her with my love for Peeta and Finnick :bigsmile:0 -
YAY fellow wheel of time fans....my all time favorite series and the only one I buy in hardcover
All love the Mistborn trilogy
American Gods
the Incarnations of immotartlity series
anything by Dean Kootz0 -
I didn't manage to get very far in Wheel of Time. Loved the first book... have managed halfway through book 2 multiple times but never finished it. Now I've forgotten everything that happened so I have to start again from the beginning :grumble:
Also, whoever mentioned Sword of Truth as being a let down... I am so with you on that. My ex lent me the first one, saying it was amazing but I just couldn't get into it. Tried watching Legend of the Seeker, to see if it adapted to TV better... but no.0 -
so glad someone remembered His Dark Materials. I totally forgot about that trilogy (possibly because the movie made me repress the whole thing so hard) but it was good.
I liked the farseer books too although at the end of it I kind of felt like "oh....was that it then?"
I haven't read the hunger games yet. I feel so burned by twilight still (yes all these years later) and I was already warned that the worst elements of GIRLDOM (love triangle, teenage wangst) are in there soooooo I don't know if I'll read them at all.0 -
A) Just from the top of my head so the top 13 I can think of right now, fiction and non-fiction, in no particular order;
1. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
2. Kick Me - Paul Feig (NF)
3. Our Band Could Be Your Life - Michael Azerrad (NF)
4. The Ballad of Peckham Rye - Muriel Spark
5. The L-Shaped Room - Lynne Reid Banks
6. The Midwich Cuckoos - John Wyndham
7. Barcelona Plates - Alexi Sayle
8. Atomised - Michel Houellebecq
9. The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
10. The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides
11. Billy Liar - Keith Waterhouse
12. Paranormality - Professor Richard Wiseman (NF)
13. Severed: The True Story of the "Black Dahlia" Murder - John Gilmore
and for graphic novels I love Alan Moore, Daniel Clowes and Los Bros Hernandez.
Okay, I went over by a bit, mainly because I started thinking more about it and looking at my book shelves....sorry!
I'm quite partial to Kinky Friedman novels but couldn't pick one for my top 10. Okay, I will now stick to five, top five recent reads;
1. The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson (NF)
2. The Tent, the Bucket and Me - Emma Kennedy
3. Bossypants - Tina Fey
4. Mr Wonderful - Daniel Clowes
5. Nightmare USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents - Stephen Thrower ~ Okay I haven't read all of this book but it is amazing.
C) stuff you've read that other people seem to like that isn't very good ---- I gave it a go but I just hate it, Harry Potter books, to me it's just The Worst Witch with more words.
Amazon are recommending books in the Romance/Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost genre, I haven't a clue why but each day I see the covers and I'm getting tempted :ohwell: search for "Laurann Dohner" if you are interested! It's worth a look for the cover art!
Sorry for going mad with this :flowerforyou:0 -
BTW, it might be worth asking in your local library if they have a copy of "Who Else Writes Like", it's great for when you hit readers block!0
-
so glad someone remembered His Dark Materials. I totally forgot about that trilogy (possibly because the movie made me repress the whole thing so hard) but it was good.
I liked the farseer books too although at the end of it I kind of felt like "oh....was that it then?"
I haven't read the hunger games yet. I feel so burned by twilight still (yes all these years later) and I was already warned that the worst elements of GIRLDOM (love triangle, teenage wangst) are in there soooooo I don't know if I'll read them at all.
I enjoyed reading Twilight (the first book not the series), but thought the movie franchise was ****eous. The Hunger Games seems to be more promising in movie form than that. I only read the first book (in a day, lol) but am going to read the other 2 as soon as I get my hands on them. Seeing the movie tomorrow.... :fingers crossed:0 -
Another book I think of as a fun read is Summer Sisters. I think I read it once a year...0
-
Some recent stuff I thought was awesome:
The Strain Trilogy - Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan (recommended to anyone who doesn't like their vampires pretty and sparkly)
Dark Matter - Michelle Paver
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson
And some all time favourites:
Anything by Christopher Brookmyre, George Orwell, Ben Elton, Irvine Welsh, Christopher Fowler and almost anything by Chuck Palahniuk (couldn't get through 'Pygmy')
Currently reading the first book of the Red Riding Quartet (1974) by David Peace. Very impressed so far0 -
The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson
I spent two weeks being an armchair psychologist after reading that. I'm still slightly convinced everybody I know, including myself is a psychopath.0 -
The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson
I spent two weeks being an armchair psychologist after reading that. I'm still slightly convinced everybody I know, including myself is a psychopath.
I've become obsessed with psychopaths, I've just bought a couple of Bob Hare books as well. At least it keeps me busy.0 -
almost anything by Chuck Palahniuk (couldn't get through 'Pygmy')
With Chuck I haven't really enjoyed much since "Snuff", I have Pygmy but I haven't even started it.0
This discussion has been closed.