Submitted by Kaarin on Thu, 01/15/2004 - 21:38
Posted in
this site is about reading and writing so i thought about something (a rare occurance i know) that maybe it could be a good idea to recommend books to people who are probably quite good readers or the likes.
I will start by saying that a book i just read called
'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden is one of the best books I have read in a long time. and I do alot of reading. ok every one feel free to post your own recommendations and dont make this another failure to start of a thread.
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Book Recomendation
Since there are fans of alternate histories on this board, I'd like to recommend "Anno Dracula" by Kim Newman. The tale of "What If" Dracula had not been destroyed by Van Helsing and crew...
Book Recomendation
Hmmm well I think I'll throw out a couple of recomendations...
for the fantasy fans amongst us I can not praise Steven Erikson's 'Gardens of the Moon' highly enough. The sequel 'Deadhouse Gates' is also stunning though the third book 'Memories of Ice' does slip a little in my opinion.
If Science Fiction is more to your liking then try Richard Morgan's 'Altered Carbon', although the protagonist does remind me of Greg Mandle from Peter F Hamilton's Mindstar trilogy the basic premise of Altered Carbon is interesting
Ok since that pretty much covers my reading habits I'll leave it at that.
Book Recomendation
Well, Robin, if you're going to mention Peter F Hamilton in relation to science fiction, I have to tell people about the Night's Dawn trilogy. The depth of detail in the background is incredible. It's a lengthy series, and the first 10 chapters take a bit to get through. But it's well worth getting through them to get to the guts of the story. My only complaint is that he doesn't really end the series very well, in my view. The first book of the trilogy is called "The Reality Dysfuntion". I rate the series overall at about 8/10, but the first book gets a 9.5/10. What's it all about? Um.. in a nutshell, the meaning of existence, I guess....
Another series that I absolutely love is C J Cherryh's Foreigner series. I'm currently reading book 5 and she's unflagging so far. The whole series to date is easily rating a 9.5/10, if not 10/10. I love Cherryh's ability to make the aliens seem real. So real that it's the humans in the story that come across as the strangers. Most authors simply have aliens as people in funny suits, but still with human motivations. Cherryh's aliens manage to be completely alien in mentality and outlook. The first time I described the first book (called 'Foreigner') I found myself using Atevi words to describe some concepts. Human words just didn't fit. If you love political intrigue in your stories, I can't recommend this series highly enough.
Gods, there are so many more books I've enjoyed thoroughly over the years... but if I don't stop now I'll run into the word limit for a post.
Just one more author I have to mention. L E Modesitt Jnr. Whether it's science fiction or fantasy, you can't go wrong with him.
Book Recomendation
Had to think about this some, but here goes.
First up would definatly have to be Lucifer's Hammer. Been rereading that one recently, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournell. It was written in 1977, and the science was correct for the time it was written although some of the astronomical theory has been rejected now. The basic plot is this: a giant comet smacks in to the earth and ends civilization. Will only say that you can divide the book in to three parts, Pre-Hammerfall, Hammerfall, and the Aftermath.
Piers Anthony wrote an excellent series called Incarnations of Immortality. That's another interesting one, and the books follow the order: Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil, Good. Personally, I like Death, On a Pale Horse and Evil, For Love of Evil best. There's a nice alternate history twist that shows up regarding Satan, and I won't spoil it for you. Each book can stand alone, though.
Have to stop before getting more longwinded than Heather, but will quickly echo her recomendation elsewhere of Turtledove's Worldwar series.
Book Recomendation
Well I don't read much science fiction or fantasy novels, most of my reading is what would be termed 'classical'.
One of my favourite books has to be Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights' i know some people are put off by classic texts but this really is very emotive, i love any book that has the power to make me be really angry or cause me to cry.
Also just finished reading 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker, I'd also recommend anything by Toni Morrison, especially 'Beloved'.
Finally, I'm not too sure how many people actually read poetry out there, but if you want something to make you laugh & cry you could do much worse than picking up The Complete Works of Maya Angelou - writer of 'I know Why the Caged Bird Sings' this is an excellent collection of poems, very lyrical and dramatic. Personally, my favourite poem is 'Life Doesn't Frighten Me' from 'And Still I Rise'
Okay, end of, I could go on forever... :D
Book Recomendation
Since I read just about everything, narrowing it down to one recommendation is very difficult. But they are recommendations all.
I see Lou and I are of like mind in the Toni Morrison vein. My favorites of hers is "Sula" and "Tar Baby" but I've read them all. Talk about painting pictures with words.
"Out of Sight" by Elmore Leonard can make you wish you could turn a phrase on a dime LIKE THAT.
"LA Confidential" by James Ellroy if you want to really feel how seedy LA can be; you read and you feel like you need to be rinsed off.
"The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton. Great literature and made me appreciate what a phenomenal director Scorcese is -- he literally put the whole novel, word for word, on the screen.
The Foundation Trilogy - Isaac Asimov
The Stand - Stephen King
How Stella Got Her Groove Back - What's 'er Name
Cowboys Are My Weakness - Pam Houston
But my above-them-all recommendation and my favorite book of all time is "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston. Alice Walker said "There is no book more important to me than this one," and I agree. It can be hard to read at first because her dialogue is written phonetically the way black folks in the south spoke at the time, so you have to get used to it. I've read it at least 8 times. If I could write like that, my heart would be still.
Book Recomendation
Oh thank-you THANK-YOU Sherlynn for reminding me about Wharton's 'The Age of Innocence' - any one who hasn't read this book should do if they get the chance.
I read Fay Weldon's novel "Big Women" where in Saffron reads "The Age of Innocence" the two books have a wonderful juxtapositioning of the representation of women in society.
Oh and I agree with Sherlynn, the film adaptation of that book was amazing, so rarely does a film do justice to the novel, but this one really was magic.
Book Recomendation
heather
I pretty much agree with your comments on the Nights Dawn trilogy the first is amazing The sheer scope of that first book is pretty breathtaking but as you said the ending is a little too weak. It reminds me of Tad Williams 'Memory, Sorrow and Thorn' another very long trilogy whose ending is less than satisfactory.
As for the Foreigner series any novel where the closest you can come to explaining 'liking someone' is to compare it to 'expressing a preference for a particular sort of Salad' has me sold on the concept that these are aliens. I only wish that the british publisher hadn't decided to stop at the 2nd book :(
As for Modesitt another great author though I find his sci-fi very pessimistic in tone and very 'samey' in storyline but that may be due to the limited exposure his sci-fi gets over here. I love the Saga of Recluce though especially now he's decided to show the opposing viewpoint in his world.
Ok I'll stop gushing now
Book Recomendation
on the array of fantasy books i would have to recommend:
comedy:
the discworld series/novels by Terry Pratchett - theses are some of the most hilarious books i have read. is like a paralell universe on a flat world. there are trolls and elfs and stuff but its all so funny. like the fact that Death has a horse called Binky. and all sorts. and things. So funny, go read. now! i read them again and again.
Easy reads:
The Wind on Fire trilogy by William Nicholson. makes for lightest reading (for me anyway) and i just could not put down. Follows three children from the city Aramanth. Beautiful books.
Chillingness:
Deathscent by Robin Jarvis. Some very cool ideas here. there are no animals, just little mechanical ones run by ichors/liquids. Its got some quite chilling undertones.
Freakyness:
anything (this isnt a title i just mean any book by) Neil Gaiman. This guy writes the kinda freaky twisted cool fairytale like stories and graphic novels. 'Coraline' is really good but very short. only took me a day to read.
Atheism:
His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman. An excellent read. Rather atheist but in a magnificent way. Its about all the diferent worlds. And the search to find out about the strange subtance known as dust or shadow particals.
The first book 'Northern Lights' Follows a girl called Lyra who lives in a worl where part of you soul is visable. Its called a dæmon. When you are a child it can take the form of any animal, as it is undecided what kind of person you will be. Then once you go into adolesance it changes into the animal that best fits ur personality. This book is about her journy to the north to save her father and freind from the dæmon snatchers.
The second book 'The Subtle Knife' Follows Will, from the world we know, into toehrs Where he meets Lyra. He finds the Subtle knife that means you can cut holes from one world to the other.
The last book 'the amber spyglass' ties up all loose ends in a spectacular, confusing and brilliant plot involving the land of the dead, angels and Galvaspians (little people about 6 inches tall.) Although hard for some to keep up with these books are some of the best I have read.
out of the fantasy genre, I would recomend The Hannibal trilogy. Red Dragon, the Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. Very thrilling reads, although alittle gorey in places. They out rank the flims anyday.
ok i'm done blahing. Digest this info and go read books.
Book Recomendation
OK that was me up there posting ^^^^^ pants, i keep on getting logged off
I could go on forever
Oh, where to begin. How to divide them up. *Sigh*
This is entirely too difficult a task.
Ok
Classics
Must reads are One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre (romantic, tragic, beautiful), To Kill A Mockingbird, and I cannot stress this enough...As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. Faulkner is amazing, I love everything I've read by him.
Ok, I read fluff too. For that I recommend a series of novels by Nora Roberts called the Three Sisters Trilogy. It's a romance series about a trio of witches with this important destiny. For fun, this was a great series.
Uhm, Fantasy...
Read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. It's like Tolkien, but fun. The series requires a major commitment as it is up to 8 or 9 loooong novels now, but it's totally worth it.
I also love Piers Anthony's stuff. The Incarnations were mentioned earlier, and I second that, but also would encourage you to read the Xanth series, which is funny and original.
One of my all time favorite books is The Princess Bride by William Goldman. This is so much better to read than the movie, I can't even begin to tell you.
For Science Fiction,
I too am partial to Asimov, and Cherryh is good. I like Poul Anderson sometimes. Funny I'm real picky about Sci-fi.
Anyway, I'm sure there are a ton of others I'm forgeting. I should recommend High Fidelity, About a Boy, and How to Be Good as well. And I too read the Geisha book. That was stupendous. I will probably post more later. This is just what I can think of while I'm sitting in front of the computer.
Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot, there's this great out of print collection of short stories dedicated to Andre Norton. It's called Moonsinger's Friends. If you can find it, I highly recommend it.
There, I really am stopping now.
Book Recomendation
Yes, I have to agree that 'To kill a mocking bird' is a great book. We (me and alice) recently did the book in English. The descriptive quality is of a very high standard, and the only rtime I ever got annoyed reading it was when we were half way throuhg the book and out English supply teacher stopped us at the end of each oage to say how great Harper Lees writing was. That accepted, It was something that i'm sure the rest of us had picked up on seemings as we were half way through the book and probably idn't need this pointing out avery so paragraphs. I'm sur Louisa mentioned it being a great book, what with her being an english student, so it appears to be very popular.
Things I forgot
Things I realized I forgot to mention...
Yesterday I was talking to Louisa and thought I might want to mention some others.
First off, there are the books of Marion Zimmer Bradley. I love her work, especially Mists of Avalon. I also like the Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead.
I should mention, although I read these as a child, anything by Roald Dahl, especially The BFG and James and the Giant Peach. Also, I loved The Chronicles of Narnia, and Madeline L'engle's works.
I didn't bring up an Stephen King, for which I am greatly embarrassed. I love the Gunslinger books, The Stand, and I recently read Dreamcatcher. Read it before the movie comes out. It's quite good. So is Hearts in Atlantis, and I've heard the movie is nothing like it.
Anyway, that'll do for now. I'm sure there'll be more.
Books Books Books
In high school I didn't mind reading Sci-Fi books by Victor Keller or Asmov
But my favorite author would have to be Bryce Courtenay the auther of the awesome book The Power of One (I read that one abt ten times)
I also have to mention the book my father wrote, before he died last year, it's called The Last Call to Arms it's an Aussie book so non-Aussies probably wouldn't understand some of the issues delt with in the book but yeah it's really good it can be found here http://www.dtpwrite.com.au/books/index.html
there are two books I loved but can't remember the authors names Enders Game and Nemisis
Book Recomendation
Ender's Game was written by Orson Scott Card. It was actually a novelisation of one of his short stories. But I have to agree with you, it's a damn good read.
Nemesis was by Isaac Asimov (so sad when he died). I think I have a copy of just about everything he wrote by way of sci-fi, fantasy (yes, he did fantasy :)), and his science essays.
Book Recomendation
has any one read the gormenghast trilogy? its gothic fantasy. The descriptive power is fabulous and you really get an image of the great castle gormenghast.
you basically follow around Titus Groan, 77th earl of gormenghast, from birht. All the characters are insane in some way or other. Seerpike is the baddie, a very clever and manipulative individual awnting poer (sound familier?) Titus' sister fuschia is my fave. Althouhg the very endin it a bit of a let down becasue you wait the entire last book for him to do something and then he doesn't do it. brilliant books. go read it and have a laugh
Book Recomendation
I loved the sisters (damn, can't remember their names - it's been ages) that Steerpike released - they'd been locked up in a room for 10 years or so and were quite, quite insane. But then, so is everyone else.... I agree, Hannah, brilliant stuff, albeit very surreal.
Book Recomendation
hehe. Cora and Clarice... they were so funny. Steerpike never let them out they died togeathre in the saem room a\t the smae split second in time. He left them to die after they tried to kill him. teehee.. he deserved it!
Book Recomendation
Well I would like to recommend the book The Starlight Crystal by Christopher Pike....ok, ok, I know, many of you comes up with intellectual books and I recommend a Christopher Pikes one, but believe me the story line seemed interesting to me.
Even though for some of us we would rather feel comfortable with a 300 paged book (i know i would) and even though this is quite a thin book, it is still quite interesting in the way it introduces ideas about the end of the earth, etc.
Me being a Sci-Fi nut, I have to say I enjoyed it and at the moment I am reading it for the second time!
Book Recomendation
There's nothing wrong with a short book or novella Saadia, they're great when you just don't have the stamina for a marathon 300 page book! So I'd like to recommend some of my favourite 'shorties'.
First of all George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' - this is just too good for words, a very clever and chilling parody of politics.
Jean Dominique Bauby's 'The Bell Jar and The Butterfly' - split up into small bite sized chapter's it's the both sad and inspirational true story of a man who awakes after a stroke to find himelf completely paralysed.
And for something REALLY fun - read The Worst Case Senario books - they are full of helpful advice for what to do if you find yourself stranded in the desert, the victim of alien abduction or biten by deadly scorpions. And that is just a normal week for me ;)
Enjoy!
Book Recomendation
Just thought of another book recomendation to make. While it is a Star Trek book, it's more a self-parody than anything else. The book is called How Much for Just the Planet? and is the closest thing you'll find to a musical episode. Good for a laugh.
Also, with people mentioning classics, would like to mention a few though should note that I'm using classics in a slightly different sense. If you want something surreal and outrageous, the Satyricon is not to be missed. Warning that this book's plot revolves around a violation of the rights of Priapus, who is the God they would have the orgies for, and is rather explicit.
Any of Marcus Cicero's Phillipics are highly recomended, but especialy the second, as is his speech in defense of Calius. The Phillippics are all directed at Marcus Antonius, and the second is definately the most entertaining, a wonderfull example of invective at its best.
Will leave you with one more suggestion from Antiquity, Ovid's Loves. Yes, this is the title of the work, and is rather interesting. It's actually a collection of poems.
Book Recomendation
You're Star Trek novel reference brought me to one of my own. I really loved a three part about Q, called Q Space or something like that. Also, as Q and Lwaxana Troi were the greatest characters ever created in that universe, can I recommend a novel called Q-in-Law? It was really funny.
Book Recomendation
Being at home and sick, can't resist reviving this thread. :)
So, the new recomendation is The Principia Discordia or How I Found the Goddess and What I Did to Her When I Found Her, The Magnum Opiate of Malacypse the Younger. I've seen a couple pages of the print edition, and must say that the experience of the insanity involved will probably be much better with an actual copy. Failing that, the complete text is on-line at a number of places.
http://www.ology.org/principia/ is the best I can think of.
As a word of warning, would like to stress the insanity part of the description. It's a great deal of fun, but like the review on amazon that described it as "slightly-less-than-very-hallucinogenic." Fnord!
Book Recomendation
I am currently in the middle of The potriat of Dorian Gray. Ok ok, so i am at the begining of it. But still the book has started of quite well. I already know most of the story because of the blurb and some of my friends who couldn't keep to themselves.
I think its a good story and i can't wait to finish it. Read it guys!
To get you interested in it i'll tell you a little bit of the story.
There is this incredibly hamdsome man called, yup you guessed it: Dorian Gray. He is soo handsome. He has his potriat painted and someone tells him that pretty soon he will become old and lose his beauty. To this he says "I envy this picture that will stay young and beautyful while i become old and ugly, i wish it were the other way around." Somehow his wish comes true, and this book is a haunting tale about how his wish came true and the consequence of this wish of his!
Interested yet? :)
Book Recomendations (2)
Since the original thread got archived, thought I would revive it here. :)
Got two books for Christmas I've been reading and want to recomend to everyone. The first is The Name of the Rose by Umberto Ecco. It's a mystery set in 1327, and centers around a monk named William Baskerville.
Second, is The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. Wildly funny, full of sex and violence. Actually a collection of three books, Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, and Leviathan. Another mystery, this time centering around the disappearance of a newpaper editor who was researching the Illuminati.
Ok, there we go. Enjoy.
Book Recomendation
okok, many recommendations to made as i gotbooks for chrissy (which i had finished by boxing day)
earlier, i recommended anythign by Neil Gaiman. he is v. cool.
'Neverwhere' by him is BRILL! It is helpful if you know a little (and only a little) about london, to help you with place names occasionally, but is enjoyable all the same. You follow Richard on his journy throuh London-Below. A mysterious world under london; another london... full of the people who have fallen throuh the cracks. Brilliant writing...
I also stole 'the Binding Chair' off of my mother before she so much as touched it and finished soon after. you follow the life of May in turn of the century China. The title is due to the fact that she had her feet bound from when she was a child.
When I startd off the first book reccomendatinos I recommended 'the Memoirs of a Geisha' with no explanation. Though written by a man, the thoughts and feelings of a young girl Chiyo, as she is sold from her home to a Geisha house are written very convincingly. Stuck with one of the meanest Geisha's in Japan: Hatsumomo, Chiyo struggles to survive, let alone become a Geisha and have her dream man 'the chairman' become her Danna. I could not put this book down.
Book Recomendation
Neverwhere was also done as a 6-part series on tv. They pretty much nailed it perfectly, I think. I just wish I could find a copy of it somewhere. Why, oh why, didn't I tape it at the time???
Book Recomendation
That was on T.V? Dang it! no fair!
Book Recomendation
Ok, I think I am obsessed with Neil Gaiman Books. This is quite likely. On my recent ski trip, I had a larg e book to keep me occupied when I was not hurtleing down mountains and into trees at break-neck speed.
So I got 'American Gods' by Gaiman. And was amazed. You follow Shadow on his first day out of prison. His wife has just died in a car crash, and he is about to come under the employment of the Mysterious Mr Wednesday. This opens the door to the world of the gods, and teh upcomnig war between old and new.
WOW!
I was a bit wary of picky up this book, as it sounded a bit boring for Gaiman. But it wasn't. Go read. Now!
THank you for your time.
Book Recomendation
Am planning on getting to that one eventually. Probably after Illuminatus and Regardi. :)
Just know enough about it to know that Mr. Wednesday is likely Odin.
Book Recomendation
The boy learns fast. Took me quite a while to figure out the whole Wednesday, wodensday, odinsday, odin thing. I was trying to explain the book to a friend, but they kept on asking fro Mr Thursday. They didn't understand about what happened to Thor....
a bunch from me
I also got a slew of books for Christmas, including two out of print treasures I have been looking for for ages. Actually, this was my Christmas to get gifts I have wanted for years, but I digress.
Anyway, I may have mentioned it before, but as I just got a copy for Christmas, I love an anthology book called Moonsinger's Friends. It's a collection of short stories by authors who were fans of or inspired by Andre Norton. The stories are all really good and I love that the book is dedicated to Norton. The best one, I think is by Marion Zimmer Bradley and is about her Blue Adept Lythande.
I also got a really good collection of Bradley's short stories that was out of print as well.
I just finished Everythings Eventual and From a Buick 8 by Stephen King and I must say they were very good. I got loads of other stuff, but a lot of them were bodice rippers and as much as I like those (particularly Nora Roberts), I don't necessarily recommend them to just anyone.
Oh, I also think everyone here would like this series I'm reading by Christopher Golden. It's an interesting new take on the Vampire mythos.
Well, happy reading.
Book Recomendation
these arent so much books as they are graphic novels, so i dotn know if they float anyone's boat...but they are effective nonetheless, comics are a cool medium because IMHO they get to display two sides to the story (the writer's and artist's vision)...ANYwho, ive just picked up three batman TPBs and ive read one and a half, and they are freakin great...some of the subject material might appeal to this crowd...
Batman: Harvest Breed...a series of ritual killings have been reoccurring in Gotham and Bruce Wayne is being haunted in his dreams due to not solving the murders...the cool part is that voodoo, magic and occult stuff drive the plot (which is rare for batman) so it makes an interesting story, especially the little girl who knows quite a boatload (shes very spooky)...the art is fantastic, rather than the usual pencilling, the panels were hand-painted and the scenes so complement the story
Batman and Dracula: Red Rain...simply, a story of vampires and the dark knight...nice detective story where the encounter between Prince Vlad and Bats is very cool and eery, theyre both so dark and twisted and tragic in their own ways...u can feel for Vlad in this book
Batman: Gotham By Gaslight...here jack the ripper voyages with Bruce to the US c. 1888 and continues the "masterpiece" :( (figure of speech, am not twisted) he began in england
and if there are any edgar allan poe fans here, try Batman:Nevermore, bats encounters EAP in baltimore c. 1800s to solve a series of murders a la rue morgue...very promising as only issue 1 has come out
Book Recomendation
Wondered what had happened to this thread. :)
Anyway, will make another quick recomendation for the Sci-Fi fans. More specifcally, the Star Trek fans, A Stitch in Time, written by Andrew Robinson. All that can be said is that it's the life story of Garak.
...plain, simple, Garak. ;)
Book Recomendation
I just wanted to say I am about to start reading American Gods, and am excited thanks to the recommendations here. I am going to go to Comic-con in San Diego in July, so I might get a chance to meet Gaiman and I am excited about it. (Even more excited by the prospect of meeting Grant Morrison.)
I have been reading the Angel novels, which I've mentioned in a couple of other forums, and they are good. One in particular stands out, the one I am now reading. It's called Stranger to the Sun. It's really good.
I also don't know if I've ever brought up Jean M Auls books here. These are very descriptive, intriguing prehistory tales. Most of you have probably heard of at least the first one, Clan of the Cave Bear, as it was made into a barely mediocre movie with Darryl Hannah.
Oh, and on a sort of on track aside, I just wanted to let everyone know that Marvel Comics is going to start farming for new talent by soliciting submissions for it's Epic line from everyday Joe's like us. If anyone is interested in this, you can find information on marvel.com.
Book Recomendation
:oops: sorry kristen, dont mean to sound anti-marvel in my posts :oops: (am somewhat of a DC mark), although, IMHO, Daredevil is the best written comic right now (Batman is a close second), brian bendis is so awesome, i dont know how he writes his other books, but his work on the man without fear is flawless, its too bad most people dont know daredevil other than from an average motion picture, otherwise, he totally reeks of awesomeness!!!!!! :twisted: ...btw, i saw the book by gaiman (american gods) @ my comic store and remembered you guys talking about it, is the pickup really worth it?
Book Recomendation
Trust me, 'American Gods' rules. I have read it twice and it rules. It just does.
Book Recomendation
On the topic of comics:
Dark Horse's "Fray" penned by Joss Whedon himself is a great story of a future Slayer. Its been 200 years since the last slayer fell and now, suddenly one has been called again. It rocks with good plot, story, and few surprises (not to mention at least one tear jerker).
Its not available in TPB format yet, so you will have to pick up back issues (I'll have issues 1-7 at the Cast Party) which you can do at most comic places and eBay. Current pricing is around $8 an issue (US) for 1st prints or $6.00 for reprints (issues 1-3 have been reprinted) which is well worth it.
The final issue (#8) of this Joss Whedon masterpiece hits the stands June 18th.
Book Recomendation
I have the first four or five issues, up until Joss took that long break, then my comic guy (who I should kick in the shins while wearing a suit of armor), stopped putting it in my box, so now I guess I will have to pay ridiculous back issue prices for it.
And it was good up until I stopped reading it.
As for great TPB recommendations, I highly recommend to anyone who has not yet read it, Preacher. This was a great book that ended but you can pick up the whole story in TPB.
And I will ignore any anti-Marvel statements, as I am a "True Believer" from way back. The current incarnation of New X-Men by Grant Morrison and all the Ultimate titles are just two of many reasons.
Book Recomendation
hey hey DC was the first company and gave us the two greatest superheroes of all time...anyways, i once read an issue of preacher and it was pretty cool, actually the dude was a really cool character, but at the time i was like 14 and didnt have enough money to buy it (vertigo comics are so freakin expensive)...as for the ultimate lines, i tried with the xmen, but i just cant get into the new-age stuff, i prefer the old continuity and history like uncanny and amazing (even though i dont like spiderman) has...
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hehe and no-one has done a ToT on "Marvel or DC?"
Philistines
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You spoke too soon, Dave. :wink:
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Many of you will not be suprised at the tome I now recomend you all add to your research libraries. Some will doubtlessly wonder what took so long. The answer to that is simple: finally checkout out and reading around in Wilson's Everything Is Under Control. A nice, new fashioned encylclopedia. Entires include:
-How the first Gulf War was all a Hollywood Production
-The Founding of the Bavarian Illuminati by Adam Weishaupt
-Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
-America's Dictatorship, which has had "emergency powers" since World War II
-Men in Black
-The Campus Crusade for Cthulhu
Happy reading! Theories range from plausible (FDA strongarm tactics) to the outright whacky (earth's conquest by first a serpent race, then a dog race).
Book Recomendation
I have been reading Tales of the Slayers: Vols 1 and 2 and I have to say I STRONGLY recommend them not just becasue they are great books full of wonderful stories about Slayers Past (and present).
But becasue they are marvelous examples of how to:
--Write a fight scene -- euphemise the words Vampire and Dusting
-- the relationship of Watchers and Slayers
-- how spellcasting and magic can be described
-- tell a complicated tale in a short-story format
-- have a character appear, get into your heart and die in the matter of a few pages.
In all, both volumes are well worth the price and I cannot wait to see more coming.
ALSO RECOMMENDED:
[/]Tales of the Slayers Graphic novel by Dark Horse Comics. With stories by David Fury, Jane Espensen, Amber Benson, Joss himself, and others it's every bit as good as the novels. One of the stories in Novel Vol 2 mentions a story from this Graphic Novel as well. Good Stuff.
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i was meaning to get one of those for those reasons alone :D now that i know they're good too ... *rumages for money*
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Well we seem to have lost this thread, but I just finished De Vitae Caesarum: Vespasian by Seutonius, his biography of the Emperor Vespasian. A man with a truely great sense of humour, which shows in his life.
If you really want to, you can just read chapters XIX through XXV because of the way Seutonius structured his biographies. That's where all the really fun stuff is.
De Vitae Caesarum: Caius Caligula is also interesting, and may spook you. It is of this man who Seutonius says, "So much for Caligula the man, we must now discuss Caligula the monster."
But if anything, read about Vespasian. :)[/i]
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Oh i completely forgot about this thread. While on holiday I read two amazing books that I wanted to reccomend to y'all.
First is The Handmaid's Tale by Margrett Atwood. This was such an incredible book and a frightning look at a future America. If you like paranoid 'conspiracy theory' type novels like Animal Farm or 1984 you should get a kick out of this.
Second, The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann. This is also a heartbreaking book about a woman coping with having an affair with a member of the wealthy upper middle classes and all that it entails. I won't say any more 'cause it'd spoil it
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Lou Wrote
Quote:
Ok A) Hahahah Matt, isnt that the book you have your exam on that you hate?
B) Margrett Atwood.....im sorry, and Canadian pride aside, I find she is a terribly boring author...ANyone read "The Cat's Eye" by her...wow, cure for insomnia
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Yes, it is the same book...
You liked the Handmaid's Tale?
You liked it?!?
8O
It could have been a 1984/Animal Farm type, if she didn't spend so much of her time banging on about bloody feminism...
Margrat Atwood ...*shakes head* bloody colonials...:P
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Actually I like Atwood too. I think there's a movie out of The Handmaid's Tale somewhere too.
In case I haven't recommended it already, I suggest that you read The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This was a very moving and fascinating book.
I also am rereading The Dark Tower series by Stephen King, and if you've never read that, now is the time to do so. If you've already read it, read it again, cause he's put out revised versions, as the final 2 parts will be out this year.