No, I haven't suddenly turned into a librarian or taken up some other stereotypically boring profession.

What with this fast paced computer age, every now and then I like to pick up the odd book and chill out. Anything by Terry Pratchett suits me fine, and I used to be partial to a little Anne Rice.

Well, just of late, I've been considering getting a satire on the 20th century, by The Onion (www.theonion.com) - "Our Dumb Century" - Purely because I read one quote that appealed to my sense of humor and think it might be worth a look...

World's Largest Metaphor Hits Iceberg. The story underneath described how the telegram that brought the news read:
'Titanic struck by icy representation of nature's supremacy STOP Insufficient lifeboats due to pompous certainty in man's infallibility STOP Microcosm of larger society STOP.'

Sooo, is there anything that the rest of you guys are partial to reading, or would like to read, and why?

Ok, this thread may not generate the most interest in the world, but what the heck. I don't post new threads in here all that often :D

Mainly a fantasy reader here. When I want to "truly" escape, I want it to NOT resemble reality in any way, shape or form. Anything by Brooks, Feist, Weis and Hickman, et al. Have even been checking out some more obscure authors of late. Check out the first effort by an gentleman named Brandon Sanderson.....it's an excellent read.

Niven, Pournelle, Flynn: Fallen Angels
Katherine Kerr: Dweomer series (Daggerspell)
Anne McCaffrey: Dragon Riders series
Isac Asimov: Foundation Series
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes series
Anything by Niven, Clarke, Pratchett, Shakespeare, Turtledove.

Currently reading:
Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 (I like the movie better so far)
Jan Gullberg: Mathematics; From the Birth of Numbers
Rober Lous Stevenson: Kidnapped
Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Grey

I recently started reading the classics, and must say that a lot of the old masters really do deserve their status.

The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag
Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465011020/102-3140074-4306520?v=glance&n=283155

Definately not a book you read to escape from the real world, but its a good book, and pretty easy to read.

I don't really like reading books that are fiction, movies fill that role for me.

Anything by Andy McNab.

Particularly.

Bravo Two Zero (1993)
Immediate Action (1995)

These are non fiction, about the SAS written by an X-SAS soldier.

Regards Howard :)

I'd have to go with JRR Tolkien's masterpieces. I know that the LOTR movies are very good, but nothing beats immersing yourself in the far more detailed world of Middle Earth in the books.

I am also partial towards any Alistair McClain books. They are pretty well written and I could probably read them in one sitting if given the chance!

Non-Fiction Technical:
Robert Shapiro: Origins (a look at the mathimatical probability of DNA forming randomly on Earth)
John Gibbons: In search of series: Shrodinger's Cat and the Big Bang are very good reads on quantum physics introduction and our limits to complete the theory. The Big Bang...origin of the universe stuff.
My all time favourite: Cambridge University Prof and the current post holder of the Sir Issac Newton Chair, Roger Penrose's: The Emperor's New Mind. (a stunning look into and well plotted arguement against artifical intelligence. He takes the reader on a journey thru number theory, computable and non-computable rational, irrational and transidental numbers, infinite set theory, the theory of logic, Turnings machine and fundementals of programming. It's a huge read and everyone who finishes it and understands it all should get some honourary degree.)

Fiction:
Robert Mitchel's: Space (fictional historical story from the V2 rocket program to the landing on the moon and the Apollo series)
Anne Rice
Isaac Asimov
Tom Clancy

Wow - people the actually READ! I'm impressed. After serving for three years on Army recruiting duty....I began to think youth were incapable of reading anymore!

Tedster,
do you really have to spoil every thread with your silly remarks?
You're getting on my (and many others') nerves with your cheap sarcasm.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being is still one of my all time favorites. Not an important piece of literature by any means, but it was the first book I ever read that made me realize how amazing reading books can be. It just grabbed me the right way.

Since then read all kinds of books. From Tolkien to Autobiographies, bring it on.

Currently reading: The Sufis by Idies Shah

Favorite part so far (paraphrasing), There is something behind our smiles that shakes our teeth. Smiles are used, and are of necessity only a small fraction of something else.

I can't believe no one mentionned Terry Pratchett.

Well as far as War Novels go, I recommend Band of Brothers and D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose, along with Fallen Angels; a fictitious Vietnam War novel, by Walter Dean Myers (if you’re into that kind of stuff). Finally, a fantasy series I enjoyed was the Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony. :grinthumb

I prefer relaxing books with a bit of adventure/detective/spy stuff in them, such as those written by Tom Clancy (on his own), Robert Ludlum, Clive Cussler, Minette Walters, Kathie Reich, Wilbur Smith.
Don't fancy any (auto-)biographies, history, war or 'classical' literature.
I used to devour Sci-Fi, Frank Herbert, Asimov and the likes, but have given up on that.
Currently I'm killing what little spare time I have with Sudoku puzzles.
All our books have been packed away already.

The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy books (ignore the film, what were they thinking)
Most John Grisham books
Someone will shake their head in disappointment at this next one but: the Dan Brown books.

Mostly fiction reader here. Terry Brooks, Issac Asimov, Eddings, Feist, Goodkind, Jordan (pretty much given up on him though), Stephen King and so on. I'm one of those addicts that needs to read before bed each night or it will take me two hours to fall asleep. Have read some some non-fiction but, as has been posted, I too like to escape from the real world.

And about Pratchett? Do you have to be European or English to get the humor there? I've read two of his books and mostly found them a chore to finish. I'm trying to figure out what I'm missing or if it's a case of "If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand."

I'd recommend the Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini, third book's in production, they are called
Eragon
Eldest
Empire (code name for third)
Easy to spot as each has a massive picture of a dragon on the front.
FIlm of the first is currently being made too.

I recently started reading the classics, and must say that a lot of the old masters really do deserve their status.

By this you mean: Dickens, Hemingway, Tolstoy, Melville...etc.?
You know I've never actually read any of these authors. I've always assumed they would be overrated and verbose. Maybe it's high time I sat down with A Tale of Two Cities and a cup of tea.

Shakespear is about as classical as i gets, and unless you can understand Ye Olde Englishe of the Elizabethan era, it's VERY verbose.
But the more classical classics, such as Dickins, are not verbose at all. The books are great.

That's why "a christmas carol" has survived the TV and film industries so long - because the book it was based on was great. lol

Shakespear is about as classical as i gets, and unless you can understand Ye Olde Englishe

HWÆT, WE GAR-DEna in geardagum

That is old english. That is a classic as it gets. (thats beowulf BTW)

Angleas Ashes-read it awhile back, and the diction is a bit odd, but its a good story. Not much of a pick me up, but still good.

I just got done The Kite Runner. Good.

I love Tom Clancy as well.

Classical book, eh? I’d go with Dante's Inferno.... one of thee greatest books I've ever read. It was probably among the few books that we were forced into reading Junior Year of High School that I actually liked.

I don't really like Dickens though. His style of writing is very good, and he's a master at portraying characters, but I'm not too fond of the characters he's portraying. The last book I read of him was "Great Expectations", but gave up after one third. Pip had just become too much of a pompous wannabe for me to continue. Maybe I'll finish it in the future, as the book is superbly written.
One book that I really enjoyed by him is his "Ghost Stories", which are mostly written by others, though he has one short story in it. The one that struck me the most was the one which ended with the sentence "Your place was kept". Sorry, can't remember the name, and it's 6000 miles/10000km away from where I am.

As for Shakespear, he isn't bad at all. But it depends on which edition you are reading. I usually try to get close to the original language, but the cheap books (wordsworth, penguin, etc.) are usually more up to date. Either way makes for a good read :)

Dante's Inferno is on my list, but I doubt I'll get through it this year. Haven't found a cheap edition in Singapore, and then I'll wait until I get home, where my father has it.

As for whom to include in the list of masters... Well, I found this (http://pd.sparknotes.com/lit/index.html) list to be rater decent, though I'm not sure if I'd include Ayn Rand. And Hemingway and others are conspicuously absent... But it's way better than what you get from literature.org!

though I'm not sure if I'd include Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand is what I'd call "Highly intelligent reading", and I consider the phrase to be an accurate slur on a writer, if you see what I mean.

Said that, I have a habit of not knowing when I'm being obscure sometimes, so basically I'm saying that it's a pig to follow, but says some interesting and intellectual things. You know - the sort of thing that can drive you crazy.

Ok, maybe I should clarify.
I am not saying Ayn Rand is a bad writer, only that I'm not sure if I'd include her in the classics yet.
It's just that with Hemingway and Shakespeare, amongst others, missing I'm not sure I'd put Ayn Rand there before them... But that could just be me.

no, you're quite right.

I wouldn't call Ayn Rand a bad writer either. It's just that the writing can be difficult to follow due to the nature of its subject - especially if you don't naturally tend towards the philosophical.

That's just my view though.

Shakespeare ? Dickens ? Dante ? No,Bill Bryson.Inorder to redress the
lack of comic novels in this thread,I nominate Bryson`s "Notes from a Big country"
(OK,not really a novel,but definitely comic)Essential reading for both Americans and Europeans.

Ok, this thread may not generate the most interest in the world, but what the heck. It`s not doing too bad though,Spike :)

Pretty different from most of what has been suggested so far, but other writers that I really enjoy are Bukowski, Whitman, Ginsgerg etc. These men have without question shaped who I am today.

Tedster,
do you really have to spoil every thread with your silly remarks?
You're getting on my (and many others') nerves with your cheap sarcasm.
I wasn't being sarcastic. I was serious. Many American youths don't bother reading at all let alone classics or intellectual stuff. It's refreshing to see positive , intelligent stuff around here.

I quit watching TV about two and a half years ago and haven't looked back since. What I'd recomend is that you don't try and be cultured. Sure, read the classics, but if you approach it like some kind of duty you're just trying to improve your image. It's tantamount to having an unread copy of 'Don Juan' on your coffee table to impress visitors. If you don't want to read it, don't. It doesn't mean your inferior, it just means you don't have sufficient interest to justify struggling with something like 'Phantom of the Opera'.

I'm not getting at anyone here, just stating my beliefs on the matter. I'm not suggesting you're pretentious if you read classic literature. In fact I'd encourage it (unless you want to read a novel by Thomas Hardy, just don't really. His poetry is fantastic though).

Reccomended book:
Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

The six "Dune" books by Frank Herbert. (although skipping "Children of Dune" hurts nothing)

Some interesting "cyber" plots/ ideas by Melissa Scott: "Trouble and Her Friends," among others.

Andrew Vacchs(sp), Johnathan Kellerman, early Robert Ludlum, all Robert Heinlein, most Isaac Asimov, some Arthur C. Clark, Greg Bear, and, just out, "Between the River and The Bridge" by Craig Ferguson.

Too many others to list- tis easy to lose one's self in a good book.

(did I mention Stephen King? Not all is horror, and he's a masterful storyteller) :approve: :wave:

Surprised to see no one has mentioned reading The Da Vinci Code......
I am about half way through it, I've heard the book is MUCH better than the movie....

Surprised to see no one has mentioned reading The Da Vinci Code......
I am about half way through it, I've heard the book is MUCH better than the movie....
I did. See reply 14. Hey Halo71, great minds... :haha:

Ohh....I missed that!
Have you read Angels and Demons yet? I think thats the name of it.....
I really want to visit Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland! Been TiVo'ing all the Grail and Da Vinci stuff on the history channel these past few weeks, very interesting stuff!!

Yup, read it. I really have to see that film(the da vinci code), any one know if it's good?

I've heard that the movie stinks by several people......but I never pay much atttention to others opinions on movies! (kinda like hearing dumb and dumber was bad, but I loved it!)

I think I will try to find that book this weekend maybe.....

Critics are morons. They said the dialogue in Revenge of the Sith was poor and Matrix Reloaded was nonsensical. I mean come on, what did they expect from a Star Wars film? It's high fantasy in space, not high art. As far as Matrix Reloaded is concerned anyone who can't grasp the basics of existentialist theory has no right to say that it doesn't make sense. Made perfect sense to me.

Episode 4: A New Hope, got terrible reviews. Can you belive it?

If you're gonna' rely on the press and the media to formulate your opinions about entertainment of any kind you're gonna' be disapointed. Some of the best things (most in my opinion) aren't hyped up by advertising and can't be found in your local supermarket. You have to experiment to learn. Buy something from international cinema. Buy a book by an author you've never heard of on the strength of the synopsis. A whole new world of posibilities opens up when you're not just reading the latest 'best seller', or watching the block buster of the year.

An example: the winner of the Cannes film festival last year was a south korean film called Oldboy. I bet you've never watched it, but it's a fantastic film (not for the faint-hearted though).

Many great choices can be enjoyed here. Oscar Wild*s writing in Dorion Grey was brilliant and fun to read. I didn*t know Wilde was gay at the time and how persecuted he was in his lifetime.


I don*t care if he was green cheese from Mars. Nothing could take away from the brilliance.


Similarly brilliant fun to read humour can be enjoyed in *little town sketches*. Stephen Lea****. About the push and pull of human life and politics in a little town of Mariposa.

Lea**** had connections with McGill university in Montreal Quebec and his writing is so much fun to read, in the sense that you should never miss the movie, *The Blue Matador* with Peter Sellers in this lifetime. TG

By this you mean: Dickens, Hemingway, Tolstoy, Melville...etc.?
You know I've never actually read any of these authors. I've always assumed they would be overrated and verbose. Maybe it's high time I sat down with A Tale of Two Cities and a cup of tea.
Might I recommend two that I particularly enjoy: Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlet Letter) and Victor Hugo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Both writers have a way of writing that makes you feel that they have, like a wise old grandfather, put their arm around your shoulders to lead you through their tales. Both convey this incredible sense of compassion for their characters. Amazing writing.

Ah I read the Scarlet Letter in School a couple years back. It was a ok book, despite the bashing by students.

Two more recent books I haved read (or tried to)

Cod. - I read a book about oranges and found it to be outstanding, so I tired this, to my disappointment.

Naked.-Very Very funny, great writing style.

I was a big fan of frank herbert's "Dune" series. dont care for his sons books though. I am also a great fan of Roger Zelazny, "This immortal, Lord of Light, Creatures of light and darkness, " and alot of his short stories. my favorote being "for a breath I tarry". I also liked Karl Edward wagner's, Kane series. enjoyed James Clavell's asian saga series, Shogun, Taipan, Noble house, and Gaijin, didnt care for whirlwind though. Thomas Harris another favorite, Red Dragon, Silence of the lambs, I was a bit disappointed with Hannibal though.

in Non fiction I just finished reading "The gift of fear", By Gavin DeBecker and "on Combat" by Lt. Col Dave Grossman.

almost forgot I also like most of Michael Crichton's books, jurassic park, Sphere, congo,eaters fo the dead, and his latest, State of fear.