Books to recommend?

[machshefa]

Hi guys,

I've got a long holiday weekend coming up with some (possible) reading time... and I have no idea what to read.  I have bookshelves full of books, but we have a trip to the bookstore planned, so I'm open to suggestions!  Fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, SF, anthologies--what do you recommend?

I would love an engrossing read, something that won't leave me depressed or despondent, something fabulous!  I recently read the most recent Malcom Gladwell and also Gaiman's "American Gods."

*sits back and makes list

Thank you!

Comments

[alwaysimploding.livejournal.com]

OK! I recently read Joe Hill´s The Heart-shaped Box - awesome read, totally unexpected, loved it!

But if you want something on the happier side, try Herman Wouk´s Don´t stop the Carnival, if you haven´t read it already. Just utterly charming and wastly entertaining!

If you read them, I´d love to hear what you think =)

[corianderpie.livejournal.com]

One of my favoritest books I read this past year was Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Historical fiction at its very best.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

I'm reading that at the moment!

[corianderpie.livejournal.com]

I gobbled it up. I'll probably read it again at some point. I guess a lot of people have found the fluid POV confusing and irritating--I thought it was exhilarating. Yumz. :D

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

The POV is the reason why I'm taking a sod of a long time to read it. It draws me in until I'm acclimatised, and it slows down the reading so that I can savour it instead of galloping through as I usually do. However, because I don't really have huge chunks of time at my disposal, and it's not a book you can pick up and read for five minutes and then put down again, I'm still only half way through.

I'm thrilled by it, though. I've always had a sneaking admiration for Thomas Cromwell, but he's not an instantly attractive figure, so having this fictional insight into him is great. I'm very impressed with Mantel's writing.

You know, if you like the period, you should read the CJ Sansom mysteries set during this very period (the first is "Dissolution"). Cromwell isn't the protagoonist, but he does feature, and he's well-realised.

[voxangelus.livejournal.com]

Well, in the same Gaiman vein, Anansi Boys is a sort-of sequel to American Gods featuring Fat Charlie, and I liked it better than American Gods. Stardust, if you haven't read it, is /wonderful/ too.

I just reread all of the Little House on the Prairie books recently and got such a different perspective and experience out of them than when I was a tween.

I read real books so seldom these days - when we moved last fall, we went from having a library two blocks away to having to drive 15 minutes across town for one :(

[sc010f.livejournal.com]

I second Anansi Boys. I liked it much better than American Gods, as well. Plus you can read it and think of Florida! :)

[astopperindeath.livejournal.com]

everyone in my office has been reading "the girl with the dragon tattoo." they say the first 100 pages are a bit slow but then it gets AWESOME. haven't read it myself.

[hechicera.livejournal.com]

I'll second that. The exposition is dense, but worth the slog.

[elise-wanderer.livejournal.com]

Mundungus42 gave me Christopher Moore's "Fool"--"King Lear" from the Fool's point of view--I've only just started to dip my toe in, and so far it's VASTLY more entertaining (and a good deal funnier!) than Will S's depressing version.

I Second Christopher Moore

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

I love everything I've read by Christopher Moore, and "Fool," is on my list.

So far my fav is "Lamb," but all so far a winners!

[averygoodun.livejournal.com]

Eyes Like Stars by (mumble) Mantchev is a delightful and original fantasy.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Someone Else is also pure delight (expanded!fairytale win!).

Home: A short History of an Idea by R. W. (Slavic, unspellable name) is very interesting and engaging.

I've been devouring the Princess books by Meg Cabot lately. Pure brain candy. LOL funny.

[timestep.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Madeline Albright's autobiography (make sure you don't grab the biography, it has a similar title.

http://www.amazon.com/Madam-Secretary-Memoir-Madeleine-Albright/

I've also been reading the Percy Jackson books and they are fun.

[timestep.livejournal.com]

fixed link:

http://www.amazon.com/Madam-Secretary-Memoir-Madeleine-Albright/dp/B000ETQQ1O/

[angrboda]

If you can find it, seeing as she's not a super-well-known author, anything by Frances Hardinge, but especially Gullstruck Island (or the Lost Conspiracy, I think it's called in America). Her world-building is absolutely fantastic.

Something a little lightweight but humorous and exciting is Derek Landry's Skullduggery Pleasant series. I've only read the first one so far, but I did read it seriously quickly. The good guy is an animated skeleton detective in a snazzy suit.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is also a really good book, dealing with the Dracula legend, but it does drag on a bit sometimes.

Unless you've read George R R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire or whatever it's called series and loved it avoid Stephen Erikson's Malazon series. Possibly even avoid it anyway... It's terribly dry and complicated.

Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels are also highly amusing and generally quickly read. They contain serious amounts of sillyness.

David Farland has a good series, Runelords. Eight books are planned, seven are out so far, I think. It's actually two cycles, the first four being one ended storyline and the next ones being a sequel storyline focusing on the next generation. I really liked the first four, but I would stop there.

I've also rather enjoyed the Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott, but all books are not out yet in that one (which reminds me, the newest one ought to have been released now). Again, it can drag on a bit and it does contain some elements of Mary Sue-ness, but I found that the story was still able to grab me.

For something really ancient by now, David Eddings. He's probably my favourite ever fantasy author and I prefer the Elenium and Tamuli series over the more well-known Belgariad and Mallorean series any day. I've read them more times than I can count and yes, there are certainly things about them that I've become more critical about as I've got older, but I still love those books. I can't help myself. (Avoid the Dreamers series, though! The man really was running out of juice on those, sadly)

Finally, I must mention the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage because I love it so. I'm probably way too old to be target audience, but it's written in such a wonderful way. The books are smelling a little bit like Harry Potter but the story-telling is much more light-hearted.

Oh, and one more, I've just started, recently, the first book in the Terra Incognita series by Kevin J Anderson. I haven't come very far yet, only two or three chapters in, but I do have a strong suspicion already that I'm really going to like it.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

You're right about Eddings. Anything outside or after the Belgariad, Malloreon, Elenium aand Tamuli is just crap. But I go back to Eddings again and again for comfort reading even though, like you, I've become more critical.

[angrboda]

I quite liked the Redemption of Althalus too, but not nearly as much as the others. Even the Belgariad saga begs rereading every few years, but not as often as the Elenium does. I liked Althalus, but basically that's the one where I realised that the man only really had one idea. Great story, but having read the Elenium some 15 times or so (I'm not exaggerating here, that's how many I think approximately) it's rather predictable. So far I've only been through Althalus twice. Ever.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

I didn't even finish Althalus. I was just so offended by the complete paucity of ideas.

[apisa-b.livejournal.com]

I've just read Imperium by Robert Harris - and loved it. It describes the ascend of Cicero to power in ancient Rome.

Something funny: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

[ariadne1.livejournal.com]

I second Good Omens.

Everyone here is reading the Hunger Games trilogy - but I don't know if you'll like the premise. Really good books, though - we've all devoured them.

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

I have the first Hunger Games book on loan from a friend - can't wait!

[dozmuffinxc.livejournal.com]

Jinx! Just suggested "The Hunger Games." Finally bought the bullet and got a copy for my classroom (*cough*formyself*cough*), actually. I haven't read Mockingjay yet, but am looking ridiculously forward to it. Huzzah! :)

[ariadne1.livejournal.com]

I'm saving books 2 and 3 for this weekend, when the ramping up portion of the semester is finally over.

Oh! You graduated! *adds you as friend* *blush* Sorry that took so long... :)

[dozmuffinxc.livejournal.com]

I think you'll really like book 2! I wasn't hugely wild about them until I realized just how devastatingly addicted one becomes to them, and how vile the author is by giving such horrible, cliff-hanger endings. I read the first when I was helping Grym with a high school book club, and just had to go out and find book 2 immediately. Been waiting for book 3 forever, but now have no time to read :(

And... *giggles* I don't think you'll find my journal much more interesting now that I've graduated. A bit more random and potentially bordering on manic now that I'm in charge of a classroom of teenagers (*rubs hands together*), but otherwise, same old deal. But I'm honored that you'd friend me!

[ariadne1.livejournal.com]

I would have right after Chicago except for my general "no undergrads in my LJ" rule. Teachers stick together, yes? *grins* I look forward to reading your random manicness (manicity?) :)

[dozmuffinxc.livejournal.com]

My random manic-acity (hey, English teachers can make up words, can't they?) is at your disposal ^_^

[lady-rhian.livejournal.com]

Second this suggestion. Fabulous.

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

"Possession" by A.S. grumpypants Byatt
Two experts on two separate Victorian poets are brought together when one discovers a partially-written love letter written from one poet to the other. Fast-paced with textual analysis and faux Romantic poetry - a super read.

"The Wizard of the Crow" by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
One of my all-time favorite books, it's a political satire set in the fictional African nation of Abruria, which is under the thumb of an insane dictator. A man looking for work escapes arrest by pretending to have magical powers, and before he knows it, everybody is looking to his alter ego, the Wizard of the Crow for assistance, wisdom, and everything else. This book is insane, hilarious, and an absolute tour-de-force.

"if on a winter's night a traveler" by Italo Calvino
My favorite author plays fast and loose with second person, narrative, and international book conspiracies.

Oh, and if you just read American Gods, the book I'm reading seems to have taken a turn in that direction. I'm not done with it yet (still less than 100 pages in), but I'm having fun so far and really enjoyed the other book of his that I've read: "Kraken" by China Mieville.

Happy early New Year! :D

[dozmuffinxc.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure whether it'll leave you depressed or not, but "The Hunger Games" trilogy is pretty fun (I've actually not read the 3rd yet, just came out). I love The Mists of Avalon in ridiculous ways, and if you've not read any of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series, you really ought to (romance, hot Scottish men, historical fiction and a wee bit of smut = WIN)

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

Oooh - I read The Mists of Avalon years ago and remember loving it. Thanks for the reminder!

[dozmuffinxc.livejournal.com]

I absolutely fell in love with "Mists" after reading a snippet in my Medieval literature class two years ago (we were looking at contemporary, themed novels), and have gone on to read the entire series, including the posthumous publications. I finally bought my own copy of "Mists" a few months ago, and have been shoving it at friends every since. It must not be left unread! Absolutely fabulous! There's another prequel out there that I'm waiting to get my hands on...

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I definitely second/third The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. Well worth the read! I didn't even find the beginning slow; I was absorbed from the start till the end, and my baths got progressively longer just so I could get through more pages, lol.

For non-fiction pleasure I recommend Immortal Milk by Eric LeMay. I waxed rhapsodic about it on my cheese blog, but honestly, I'm enjoying every single word.

[ariadne1.livejournal.com]

Non-fiction: The Making of a Chef by Michael Ruhlman. Love, love, love, love, love.

The Apprentice by Jacques Pepin.

My Life in France by Julia Child.

*daft grin*

[cecelle.livejournal.com]

Recent reads/re-reads I loved:

Gaiman's "Stardust" (A fairy tale for adults)

Patricia Wrede/Caroline Stevemer (hope I got the names right!) - "Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot". It's magical alternate universe meets regency romance. Fun.

Wrede's "Dealing with Dragons" is a Potter-age-group-reading-level fantasy that charmed the socks off me. Quick read. Loved it. The next two in the series were also cute, but not quite as good. But you don't need to read those, the first one can stand quite on its own.

[dynonugget.livejournal.com]

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

"My Name is Asher Lev" by Chaim Potok

[blueartemis07.livejournal.com]

I love Jasper FForde. The Thursday Next stuff is great.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

Seconded.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

The Sookie Stackhouse books - read them in order.

The Mallory novels by Carol O'Connell (detective stories) - again, in order.

Anything and everything by China Mieville except perhaps King Rat. For happy and joyously inventive, read Un Lun Dun - for YA, but not exclusively at all.

For readable and pacy fantasy, choose David Gemmell. I haven't read anything of his that hasn't sucked me in completely by the end of the first chapter.

Ilium and Olympos by Dan Simmons. Extraordinary combination of high fantasy and space opera, with Shakespeare and Proust thrown in.

In starting my cleaning and organising campaign I have discovered a whole pile of books I haven't read yet. Must read them all before spending money on more!

[melenka.livejournal.com]

If I'm not too late... Anything by Maggie Stiefvater, truly good YA fantasy that is dark in moments but not overall. If your daughters read fantasy, they may like the books as well. I have to get the latest back from my 15-year-old neighbor. I think she's still hugging it and hoping more words will fall out.

Also in urban fantasy, I'm fond of the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Her world building is solid and the stories are well-paced. Not challenging reads, but lovely for a day of relaxed reading (great for tub reading!). In a similar vein, I will read any of Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series. It does help to read them in order, but it's not strictly necessary.

Since getting out of school, I mostly read genre fiction, so I have no deep or erudite suggestions.