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Thread: recommend a good book.

  1. #1
    One of the Undutchables Member The Stranger's Avatar
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    Default recommend a good book.

    Here is my list (a max on 10?):

    Veronika decides to die - Paulo Coelho
    The witch of portobello - Paulo Coelho
    The adventurers - Unknown by me
    Waiting for columbus - Thomas Trofimuk
    On the road (unedited version) - Jack Kerouac
    Personal Notes - Marcus Aurelius

    We do not sow.

  2. #2
    Member Member Hax's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig
    This space intentionally left blank.

  3. #3
    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Reading 'The Iugurtha War' by Gaius Sallustius Crispus at the moment. Unbelievable that this is more than 2000 year old, could have been written today

  4. #4

    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi.


  5. #5
    One of the Undutchables Member The Stranger's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fragony View Post
    Reading 'The Iugurtha War' by Gaius Sallustius Crispus at the moment. Unbelievable that this is more than 2000 year old, could have been written today
    are you reading translation or original :P

    We do not sow.

  6. #6
    One of the Undutchables Member The Stranger's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Quote Originally Posted by Hax View Post
    Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig
    =_= that book is on my hatelist.

    We do not sow.

  7. #7
    Speaker of Truth Senior Member Moros's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Currently reading and enjoying:
    The Wars of Alexander's Successors 323BC-281BC (2 volumes), BENNETT & ROBERTS, Barnsley, 2008.

  8. #8
    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    I've been trying to read some new fiction. Highlights:

    Best new fantasy novel lemur has read: The Blade Itself

    Best new-ish historical novel: A Conspiracy of Paper

    Best new SF novel: Rule 34
    Last edited by Lemur; 10-31-2011 at 16:46.

  9. #9
    Nec Pluribus Impar Member SwordsMaster's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    The Circuit - Bob Shepherd
    Lord Jim - Joseph Conrad
    For Whom the Bell Tolls - Ernest Hemingway
    Managing perceptions goes hand in hand with managing expectations - Masamune

    Pie is merely the power of the state intruding into the private lives of the working class. - Beirut

  10. #10
    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Would really call them 'good' because they aren't, but 'The Hunger Games' Trilogy is just fun . Sit back and relax, like a good Hollywood summer-flick

  11. #11
    Tovenaar Senior Member The Wizard's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post
    Best new fantasy novel lemur has read: The Blade Itself
    I loved that, if you enjoyed it you should definitely read the other two books in the trilogy and the standalone novel that follows on it, Best Served Cold.

    In fact, if you enjoy Joe Abercrombie's writing, consider checking out some other rising stars of the new generation in fantasy, such as:

    The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (and its sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies; where Abercrombie's work is a no-holds-barred action movie, Lynch is Ocean's Eleven meets fantasy)
    The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker (stick with it through the rest of the trilogy, and you will be able to enjoy the incredibly good first book of the following trilogy, The Judging Eye)

    And since I'm a fantasy buff, consider reading some older and even better stuff, such as:

    The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe (perhaps the best work of fantasy or science fiction I've ever read, it's pure literature; you should only pick it up, though, if you can handle a postmodern novel full of linguistic quirks and tricks by the author)
    The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula K. Le Guin (an omnibus edition of four books from the same series, which is a wonderfully fresh and exciting tale of adventure and discovery from the seventies, I especially enjoyed The Tombs of Atuan and Tehanu, though not many agree with me on the latter)
    The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson (an omnibus of a classic trilogy of high fantasy featuring the epitome of an antihero, this is another wonderful and unique work of seventies fantasy)
    Hawkwood and the Kings by Paul Kearney (an omnibus edition of two books in a five-book series which is especially relevant to those who enjoyed Abercrombie's The First Law)
    The Complete Chronicles of Conan by Robert E. Howard (it's an omnibus of all the original Conan the Barbarian stories, written in the '30s but just as amazing eighty years later. What more can you want?)
    Last edited by The Wizard; 10-31-2011 at 18:59.
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  12. #12
    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Quote Originally Posted by The Wizard View Post
    The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (and its sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies; where Abercrombie's work is a no-holds-barred action movie, Lynch is Ocean's Eleven meets fantasy)
    The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker (stick with it through the rest of the trilogy, and you will be able to enjoy the incredibly good first book of the following trilogy, The Judging Eye)
    Have not read these, will have to put them on my to-read list.

    Quote Originally Posted by The Wizard View Post
    The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe (perhaps the best work of fantasy or science fiction I've ever read, it's pure literature; you should only pick it up, though, if you can handle a postmodern novel full of linguistic quirks and tricks by the author)
    The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula K. Le Guin (an omnibus edition of four books from the same series, which is a wonderfully fresh and exciting tale of adventure and discovery from the seventies, I especially enjoyed The Tombs of Atuan and Tehanu, though not many agree with me on the latter)
    The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson (an omnibus of a classic trilogy of high fantasy featuring the epitome of an antihero, this is another wonderful and unique work of seventies fantasy)
    Hawkwood and the Kings by Paul Kearney (an omnibus edition of two books in a five-book series which is especially relevant to those who enjoyed Abercrombie's The First Law)
    The Complete Chronicles of Conan by Robert E. Howard (it's an omnibus of all the original Conan the Barbarian stories, written in the '30s but just as amazing eighty years later. What more can you want?)
    Is it sad that I've read every one of these except for the Kearny? Book of the New Sun, in particular, is some kind of twisted masterpiece.

  13. #13

    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    I am reading:

    The Heavens and the Earth: a political history of the space age.

    Very interesting book for the most part except for a few sections that are dull.

  14. #14
    Throne Room Caliph Senior Member phonicsmonkey's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Blood Meridian, Cormac McCarthy
    frogbeastegg's TWS2 guide....it's here!

    Come to the Throne Room to play multiplayer hotseat campaigns and RPGs in M2TW.

  15. #15

    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
    YEAAAAAH BOIIIIII

    Surprising, given that the consensus seems to be that TJE was the weakest book.IMO the The Thousandfold Thought is the best of the series, though on my first read-through I preferred Warrior Prophet. You wouldn't happen to have an account on the ASoIaF forum, would you?
    Vitiate Man.

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    The glib replies, the same defeats


    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



  16. #16

    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Quote Originally Posted by The Stranger View Post
    Here is my list (a max on 10?):

    Veronika decides to die - Paulo Coelho
    The witch of portobello - Paulo Coelho
    The adventurers - Unknown by me
    Waiting for columbus - Thomas Trofimuk
    On the road (unedited version) - Jack Kerouac
    Personal Notes - Marcus Aurelius
    If you like Paulo Coelho, I recommend The Alchemist

    Otherwise I recently finished reading Harry Turtledove's, The World War trilogy and the accompanying Colonization trilogy.

    I recommend both those with the highest regards.
    Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you,
    By the livin' Gawd that made you,
    You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!
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    It is our military's traditional response to quell provocative actions with a merciless thunderbolt.

  17. #17
    Member Member Hax's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    =_= that book is on my hatelist.
    Why?
    This space intentionally left blank.

  18. #18
    One of the Undutchables Member The Stranger's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Quote Originally Posted by Veho Nex View Post
    If you like Paulo Coelho, I recommend The Alchemist

    Otherwise I recently finished reading Harry Turtledove's, The World War trilogy and the accompanying Colonization trilogy.

    I recommend both those with the highest regards.
    its on my nightstand, i started it but havent had the time to finish.

    Why?
    cuz its mindboggingly bad pseudophilosophic garbage

    We do not sow.

  19. #19
    smell the glove Senior Member Major Robert Dump's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    For fiction I prefer The Nation and Mother Jones
    Baby Quit Your Cryin' Put Your Clown Britches On!!!

  20. #20
    Tovenaar Senior Member The Wizard's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    At risk of hijacking this thread with fantasy banter: has anyone read Raymond E. Feist's Magician? Is it any good? I had it in my hands today in the bookstore and read the first chapter, but ended up getting a different book. Not because I thought it was crap, but because the first chapter gave off a Wheel of Time-esque "farmer boy becomes magician's apprentice and saves the world" type of vibe. As in, dull fantasy with no gray in it, only shades of black and white in a predictable epic format, of which I am not a fan. Does the book go beyond this in later chapters or does it stay that way? Just so I know if it's worth it to read it at some later date.

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post
    Is it sad that I've read every one of these except for the Kearny? Book of the New Sun, in particular, is some kind of twisted masterpiece.
    No, that's not sad, that's great! You'd like Kearney's Monarchies of God series, I think. I enjoyed the read (I read all five books, contained in two omnibus editions, in less than two weeks), but I'm still not decided on if it deserves a place among my favorites, mostly due to a certain overarching high fantasy plot element that feels sort of forced and out of place.

    Quote Originally Posted by Montmorency View Post
    YEAAAAAH BOIIIIII

    Surprising, given that the consensus seems to be that TJE was the weakest book.IMO the The Thousandfold Thought is the best of the series, though on my first read-through I preferred Warrior Prophet. You wouldn't happen to have an account on the ASoIaF forum, would you?
    I do, actually. I tend to get my recommendations for books to read from there :p (And which not to, such as Goodkind...)

    As for Bakker, I think The Judging Eye was his strongest book by a long shot. The Prince of Nothing trilogy was good, but I found myself largely unable to relate to most of the characters (except perhaps Esmenet and Akka, and Cnaiür for good measure) and unsure of what Bakker was trying to say with his story. Plus, characters seemed to have a contract and the main plot seemed to move not of its own accord, but because the author wanted it to, which if visible isn't a boon in my book. None of that was present in The Judging Eye, as far as I'm concerned. Couple that with the extremely well-built world, its history and culture, and Bakker's gripping and vivid narrative (all of which are present in the first three books as well), and I think it's his best book so far.
    Last edited by The Wizard; 11-01-2011 at 20:28.
    "It ain't where you're from / it's where you're at."

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  21. #21
    One of the Undutchables Member The Stranger's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    ye i love the series. magician is one of the best as well. tho i like the ones with johnny the hand and mara as well.

    it has some really cool stories, but it not all are equally good. u can just go to the library and try it out :P
    Last edited by The Stranger; 11-01-2011 at 22:34.

    We do not sow.

  22. #22

    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    unsure of what Bakker was trying to say with his story
    Heh, read Neuropath and it will become abundantly clear.
    Vitiate Man.

    History repeats the old conceits
    The glib replies, the same defeats


    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



  23. #23

    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Magician is good.

    I have a soft spot for Lee Child's Jack Reacher books.

    Stephen King is a good read as well.

  24. #24
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    Default Re: recommend a good book.

    Prince Klemens Von Metternich's memoirs.



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