Support NeoGAF

[Eaten By A Grue]

Took me a few months, but just finished:

I am so glad GAF recommend that trilogy to me, such a wild ride. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone else. I am actually sad that it ended and wish there were more books in this series.

And it is funny the poster above mentioned this, but coincidently I have just started this:

 

[Incandenza]

Thanks for the recommendation, but I read it about 6 years ago. It didn't really flick my switch though.

Okay, I have whittled the selection down to a few titles, with hopes of a winner.

Snow Crash
Stranger in a Strange Land
Foundation
The Stars My Destination
Neuromancer


Wish me luck.

The only one I've read of these is Snow Crash, but I really enjoyed it. In fact it's the only Stephenson novel that I've been able to get into. Heavy '90s vibe, doesn't take itself too seriously, and has a lot of fun, silly ideas. Depending on your personality you may even get a kick out of the infodump-y chapters about computer viruses and ancient religions.

 

[Samk]

Hi folks. I'm hoping someone can steer me in the right direction, and help me become a regular reader of sorts.

I didn't read much as a youngster, and had put it down to never finding the right material to keep me interested. It seems I'm still having the same problem.

A few books were recommended to me recently (I like Sci-Fi) ;

Ready Player One
The City & The City
The Unincorporated Man
The Windup Girl


I tried to read 'Ready Player One', but to no avail as the usual pattern emerged. I found the book interesting at first, as it scratched an itch. Then found it hard to push through more than half the book.

In this particular case, I think the writing was a bit childish? Maybe that's unkind, I'm not an expert. I just didn't find it very engaging, and it read like an instruction manual. That is the best way to describe it.

I would like to read just one book, and enjoy it. Hopefully sparking an interest to pick up another thereafter. I like dystopian themes like Bladerunner, and the Shadowrun games. Something of that ilk would be ideal, though I'm open to other forms of fiction.

If anyone could give me an idea of a couple of titles to check out, that would be great. They don't have to be the best books you've ever read, but something interesting and solid that I could build on. I did have a look at the lists in the OP, but there are just so many I don't know where to start.

p.s I didn't mean to cause offence with my description of 'Ready Player One', or by mentioning those other titles. I really have no idea what stance they have in the book world.

Rama by AC Clarke. Dune if you haven't

I'll also one up the McCarthy and say the boarder trilogy beginning with all the pretty horses. Really good western.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Just started reading this:

Its probably gonna be a long one but its definitely interesting.

YESSSS

welcome to the best

 

[nakedsushi]

I finished my first Christie.


And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

It was only okay. Maybe I should have started with a different book. Or maybe I overhyped it too much in my head. I thought the twist at the end was hard to believe and the epistolary part was over-explained.

 

[Pau]

Putting aside Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee for a bit. It's stuff that everyone in the U.S. should learn, but it's hard to get through all at once.

Going through Nothing to Envy.

 

[Karkador]

Seems others have been thinking about this book, too, but I read the first chapter of Neuromancer, but I wonder if there is any modern cyberpunk (or 'post cyberpunk'?) this is a bit more current to our times with technology and society? Neuromancer is coming off a bit corny and dated.

 

[Narag]

Seems others have been thinking about this book, too, but I read the first chapter of Neuromancer, but I wonder if there is any modern cyberpunk (or 'post cyberpunk'?) this is a bit more current to our times with technology and society? Neuromancer is coming off a bit corny and dated.

Think it works better once you're out of Chiba City. I always stumble through that when I reread it.

 

[ClassyPenguin]

Thumbing through this again.


Very readable, and simple to understand about neurotransmitters and the drugs used to treat neurological conditions and some on recreational drug abuse.

And


Ugh, I kinda agree with his premise but he writes in such an entitled and douchey way. I'll write a review once I am done with it.

 

[Karkador]

Think it works better once you're out of Chiba City. I always stumble through that when I reread it.

Well, I'm still interested in going through it as a 'historical' piece, and it's not like it was boring. I just think the genre, in some form, can still be relevant in a modern context, and I wonder if there's anything out there like that.

 

[CornBurrito]

Finally started this Song of Ice and Fire nonsense to see what all the hubbub is about.

Also finished Ender's Game, and got halfway through Richard Dawkins': The Greatest Show on Earth before setting it aside for later.

 

[Lamel]

Nice so far.

 

[Nappuccino]

Thanks for the recommendation, but I read it about 6 years ago. It didn't really flick my switch though.

Okay, I have whittled the selection down to a few titles, with hopes of a winner.

Snow Crash
Stranger in a Strange Land
Foundation
The Stars My Destination
Neuromancer


Wish me luck.

I say Neuromancer. That book is like bottled lightning (even if it has aged quite a bit because the author didn't foresee everything). If you can get past the obvious differences between our current tech and his foreseen tech, it's a damn good book.

Stranger in a Strange Land was rubbish in my opinion. It starts out interestingly enough and then does nothing with it besides push some odd 60s opinions about love and sex.

 

[Severely Beardy]

Thanks for all the recommendations. Neuromancer it is! (I had actually picked that one out of the bunch). I'll look into Dune and Rama as well.

Thanks guys!

 

[Paganmoon]

Thanks for all the recommendations. Neuromancer it is! (I had actually picked that one out of the bunch). I'll look into Dune and Rama as well.

Thanks guys!

You should give Snow Crash a shot also, very good cyberpunk. And I'll second the Rama suggestion as well.

 

[Grudy]

I finished my first Christie.



It was only okay. Maybe I should have started with a different book. Or maybe I overhyped it too much in my head. I thought the twist at the end was hard to believe and the epistolary part was over-explained.

I'm also reading my first Christie and I gotta ask, do all the books featuring Poirot have him say these french phrases all the time? They're really annoying me as I don't understand most of them. (Reading Peril at End's House)

 

[Marcovaldo]

I've been reading Gravity's Rainbow.

... I'm not sure I understand.... but I think I like it? Haha. I'm not really sure what to say at this point.

sounds like pynchon! excited for the bleeding edge?

 

[arkon]

Next up is Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie. The first was better than I expected so I'm looking forward to the sequel. I know this is petty, but I really dislike the cover of this book. Looks really gimmicky to me.

Which cover is that? The UK or the US one?

Took me a few months, but just finished:

http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780316201285_p0_v1_s600.JPG[IMG]

I am so glad GAF recommend that trilogy to me, such a wild ride. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone else. I am actually sad that it ended and wish there were more books in this series.

And it is funny the poster above mentioned this, but coincidently I have just started this:

[IMG]http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780441569595_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG[IMG][/QUOTE]

Weeks has mentioned he'll be writing more books in that universe once he's finished with the current series he's working on.

 

[Akahige]

finished The Enterprise of Death by Jesse Bullington, this guy can't seem to finish a book without a rushed and unsatisfying ending.

 

[Paganmoon]

Which cover is that? The UK or the US one?

Has to be the US one, right? I mean the UK/EU original ones are amongst my favorite covers, so he can't be hating on them...
UK:

Cover (and the name) of the first book was what caught my attention in the first place. Publishers shouldn't underestimate the value of covers without swords, manly men, or womanly women.

 

[Bazza]

Finished Eric over the weekend, i think its probably the weakest Rincewind book i have read so far.

About 25% into Moving Pictures, its not too bad but i cant work out where the story is going yet. Even if it turns out not to be a great book, at least according to the disc world wiki the next book is focused on Death.

Edit: the introduction of Gaspode the wonder dog has done wonders for this book, really starting to enjoy it now "bark, bark".

 

[sazabirules]

Those UK covers look like my US covers I have unless they came out with a new one.

 

[Paganmoon]

Those UK covers look like my US covers I have unless they came out with a new one.

Think there were new ones for some paperback editions:

And they don't strike my fancy at all. Now I don't think they were US specific, just a reprint to be more eye-catching, but it's much more fun to blame a poor cover on the US (as is the case with some game covers)

 

[Jintor]

Life Itself: A Memoir by Roger Ebert

A good read.

 

[Dec]

I finished my first Christie.


It was only okay. Maybe I should have started with a different book. Or maybe I overhyped it too much in my head. I thought the twist at the end was hard to believe and the epistolary part was over-explained.

I started with Murder on the Orient Express, maybe try that if you want another.

And Then There Were None does end in a way that is a little far fetched, but

Spoiler

when the outcome you are going for is "every one dies." (This is pretty obvious from the title but...)

I feel like you kind of have to.

Do you just think

Spoiler

the way he did it, with the pistol set up is hard to believe or all of it?

 

[arkon]

Has to be the US one, right? I mean the UK/EU original ones are amongst my favorite covers, so he can't be hating on them...
UK:
http://www.uk-bookworm.co.uk/shop_image/product/000278_788ab3ec2e906f1385ef058fb85b045e.jpg[IMG]

Cover (and the name) of the first book was what caught my attention in the first place. Publishers shouldn't underestimate the value of covers [B]without [/B]swords, manly men, or womanly women.[/QUOTE]

Yeah. That's what I'm thinking. The UK covers have generally been to my liking.

 

[Fireblend]

Finished Looking for Alaska. I think it was too aimed for teens for me to really get into it, and the latter part of the book seemed pretty rushed. I also wasn't entirely satisfied about the way the author resolved things in the end, and although I expected it the characters and the way they acted was too similar to those in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Oh well. I might give John Green another shot, but I'll give it some time first. To those who've read more John Green books (spoilers about LFA):

Spoiler

do any of them not have a downer ending? I was kinda not in the mood for the plot twist in this one

. For what it's worth though, I did finish it in one sitting.

Next up:

I love the cover. This is also the only Neil Gaiman adult novel I'm missing, so yay!

 

[ShaneB]

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is an Amazon Kindle daily today, I figure that is worth mentioning given the praise it gets here Picked it up myself and I will get around to reading it sooner than later for sure.

 

[sgossard]

Just finished reading Filth by Irvine Welsh. I enjoyed it so much and just breezed through it, amazing book. is there anything out there like it?

Currently reading Damned by Chuck Palahniuk. pretty meh so far.

re: Filth, my man...
If you haven't read Porno, do it now.

re: Damned, it stays meh and I'm a big Palahniuk fan.

 

[NekoFever]

I'm reading Hyperion and I'm most of the way through

Spoiler

The Scholar's Tale

. Christ, this is heartbreaking.

It's an amazing book. I love how it can swing from ancient warfare to sci-fi space action to consciously pretentious poetry and then string out being punched in the gut to fill this chapter, all in one novel. I've had it on my Kindle for a long time and I wish I hadn't waited this long to read it.

 

[BertramCooper]

Why are the covers on all of Card's books awful?

 

[Maklershed]

Speaking of Orson Scott Card, I saw a preview in the theater for Ender's Game this past weekend. Looks fantastic. I didn't care for the book a whole lot but I'm looking forward to the movie.

 

[BertramCooper]

Speaking of Orson Scott Card, I saw a preview in the theater for Ender's Game this past weekend. Looks fantastic. I didn't care for the book a whole lot but I'm looking forward to the movie.

I wasn't crazy about Ender's Game, but it was decent enough to get me to read its sequel, Speaker for the Dead, which was phenomenal.

 

[Neffarias_Bredd]

Neuromancer and Snow Crash were both a little hard for me to read and understand the first time around, I really started to appreciate both on re-reads.

For anyone who enjoyed Snow Crash I would recommend Diamond Age by Stephenson, which is set in the same world many years later

 

[Pau]

Finished Eric over the weekend, i think its probably the weakest Rincewind book i have read so far.

About 25% into Moving Pictures, its not too bad but i cant work out where the story is going yet. Even if it turns out not to be a great book, at least according to the disc world wiki the next book is focused on Death.

I find the wizard books and Moving Pictures to be Pratchett's weakest. But once he gets to Mort, something clicks and the series becomes absolutely amazing

 

[Samk]

I wasn't crazy about Ender's Game, but it was decent enough to get me to read its sequel, Speaker for the Dead, which was phenomenal.

Ender's shadow was really interesting as well. Up until the weird, slightly Mormon, propagation of the specis talk.

For my tastes at least.

 

[lightus]

Which cover is that? The UK or the US one?

UK (or rather, the non-updated one). I don't know, it's a nice design but the color and the silver throw me off. I like that the covers for the trilogy tie in together, I just don't like this one specifically.

I have to admit though, it's far better than the updated cover. I hope they change the covers for The Red Country or The Heroes before I get around to them.

At any rate, the book itself is rather good so far. That's all that really matters.

 

[NekoFever]

Speaking of Orson Scott Card, I saw a preview in the theater for Ender's Game this past weekend. Looks fantastic. I didn't care for the book a whole lot but I'm looking forward to the movie.

I didn't much like the book either, at least not to the extent that people on GAF seem to. It seemed like the fantasy of a middle aged guy who's still bitter about being bullied as a kid.

 

[Quake1028]

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is an Amazon Kindle daily today, I figure that is worth mentioning given the praise it gets here Picked it up myself and I will get around to reading it sooner than later for sure.

Same here. Also got the WoWCraft book lol.

 

[nakedsushi]

I started with Murder on the Orient Express, maybe try that if you want another.

And Then There Were None does end in a way that is a little far fetched, but

Spoiler

when the outcome you are going for is "every one dies." (This is pretty obvious from the title but...)

I feel like you kind of have to.

Do you just think

Spoiler

the way he did it, with the pistol set up is hard to believe or all of it?

Yes, the

Spoiler

pistol was hard to believe

but also Vera's choice was unbelievable too. He had a lot riding on her doing what she did.

 

[Dec]

Yes, the

Spoiler

pistol was hard to believe

but also Vera's choice was unbelievable too. He had a lot riding on her doing what she did.

I can't remember exactly who she was.

Spoiler

Was she the one that hung herself when she went out of her mind?

I almost completely forgot about that. That is indeed a little crazy.

Spoiler

Wasn't he in the room though?

 

[nakedsushi]

I can't remember exactly who she was.

Spoiler

Was she the one that hung herself when she went out of her mind?

I almost completely forgot about that. That is indeed a little crazy.

Spoiler

Wasn't he in the room though?

I don't remember if

Spoiler

he was in the room or not

but yeah it seemed crazy. Also the fact that he was counting on her to

Spoiler

shoot the other guy as soon as she got the gun.

 

[dinazimmerman]

Just finished this. Been reading all the books in the series this summer. Excellent stuff.

 

[Dec]

I don't remember if

Spoiler

he was in the room or not

but yeah it seemed crazy. Also the fact that he was counting on her to

Spoiler

shoot the other guy as soon as she got the gun.

It's been a few months and my memory isn't great so specifics are kind of lost to me.

Spoiler

Is it impossible there was a plan B had certain things not happened the way he planned?

 

[Tragicomedy]

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain is the daily deal at Amazon. It's $1.99 and it's crazy good.
Buy, buy, buy!

 

[Bazza]

Just finished Moving Pictures, definitely picked up in the second half of the book.

Spoiler

the final fight with a wizard using movie magic, the librarian being carried up a tower by a monster like in king Kong, a group of wizards hanging off a wheelchair screaming while it zooms about and the head of the university taking pot shots with a cross bow had me in stitches.

 

[Haly]

Finished.

A bit rushed, but all in all a good ending to the series. There are some questions left to be answered but the point of Dust was to hammer home the themes of hope and sacrifice in the first two books, and that it accomplished perfectly well.

The book could've easily been extended into another trilogy to

Spoiler

tie in all the Silos together, but that would've been too storybook, I think, so Howey settled on just letting Silo 18 go.

 

[lastflowers]

250 pages through Infinite Jest. Oh-Boy.

I'm going to walk at least one-way to or from work this week (1.33 hours) so that I can get in some good reading time.

 

[jacobs34]

250 pages through Infinite Jest. Oh-Boy.

I'm going to walk at least one-way to or from work this week (1.33 hours) so that I can get in some good reading time.

You're almost there! Hope you are enjoying the ride as much as I did. It was the most unique reading experience of my life.

Edit: Also, I second Tragicomedy, go buy Billy Lynne's Long Halftime Walk if you haven't already. $2 for one of the best books of the last five years.

Edit #2: Looks like the sale ended.

 

[Gordon0Freeman]

Just started reading this:

Its probably gonna be a long one but its definitely interesting.

Woah. Thanks for sharing. This definitely sounds interesting