OT: any good reading recommendations

[LizfromOz]

I have read all of Marian Keyes' books, lots of LOL moments in amongst the serious stuff.

For a walk on the creepy- psycho side I can recommend anything by Mo Hayder.

 

[LizfromOz]

Didn't realise that! Sorry.

Reminds me of a few years ago. I'm sitting with my Nan, she's reading a library book, she looks at me and says in her Scottish accent "Lizzie, what's a b*** j*b?"

Without taking my eyes off the TV I say "no idea".

"Oh, OK, I'll ask Iris (elderly neighbour) when I see her".

I still don't know if she asked Iris.

 

[BecBennett]

 

[welley]

Reminds me of a few years ago. I'm sitting with my Nan, she's reading a library book, she looks at me and says in her Scottish accent "Lizzie, what's a b*** j*b?"

Without taking my eyes off the TV I say "no idea".

"Oh, OK, I'll ask Iris (elderly neighbour) when I see her".

I still don't know if she asked Iris.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Reminds me of a few years ago. I'm sitting with my Nan, she's reading a library book, she looks at me and says in her Scottish accent "Lizzie, what's a b*** j*b?"

Without taking my eyes off the TV I say "no idea".

"Oh, OK, I'll ask Iris (elderly neighbour) when I see her".

I still don't know if she asked Iris.

 

[Melbourne5]

Maybe just to get us back on track.....

As this illustrious group are resident Florida experts I can thoroughly recommend an author called Carl hiassen . He is a Florida resident, writes a column in the Miami herald and in his spare time is the author of over a dozen novels with some reoccurring characters based almost exclusively in Florida. He is part crime/ comedy/ political. I have read his stuff for over ten years. Try him out if you want a top laugh especially as many of you have spent a lot of time in Florida to appreciAte his views.

 

[BecBennett]

I've read a couple of his books, I found that I really liked one, and didn't like the other - but the other one was based on a "competing" theme park, so maybe I was biased

 

[Luisa]

I can give you a list of some of my favourite writers.
Terry Pratchett (Mort is a favourite, along with Thief of Time, Snuff and one he wrote with Neil Gaiman - Good Omens)
Jasper Fforde
Ursula LeGuin- Earthsea is a brilliant series
Sherri S Tepper- Beauty is incredible
Jim Butcher- The Dresden File series
Marion Zimmer Bradley- esp The Firebrand
Also love Clive Barker, Douglas Adams and Bill Bryson.

 

[BecBennett]

I love Terry Pratchett, any of the wyrd sisters books are my favourites, but he's such a clever writer that they're all good!

 

[BecBennett]

i recently finished the 5 part epic that is George RR Martin's Song of Fire & Ice opus and i am enchanted with the world he has created, however since he has yet to grace us with books 6 and 7 in the set, i am seeking other reading materials.

Tell me more about George RR Martin, I've never heard of him, what is this series about?

 

[Andona]

Also love Clive Barker, Douglas Adams and Bill Bryson.

I'm a HUGE fan of Bill Bryson, he is the only author that had had me literally LOL, particularly his earlier travel books. However I'm not sure if they'd fit Alicia's criteria as they're non fiction/ biographical.

Also loved Douglas Adams, and for more Sci Fi, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke.

I don't read much fiction any more so most of my favorite authors are the ones I read as a teenager, Austen, Tolkein, Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, Desmond Bagley, Alastair Maclean. I think I'm showing my age!

Andona

 

[australiankaren]

I love Terry Pratchett, any of the wyrd sisters books are my favourites, but he's such a clever writer that they're all good!

I had morning tea with him a few years ago, he came to work....lovely guy, very dry humour.

also, love the "steampunk " genre, it like taking 1900's England and adding our technology from today...Mortal Engine is a great read..

off to dentist now, wish me luck

 

[alicia1506]

I had morning tea with him a few years ago, he came to work....lovely guy, very dry humour.

also, love the "steampunk " genre, it like taking 1900's England and adding our technology from today...Mortal Engine is a great read..

off to dentist now, wish me luck

good luck i had to cancel my dentist appointment for tomorrow due to this flu, and the next time they could fit me in was 9th june --- gah!!!

i also love the steampunk genre, providing it's written well... i'll check out Mortal Engine - thanks for the recommendation. i also love terry pratchett, cannot stand douglas adams (i don't know why, just cannot stand it) and have read a lot of the tolkein, eddings, gemmell, raymond e feist work. also have read all the arthur c clarke, assimov (sp?) and others such as zindell (who blew my mind with his world building and characters and details).

A friend of mine is currently reading a series about Napoleonic Europe... but with dragons!! how cool is that? an awesome period of european history, but with dragon war machines. so awesome.

i've heard a lot about this 50 shades of grey series (and don't mind the subject matter, so will just have to be sure to not flaunt the kindle when i'm out) so might put that on my list.

i've also heard good things about marion keyes and diana gabaldon, so will also put them on my list.

thanks

 

[alicia1506]

Tell me more about George RR Martin, I've never heard of him, what is this series about?

the tv show game of thrones is based on this series.

the first book is called: A song of ice and fire: game of thrones so i guess that's where they got the title for the series.

basically the story revolves around a series of characters. each chapter in each book is named for a character, and that chapter focusses on the actions of the character as it pertains to the greater story. it is very loosely a fantasy novel as it involves some elements of 'magic' namely dragons and some pyromancers and soothsayers and such, but it is such a rich and vibrant world that after reading the first chapter, i was hooked. i will say up front that the books are quite long and detailed, and i would highly recommend getting on kindle (if possible) as the physical books will hurt your arms if you're like me and read for hours at a time... they're quite large tomes. they have released a newer version of the books which has books 3, 4 and 5 broken into 2 parts to allow for a more easy to manage book length (and weight)

also, if you have seen the tv show, i still recommend reading the books. they are more detailed, and contain many a sub-plot and explanation that they didn't incorporate into the tv show. and if you haven't seen the show... i do recommend it, after, or as you are reading.. they have done a very good job with it, and their casting of the characters is superb

this is from amazon re: book 1...

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and *******s, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

 

[australiankaren]

marion keyes is a great read.........start from the first book watermelon then work your way thru...http://www.mariankeyes.com/Home:thumbsup2

 

[5ofus]

Another vote for A Song of Ice and Fire. I'm up to #3 at the moment and loving it. Read each of the first two in a matter of days.

I've read some of the Gabaldon books, and really enjoyed the first two or three, but they kind of lost their appeal to me after that.

I like the sound of the steampunk genre, might have a look out for some of those books.

Just as an aside, I love books and my iPad is fantastic to read them on. My library offers digital books for loan which has been absolutely fantastic, and saves me a fortune (except they don't have the SoIaF books!!). You don't have to worry about late return fees either, the books automatically delete themselves when your time is up. Just thought I'd mention it in case your local libraries offer it and you aren't aware. Some of my colleagues had no idea that a lot of libraries offered this service

 

[BecBennett]

I've read some of the Gabaldon books, and really enjoyed the first two or three, but they kind of lost their appeal to me after that.

Really? I love the later books just as much! There's a line in one of the later books where Jamie says to little Jem "If you should meet a large mouse named Michael, tell him your grandsire says hello" (or to that effect) and it gets me teary every time!

 

[australiankaren]

Another vote for A Song of Ice and Fire. I'm up to #3 at the moment and loving it. Read each of the first two in a matter of days.

I've read some of the Gabaldon books, and really enjoyed the first two or three, but they kind of lost their appeal to me after that.

I like the sound of the steampunk genre, might have a look out for some of those books.

Just as an aside, I love books and my iPad is fantastic to read them on. My library offers digital books for loan which has been absolutely fantastic, and saves me a fortune (except they don't have the SoIaF books!!). You don't have to worry about late return fees either, the books automatically delete themselves when your time is up. Just thought I'd mention it in case your local libraries offer it and you aren't aware. Some of my colleagues had no idea that a lot of libraries offered this service

E books are great, especially for those who has a tendency to not return library books

we are starting this system at work..so that'll be exciting..I may need to buy a kindle, as I hate reading off my IPAD, screen just hurts my eyes if on it too long...

but nothing beats a good old fashioned hard cover

http://www.steampunk.com/what-is-steampunk/
for those interested in steampunk........

 

[WAMUMOF4]

My kindles screen has gone partly black I'm not happy and I guess like most things it won't be worth repairing

 

[australiankaren]

My kindles screen has gone partly black I'm not happy and I guess like most things it won't be worth repairing

if its under warranty take it back with you and send to amazon, contact them before you leave to make sure....

they are now selling them at Big W....