Another book recommendation thread?

Cafe Society
#1

Newer stuff, older stuff, campy stuff, classic stuff, list your MUST read books here.

So I am so out of book ideas on what to read. I know I need to read The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, but haven’t gotten to that. I love the epic type of stuff, tend to read Science Fiction and Fantasy a whole lot, but not really into Vampire or Werewolf type books. The last two books I read were Bee Season and The Adventures of A Simpleton. I liked both. I really like first person style books, but not to the point of exclusion. I like it dark as well as light and humorous.

I need many suggesions for books to make a to read list as my others have been depleted or lost. Any will do, links are helpful but not necessary! Also, if possible I would love to hear why YOU like the particular book and your own personal feelings on it.

Thanks in advance, I hope this thread doesn’t die, because I have trouble just going to a book store and reading covers- I get overwhelmed by the number of books and can easily pass a treasure off as not worth reading. Which is why word of mouth and Dopers are the best ways to find a good book!

#2

Can’t go wrong with Terry Pratchett and L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

#3

George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.

shoos you to the bookstore GOGOGO!

#4

You need to read the DaVinci code like Kim Jon Il needs access to our nuclear launch codes.

The two best books I read this year are THE DEPTFORD TRILOGY by Robertson Davies and WHEN NIETZSCHE WEPT by Irving Yalom, both about the struggle for self-knowledge, both fabulous experiences, and not too difficult to get through, though both are very serious works.

#5

I get some of my best recs from these threads, and I’ll pass 'em on.

Since you like SF and fantasy, A Shortcut in Time by Charles Dickinson, The Last Witchfinder by James Moore, and the Malazan Empire series by Steven Erikson, starting with Gardens of the Moon.

Lies of Locke Lamora by Steven Lynch is being ballyhooed at some SF and fantasy sites, and 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill is an excellent new short story collection, fantasy and horror.

#6

As soon as I get my teacher’s certification, the two books I plan to make my students read are Parliament of Whores by PJ O’Rourke and On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.

Not sure what course would have both of those books on the syllabus, though…

#7

The Book Thief by Markus Zusac. Best book I read last year. It’s about World war 2 and an orphan who steals books, but it’s also mostly narrated by Death, who is detatched and ironic and charming, right up to the point where the book breaks your hert. SO good, I can’t reccommend it enough.

#8

Auntie Pam, I recently finished Shortcut in Time. You can e-mail me if you want to talk about it, though I’ve already returned the book to the library, so if you want to get into small details I don’t know that I’ll be much good to you!

#9

The second one should be mandatory on any course that had anything to do with writing. Whatever you may think of King’s novels, there is no doubt that he is successful, and in this tiny little book he has managed to condense so much worthwhile advice that I’m surprised its spine doesn’t tear.

I’ll recommend Ken Grimwood’s Replay. I can’t really tell you why without spoiling it, so just read it. Now. Really. Just get out of your chair and go to the library.