A suggested reading thread

[Ronin36]

So, it dawned on me just now. We all like to read, so why not share good finds? I know there is a favorite book thread, but here you can list ones that are good and not your favorite and more than one book.

If you do suggest a book, please include title and genre at least. If you have the time, list the author and a description of the book (without ruining it).

Thanx and have fun with this!

[Melochus]

Title: Pandora's Star
Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy
Author: Peter F. Hammilton
Synopsis: Story about the galactic human commonwealth. Humans can live virtualy forever. Human astronomer discovers the strange INSTANT dissapearance of 2 stars. Oh yea and theres some sex involved too. Good read! Its like Porn for your Mind.

[M-50]

Title : Pop goes the weasel
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Thriller
Synopsis: Likened to a "young Muhammad Ali", Alex Cross, the Porsche-driving profiler, doctor, detective and father of two has seen his fair share of vicious killers. From a bloodthirsty butcher who came after his family (Cat and Mouse) to a devilish duo working cross-country (Kiss the Girls), Cross has managed to out-manoeuvre all of his enemies. Until he meets the Weasel.
A series of killings in the forgotten, crime-infested ghettos of southeastern DC has sent Cross and his 6'9" 250-pound-partner, John Sampson in search of the "Jane Doe" killer. However, their racist, tyrannical boss George Pitman orders them to stay out of the southeast and investigate the high-profile murder of a wealthy white man. Cross already has suspicions that the murders are linked, but when Sampson's ex turns up in an abandoned southeast warehouse kicked to death, the two detectives carry on with their original investigation.

Meanwhile, Cross's long-time love, Christine, (Cat and Mouse) has taken prominence in his life and it looks as if the two will finally get hitched--with one hitch: Cross leaves the force. Although Cross's instinct tells him to quit--to not put everything he loves in jeopardy again--he's compelled to catch the Weasel. Akin to a slick, Hollywood action flick, Pop Goes the Weasel doesn't have time for meaningful character development and thoughtful moral analysis. And it doesn't need to. Its winning formula is based in short scenes (chapters average about three pages), addictive plot progression and mean dialogue:

"Sampson sighed and said, "I think her tongue is stapled inside the other girl. I'm pretty sure that's it, Alex. The Weasel stapled them together." I looked at the two girls and shook my head. "I don't think so. A staple, even a surgical one, would come apart on the tongue's surface... Crazy glue would work."

[Jasper]

/Thread Stickied

This thread is definitely worth one :). Please accompany your recommendation with a overall grade and a somewhat detailed sypnosis :).

[Rukongai]

Title: D-Day
Genre: History/Action
Author: Stephen Ambrose
Desciption: Many of the adventures of the men of D-Day from the sailors to the 101st airbourne to even the Germans (all of these are real acountances from real people who were at D-Day)

Ok you might think AWW a history book but it really is a good book this guy got accounts from about 300 people about their experiances and it's very exciting while telling you some of the background, heroism, and horrors of D-Day

[hobbes24]

the wheel of time series
by robert jordan
fantasy
the story is much better read than summerized
if you're bored one day..
it's quite a long story,
but it's basically follows a man and his companions, the man, destined/born to save the world form its destruction.. yep

[miss_noname]

the wheel of time series
by robert jordan

I agree :-)...

The two books by Christopher Paolini are really good - Eragon and Eldest
Fantasy...
Its written by quite a young guy... you can see he's been influenced by a couple of other authors... I can see a bit of David Eddings in there... lots of politics in the story.
Eragon is already a movie :-)

[Alerane]

I have a book to recommend for anyone who is unsure orr borderline on whether they would like vampire books or not.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers
(and its sequel New Moon)

I do not usually like vampire books, even though i read them now and then to make my friend stop pestering me. It is very DRAMATIC. Its story is not too unbelieveable, and it works well in a plot. I personally find the characters attract a reader's attention to this book.

Hope that helps someone, ^_^

[adorkable]

Two of my favourite books...

Title: The Lovely Bones
Genre: Novel
Author: Alice Sebold

This novel is told in the first-person tense of a 14 year old who was raped and murdered in the first chapter. She can look down on Earth and watch the lives and thoughts of people she had known - even her murderer's.

--

Title: Kafka on the Shore
Genre: Fiction
Author: Haruki Murakami

Set in Japan, we read how two plots, not seemingly related in anyway, collide. One plot is about a boy who runs away from home, and the other being about a man with disabilities and who is able to speak to cats.

[Sharpie_x]

Two of my favourite books...

Title: The Lovely Bones
Genre: Novel
Author: Alice Sebold

This novel is told in the first-person tense of a 14 year old who was raped and murdered in the first chapter. She can look down on Earth and watch the lives and thoughts of people she had known - even her murderer's.

--

Title: Kafka on the Shore
Genre: Fiction
Author: Haruki Murakami

Set in Japan, we read how two plots, not seemingly related in anyway, collide. One plot is about a boy who runs away from home, and the other being about a man with disabilities and who is able to speak to cats.

The Lovely Bones is my current favorite book, :winking56 I'm really like it though I feel sad for her. Another book I recommed is
The DaVinci Code
Genre: Mystery/ Crime
Author: Dan Brown

It starts with Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology at Harvard University, to solve the murder of renowned curator Jacques Saunière of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The main conflict in the novel revolves around the solution to two mysteries: What secret was Saunière protecting that led to his murder? Who is the mastermind behind his murder and the murder of the three other sénéchaux (keepers of the secrets of the grail)?

[Kirai God]

The eight and The Pillars of the Earth are very good books

[Lrrr]

Title: The Cry Of The Icemark
Author: Stuart Hill
Genre: Fantasy/Action?

When her father dies in battle, fourteen-year-old Thirrin becomes Queen of the Icemark, a tiny kingdom forever caught between dangerous neighbours.

But she bears a heavy burden. Thirrin must find a way to protect her people from the most terrible invasion her nation has ever known – and do so before the end of the winter snows.

The Cry of the Icemark is the glorious story of how she rallies her country and finds some extraordinary allies: Vampires, Wolf-folk and most noble of all, giant Snow Leopards. But it’s also a heart-felt tale of duty and sacrifice, of unexpected laughter and awful uncertainty, and of a girl whose friendships are forged in the heat of battle.

[SylvreWolfe]

Title: Killer Karma
Author:Lee Killough
Genre:Science Fiction

One fine afternoon, Inspector Cole Dunavan finds he has been murdered and has become a ghost - with no idea how to be a ghost. No one sees or hears him; he can't move objects; and initially, he can't even walk through doors or walls. He learns, to his horror, that his body has not been found and the circumstances of his disappearance make it appear he betrayed his marriage and was killed by his mistress... who has also disappeared. But the truth is that the woman was an informant and he is still on earth because his obsession with finding evidence against her boss put her in mortal danger. While he works at saving her, he struggles to communicate with his old partner and to get straight with his wife. All while trying to learn the identity of his killer.

[飛雲]

Title: The Time Traveler's Wife
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Genre:Science Fiction/Romance

Introduction: The Time Traveler's Wife (ISBN 0-15-602943-X) is a novel by Audrey Niffenegger. It is an unconventional love story that centers on a man with a strange genetic disorder that causes him to unpredictably time-travel and his wife, an artist, who has to cope with his frequent absences and dangerous experiences. The book is rich in detail, with special attention given to the meals enjoyed by Henry and Clare, and the locations they visit.

(Source by Wikipedia, every time I wrote some intro I can't help myself but to give my opinion and eventually the whole thing.)

This book had been on my "Summer Reading" list distributed by my school for over two years but I never like romance stories (though I constantly wrote them) so I really give a care about it when I saw it in a Flea Market in Boston. It had been my custom to buy a book from Flea Markets whenever I had the chance, it just doesn't feel right when I went home empty handed and thus, when all the other books are unfamiliar (I never heard of the author or the book just look gay), I picked this one.

It surprised me that this book can be so great, it was a page turner and instantly on my favorite. It is the very very few books that I love that is not by Stephen King or horror is genre.

(This novel was supposed to be filmed with the stars of Jennifer Anderson and her then-husband Brad Pitt, now it stars Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams)

[SylvreWolfe]

Title: Watchers
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Scifi?

From a top secret government laboratory come two genetically altered life forms. One is a magnificent dog of astonishing intelligence. The other, a hybrid monster of a brutally violent nature. And both are on the loose...
Bestselling author Dean Koontz presents his most terrifying, dramatic and moving novel: The explosive story of a man and a woman, caught in a relentless storm of mankind's darkest creation...


This is a wicked good book, and I would highly recommend it!

There were a few movies made, but they don't even come close to giving the book justice, and they tend to not follow the book very much either, though it is quite fun to laugh at them after having read the book!

[M-50]

I will definetly read this SylvreWolfe seeing as I am a fan of Dean Koontz.
I know that some of you might not like this book, well tell a lie, most pps wont.
It is 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.
Also
Nelson Mandelas autobiography.

[Jordgubbe]

Ed McBain is the author of the series 87th Precinct which I highly recommend.

[BeeCrest]

Kirai God and Jordgubbe:

Please abide by what Z_Blitz posted about the detail of the posts -->

Please accompany your recommendation with a overall grade and a somewhat detailed sypnosis :).

Thanks ^.^

[erika]

Book: beijing doll
Author: chun sue
Genre: contemporary

i would really recommend this book to you guys. the story is about a young girl experiencing life in a small town in china.. she tells her story along with her love for punk rock music.. a good read..:)

[Neko Kyo]

Title: The Sight
Author: David Clement-Davies
Genre: Fantasy

This guys books are kinda cool. there excellently written, and thier story lines are the best! They're kinda like Chistopher Paolini's. The only odd thing about his books, are that all of the main characters are some sort of animal. Fire Bringer and The Sight are very good examples. Give them a shot! I think you'll enjoy them!

By the way...do any of you guys know when the last book by Christopher Paolini comes out? thanx!

[M-50]

4th July and Honeymoon by James Patterson,
Black Storm by David Poyer

[erika]

the historian.....:) cool book for you guys who loves stories of vlad the impaler a.k.a dracula.....yea!:D

[M-50]

ah yeah that is one brilliant book
Richard Herman - The Last Phoenix is another good book to read

[Ai]

If your into Lord Of The Rings books Big Time and enjoy the style of writting that J.R.R Tolkien writes with then get into Robert Jordans Wheel of Time Series..Written the same way and really great story.

[FaerieRose]

Jim Butcher's book called Storm Front.

Genre is Scifi

A brief description: It's about a wizard named Harry Dresden that openly practices magic in our time where people don't really believe it. He gets called in to help the police investigate a grisly homicide where black magic is performed.


I don't want to give too much away but I love the books because they are based in the our times and Harry doesn't always have the best of luck with modern technology past 1970. It's a fun read. There used to be a show called the Dresden Files on SCiFi Network that's how I was introduced to the books.

Happy Reading!:redbiggri
Faerie

[thief.13]

For people who like surreal and mystical stories i'd suggest Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman. It's a collection of short stories. I didn't used to like short story collections, but Neil's short stories are really great. Neil's stories are like the dark and sometimes perverse reflection of reality in the looking glass. Though the setting is unrealistic, the emotions and motivations of his characters are quite human...

[♥ Ayalicious ♥]

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Beautiful imagery that will knock you off your feet. <3

[Karakura Red]

Homeland by RA Salvatore. This book is the first of the series and will get you hooked. The books are filled with battles, magic and otherworldy creatures.

[TuRm0iL]

Title: World Leader Pretend
Author: James Bernard Frost

Synopsis: Failed multimillionaire entroupeneur Xerces Meticula now lives in his parents basement, playing a very addicting MMO "The Realm". This game ties all the characters lives together, including a flirty tradesman living in the antarctic, a thailand street urchin destined to become a prostitute, and a parapalegic. Watch their worlds gradually evolve through eachother's influences.

Rating: 8/10

[Joan]

Book: The Talisman
Author: Stephen King
Genre: si-fi, adventure

synopsis: The main character Jack (I think lol) travels between the real world and a paralell world in order to save his mother. With alot of exiting things going on as the book goes on. You gotta read it to get what I mean, lol.

Book: Call Of The Wild
Author: Jack London
Genre: Animal or something:p

Synopsis: A dog is kidnapped (dognapped lol) from california to alaska to work as a sleigh dog. And he goes through alot. You really get involved with this book..

More books coming^^

[MetalSpawn]

The talisman has two authors it is Stephen King AND Peter Straub
Own suggestion

TITLE:The Dark Tower Series
Author:Steven King
Genre:Si-fi / adventure

really confusing book in the beginning but later unfolds into a very interesting story
It is about a Gunslinger in a parallel dimension to our own that is looking for the dark tower because it is his mission in life.The book follows him through his degrading world in the search for the dark tower picking up friends from parallel worlds as he goes and oh ya he SHOOTS A LOT OF PEOPLE

[Dokuro]

Title : Great Expectations
Author : Charles Dickens
Genre : Romance/Mystery

I borrowed this book from my school Library.

Synopsis :

This story was about a boy called Pip. His realname was Philip Pirrip.
His parents were dead when he was a baby. He lived with his sister and
his sister married a blacksmith called Joe Gargery.

One Day, He was walking in the churchyard to see his parents's grave.
But He Met A convict. Convict is the people who run away from the prison.
The convict told Pip to bring him food and a file in the next morning.

So He walked back to his home, and Mrs Joe, his sister was preparing the food for the christmas day. Ms Joe cooked a meat pie. In The Next day, Pip took the pie from the kitchen and gave it to the convict.

...............

[MetalSpawn]

title=A short history of nearly everything
author=Bill Bryson
genre=information type novel(do not know real genre)
Synopsis :
just what the title implies.be careful though book might cause brain to hurt

[girl]

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I'm sure a lot of people have read this before, just want to throw it out there.
If you haven't- you should read it.
I think the reason why i like it so much is because the characterizations and Card's overall writing style is fantastic.

a different type of book: Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys
it's more of a book for girls, but oh my gosh this book is co cute!

and Artemis Fowl series....I mean, I know they're kid books, but the story is so original and Artemis is just so likable for me.

Sweet 16 by Kate Brian. a chick book. you get REALLY annoyed by the main character in the beginning, but I plowed through it, and I was rewarded, because this book made me cry so much. it was really cute.

but still my top recommendation is Ender's Game
and the spinoff series- Ender's Shadow (and beyond)
and also the book Enchantment (which is also by orson scott card)

I'd also like to add
The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
and
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. can't remember the author

[KELSØv3.0]

Title: "The Vampire Lestat" and/or "Pandora"
Author: Anne Rice
Genre: Horror/Romance

Summaries
Pandora
Pandora (1998) is a horror novel and a vampire in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Her story is told in the book Pandora, one of two novels in the New Tales of the Vampires series. Pandora is born with the name Lydia in the Roman Republic, a few years before the birth of Christ. The book is the story of her mortal life told by Pandora.

The Vampire Lestat
The Vampire Lestat (1985) is a novel by Anne Rice, and the second in her Vampire Chronicles, following Interview with the Vampire. Set in the late 18th Century to the late 1980s, the story follows the 200 years long life of the vampire Lestat, and his rise from humble beginnings as a penniless aristocrat in France to become the "Brat Prince" of the vampires.

[Dokuro]

Title:The Return of the native
Author : Thomas Hardy
Genre : Romance

Synopsis : This story is about a family called Candle. Mrs.Candle had two sons, Wildeve and Thomas. As the stories goes, a girl called Eustacia lived in a heath called Gordon Heath. Eustacia didnt like to live there and decided to live in Paris. She had no money and she heard about Thomas Candle. She decided to meet him in a party in Mrs. Candle's house.

[Dradam]

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I'm sure a lot of people have read this before, just want to throw it out there.
If you haven't- you should read it.
I think the reason why i like it so much is because the characterizations and Card's overall writing style is fantastic.
but still my top recommendation is Ender's Game
and the spinoff series- Ender's Shadow (and beyond)


Enders game is definitely one of my favourites, but Enders shadow was not a spin-off series for Enders game. The other books were concieved first and enders game was written to create a younger teen based fan base who would buy the other books. There was too much philosophy in the other novels for my personal taste, although tbh i dont think i could turn the key...

[Manchester Black]

Title: The Stars My Destination
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Author: Alfred Bester
Synopsis: A story about a man name Gulliver Foyle, a man who completely lacks imagination and ambition (and is virtually useless) is transformed into a monster determined to get revenge. As he is shipwrecked in space and floating through nothingness, he is passed by luxory liner that doesn't stop to help him. This ignites something inside him and he goes on a warpath to find whoever gave the order on that ship to pass him by. Throughout his journey for vengence, he goes through many adventures and learns many things.

Definately read this book. It's fantastic.

[Reyin]

Metalspawn: I can't recommend the Dark Tower series enough, I was in agony waiting for the last few books to come out

Akuma: I'm a huge Anne Rice fan as well, I like pretty much all of her books from the Vampire Chronicles series


Alright so other than those two series already listed that I like I'll add a couple:

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde --- A great classic book
Faust, no one had listed it yet so I felt obliged to
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Plutarch's Lives of Famous People
The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas

Also two must-reads if you plan on going into business or politics and really they're just good books in general:
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

I'm also a big Tolkien/Lord of the Rings fan; I'm fairly knowledgeable on his Legendarium as a whole.

[granamonkey]

Well, this is an author recommendation, not just one book (since it's all short stories).

Author: H.P. Lovecraft

Genre: Horror/fantasy

length: 7-130 page's (varies)

Short Stories : Shadow of Innsmouth, The Dunwich Horror, The Outsider, Call of Cthulhu, and At The Mountains of Madness are all really good.

They all take place in the late/early 1800's/1900's (respectively) and deal with Lovecrafts own lore he created (Extra-planar beings and other stuff). Very good and very descriptive. If you don't like 15+ page long descriptions of one object don't read haha.

[Hōzukimaru]

Titles: Priestess of the White (Book I in Age of the Five Trilogy)
Last of the Wilds (Book II in Age of the Five Trilogy)
Voice of the Gods (Book III in Age of the Five Trilogy)
Author: Trudi Canavan
Genre: Fantasy

Summaries:

Priestess of the White:
Her heroism saved a village from destruction; now Auraya has been named Priestess of the White, an avatar of the Pantheon of the Five Circlian Gods. The limits of her unique talents must be tested in order to prove her worthy of the honor and grave responsibility awarded to her. But a perilous road lies ahead, fraught with pitfalls that will challenge the newest servant of the gods. An enduring friendship with a Dreamweaver – a member of an ancient outcast sect of sorcerer-healers – could destroy Auraya's future. And her destiny has set her in conflict with a powerful and mysterious, black-clad Pentadrian sorcerer with but a single purpose: the total annihilation of the White. And he is not alone . . .

Last of the Wilds:
After pitched battle, The White – the avatars of the Five Gods – have briefly turned back the vicious invaders. And now, the priestess Auraya is sent on an urgent mission to reconcile with the powerful, outcast Dreamweavers, for their magical healing abilities may be the key to saving the land. But as a deadly plague devastates their allies and old adversaries resurface, a dreadful surprise may ruin the chance for peace. For Auraya's terrible discovery will force her into a desperate choice – one whose consequences will change the world forever.

Voice of the Gods:
As protector of the Siyee, Auraya is sent to investigate a stranger sighted on their lands. She develops a rapport with the mysterious woman, who claims to be a close friend of Mirar, the founder of the Dreamweavers – but the secret she divulges sets Auraya on a dangerous path of conflict with the gods.

Meanwhile, the Pentadrians, regaining strength under a new leader, plot and scheme for any means to bring down their enemies – not anticipating that the White will send the Siyee against them. It seems that the consequences for all sides will be disastrous. Mirar now has a respected place amongst his people, so the stakes are very high when his fragile friendship with Auraya may prove to be the very cause of her destruction.

Well, there you go! It is well worth it! Happy reading!:winking56

[Lotus.Memoirs]

Les Miserables
By: Victor Hugo
Genre: Historic-Fiction

**This is based off the abridged version

Les Mis is centered mainly around a man named Jean Valjean and a girl named Cosette and what they learn through life's varying trials. It has a lot of sentimentality in it so if you don't like that, you might not like this book. One of the book's biggest themes is based on "what is right, and what is wrong?" and various types of love such as romantic love and family love. Les Mis travels over the time period of the pre-French Revolution up until Napoleon's fall.

In my opinion, this was the best book I've ever read and I was surprised by how much I liked it since I generally dislike historic-fiction.

[Daft Punk]

Neuromancer
By:William Gibson
Genre: Cyberpunk/Sci-Fi

Wiki:
Neuromancer is a 1984 novel by William Gibson, notable for being the most famous early cyberpunk novel and winner of the so-called science-fiction "triple crown"—the Nebula Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Hugo Award. It was Gibson's first novel and the beginning of the Sprawl trilogy. The novel tells the story of a washed-up computer hacker hired by a mysterious employer to work on the ultimate hack. Gibson explores artificial intelligence, virtual reality, genetic engineering, and multinational corporations overpowering the traditional nation-state long before these ideas entered popular culture. The concept of cyberspace makes its first appearance, with Gibson inventing the word to describe "a consensual hallucination experienced daily by billions."

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and it's sequels
By: Douglas Adams
Genre: Comedy Sci-Fi

Wiki:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later adapted to other formats, and over several years it gradually became an international multi-media phenomenon. Adaptations have included stage shows, a series of five books first published between 1979 and 1992 (the first of which was titled The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), a 1981 TV series, a 1984 computer game, and three series of three-part comic book adaptations of the first three novels published by DC Comics between 1993 and 1996. There were also two series of novels, produced by Beer-Davies, that are considered by some fans to be an "official version" of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, as they include text from the first novel.

[Saithe]

Gates of Fire
Written by Steven Pressfield.

Description? It's 300, except if "300" was both the title of the movie and the scale of how epic it was, "Gates of Fire" would be, you guessed it, over 9000.
While 300 focused solely on the battle and political debacle in Sparta, Gates of Fire delves further into why the Spartans were so fearless. It follows a non-Spartan who is fascinated by their culture and gets to follow several notable figures throughout their adventures leading up to, and including, the Hot Gates.
Greatest book I have ever read, have read many, many times, and would have given several vital organs to see it as the basis for 300 instead of some graphic novel.

[Twinky]

Tom Clancy's End War

amazing book and a productive intro to a future game